For most people, their 18th birthday is one of great importance. Legally, it means that they are old enough to vote, go to war, and are deemed "adults". Most 18 year olds find themselves just graduating from high school at that age and entering college, or getting ready for their next life journey. For my 18th birthday, I was getting ready to begin my first year of college and ecstatic that I would be able to vote in that fall's presidential election. I had made sure to know as much as I could about all of the candidates so that I could not only vote, but make an educated decision as to what party I felt represented my own beliefs. I did vote that fall, very proudly. The candidate that I had voted for did win and I was happy to know that my one vote had made somewhat of a difference.
My parents were at a bit of a loss as to how to celebrate my 18th birthday. Since my birthday fell so close to the time I was leaving for college, they decided to throw me an 18th birthday party and going away party all at the same time. At first, I was a bit disappointed with that, thinking that it would be more of a sad occasion. Once the time actually arrived, it turned out to be a wonderful time.
My mother had come up with the idea of throwing a huge bash at our house. She wanted the two major reasons for celebration to remain separate even though it was one big party. Putting her creative abilities to work, she turned the inside of our house into the going away party. Outside, in our backyard, was where we'd celebrate my 18th birthday. She had a cake made for each occasion and decorations as well. She split the food into the two areas so that people would have to wander back and forth between the two "parties" that were occurring. I absolutely loved it and adored her for having come up with the idea and putting so much effort into making it a wonderful day for me.
It has now been many years since my own 18th birthday, and that unique party still holds the record as being my absolute favorite. My own daughter is still years away from that significant age and I can't imagine what the world will be like when she turns 18. I do know, that I want her 18th birthday to be just as special as mine was. Her birthday also falls right after she'll be graduating, so I may end up doing exactly what my mother had done for me. She'll love it.
Friday, December 7, 2007
18th Birthday
Why is it that every kid wants to grow up so fast? This is an enigma to me. After all, you only get to be a child once. It commonly lasts for approximately 18 years and then it's "real world" time. Now, just to be clear, 18 years is short. It will fly by quickly. The last thing on your mind should be hurrying it along. Once you have that 18th birthday party, you're doomed to adulthood for the rest of your life. Basically what I'm getting at is, DON'T wish your life away. Trust me on this one. The early years are EASY!
Have you had your 18th birthday celebration yet? A lot of teenagers and parents like to go all out with these ones. It's not only a celebration of making it to adulthood, but it's also a celebration for the folks, because they've been waiting so long to get you out of the house. Okay, that's just a joke. Chances are you may stay with them clear through college as well. It's not like the "old days" anymore, where the 18 year old moves out after their senior year. Kids like to stick around the home-front. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than dealing with rent and food bills during the college years. Anyone who's been there knows exactly what i mean.
It may have just been me, but I found the whole 18th birthday party a bit frightening. Suddenly everyone expects you to act and be grown-up. Well I have to admit, on my 18th birthday I certainly didn't feel like an adult yet. This feeling actually didn't come until I was about 23. Who knows? Maybe I was a late bloomer. Regardless, 18 is what we consider the beginning of adulthood in America. Other countries may view this issue differently, but we like to be clear about it over here. 18 is when you're able to date who you please. 18 is when you're able to vote, and 18 is when you're able to get a hotel room on your own. For the most part, that 18th birthday symbolizes adulthood. But, we parents can hardly believe that our fresh high school graduates are adults yet. Okay, one thing I will tell you is to go all out for your 18th birthday celebration. Think cakes, friends, college applications, no more curfews, and a lot of relaxing. You've made it through the awkward years.
Have you had your 18th birthday celebration yet? A lot of teenagers and parents like to go all out with these ones. It's not only a celebration of making it to adulthood, but it's also a celebration for the folks, because they've been waiting so long to get you out of the house. Okay, that's just a joke. Chances are you may stay with them clear through college as well. It's not like the "old days" anymore, where the 18 year old moves out after their senior year. Kids like to stick around the home-front. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than dealing with rent and food bills during the college years. Anyone who's been there knows exactly what i mean.
It may have just been me, but I found the whole 18th birthday party a bit frightening. Suddenly everyone expects you to act and be grown-up. Well I have to admit, on my 18th birthday I certainly didn't feel like an adult yet. This feeling actually didn't come until I was about 23. Who knows? Maybe I was a late bloomer. Regardless, 18 is what we consider the beginning of adulthood in America. Other countries may view this issue differently, but we like to be clear about it over here. 18 is when you're able to date who you please. 18 is when you're able to vote, and 18 is when you're able to get a hotel room on your own. For the most part, that 18th birthday symbolizes adulthood. But, we parents can hardly believe that our fresh high school graduates are adults yet. Okay, one thing I will tell you is to go all out for your 18th birthday celebration. Think cakes, friends, college applications, no more curfews, and a lot of relaxing. You've made it through the awkward years.
17” Monitors
I’ve been using 17” computer monitors for years now. I think they’re the perfect combination of affordability and functionality. 17” is large enough to provide a large graphical interface, big enough for playing games or movies, but still falling in a reasonable price range. The price between smaller monitors, such as 15” monitors, and 17” monitors is usually not very much, yet I’ve often found that it shoots up a lot going from 17” monitors to 19” or larger ones.
17” monitors are also good for saving space, especially if you are using the older CRT type technology. CRT monitors of any size are pretty darn big, and once you get into the 19” and beyond level you really need a lot of desk space to fit them. Personally, the extra two inches of monitor size in a 19” monitor just isn’t worth the overall lack of room on my desk and the extra hassle in moving it around.
Of course, desk space is less of a problem with LCD monitors. 17” LCD monitors are extremely space effiecient, as well as 19” ones. I’ve noticed that LCD monitor screens tend to look bigger as well. I realize it’s a kind of optical illusion and they aren’t really bigger, but the 17” inches in an LCD seems to go a long way. The 17” inches is measured across the diagonal surface of the monitor, so any 17” monitors has the same screen size as any other, but LCD’s seem to use it more effectively. Since the price on 19” LCDs is still pretty high, and the 17” monitors have become almost in line with their CRT counterparts, I think 17” LCDs are the way to go.
I don’t think I’m the only one that feels this way either. I’ve noticed that 17” monitors seem to be a sort of standard for a lot of businesses. For a long time it was 15”, but I really don’t see as many 15” inch monitors these days. It seems like everyone is using a 17” monitor. Affordable and yet still fairly big, it’s the right combination of luxury and practicality.
If you have the money to spend, and plenty of desk space, you may want to consider an even larger monitor. Of course, if you’re not really using any graphical programs, don’t play computer games, or ever watch movies on your computer, you have to ask yourself; do I really need it? 17” monitors are more than big enough.
17” monitors are also good for saving space, especially if you are using the older CRT type technology. CRT monitors of any size are pretty darn big, and once you get into the 19” and beyond level you really need a lot of desk space to fit them. Personally, the extra two inches of monitor size in a 19” monitor just isn’t worth the overall lack of room on my desk and the extra hassle in moving it around.
Of course, desk space is less of a problem with LCD monitors. 17” LCD monitors are extremely space effiecient, as well as 19” ones. I’ve noticed that LCD monitor screens tend to look bigger as well. I realize it’s a kind of optical illusion and they aren’t really bigger, but the 17” inches in an LCD seems to go a long way. The 17” inches is measured across the diagonal surface of the monitor, so any 17” monitors has the same screen size as any other, but LCD’s seem to use it more effectively. Since the price on 19” LCDs is still pretty high, and the 17” monitors have become almost in line with their CRT counterparts, I think 17” LCDs are the way to go.
I don’t think I’m the only one that feels this way either. I’ve noticed that 17” monitors seem to be a sort of standard for a lot of businesses. For a long time it was 15”, but I really don’t see as many 15” inch monitors these days. It seems like everyone is using a 17” monitor. Affordable and yet still fairly big, it’s the right combination of luxury and practicality.
If you have the money to spend, and plenty of desk space, you may want to consider an even larger monitor. Of course, if you’re not really using any graphical programs, don’t play computer games, or ever watch movies on your computer, you have to ask yourself; do I really need it? 17” monitors are more than big enough.
17 Monitor
My computer only had a 17 monitor, but it was fine for my needs. It displayed text and simple graphics well, and let me serf the internet just fine. It also fit well on my desk, and didn't take up too much room. I remember the days when computer monitors were twelve inches and resolution was only 400 by 600 lines. Forgive me for sounding like an old timer, but sometimes just enough is plenty.
At least that is what i thought until I saw the new computer monitor models. The 19 monitor may only be 2 inches bigger than the 17 monitor, but boy those two inches make a difference. If I have friends over to watch a movie or something like that, its so much nicer. I've been comparison shopping and looking for a while, but I'm not sure. I think the flat screen models are the best. They don't have the glare of the others, and they look good. Besides that, they have a low profile and fit slimly on the desk. The downside is that they are more expensive. And anyway, I'm sort of used to what I have.
My computer itself is pretty old, and I've been thinking of getting an upgrade. Beside the 17 monitor, I don't have a graphics accelerator or a good sound card. The graphics card is so important for gaming. I know that games are a big time suck, but well, I can't resits. But I haven't been able to play doom 3 because my computer won't support it. As for Warcraft 3 or diablo – forget it. Just not going to happen.
The sound card I need for music. Not to listen to it – any sound card will play music. But to record music its good to have an expensive external sound card. You can do multiple track recording straight into the card, balance tracks, apply a lot of nifty affects, and do it all much cleaner. Its just all around more convenient for sure. But its not just a sound card I need. If I'm going to be making music on my computer, I'd like to be able to at least listen to it cleanly, but my little included dell computer speakers, while making clean sound, they've got no body. Completely flat. So, I guess you need everything you'd need for any home stereo. A reciever, a pre-amp, a tuner, and of course, great speakers. But one at a time. For now, I'm going to focus on upgrading my 17 monitor
At least that is what i thought until I saw the new computer monitor models. The 19 monitor may only be 2 inches bigger than the 17 monitor, but boy those two inches make a difference. If I have friends over to watch a movie or something like that, its so much nicer. I've been comparison shopping and looking for a while, but I'm not sure. I think the flat screen models are the best. They don't have the glare of the others, and they look good. Besides that, they have a low profile and fit slimly on the desk. The downside is that they are more expensive. And anyway, I'm sort of used to what I have.
My computer itself is pretty old, and I've been thinking of getting an upgrade. Beside the 17 monitor, I don't have a graphics accelerator or a good sound card. The graphics card is so important for gaming. I know that games are a big time suck, but well, I can't resits. But I haven't been able to play doom 3 because my computer won't support it. As for Warcraft 3 or diablo – forget it. Just not going to happen.
The sound card I need for music. Not to listen to it – any sound card will play music. But to record music its good to have an expensive external sound card. You can do multiple track recording straight into the card, balance tracks, apply a lot of nifty affects, and do it all much cleaner. Its just all around more convenient for sure. But its not just a sound card I need. If I'm going to be making music on my computer, I'd like to be able to at least listen to it cleanly, but my little included dell computer speakers, while making clean sound, they've got no body. Completely flat. So, I guess you need everything you'd need for any home stereo. A reciever, a pre-amp, a tuner, and of course, great speakers. But one at a time. For now, I'm going to focus on upgrading my 17 monitor
15 Year Fixed Mortgage Rates
Many people who are looking to buy a home consider whether they need 30 year or 15 year fixed mortgage rates for their monthly payments. Since many of us are buying homes later in life we would like to have the house paid off as soon as possible. Of course, there are many things to consider before signing any papers.
It is important to remember that you want to make sure that the interest rate doesn’t change over the course of the loan. Many lenders offer deals that are too good to be true. This means that they actually are too good to be true. Loans that have 15 year fixed mortgage rates maintain the same amount of interest throughout the life of the loan. This is beneficial for any of us who don’t like surprises.
When my husband and I were looking at homes for sale we decided to look into the various loans available with 15 year fixed mortgage rates. We wanted to pay off the house as soon as possible but we didn’t want to get in over our heads with high monthly payments.
In addition to considering loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates we also looked into loans that spanned 30 years as well. We didn’t really like the idea of having a mortgage as we were approaching the age of retirement so we were really hoping to get one of the loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates. There was a lot of pressure to have the house paid off as soon as possible.
However, after taking everything into consideration we chose a 30 year loan instead. There were many things that factored into this. First of all, I discovered that I was having a baby. My contribution to the monthly finances was unreliable since I was going to raise our child at home. Loans that had 15 year fixed mortgage rates required a higher monthly payment. We simply didn’t want to get in over our heads.
A thirty year loan brought the monthly payments down quite a bit. We also make extra payments throughout the year to make the principal shrink quicker. If you make a handful of extra payments throughout a twelve month period you can knock years off of your loan. This takes some discipline but it is well worth it in the long run.
Although we would have preferred the loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates we had to take our needs and abilities into consideration. As it is things worked out very well.
It is important to remember that you want to make sure that the interest rate doesn’t change over the course of the loan. Many lenders offer deals that are too good to be true. This means that they actually are too good to be true. Loans that have 15 year fixed mortgage rates maintain the same amount of interest throughout the life of the loan. This is beneficial for any of us who don’t like surprises.
When my husband and I were looking at homes for sale we decided to look into the various loans available with 15 year fixed mortgage rates. We wanted to pay off the house as soon as possible but we didn’t want to get in over our heads with high monthly payments.
In addition to considering loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates we also looked into loans that spanned 30 years as well. We didn’t really like the idea of having a mortgage as we were approaching the age of retirement so we were really hoping to get one of the loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates. There was a lot of pressure to have the house paid off as soon as possible.
However, after taking everything into consideration we chose a 30 year loan instead. There were many things that factored into this. First of all, I discovered that I was having a baby. My contribution to the monthly finances was unreliable since I was going to raise our child at home. Loans that had 15 year fixed mortgage rates required a higher monthly payment. We simply didn’t want to get in over our heads.
A thirty year loan brought the monthly payments down quite a bit. We also make extra payments throughout the year to make the principal shrink quicker. If you make a handful of extra payments throughout a twelve month period you can knock years off of your loan. This takes some discipline but it is well worth it in the long run.
Although we would have preferred the loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates we had to take our needs and abilities into consideration. As it is things worked out very well.
12 Volt Battery
Have you ever seen 12 volt batteris? They are absolutely huge. I am serious, a 12 volt battery is about the size of a small toaster oven. Okay, maybe I exagerate a little bit, but even still, who came up with the battery sizes anyway. Doesn't it strike you as a little weird the batteries that have caught on ? I know that it is weird to me. Aside from the giant 12 volt battery, there is, of course, the double a. This is not much bigger than the triple a battery, but for some reason, both of them exist for small electronic devices. There is, interestingly, no “A” battery, or even a “B”, but there is suddenly a C cell and a D. Why is this, and why are they so close in size, but so much bigger then the AA and AAA batteries? And of course, there is that oddball, the 9 volt, sitting all by itself, without even a letter to designate it. And the very next thing that they have? For some odd reason, it is the 12 volt battery. I swear, why have a 12 volt battery, a mammoth, much larger than all of the others, and then have nothing at all all the way down to the D?
And here is another thing that does not make sense. People have had the ability to charge their batteries for decades, and yet no one does it at all? I have a 12 volt battery charger, as well as chargers for all of my other batteries, but I feel like I am the only one. And why? It was not all of that big an investment to get a 12 volt battery, a 9 volt battery charger, and chargers for everything else, and yet no one does it. It saves money and the environment, but it seems like almost no one really cares about either of these things. I swear, people are simply irrational with the choices that they make some times. I hesitate to say that, but that is really the only thing to say about it. If you have a 12 volt battery flashlight, do you really want to have to buy a whole new battery every time that you use it up? It does not make any sense, and that is that, as far as I am concerned. But there is no telling with people.
And here is another thing that does not make sense. People have had the ability to charge their batteries for decades, and yet no one does it at all? I have a 12 volt battery charger, as well as chargers for all of my other batteries, but I feel like I am the only one. And why? It was not all of that big an investment to get a 12 volt battery, a 9 volt battery charger, and chargers for everything else, and yet no one does it. It saves money and the environment, but it seems like almost no one really cares about either of these things. I swear, people are simply irrational with the choices that they make some times. I hesitate to say that, but that is really the only thing to say about it. If you have a 12 volt battery flashlight, do you really want to have to buy a whole new battery every time that you use it up? It does not make any sense, and that is that, as far as I am concerned. But there is no telling with people.
12 Step Program
I have worked in the field of human services for many years. Throughout the years I have seen many therapy trends come and go, but one that seems to linger and be truly helpful to people is the 12 step program. I think one of the main reasons the 12 step program sustains the test of time is that most of the support groups that center themselves on the steps are run by members. Because the basic 12 step program is based on overcoming addictions each group can agree to focus on what the members need.
The most famous or recognizable 12 step program is alcoholics anonymous. This program has had such a large following and so many successful members that other programs for addictions have adapted the basic 12 steps to form groups. Some other program areas that run similar programming include addiction to prescription drugs, over eater’s anonymous, sexual addictions and addictions to thrill seeking. The common denominator for the 12 step program is admission to being in the control of what ever you are addicted to, and turning that addiction over to a higher power. There are multiple stages in achieving this but that is where the support and education from fellow group members comes in. Another commonality in the 12 step program is that it is spiritual in nature. This does not mean that there is any specific religious belief that is practiced during the course of treatment or during group meeting, but there is a focus on looking towards a power that is greater than oneself.
Another reason that there is such success in the 12 step program is that there is little or no cost to members. Some groups will take up a goodwill donation to help pay for supplies, coffee, postage or rental costs, but there is no payment to attend the support groups. This is especially helpful for people that do not have health care coverage or who cannot afford the co-pays for therapy costs. The 12 step program relies on its members to support each other during and in-between meetings. This ability to reach out to others that have experienced similar issues, pains and affliction is much more effective for some people than sitting in a mental health professional’s office talking one on one. The 12 step program also encourages people to have a sponsor, a person that you can reach out to and depend on when ever you are in need. Having this personal connection is what helps many people overcome addictions. The 12 step program offers many meetings throughout the world, so no matter where a person is when they need support, the support is a phone call away.
The most famous or recognizable 12 step program is alcoholics anonymous. This program has had such a large following and so many successful members that other programs for addictions have adapted the basic 12 steps to form groups. Some other program areas that run similar programming include addiction to prescription drugs, over eater’s anonymous, sexual addictions and addictions to thrill seeking. The common denominator for the 12 step program is admission to being in the control of what ever you are addicted to, and turning that addiction over to a higher power. There are multiple stages in achieving this but that is where the support and education from fellow group members comes in. Another commonality in the 12 step program is that it is spiritual in nature. This does not mean that there is any specific religious belief that is practiced during the course of treatment or during group meeting, but there is a focus on looking towards a power that is greater than oneself.
Another reason that there is such success in the 12 step program is that there is little or no cost to members. Some groups will take up a goodwill donation to help pay for supplies, coffee, postage or rental costs, but there is no payment to attend the support groups. This is especially helpful for people that do not have health care coverage or who cannot afford the co-pays for therapy costs. The 12 step program relies on its members to support each other during and in-between meetings. This ability to reach out to others that have experienced similar issues, pains and affliction is much more effective for some people than sitting in a mental health professional’s office talking one on one. The 12 step program also encourages people to have a sponsor, a person that you can reach out to and depend on when ever you are in need. Having this personal connection is what helps many people overcome addictions. The 12 step program offers many meetings throughout the world, so no matter where a person is when they need support, the support is a phone call away.
12 Step Program
The 12 step program is an extremely popular and often effective route to seek support or treatment for any number of conditions. There are dozens if not hundreds of different kinds of support group style meetings that follow the 12 step program model today. The 12 step model is for most people easy to follow, and is virtually guaranteed to produce at least some positive effects in your life if you tackle it seriously.
The first, biggest, and most famous 12 step program is of course Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA. AA began in the 1930s when two guys suffering from alcoholism got together and decided they would to whatever they could to assist each other in getting and staying sober. These two guys were Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, often referred to as Bill and Bob, and little did they know the impact their 12 step program would have on the world of the future.
The early 12 step program associated with AA was heavily focused on religion. If you pickup a copy of the AA ‘big book’ (a clear reference to the Bible) you’ll see that it’s filled with religious wording and references to God, the Father. The religion associated with the 12 step program was of course Christianity, and the model itself is loosely based on a Christian fellowship called the Oxford Group.
The Oxford Group emphasized a method involving self-reflection, surrender to God, admission of character defects, and restitution for harm done to others in order to recover from behavioral illnesses including addictions. The method that Bill and Bob put together was largely influenced by the Oxford Group, and would become the same 12 step model followed in 12 step programs today.
12 step programs still therefore usually encourage religion or at least spirituality. For this reason, atheists, agnostics, and non-Christians are often turned off from 12 step programs due to their strong Christian roots. However, most 12 step programs today offer meetings specifically designed for atheist or non-Christian members. Even in the regular meetings, it is rare for there to be any specific denomination emphasized or even mentioned in any religious discussion.
Today there are 12 step programs to help people struggling from addictions of any kind you can imagine, eating disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, as well as many other mental illnesses and traumatic experiences. Tried and tested, the 12 step program is always a good place to start if you are suffering from any of the conditions that there are programs for.
The first, biggest, and most famous 12 step program is of course Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA. AA began in the 1930s when two guys suffering from alcoholism got together and decided they would to whatever they could to assist each other in getting and staying sober. These two guys were Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, often referred to as Bill and Bob, and little did they know the impact their 12 step program would have on the world of the future.
The early 12 step program associated with AA was heavily focused on religion. If you pickup a copy of the AA ‘big book’ (a clear reference to the Bible) you’ll see that it’s filled with religious wording and references to God, the Father. The religion associated with the 12 step program was of course Christianity, and the model itself is loosely based on a Christian fellowship called the Oxford Group.
The Oxford Group emphasized a method involving self-reflection, surrender to God, admission of character defects, and restitution for harm done to others in order to recover from behavioral illnesses including addictions. The method that Bill and Bob put together was largely influenced by the Oxford Group, and would become the same 12 step model followed in 12 step programs today.
12 step programs still therefore usually encourage religion or at least spirituality. For this reason, atheists, agnostics, and non-Christians are often turned off from 12 step programs due to their strong Christian roots. However, most 12 step programs today offer meetings specifically designed for atheist or non-Christian members. Even in the regular meetings, it is rare for there to be any specific denomination emphasized or even mentioned in any religious discussion.
Today there are 12 step programs to help people struggling from addictions of any kind you can imagine, eating disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, as well as many other mental illnesses and traumatic experiences. Tried and tested, the 12 step program is always a good place to start if you are suffering from any of the conditions that there are programs for.
5 Gallon Water Bottle
It’s hurricane season again and that means it’s time to stock up on all of those essentials. If you live in a hurricane zone, you are already well-versed in the necessity of having canned goods and bottled water on hand. It’s a part of life for you and therefore if you know you’re going to need it, why not find the best deal for your dollar?
In terms of canned food, you’re best off to purchase it when it’s on sale. Stocking up when the price is low is always the smartest route. Many local grocers will have monthly or bi-monthly sales on these types of products because they know people are always ripe to grab a bargain.
Water is a bit different story. It’s plentiful and we can easily forget that when a natural disaster strikes, the water isn’t safe to drink. You can certainly go the standard way and buy small water bottles, but you’re going to be paying more for the convenience. A 5 gallon water bottle is easily a better deal and you’re going to be able to store a lot more water as well.
Remember that the water that you’d need after a hurricane isn’t only for drinking. You need to bathe as well and if your water supply has been contaminated, you’re not going to want that mess touching your skin. With a 5 gallon water bottle you can easily sponge bathe yourself and your family. With a few you can stay clean for a good number of days.
What about the family pets? They need some attention to after a hurricane so consider the fact that you can give them fresh and plentiful water with a 5 gallon water bottle. Simply use some of the water to feed them each day and they have a much better chance of surviving the ordeal than they would if they were forced to stave off their thirst in a mud puddle.
Not all water bottles are equal though. In addition to the storage capacity you’ve got to think about convenience. The best type of 5 gallon water bottle to buy is one that has a handle. It makes transporting them so much easier.Think about trying to carry a 5 gallon water bottle from the bottom as opposed to simply grabbing onto a handle; the latter is just that much easier.
You can find a good stock of water in most retail stores. Surprisingly prices do vary. If you are set on getting a 5 gallon water bottle that is filled with spring water expect to pay more than one that is brimming with standard everyday tap water. If you’re thinking about storing them for that extra rainy day, why not get a 5 gallon water bottle with spring water for drinking and several filled with tap water for bathing and washing clothes? If and when a hurricane does come crashing through, every spare penny you have is going to seem priceless.
In terms of canned food, you’re best off to purchase it when it’s on sale. Stocking up when the price is low is always the smartest route. Many local grocers will have monthly or bi-monthly sales on these types of products because they know people are always ripe to grab a bargain.
Water is a bit different story. It’s plentiful and we can easily forget that when a natural disaster strikes, the water isn’t safe to drink. You can certainly go the standard way and buy small water bottles, but you’re going to be paying more for the convenience. A 5 gallon water bottle is easily a better deal and you’re going to be able to store a lot more water as well.
Remember that the water that you’d need after a hurricane isn’t only for drinking. You need to bathe as well and if your water supply has been contaminated, you’re not going to want that mess touching your skin. With a 5 gallon water bottle you can easily sponge bathe yourself and your family. With a few you can stay clean for a good number of days.
What about the family pets? They need some attention to after a hurricane so consider the fact that you can give them fresh and plentiful water with a 5 gallon water bottle. Simply use some of the water to feed them each day and they have a much better chance of surviving the ordeal than they would if they were forced to stave off their thirst in a mud puddle.
Not all water bottles are equal though. In addition to the storage capacity you’ve got to think about convenience. The best type of 5 gallon water bottle to buy is one that has a handle. It makes transporting them so much easier.Think about trying to carry a 5 gallon water bottle from the bottom as opposed to simply grabbing onto a handle; the latter is just that much easier.
You can find a good stock of water in most retail stores. Surprisingly prices do vary. If you are set on getting a 5 gallon water bottle that is filled with spring water expect to pay more than one that is brimming with standard everyday tap water. If you’re thinking about storing them for that extra rainy day, why not get a 5 gallon water bottle with spring water for drinking and several filled with tap water for bathing and washing clothes? If and when a hurricane does come crashing through, every spare penny you have is going to seem priceless.
5 Gallon Water Bottle
Who's up for a nice refreshing glass of H2O? That's right; toss those lattes, soft drinks and syrupy beverages out the window and gulp down the good stuff. Why, you may ask? It's simple! Water is our life source. It's the fluid our bodies need to function and stay alive. Our cells are filled with it. So, I guess the big question remains. How much water do you consume in an average day? You should be chugging 6-8 cups. Coffee, soft drinks and beer don't count. In fact, they actually require you to consume more. The salt, sugar and caffeine steal the water from your muscles and billions of cells. You need to stay hydrated at all times. Maybe a 5 gallon water bottle would be of some help. Got one in your home or business?
My daughter always loves the dentist's office. It's funny to hear that, I know. No children typically enjoy visiting the dentist. However, my little girl finds it interesting and fun. Not only does she always receive a small toy, but she loves the 5 gallon water bottle in the waiting area. It's bizarre how something so simple can entertain a child. I'm just glad she drinks so much water. It's great for her growing body and mind. This goes the same for every living human being. We all need a certain amount of water each day. Millions of Americans walk around dehydrated. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. They live on sugary soft drinks and coffee. These are both terrible for your health. Not to mention the nasty effect they have on your pearly whites. These drinks pull water off of your body, as opposed to restoring water to muscle tissue. Of course this has an effect on your overall health. So pull those soft drinks out of your refrigerator and replace them with a 5 gallon water bottle. These are quite convenient. You can simply flip a lever and enjoy some H2O.
If you have children, installing a 5 gallon water bottle in your kitchen is a wonderful idea. Don't give them the option of soft drinks. Make it a special occasion thing; like once a week or so. I do this with my daughter and she drinks water and milk all the time. It doesn't bother here one bit, because it's what she's used to. Get on the H2O kick and live well!
My daughter always loves the dentist's office. It's funny to hear that, I know. No children typically enjoy visiting the dentist. However, my little girl finds it interesting and fun. Not only does she always receive a small toy, but she loves the 5 gallon water bottle in the waiting area. It's bizarre how something so simple can entertain a child. I'm just glad she drinks so much water. It's great for her growing body and mind. This goes the same for every living human being. We all need a certain amount of water each day. Millions of Americans walk around dehydrated. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. They live on sugary soft drinks and coffee. These are both terrible for your health. Not to mention the nasty effect they have on your pearly whites. These drinks pull water off of your body, as opposed to restoring water to muscle tissue. Of course this has an effect on your overall health. So pull those soft drinks out of your refrigerator and replace them with a 5 gallon water bottle. These are quite convenient. You can simply flip a lever and enjoy some H2O.
If you have children, installing a 5 gallon water bottle in your kitchen is a wonderful idea. Don't give them the option of soft drinks. Make it a special occasion thing; like once a week or so. I do this with my daughter and she drinks water and milk all the time. It doesn't bother here one bit, because it's what she's used to. Get on the H2O kick and live well!
4 Season Tents
One of the most important decisions for any camper or backpacker is "what tent do I buy?" Though the answer may not matter much in fine weather, when it starts to pour it may mean the difference between a cozy night in your sleeping bag and a miserable, drenched evening. What tent is right for you depends on how you'll be planning on using the tent. Similarly, your activities also dictate what aspects of the tent are most important to you. If you're backpacking on a long trip, then weight may be a primary concern, but if you're car camping then it's comfort and space, not weight, which will help you find the tent that's right for you.
If you're backpacking, then heavy, base camp style tents will do nothing but weigh you down. A more standard, backpacker's tent will be more suitable. Another choice still remains; do you want a 3 season tent or a 4 season tent? Generally, 4 season tents are built to withstand the worst mother nature has to offer; torrential rain, heavy snow, and howling winds. They have extra poles and tie downs to make the tent as sturdy as possible. 4 season tents are often dome-shaped in order to eliminate any flat spaces where snow could settle. The trade-off to all of this security is that 4 season tents are often heavier and bulkier than their 3 season brethren.
3 season tents are often similar to 4 season tents in general design, but they generally have fewer poles and are slightly less sturdy. However, they weigh less and pack lighter. They generally handle wind and rain quite well, but they're not designed to handle heavy snowfall. A few inches won't bother them by any means, but they are unlikely to stand up under heavy snow and are therefore not a good choice for winter camping.
Convertible tents offer a compromise between 3 season tent weight and 4 season tent security; they have poles and/or flaps that can be added in the winter and removed in spring, summer, and fall, allowing you to use the same tent in the summer than stood up to the twenty inch snow in the winter, without carrying the weight of the extra flap and poles. Though 3 season tents can handle some winter weather and 4 season tents work just fine in the summer, convertible tents can be the perfect compromise for the backpacker who wants to hike year-round but can only afford to purchase one tent.
If you're backpacking, then heavy, base camp style tents will do nothing but weigh you down. A more standard, backpacker's tent will be more suitable. Another choice still remains; do you want a 3 season tent or a 4 season tent? Generally, 4 season tents are built to withstand the worst mother nature has to offer; torrential rain, heavy snow, and howling winds. They have extra poles and tie downs to make the tent as sturdy as possible. 4 season tents are often dome-shaped in order to eliminate any flat spaces where snow could settle. The trade-off to all of this security is that 4 season tents are often heavier and bulkier than their 3 season brethren.
3 season tents are often similar to 4 season tents in general design, but they generally have fewer poles and are slightly less sturdy. However, they weigh less and pack lighter. They generally handle wind and rain quite well, but they're not designed to handle heavy snowfall. A few inches won't bother them by any means, but they are unlikely to stand up under heavy snow and are therefore not a good choice for winter camping.
Convertible tents offer a compromise between 3 season tent weight and 4 season tent security; they have poles and/or flaps that can be added in the winter and removed in spring, summer, and fall, allowing you to use the same tent in the summer than stood up to the twenty inch snow in the winter, without carrying the weight of the extra flap and poles. Though 3 season tents can handle some winter weather and 4 season tents work just fine in the summer, convertible tents can be the perfect compromise for the backpacker who wants to hike year-round but can only afford to purchase one tent.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
4 Color Printing
When using 4 color printing services, its not just the cost it takes that it is important, but the time it takes to get the job done. I had a 4 color printing job for a seminar the other week at a national conference of aeronautical engineers and designers, and was to give a presentation. Power point is a little stale, many people believe, and so I thought that I'd hand out everyone their own personal and personalized printouts of my stats with places where they can make their own notes as well as a form which they can use to send them back to me, and ask questions and give feedback. But, unfortunaltely, I was way behind schedule, and was only able to give the job to the printer palce four days before the scheduled event was to take place, so there was a rush on the order, and it was more expensive than a normal order.
When I got it back, I thought my 4 color printing job was alright, after briefly looking through the printout. Everything was ready for the conference, and when it was my turn to speak, there was appalause. Little did I know, that half of the printouts were misbound, with several of the pages in the wrong order. Not only that, but some of them had missing pages, while other ones had extra pages. The printing quality was, as promised, perfect, but they never bothered to bind it correctly!
To avoid mishaps like this 4 color printing debacle, it can be advantageous to bind your printouts yourself instead of ordering them bound for you. This can be offered by many 4 color printing companies, and they should give you a discount price. However, assembling all of those printouts will take forever, and the results wont look as professional. Another alternative is to have them offer you a moneyback guarantee that their printouts are all correctly assembled, well printed, and on time. Any company should be willing to stand behind their product like this, so if you cant get this money back guarantee or some other type of agreement, then you probably should not order your printouts from that company, but use someone else instead.
4 color printing is the name of the process, but in reality, it creates several thousand colors when its done. This is because it uses pixels, tiny dots of ink, in different combinations to fool the eye into thinking that there are many more colors than there actually are. This is the same way that newspapers and many magazines work, and is as good as the colors actually being there.
When I got it back, I thought my 4 color printing job was alright, after briefly looking through the printout. Everything was ready for the conference, and when it was my turn to speak, there was appalause. Little did I know, that half of the printouts were misbound, with several of the pages in the wrong order. Not only that, but some of them had missing pages, while other ones had extra pages. The printing quality was, as promised, perfect, but they never bothered to bind it correctly!
To avoid mishaps like this 4 color printing debacle, it can be advantageous to bind your printouts yourself instead of ordering them bound for you. This can be offered by many 4 color printing companies, and they should give you a discount price. However, assembling all of those printouts will take forever, and the results wont look as professional. Another alternative is to have them offer you a moneyback guarantee that their printouts are all correctly assembled, well printed, and on time. Any company should be willing to stand behind their product like this, so if you cant get this money back guarantee or some other type of agreement, then you probably should not order your printouts from that company, but use someone else instead.
4 color printing is the name of the process, but in reality, it creates several thousand colors when its done. This is because it uses pixels, tiny dots of ink, in different combinations to fool the eye into thinking that there are many more colors than there actually are. This is the same way that newspapers and many magazines work, and is as good as the colors actually being there.
3 Ring Binders
3 ring binders are one of the best ways to organize your papers. For students, this is even more true. You can get dividers to seperate 3 ring binders into different sections related by topic, such as math, chemistry, science, music, and general, or by date. You can get small ones for a single subject or large ones that can hold enough information to organize your whole life.
One of the best things about 3 ring binders is the convenience of it all. Without it, you can use folders, which have the advantage of not having to punch holes in paper, however, 3 ring binders also have folders that fit in them and can hold your papers so that you don't have to have holes punched in each paper, but just in the folders. I've always thought that the best system of organization involves not just a binder, but other things as well.
First of all, an organizer is really important. You should get a small one that you don't have to fit in your binder, but can carry in your pocket instead. It can keep all of your dates, names of contacts, connections, and business and personal associates, and even to do lists and lists of obligations and responsibilities. Plus, most have note pads at the end for any kind of miscellaneous notes.
Also, a good bag is essential. The type of bag you get, kind of depends on the kind of work you want to do. If you are a professional, for example, a briefcase or perhaps a small shoulder bag will do well, and look really snazzy too. You won't have to carry much besides a few papers, so it will be best to keep it light, since a small bag should be sufficient for your needs. If you are a student, you might use a shoulder bag too, but it is best to also have a backpack for days when you have to carry a lot of books. You can't fit more than one into a shoulder bag at a time. If you are always on the run, you might even consider a small hiking backpack, large enough to carry papers, books, and a few days of clothes, but small enough to not be ridiculously bulky and cumbersome. These are often called 3 day bags. There's plenty of room for 3 ring binders
Of course, if you only have a few simple papers, and not lots and lots of stuff, 3 ring binders might really be more than you need. I can't think what it's called, but I got what is essentially a small leather folder with room for pencils, pens, and a few papers, which is more than sufficient for taking my writing around to conferences. It looks slim and professional, and is lightweight too.
One of the best things about 3 ring binders is the convenience of it all. Without it, you can use folders, which have the advantage of not having to punch holes in paper, however, 3 ring binders also have folders that fit in them and can hold your papers so that you don't have to have holes punched in each paper, but just in the folders. I've always thought that the best system of organization involves not just a binder, but other things as well.
First of all, an organizer is really important. You should get a small one that you don't have to fit in your binder, but can carry in your pocket instead. It can keep all of your dates, names of contacts, connections, and business and personal associates, and even to do lists and lists of obligations and responsibilities. Plus, most have note pads at the end for any kind of miscellaneous notes.
Also, a good bag is essential. The type of bag you get, kind of depends on the kind of work you want to do. If you are a professional, for example, a briefcase or perhaps a small shoulder bag will do well, and look really snazzy too. You won't have to carry much besides a few papers, so it will be best to keep it light, since a small bag should be sufficient for your needs. If you are a student, you might use a shoulder bag too, but it is best to also have a backpack for days when you have to carry a lot of books. You can't fit more than one into a shoulder bag at a time. If you are always on the run, you might even consider a small hiking backpack, large enough to carry papers, books, and a few days of clothes, but small enough to not be ridiculously bulky and cumbersome. These are often called 3 day bags. There's plenty of room for 3 ring binders
Of course, if you only have a few simple papers, and not lots and lots of stuff, 3 ring binders might really be more than you need. I can't think what it's called, but I got what is essentially a small leather folder with room for pencils, pens, and a few papers, which is more than sufficient for taking my writing around to conferences. It looks slim and professional, and is lightweight too.
3M Electrical Tape
Electrical tape is a versatile adhesive tape used to insulate wires or anything that conducts electricity. Because of their ability to resist elements, heat, and UV, they are also often used in many different alternative applications, such as securing lighting cables or piping, and are found on work benches and in tool boxes everywhere.
Most electrical tapes are made out of various plastics, vinyl being the most commonly used kind. It was the company 3M that first invented the vinyl electrical tape, and they remain the leaders of the market.
3M electrical tapes are the standard in the industry, and they come in a variety of types. Their most popular version is the 3M 1710 Tartan electrical tape. It is the variety of tape most people immediately think of upon the mentioning of electrical tape. It is cheap, durable, flame retardant, resists UV damage, acids, alkalis, and moisture, and is easily the most commonly used electrical tape by electricians around the world.
Another popular 3M electrical tape is their Scotch Vinyl 35 electrical color coding tape. It has the same qualities of the 1710 Tartan, yet comes in 9 different color variations. The color coding is often used by electricians to code for the different functions of the wires they are taping.
The Scotch Super 33 Plus is a 3M electrical tape known for its extremely elastic nature and its ability to conform to any surface. It is used with PVC, and can insulate wires that conduct up to 600 volts. Like other 3M tapes, it is also very durable and damage resistant.
Finally, 3M also makes an electrical tape designed for sealing moisture away from electrical connections. The 3M Electrical Moisture sealant is a heavy duty 3M electrical tape, 45 millimeters thick, and is also made with a PVC backing to help it resist higher voltages (up to 600) and heat.
Since there is wiring involved in so many of our tools and appliances today, electrical tapes are widely used and essential commodities for anyone doing any kind of electrical work. Electrical tapes are available in most hardware stores, and whether you are a professional electrician or not, it is a good idea to have some around in your home. As the inventors of the vinyl electrical tape, the 3M electrical tapes are definitely considered to be amongst the finest to have.
Most electrical tapes are made out of various plastics, vinyl being the most commonly used kind. It was the company 3M that first invented the vinyl electrical tape, and they remain the leaders of the market.
3M electrical tapes are the standard in the industry, and they come in a variety of types. Their most popular version is the 3M 1710 Tartan electrical tape. It is the variety of tape most people immediately think of upon the mentioning of electrical tape. It is cheap, durable, flame retardant, resists UV damage, acids, alkalis, and moisture, and is easily the most commonly used electrical tape by electricians around the world.
Another popular 3M electrical tape is their Scotch Vinyl 35 electrical color coding tape. It has the same qualities of the 1710 Tartan, yet comes in 9 different color variations. The color coding is often used by electricians to code for the different functions of the wires they are taping.
The Scotch Super 33 Plus is a 3M electrical tape known for its extremely elastic nature and its ability to conform to any surface. It is used with PVC, and can insulate wires that conduct up to 600 volts. Like other 3M tapes, it is also very durable and damage resistant.
Finally, 3M also makes an electrical tape designed for sealing moisture away from electrical connections. The 3M Electrical Moisture sealant is a heavy duty 3M electrical tape, 45 millimeters thick, and is also made with a PVC backing to help it resist higher voltages (up to 600) and heat.
Since there is wiring involved in so many of our tools and appliances today, electrical tapes are widely used and essential commodities for anyone doing any kind of electrical work. Electrical tapes are available in most hardware stores, and whether you are a professional electrician or not, it is a good idea to have some around in your home. As the inventors of the vinyl electrical tape, the 3M electrical tapes are definitely considered to be amongst the finest to have.
3 Major Credit Bureaus
Some of us have no business writing about the three major credit bureaus, and some of us have no need for all that is involved in the 3 major credit bureaus. (And some of us fit in both of these categories, having no real assets to work with or write about!) In the same respect, the leading bureaus do factor into most of our lives—if we have ever purchased a home, a car, or other major item or if we use credit cards.
When we shop for autos or houses or even appliances or electrical or computer equipment, and we want to finance the items (get them on a loan to own or credit basis), the ones doing the financing will run a credit check with one of the 3 major credit bureaus: they will consult with or contact Equifax, Experian, and/or TransUnion. Listed here in alphabetical order are some of the particulars of each of the three major credit unions:
Equifax – www.equifax.com – Equifax offers services and products to protect against identity theft, to manage and check credit, and to prepare for a major purchase. Equifax also provides tools for checking the value of a property, credit ranking, and the latest in business solutions (for B2B, B2C, and direct marketing, for example) and news …featuring such valuable articles as “Small Businesses Beware: ‘Rip Me Off’ is Written all over You;” “Yo Say You Can Smell Phish in Your In-box?” “Credit Union Thwarts Phishers and Reveals How;” and “Websites Let Users Send Email to Future.”
TO CALL
For general concerns, call 1-800-685-1111
To report or investigate fraud, call 1-800-525-6285
TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
Experian – www.experian.com – Experian also offers products and services to protect against fraud, to check 3-credit bureau reports, to check vehicle history (with a report), and to get further educated—understanding your credit and heeding customer alerts (such as those on Experian’s Katrina victims help pages and how to beware of phishing).
TO CALL
For general concerns, or to report or investigate fraud, call
1-888-397-3742
TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion – www.transunion.com – Like the latter two, TransUnion offers products and support services for credit monitoring, provides fraud-prevention education and help, and free credit card report disclosures. As well, you can subscribe to the newsletter, to stay updated and get helpful credit tips; can find much information on preventing fraud or resuscitating your credit if you have been a victim of fraud; and can dispute credit card items you suspect or know to be false.
TO CALL
For general concerns, call 1-800-888-4213
To report or investigate fraud, call 1-800-680-7289
TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022
If you need to, use all three major credit bureaus, then, for help or support…or use one, as each of these three offers a combined, 3-in-1 report.
When we shop for autos or houses or even appliances or electrical or computer equipment, and we want to finance the items (get them on a loan to own or credit basis), the ones doing the financing will run a credit check with one of the 3 major credit bureaus: they will consult with or contact Equifax, Experian, and/or TransUnion. Listed here in alphabetical order are some of the particulars of each of the three major credit unions:
Equifax – www.equifax.com – Equifax offers services and products to protect against identity theft, to manage and check credit, and to prepare for a major purchase. Equifax also provides tools for checking the value of a property, credit ranking, and the latest in business solutions (for B2B, B2C, and direct marketing, for example) and news …featuring such valuable articles as “Small Businesses Beware: ‘Rip Me Off’ is Written all over You;” “Yo Say You Can Smell Phish in Your In-box?” “Credit Union Thwarts Phishers and Reveals How;” and “Websites Let Users Send Email to Future.”
TO CALL
For general concerns, call 1-800-685-1111
To report or investigate fraud, call 1-800-525-6285
TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
Experian – www.experian.com – Experian also offers products and services to protect against fraud, to check 3-credit bureau reports, to check vehicle history (with a report), and to get further educated—understanding your credit and heeding customer alerts (such as those on Experian’s Katrina victims help pages and how to beware of phishing).
TO CALL
For general concerns, or to report or investigate fraud, call
1-888-397-3742
TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion – www.transunion.com – Like the latter two, TransUnion offers products and support services for credit monitoring, provides fraud-prevention education and help, and free credit card report disclosures. As well, you can subscribe to the newsletter, to stay updated and get helpful credit tips; can find much information on preventing fraud or resuscitating your credit if you have been a victim of fraud; and can dispute credit card items you suspect or know to be false.
TO CALL
For general concerns, call 1-800-888-4213
To report or investigate fraud, call 1-800-680-7289
TO WRITE
To send snail mail correspondence, write to
PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022
If you need to, use all three major credit bureaus, then, for help or support…or use one, as each of these three offers a combined, 3-in-1 report.
3d Studio Max
3d studio max is the industry standard in modelling and animating computer realistic humanoid and animal models, as well as in creating realistic and dynamic backgrounds. It is costs a pretty penny, so can't be afforded by everyone, but if you are an animation professional, the cost is well worth it. Really, nothing can compare in quality, versitility, functionality, and high tech.
Animation is an elaborate process. If you are doing it, whether by hand or by computer, there are many steps which you must take before you achieve a finished product. One is that you must do first story boards, which are sketches of the main scenes and situations of your animation. Besides that, you must sketch and develop your characters, understanding both their appearance and their personality, as well as their different facial expressions and postures. This can take many many hours, and is one of the most involved parts of the animation process, and it takes place before the 3d studio max animation even begins.
One of the most crucial points in any animation is the walk cycle. Basically, this is a cycle of frames which show the character taking two steps from a set perspective – a left foot and a right foot. This can be then repeated over and over again, and voila, your character is walking. After that, you can make them walk through any environment. This is where the advantage of 3d studio max comes in over by hand animation: With animating by hand, you'll have to draw a different walk cycle from any perspective which you want to view the character, which can multiply your work by several times.
With a 3d studio max animation program, however, instead of just drawing a picture of the character doing certain things, you create a model of the character in 3 dimensions. This means that its almost like having a real actor – you can film your animation from any direction without re-drawing it, which, when making a full movie, is an almost indespensible technological innovation.
The draw back to 3d animation programs is that they have this very glassy, shinny, look to them. They don't have the same sense of individual style as hand drawn animations, and all look kind of the same, no matter what artist designs them. Really, although the 3d studio max animation is great for modelling backgrounds in a movie, it will never replace hand drawn characters fully.
Animation is an elaborate process. If you are doing it, whether by hand or by computer, there are many steps which you must take before you achieve a finished product. One is that you must do first story boards, which are sketches of the main scenes and situations of your animation. Besides that, you must sketch and develop your characters, understanding both their appearance and their personality, as well as their different facial expressions and postures. This can take many many hours, and is one of the most involved parts of the animation process, and it takes place before the 3d studio max animation even begins.
One of the most crucial points in any animation is the walk cycle. Basically, this is a cycle of frames which show the character taking two steps from a set perspective – a left foot and a right foot. This can be then repeated over and over again, and voila, your character is walking. After that, you can make them walk through any environment. This is where the advantage of 3d studio max comes in over by hand animation: With animating by hand, you'll have to draw a different walk cycle from any perspective which you want to view the character, which can multiply your work by several times.
With a 3d studio max animation program, however, instead of just drawing a picture of the character doing certain things, you create a model of the character in 3 dimensions. This means that its almost like having a real actor – you can film your animation from any direction without re-drawing it, which, when making a full movie, is an almost indespensible technological innovation.
The draw back to 3d animation programs is that they have this very glassy, shinny, look to them. They don't have the same sense of individual style as hand drawn animations, and all look kind of the same, no matter what artist designs them. Really, although the 3d studio max animation is great for modelling backgrounds in a movie, it will never replace hand drawn characters fully.
3 Day Diet
The 3 day diet is one of those trendy little diets that seems to be popular today. If you follow the 3 day diet correctly, you can supposedly lose upwards to 10 pounds in just three days. That seems like a lot of weight to lose in such a short period of time, is it healthy or even possible?
While its certainly possible to lose 10 pounds or even more in just three days, it’s probably not healthy, and generally not recommended by health professionals. The 3 day diet is invariably frowned on by nutritionists as being an overall a fad diet that is not very effective in producing sustainable weight lose. Sure you can lose 10 pounds in three days, but the chances are you’ll put it right back on again when you finish.
The 3 day diet isn’t really anything scientific or overly complicated. It’s basically just your typical calorie restricted diet. Most formulas for it involve three meals a day consisiting of very limited portions of low fat, low sugar foods. Some examples of a few of the meals recommended in the 3 day diet include half a grapefruit and one slice of toast for breakfast; a half a cup of tuna (no mayo) and a slice of toast for lunch; and a three ounce portion of chicken, two cups of vegetables and one cup of ice cream for dinner.
Like many diets, the 3 day diet recommends drinking 4+ glasses of water daily, and allows you to add any low calorie seasonings to your food, such as Worchester sauce, spices, mustards, vinegars, salt and pepper, soy sauce or ketchup. It also allows for drinking tea, coffee, or diet soda, so long as there is no sugar added.
So does this kind of 3 day diet plan work? Chances are you will in fact lose some weight if you stick to it. However, going from eating normal or oversized portions to eating the kinds of meals recommended in the three day diet is going to through your body’s metabolism for a loop. Essentially, you’ll be on starvation mode, and the moment you resume regular food consumption you’ll promptly start gaining wait again.
The recommendation to drink plenty of water is really the only thing the 3 day diet does right. Everyone should drink at least 4 glasses of water a day, whether dieting or not, and ideally should drink even more.
Overall, the 3 day diet is not the best diet plan. If you are otherwise healthy and just want to lose a few pounds for a reunion, wedding, or some other event coming up on the weekend, the 3 day diet may help, but in terms of an effective sustainable weight lose program its not going to help much in the long run.
While its certainly possible to lose 10 pounds or even more in just three days, it’s probably not healthy, and generally not recommended by health professionals. The 3 day diet is invariably frowned on by nutritionists as being an overall a fad diet that is not very effective in producing sustainable weight lose. Sure you can lose 10 pounds in three days, but the chances are you’ll put it right back on again when you finish.
The 3 day diet isn’t really anything scientific or overly complicated. It’s basically just your typical calorie restricted diet. Most formulas for it involve three meals a day consisiting of very limited portions of low fat, low sugar foods. Some examples of a few of the meals recommended in the 3 day diet include half a grapefruit and one slice of toast for breakfast; a half a cup of tuna (no mayo) and a slice of toast for lunch; and a three ounce portion of chicken, two cups of vegetables and one cup of ice cream for dinner.
Like many diets, the 3 day diet recommends drinking 4+ glasses of water daily, and allows you to add any low calorie seasonings to your food, such as Worchester sauce, spices, mustards, vinegars, salt and pepper, soy sauce or ketchup. It also allows for drinking tea, coffee, or diet soda, so long as there is no sugar added.
So does this kind of 3 day diet plan work? Chances are you will in fact lose some weight if you stick to it. However, going from eating normal or oversized portions to eating the kinds of meals recommended in the three day diet is going to through your body’s metabolism for a loop. Essentially, you’ll be on starvation mode, and the moment you resume regular food consumption you’ll promptly start gaining wait again.
The recommendation to drink plenty of water is really the only thing the 3 day diet does right. Everyone should drink at least 4 glasses of water a day, whether dieting or not, and ideally should drink even more.
Overall, the 3 day diet is not the best diet plan. If you are otherwise healthy and just want to lose a few pounds for a reunion, wedding, or some other event coming up on the weekend, the 3 day diet may help, but in terms of an effective sustainable weight lose program its not going to help much in the long run.
3 Day Diet
Everyone, it seems, is trying strange fads or ingesting crazy concoctions to lose weight or improve their health. They want a get slim quick fix, or an easy elixer of youth, or something else equally absurd instead of to take the time actually required to improve health. The latest fad is called the 3 day diet, and it claims that, by consuming what it tells you to, you can lose ten pounds in three days. Come on, what are we foolish. It tells you to eat saltine crackers, toast, eggs, tuna, coffee, tea, apples, cheese. All regular stuff, nothing magical or “high tech” in any of it, and in 3 days, you're supposed to lose all of that weight. I have trouble believing it.
If it is true, it is probably because of the small amount you eat on the 3 day diet, and it probably is mostly “water weight.” Water weight means that what you lose is mostly water flushing out of your system, and very little body mass is actually reduced. Losing water weight is actually pretty pointless since it just means getting dehydrated. This can be dangerous, and is certainly unhealthy.
The best way to lose weight is the old, traditional way, in my oppinion, although it takes a little longer. You exercise regularly, eat lots of green leafy vegetables, and also fruits in moderation, cut out processed and fatty foods, and don't snack between meals. Also, very high carbohydrate food is not really good for your diet either as it will fill you up with calories. This is not a 3 day diet, or even a 30 day diet, but nonetheless, within a couple of months, you will be slimmer and healthier, and happier too.
There are diets that are outright dangerous. The atkins diet, for example, works by throwing your liver into ketosis by eating nothing but lots of protien. This can cause liver damage, and in some cases, death. Nonetheless, it does make you lose weight at a high rate of speed, but once you get off it, you will probably gain the weight right back.
If you are going to get on a 3 day diet program, one thing to consider is what kind of exercise to do to supplement your dieting. Jogging is very good, but can be hard on your knees. Bike riding is a little safer on your joints in the long run. One of the best exercises, however, is swimming, because it is zero impact and exercises the whole body. Personally, I like to swim for at least half an hour every day. Nothing makes me feel healthier or more refreshed.
If it is true, it is probably because of the small amount you eat on the 3 day diet, and it probably is mostly “water weight.” Water weight means that what you lose is mostly water flushing out of your system, and very little body mass is actually reduced. Losing water weight is actually pretty pointless since it just means getting dehydrated. This can be dangerous, and is certainly unhealthy.
The best way to lose weight is the old, traditional way, in my oppinion, although it takes a little longer. You exercise regularly, eat lots of green leafy vegetables, and also fruits in moderation, cut out processed and fatty foods, and don't snack between meals. Also, very high carbohydrate food is not really good for your diet either as it will fill you up with calories. This is not a 3 day diet, or even a 30 day diet, but nonetheless, within a couple of months, you will be slimmer and healthier, and happier too.
There are diets that are outright dangerous. The atkins diet, for example, works by throwing your liver into ketosis by eating nothing but lots of protien. This can cause liver damage, and in some cases, death. Nonetheless, it does make you lose weight at a high rate of speed, but once you get off it, you will probably gain the weight right back.
If you are going to get on a 3 day diet program, one thing to consider is what kind of exercise to do to supplement your dieting. Jogging is very good, but can be hard on your knees. Bike riding is a little safer on your joints in the long run. One of the best exercises, however, is swimming, because it is zero impact and exercises the whole body. Personally, I like to swim for at least half an hour every day. Nothing makes me feel healthier or more refreshed.
3 Card Poker
While Texas Hold ‘Em is probably one of the most frequently played styles of poker these days, there is a growing trend among players to try their luck at 3 card poker. This game is also referred to as tricard poker or guts by those who have played it for quite some time. It is an exciting game that tests both the skill and nerve of even the most veteran player simply by the nature of its rules.
In 3 card poker there are usually five or more players in order to create a more competitive match. The maximum number of players is usually set at ten which almost always results in a most exhilarating time for everyone. Play begins with all at the table placing their bets or antes into the pot. Players are then dealt three cards each and must decide whether or not they are going to play or fold. As it is very difficult to get even a pair in this version of poker most players will routinely fold. If everyone at the table folds their cards the pot is carried over to the remaining hand. If only one person plays they win the pot regardless of what they have. As you can surmise the amount of money in the pot can build rather quickly as there are no other cards available to the players than the three that are dealt. A game of 3 card poker can quickly turn into something similar to a race to the finish between horses at your local track.
Now that the basic rules for 3 card poker are known, it is also fun to decide which of the two most well-liked versions of the game you should play. The first is called Survivor. In this type of guts, of all the players who do not fold only the one with the lowest valued hand must pay the pot amount back into the center of the table. Therefore, if you feel that you have a competitive hand the risk of playing is not as great as in the version known as Monte Carlo. In Monte Carlo 3 card poker everyone who plays and does not win must pay into the new pot. This can be from as little as one player to everyone at the table except the winner assuming no players folded. As long as there is more than one person playing each hand the successful pot will always be more than just the original wagers with the potential winnings growing rapidly.
As you can see it is quite easy for the pot to build in either version of 3 card poker. When a round eventually occurs with just one player showing his cards, the game returns to what is essentially the beginning and the excitement begins anew.
In 3 card poker there are usually five or more players in order to create a more competitive match. The maximum number of players is usually set at ten which almost always results in a most exhilarating time for everyone. Play begins with all at the table placing their bets or antes into the pot. Players are then dealt three cards each and must decide whether or not they are going to play or fold. As it is very difficult to get even a pair in this version of poker most players will routinely fold. If everyone at the table folds their cards the pot is carried over to the remaining hand. If only one person plays they win the pot regardless of what they have. As you can surmise the amount of money in the pot can build rather quickly as there are no other cards available to the players than the three that are dealt. A game of 3 card poker can quickly turn into something similar to a race to the finish between horses at your local track.
Now that the basic rules for 3 card poker are known, it is also fun to decide which of the two most well-liked versions of the game you should play. The first is called Survivor. In this type of guts, of all the players who do not fold only the one with the lowest valued hand must pay the pot amount back into the center of the table. Therefore, if you feel that you have a competitive hand the risk of playing is not as great as in the version known as Monte Carlo. In Monte Carlo 3 card poker everyone who plays and does not win must pay into the new pot. This can be from as little as one player to everyone at the table except the winner assuming no players folded. As long as there is more than one person playing each hand the successful pot will always be more than just the original wagers with the potential winnings growing rapidly.
As you can see it is quite easy for the pot to build in either version of 3 card poker. When a round eventually occurs with just one player showing his cards, the game returns to what is essentially the beginning and the excitement begins anew.
2 Weeks Pregnant
So, you just found out you're pregnant, congratulations! How far along are you? How do you measure that? Well, it all depends on how well you kept track of your cycle. Health care providers and OBGYNs count pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual period. That would make you approximately 4-5 weeks pregnant by the time your next period is late, around the time you took your home pregnancy test. Gee, that went fast, right?
But, you have not technically been pregnant that long! You're most likely 2 weeks pregnant, if measured by the actual date of ovulation and conception. The pregnancy really began when your egg was fertilized, 10-14 days ago.
When a woman conceives, it is within a 24-48 hour window either before or after ovulation occurs. This is usually around day 14-18 of a woman's cycle. But let's go back to the beginning of this cycle. You're 2 weeks pregnant, so when did your cycle start?
The first cycle day is the first day of the menstrual period. It may last 5-7 days. Then, in another week, the ovaries prepare to release an egg. Ovulation typically occurs between day 14 and 18 of that cycle. If there is sperm at the top of the fallopian tube waiting for the release of the egg, (sperm can survive for up to 5 days), the egg could be fertilized. It takes another 6-8 days for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. Then, the hormones are released that will cause the body's temperature to be higher than usual and create a warm, protective environment for the fertilized egg. These hormones can be detected about 10-14 days after ovulation and fertilization. So, do the math, you are 2 weeks pregnant counting from the date of conception.
However, because most women don't keep track of when they have ovulated, OBGYNs count from the first day of the last menstrual period, assuming that a woman's cycle is normally about 4 weeks. That, however, is a broad generalization because women's cycles vary greatly from that average. So, if you know the approximate average length of your cycles, you can better adjust the time frame for your pregnancy. If you have a 5-week cycle typically, then you would say that you are 4 weeks pregnant, even though it has been 5 weeks since your period began, in order to be more accurate with the way your OB will measure your pregnancy.
Pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks in length, counting 4 weeks since your last period started, but not taking into account a woman who has longer cycles than 4 weeks. So, if your period was just late, consider yourself 4 weeks pregnant rather than 5, and add time to account for how long you waited to test after your period was due. Congratulations! You are 2 weeks pregnant! But, tell your ob that you're 4 weeks pregnant (or more)!
But, you have not technically been pregnant that long! You're most likely 2 weeks pregnant, if measured by the actual date of ovulation and conception. The pregnancy really began when your egg was fertilized, 10-14 days ago.
When a woman conceives, it is within a 24-48 hour window either before or after ovulation occurs. This is usually around day 14-18 of a woman's cycle. But let's go back to the beginning of this cycle. You're 2 weeks pregnant, so when did your cycle start?
The first cycle day is the first day of the menstrual period. It may last 5-7 days. Then, in another week, the ovaries prepare to release an egg. Ovulation typically occurs between day 14 and 18 of that cycle. If there is sperm at the top of the fallopian tube waiting for the release of the egg, (sperm can survive for up to 5 days), the egg could be fertilized. It takes another 6-8 days for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. Then, the hormones are released that will cause the body's temperature to be higher than usual and create a warm, protective environment for the fertilized egg. These hormones can be detected about 10-14 days after ovulation and fertilization. So, do the math, you are 2 weeks pregnant counting from the date of conception.
However, because most women don't keep track of when they have ovulated, OBGYNs count from the first day of the last menstrual period, assuming that a woman's cycle is normally about 4 weeks. That, however, is a broad generalization because women's cycles vary greatly from that average. So, if you know the approximate average length of your cycles, you can better adjust the time frame for your pregnancy. If you have a 5-week cycle typically, then you would say that you are 4 weeks pregnant, even though it has been 5 weeks since your period began, in order to be more accurate with the way your OB will measure your pregnancy.
Pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks in length, counting 4 weeks since your last period started, but not taking into account a woman who has longer cycles than 4 weeks. So, if your period was just late, consider yourself 4 weeks pregnant rather than 5, and add time to account for how long you waited to test after your period was due. Congratulations! You are 2 weeks pregnant! But, tell your ob that you're 4 weeks pregnant (or more)!
2 Line Telephone
The key to any small business is to have the ability to accept phone calls or faxes and not have the phone line tied up. This means that there must be at least a 2 line telephone that is in service in the office. Many people also supplement this with an instant messenger and also with cell phones. In the long run a good 2 line telephone can be more useful. They are usually one primary phone line and a secondary phone line so that the phone lines can pass off any phone calls when the called line is in use.
There is also the advantage that most phone lines are installed with what is called a redundant line. This means that in most cases there is no need to install the wiring for a second phone line and the redundant line can be made into a full functioning phone line that can also be tied into a good 2 line telephone. This can be cheaper than having to rely on some outside means of communication that may not function as well as a traditional land line.
These telephones are also something that are able to provide digital answering and also can be set up with a form of voice mail for a company that has multiple people that work there. This means that one 2 line telephone can be useful as not just a telephone, but much more. These phones are also capable of being set up as a mini switch board that can transfer and conference phone calls. This is a functionality that has been very useful to a company that wants to have extra options, but not the added expense that a phone company can cause.
This also means that the company has more control of the calls that come in and they’re not being forced to be submissive to the direct whims of a phone company. Most of the newer 2 line telephone systems are also diverse enough to be customized to the unique needs of a company that is still rising up the food chain and gaining their own secure place in the market.
With the phones not a concern, that means that the company can focus on more important things than if a phone call will be received and if the phone will be dependable. The newer phones are something that has proven themselves with companies throughout the United States and the world. This means that the 2 line telephone systems that are in the market are worthy of the attention that they warrant and are worth the cost that is asked for a quality telephone like these. This is something that most companies have not delved into when they think of with a phone system and the 2 line telephone systems will make it so that the phone and incoming phone calls will not be a headache.
There is also the advantage that most phone lines are installed with what is called a redundant line. This means that in most cases there is no need to install the wiring for a second phone line and the redundant line can be made into a full functioning phone line that can also be tied into a good 2 line telephone. This can be cheaper than having to rely on some outside means of communication that may not function as well as a traditional land line.
These telephones are also something that are able to provide digital answering and also can be set up with a form of voice mail for a company that has multiple people that work there. This means that one 2 line telephone can be useful as not just a telephone, but much more. These phones are also capable of being set up as a mini switch board that can transfer and conference phone calls. This is a functionality that has been very useful to a company that wants to have extra options, but not the added expense that a phone company can cause.
This also means that the company has more control of the calls that come in and they’re not being forced to be submissive to the direct whims of a phone company. Most of the newer 2 line telephone systems are also diverse enough to be customized to the unique needs of a company that is still rising up the food chain and gaining their own secure place in the market.
With the phones not a concern, that means that the company can focus on more important things than if a phone call will be received and if the phone will be dependable. The newer phones are something that has proven themselves with companies throughout the United States and the world. This means that the 2 line telephone systems that are in the market are worthy of the attention that they warrant and are worth the cost that is asked for a quality telephone like these. This is something that most companies have not delved into when they think of with a phone system and the 2 line telephone systems will make it so that the phone and incoming phone calls will not be a headache.
2 Car Garages
Most families in the US have at least two cars per family however, not all have the garages to shelter them during the winter and protect them at the same time from vandalism and theft. Many people mistakenly think that building a garage is high in both cost and time. It doesn’t need to be, in fact many people can put together one of the 2 car garages that are available today in little time and with limited expense.
The space you can afford to spare for the garage is the first thing to consider as that will cut down on the choice available and styles as well; second thing which is as important as the first is your budget and this is what will determine the material of your garage. Before you decide on the budget you must keep in mind that 2 car garages are not something you build everyday. Therefore it is better to put out a few more dollars the first time rather than having to repair or replace the garage later which means you will be spending more in the long run.
Once you have decided on the size of the garage and the budget it is time to look around for 2 car garages and the first place I suggest is the Internet. With the vast number of retailers available it’s here that you will find the biggest variety and choice. An added benefit of browsing online for one of these 2 car garages packages is that you’ll easily find the best deal.
If you’re uncomfortable purchasing something this large online, there are bound to be local retailers that have several different options available. It is important that you also look up the guarantees when you shop for 2 car garages, especially when shopping online; service is yet another important point as there may be some details that need fixing or servicing well after the garage is installed and in use.
Building a new garage is an investment that should last you a lifetime which means you’re going to have to dole out a few bucks to get one that lasts. 2 car garages are a great way to go even for a one car family because the extra space is going to come in handy for storage.
Most can easily be built by yourself if you dedicate your time and effort to it but, I have to say that I strongly recommend a professional hand in this matter to ensure you’ve got everything in the place it needs to be. Also, when a company builds it for you, there is going to be a guarantee in place for both materials and workmanship. If you go it alone and tackle building one of the 2 car garages available in a package format, the only thing that is covered is the materials.
The space you can afford to spare for the garage is the first thing to consider as that will cut down on the choice available and styles as well; second thing which is as important as the first is your budget and this is what will determine the material of your garage. Before you decide on the budget you must keep in mind that 2 car garages are not something you build everyday. Therefore it is better to put out a few more dollars the first time rather than having to repair or replace the garage later which means you will be spending more in the long run.
Once you have decided on the size of the garage and the budget it is time to look around for 2 car garages and the first place I suggest is the Internet. With the vast number of retailers available it’s here that you will find the biggest variety and choice. An added benefit of browsing online for one of these 2 car garages packages is that you’ll easily find the best deal.
If you’re uncomfortable purchasing something this large online, there are bound to be local retailers that have several different options available. It is important that you also look up the guarantees when you shop for 2 car garages, especially when shopping online; service is yet another important point as there may be some details that need fixing or servicing well after the garage is installed and in use.
Building a new garage is an investment that should last you a lifetime which means you’re going to have to dole out a few bucks to get one that lasts. 2 car garages are a great way to go even for a one car family because the extra space is going to come in handy for storage.
Most can easily be built by yourself if you dedicate your time and effort to it but, I have to say that I strongly recommend a professional hand in this matter to ensure you’ve got everything in the place it needs to be. Also, when a company builds it for you, there is going to be a guarantee in place for both materials and workmanship. If you go it alone and tackle building one of the 2 car garages available in a package format, the only thing that is covered is the materials.
2 Car Garages
There are many options for building 2 car garages, and it is important to consider all of them before going about it. The simplest 2 car garage building plan is to simply get a contractor to do it. There are many people who specialize in doing add-ons to existing houses, and planning out and building 2 car garages is well within their realm of expertise. You can get the chance to look at many different plans, discuss costs and time frames, and compare the offers from all of the different contractors before you go and decide who you should go with, which is really useful. Unfortunately, even with the most modest of 2 car garages, getting a major addition made to your house can get really pricey pretty darned fast, so you might want to find a different way to do things.
Another option that you have is to get ready made 2 car garages from some company that specializes in premade buildings. There are steel 2 car garages that you can buy, have delivered, and assemble in your own house, and these kits will do a lot to make things more affordable. The down side is that putting together a building is not exactly easy to do, especially if it is something substantial like a 2 car garage. It is one thing to build your own shed, it is quite another to build 2 car garages, which really take a tremendous amount of knowledge and work. Still, these premade kits are within the price range of many people who are around today, and so are worth considering.
Of course, if you are an expert, building 2 car garages might be an option that you wish to consider. You should keep in mind that, although 2 car garages are much much easier to make than whole houses, they are still a substantial undertaking. You will need plans, supplies, and quite a few specialized tools, as well as a good amount of knowledge to really succeed in this kind of project. Still, it is nice to be able to say that you did it all yourself. Many folks feel a real sense of pride when they can show off their own finished two car garages to all of their friends, and be congratulated on a job well done. If this sounds like you, you should definitely consider this option to build your dream.
Another option that you have is to get ready made 2 car garages from some company that specializes in premade buildings. There are steel 2 car garages that you can buy, have delivered, and assemble in your own house, and these kits will do a lot to make things more affordable. The down side is that putting together a building is not exactly easy to do, especially if it is something substantial like a 2 car garage. It is one thing to build your own shed, it is quite another to build 2 car garages, which really take a tremendous amount of knowledge and work. Still, these premade kits are within the price range of many people who are around today, and so are worth considering.
Of course, if you are an expert, building 2 car garages might be an option that you wish to consider. You should keep in mind that, although 2 car garages are much much easier to make than whole houses, they are still a substantial undertaking. You will need plans, supplies, and quite a few specialized tools, as well as a good amount of knowledge to really succeed in this kind of project. Still, it is nice to be able to say that you did it all yourself. Many folks feel a real sense of pride when they can show off their own finished two car garages to all of their friends, and be congratulated on a job well done. If this sounds like you, you should definitely consider this option to build your dream.
1 Month Pregnant
Technically when most people think of a pregnant woman, they think of someone who is bloated, out of shape and is trundling along with a swollen belly. But little do they realize that that visual spectacle of pregnancy is restricted to the last few months. Or even the last month. Most women who are in the early stages of pregnancy are not even visually distinguishable from several other women who walk around. And this is especially so in the case of women who are 1 month pregnant.
Women who are 1 month pregnant don’t look any different from other women. Sure they feel different. In fact, one of the first signs that they are pregnant is indicated to them by the way they feel. A missed period is universally accepted as an indication that a woman is pregnant. But when a woman is 1 month pregnant, a missed period does not feel any different than when she misses her period due to other, extraneous causes like stress or an unhealthy lifestyle. A woman who is 1 month pregnant however has some symptoms like nausea, weakness etc. But these are not mandatory issues for all women who are 1 month pregnant. In fact, some women may not have any of these symptoms at all.
Some of the other things that women who are 1 month pregnant face include a sudden dislike (or in some cases, like) for otherwise familiar foods. Some women start hating their morning dose of coffee and begin vomiting if they force themselves to have it. Other women suddenly find that they are unable to enjoy a glass of wine or other alcohol. This is especially so in the case of foods that are pungent or have strong flavors. But most women who in the early stages of their pregnancy, as early as 1 month pregnant, show some or all of these signs. This would be a good time to realize that they are pregnant. And to take the necessary steps to ensure a healthy yet balanced diet.
But a constant complaint that all women who are 1 month pregnant have is that they are forced to make umpteen number of visits to the loo! For most of them, it is more of an embarrassment as they find themselves taking more than the usual toilet breaks. And especially in the early months of the pregnancy, when the bulge is as yet invisible, they might seem to be shirking work or being rather incontinent! But a vast majority of women, especially those who are 1 month pregnant, face this problem.
Women who are 1 month pregnant don’t look any different from other women. Sure they feel different. In fact, one of the first signs that they are pregnant is indicated to them by the way they feel. A missed period is universally accepted as an indication that a woman is pregnant. But when a woman is 1 month pregnant, a missed period does not feel any different than when she misses her period due to other, extraneous causes like stress or an unhealthy lifestyle. A woman who is 1 month pregnant however has some symptoms like nausea, weakness etc. But these are not mandatory issues for all women who are 1 month pregnant. In fact, some women may not have any of these symptoms at all.
Some of the other things that women who are 1 month pregnant face include a sudden dislike (or in some cases, like) for otherwise familiar foods. Some women start hating their morning dose of coffee and begin vomiting if they force themselves to have it. Other women suddenly find that they are unable to enjoy a glass of wine or other alcohol. This is especially so in the case of foods that are pungent or have strong flavors. But most women who in the early stages of their pregnancy, as early as 1 month pregnant, show some or all of these signs. This would be a good time to realize that they are pregnant. And to take the necessary steps to ensure a healthy yet balanced diet.
But a constant complaint that all women who are 1 month pregnant have is that they are forced to make umpteen number of visits to the loo! For most of them, it is more of an embarrassment as they find themselves taking more than the usual toilet breaks. And especially in the early months of the pregnancy, when the bulge is as yet invisible, they might seem to be shirking work or being rather incontinent! But a vast majority of women, especially those who are 1 month pregnant, face this problem.
1 800 numbers
1 800 numbers can be a great feature for a business. It makes some difference what kind of business you own. For example, if you own a restaurant, or a coffee shop, you do not need a 1 800 number, because local customers can call you toll free anyway, and why would someone call you from another state or another country. But If you own a business that does international shipping, or provides communication services, a 1 800 number is essential.
There are a variety of different companies that offer 1 800 numbers to businesses. They are usually priced by the number of minutes per month they afford. If you are only going to be using the phone for 100 minutes or less each month, you can pay as little as ten dollars monthly, but if you own a large business with lots of phone lines, you'll have to likely pay more in the range of $100 a month. It all depends on what kind of service you need.
If you want to be available internationally, you might have to pay even more, but fortunately, international 1 800 numbers are rarely needed by most businesses. It just isn't practical. Even if you are a large shipping company, you will only have to talk to people in large companies a moderate amount, and they will gladly pay the cost to call you internationally as part of the cost of doing business. It is in the end much better to let them foot the bill than paying the high and often extreme rates for international toll free numbers.
As a consumer, be wary of 1 800 numbers. I remember when I was growing up, they were all free – that was what “1 800” meant. And most of them are still free. Most people are not aware of it, but sometimes people will get a number that starts with those numbers, but charge a high toll to call it. They will tell you somewhere that there is a toll usually – at least they are supposed to, but even if they do, they will hide it, in small print at the end of a commercial or soemthing like that so that you do not notice, and then, when you call, you might be paying as high as $2.00 a minute when you thought you were doing something for free. This is especially popular overseas where the regulations controlling the phones and the phone companies are not as tight as they are over here.
There are a variety of different companies that offer 1 800 numbers to businesses. They are usually priced by the number of minutes per month they afford. If you are only going to be using the phone for 100 minutes or less each month, you can pay as little as ten dollars monthly, but if you own a large business with lots of phone lines, you'll have to likely pay more in the range of $100 a month. It all depends on what kind of service you need.
If you want to be available internationally, you might have to pay even more, but fortunately, international 1 800 numbers are rarely needed by most businesses. It just isn't practical. Even if you are a large shipping company, you will only have to talk to people in large companies a moderate amount, and they will gladly pay the cost to call you internationally as part of the cost of doing business. It is in the end much better to let them foot the bill than paying the high and often extreme rates for international toll free numbers.
As a consumer, be wary of 1 800 numbers. I remember when I was growing up, they were all free – that was what “1 800” meant. And most of them are still free. Most people are not aware of it, but sometimes people will get a number that starts with those numbers, but charge a high toll to call it. They will tell you somewhere that there is a toll usually – at least they are supposed to, but even if they do, they will hide it, in small print at the end of a commercial or soemthing like that so that you do not notice, and then, when you call, you might be paying as high as $2.00 a minute when you thought you were doing something for free. This is especially popular overseas where the regulations controlling the phones and the phone companies are not as tight as they are over here.
1 800 Flowers
1 800 flowers has come to the rescue to save me from the inevitable annual forget Grandma’s birthday event. For some reason, I can’t seem to remember my grandmother’s birthday. I know that my grandmother was born on January 30th and I even have it written on my calendar. It really isn’t even necessary for me to have it written. I do have it in my head, but her birthday seems to fall right at the time that I am just unwinding from the holiday season and the next thing I know, it’s February.
For some reason, I find myself in the middle of January panicked that I have nothing to give my Grandmother for her birthday. She lives in another state, so I have to make sure that I choose a gift that will reach her in time. Most of the items I come across take four to six weeks for delivery and it is just impossible for me to order a gift for my Grandmother that far in advance. 1 800 flowers offers a huge selection of gift baskets and flower arrangements that will reach her home in plenty of time for her birthday.
There are places that offer express shipping, but I find that I wind up paying way too much in shipping costs. 1 800 flowers provides a great selection of thoughtful gifts without the long wait for low-cost shipping and without the high cost of express shipping. I also like that 1 800 flowers keeps their prices very reasonable, so I know that I will find a quality gift for my Grandmother at a great price.
You may think that you have to call to order a gift from 1 800 flowers, and this is an option, but they have an excellent website and you can shop online for the perfect gift. It is nice to be able to see the actual arrangement. However, if you have something in mind, you can just call 1 800 flowers and place your order. I personally prefer to use the website so I can see what I am buying.
Another thing that I love about 1 800 flowers is that it is affiliated with U Promise. Each item I buy from 1 800 flowers earns money towards my daughter’s education. It may be a lucky accident that I can’t seem to remember my Grandmother’s birthday. I do think about trying something different, but she is always so pleased with the gift baskets and flower arrangements that I find at 1 800 flowers and I get to put a little money aside for my daughter’s education. I guess that my forgetfulness has led to a new family tradition.
For some reason, I find myself in the middle of January panicked that I have nothing to give my Grandmother for her birthday. She lives in another state, so I have to make sure that I choose a gift that will reach her in time. Most of the items I come across take four to six weeks for delivery and it is just impossible for me to order a gift for my Grandmother that far in advance. 1 800 flowers offers a huge selection of gift baskets and flower arrangements that will reach her home in plenty of time for her birthday.
There are places that offer express shipping, but I find that I wind up paying way too much in shipping costs. 1 800 flowers provides a great selection of thoughtful gifts without the long wait for low-cost shipping and without the high cost of express shipping. I also like that 1 800 flowers keeps their prices very reasonable, so I know that I will find a quality gift for my Grandmother at a great price.
You may think that you have to call to order a gift from 1 800 flowers, and this is an option, but they have an excellent website and you can shop online for the perfect gift. It is nice to be able to see the actual arrangement. However, if you have something in mind, you can just call 1 800 flowers and place your order. I personally prefer to use the website so I can see what I am buying.
Another thing that I love about 1 800 flowers is that it is affiliated with U Promise. Each item I buy from 1 800 flowers earns money towards my daughter’s education. It may be a lucky accident that I can’t seem to remember my Grandmother’s birthday. I do think about trying something different, but she is always so pleased with the gift baskets and flower arrangements that I find at 1 800 flowers and I get to put a little money aside for my daughter’s education. I guess that my forgetfulness has led to a new family tradition.
1-800-Flowers
1-800-Flowers is a very hand and useful resource if you are a guy, and are either married or dating. There are hundreds of theories out there about what women want, and how to keep or make them happy. The Chinese scholar Confucius, the Greek Philosopher Socrates, and the famous physicist Albert Einstein are just some examples of the most brilliant male minds that have attempt to explore the perplexing and enigmatic subject that is women. And as of today, in 2006, the only solid fact that men have determined over the years is that all women like flowers. Hence the inherent value of a service like 1-800-Flowers.
1-800-Flowers is a great way to send that special someone any kind of message you want. It also catches them by surprise, because they’re not expecting it. And you know they’ll like it. Because they’re women. And that’s where our understanding of them ends.
The great thing about 1-800-Flowers is you can call them from anywhere, and they deliver your order to any location you specify. They’re usually able to deliver your order the same day you place it, so long as you call before too late in the day. If its important that you get your order deliver that day, you should certainly call them as early as possible. 1-800-Flowers is a 24-hour service so you can call in the wee hours of the morning if you feel like it.
Another great thing about 1-800-Flowers is their variety of products. As one of the largest flower delivery services in the United States, they have a lot of resources at their disposal. Not only can they send just about any kind of popular flower you can think of, they also have a number of other products, such as gift baskets and candies, that they deliver.
Sending someone you care about a gift from 1-800-Flowers is perhaps somewhat impersonal by itself, but makes a great additional surprise as part of an overall gift package. If you are really looking to sweep her off her feet, throwing in a delivery from 1-800-Flowers on top of everything else you have planned is a great way to do it. And if you’re like me and find yourself in the ‘dog house’ due to your overall lack of understanding of the strange phenomenon we call women, a service like 1-800-Flowers can be a great way to help you apologize for making mistakes that you’ll probably never fully comprehend.
1-800-Flowers is a great way to send that special someone any kind of message you want. It also catches them by surprise, because they’re not expecting it. And you know they’ll like it. Because they’re women. And that’s where our understanding of them ends.
The great thing about 1-800-Flowers is you can call them from anywhere, and they deliver your order to any location you specify. They’re usually able to deliver your order the same day you place it, so long as you call before too late in the day. If its important that you get your order deliver that day, you should certainly call them as early as possible. 1-800-Flowers is a 24-hour service so you can call in the wee hours of the morning if you feel like it.
Another great thing about 1-800-Flowers is their variety of products. As one of the largest flower delivery services in the United States, they have a lot of resources at their disposal. Not only can they send just about any kind of popular flower you can think of, they also have a number of other products, such as gift baskets and candies, that they deliver.
Sending someone you care about a gift from 1-800-Flowers is perhaps somewhat impersonal by itself, but makes a great additional surprise as part of an overall gift package. If you are really looking to sweep her off her feet, throwing in a delivery from 1-800-Flowers on top of everything else you have planned is a great way to do it. And if you’re like me and find yourself in the ‘dog house’ due to your overall lack of understanding of the strange phenomenon we call women, a service like 1-800-Flowers can be a great way to help you apologize for making mistakes that you’ll probably never fully comprehend.
1 800 Contacts
Glasses are a strange thing. There is so much lore about them. The same glasses that make one guy look like a complete nerd, might make a buddy holly famous. Some people love their glasses, but I hated mine when I was growing up. People would call me the usual: four eyes, as if that were original. My parents wouldn't buy me contacts. My dad thought that lenses were good enough for him, that they'd be good enough for me too. You can bet all that changed when I got to college.
I ordered myself contact lenses from a place called 1 800 contacts on the internet. It was pretty nice and easy, and since I knew my prescription, it was cheaper than going to the store for them. I noticed an immediate difference in how people treated me after that when I wore them. When I wore glasses, it was strange, people would sometimes assume I was very bright with my big owl eyes, and would always be likely to ask me questions about math or physics, or even current events in the newspaper, but after I started wearing my 1 800 contacts lenses, people didn't make as many preconceptions. I felt wonderful and free to be who I wanted to be.
I was glad that I ordered my contacts from 1 800 contacts, except that sometimes they would burn my eyes. This is one of the most common side effects of contacts – eye irritation. If you wash them sufficiently, and frequently, it should not be too much of a problem, though. Another thing is that you have to remember to take them out every night, and to change them frequently. And then theres the feeling of having contacts floating around on your eyeball. It is weird. That is the only way I can describe it. Weird.
It is funny how much different I look with my contacts than with my glasses. A few times I have met people who I used to spend time with, and they didn't even recognize me. Some times I'll even be introduced to old friends as my own cousin as a joke, and once that even worked. It is also nice to have contacts because you can see better than with glasses. This may sound strange, but glasses do not give you the full range of vision like contacts do. With contacts your entire peripheral vision is in focus.
The only thing that you have to watch out for is sensitivity. Some people can not wear contacts, and so if they called 1 800 contacts and ordered a who bunch of them like I did, they would waste their money on something they could not even use. I'm glad I was lucky enough not to have that problem.
I ordered myself contact lenses from a place called 1 800 contacts on the internet. It was pretty nice and easy, and since I knew my prescription, it was cheaper than going to the store for them. I noticed an immediate difference in how people treated me after that when I wore them. When I wore glasses, it was strange, people would sometimes assume I was very bright with my big owl eyes, and would always be likely to ask me questions about math or physics, or even current events in the newspaper, but after I started wearing my 1 800 contacts lenses, people didn't make as many preconceptions. I felt wonderful and free to be who I wanted to be.
I was glad that I ordered my contacts from 1 800 contacts, except that sometimes they would burn my eyes. This is one of the most common side effects of contacts – eye irritation. If you wash them sufficiently, and frequently, it should not be too much of a problem, though. Another thing is that you have to remember to take them out every night, and to change them frequently. And then theres the feeling of having contacts floating around on your eyeball. It is weird. That is the only way I can describe it. Weird.
It is funny how much different I look with my contacts than with my glasses. A few times I have met people who I used to spend time with, and they didn't even recognize me. Some times I'll even be introduced to old friends as my own cousin as a joke, and once that even worked. It is also nice to have contacts because you can see better than with glasses. This may sound strange, but glasses do not give you the full range of vision like contacts do. With contacts your entire peripheral vision is in focus.
The only thing that you have to watch out for is sensitivity. Some people can not wear contacts, and so if they called 1 800 contacts and ordered a who bunch of them like I did, they would waste their money on something they could not even use. I'm glad I was lucky enough not to have that problem.
1 18 Scale Diecast Cars
I really adore 1 18 scale diecast cars, and that is no joke at all. They come in all types from American muscle cars to exotic imports the likes of which yo0u may have never seen before, but all of the 1 18 scale diecast cars which I collect have in common an exquisite level of detail which makes them so much fun to look at. It is amazing the details that go into these 1 18 scale die cast cars. They have working steering wheels, fully detailed dashboards, and some of them even have working hoods and trunks! Not only is it fun to look at them and reminisce about the sports cars of yesterday, but they make great decoration in my house as well – why, my friends talk about how cool the 1 18 scale diecast cars look all of the time.
One of the best things about the 1 18 scale diecast cars is that they are really a lot of fun for all ages, from kids through adults. When I was a little one, I loved to collect matchbox cars, as well as other models of toy cars, and that passion has not diminished with age, but quite on the contrary, continues to grow. The 1 18 scale diecast cars which I get give me such a great opportunity to bond with both my son and daughters, and I always know just what to get them when Christmas rolls around. Even my wife is starting to really like the look of all of these 1 18 scale diecast cars on the mantel, although at first she really did complain that I was taking up much too much space with my collection. The thing is an addiction – this passion for these1 18 scale diecast cars is really impossible to resist once you have gotten a hold of a few yourself. Go ahead and try buying one, and tell me that you are not almost immediately tempted to get another. Try it, and you will see how cool these things are.
Of all of the 1 18 scale diecast cars, my favorite one is a 1952 green Chevy. It is great to remember how impressive and powerful all of the great old American muscle cars were, and nothing reminds me like having the chance to play with model cars. If you have missed out on this craze, you really should check it out. Until you do, you will never know quite what you are missing.
One of the best things about the 1 18 scale diecast cars is that they are really a lot of fun for all ages, from kids through adults. When I was a little one, I loved to collect matchbox cars, as well as other models of toy cars, and that passion has not diminished with age, but quite on the contrary, continues to grow. The 1 18 scale diecast cars which I get give me such a great opportunity to bond with both my son and daughters, and I always know just what to get them when Christmas rolls around. Even my wife is starting to really like the look of all of these 1 18 scale diecast cars on the mantel, although at first she really did complain that I was taking up much too much space with my collection. The thing is an addiction – this passion for these1 18 scale diecast cars is really impossible to resist once you have gotten a hold of a few yourself. Go ahead and try buying one, and tell me that you are not almost immediately tempted to get another. Try it, and you will see how cool these things are.
Of all of the 1 18 scale diecast cars, my favorite one is a 1952 green Chevy. It is great to remember how impressive and powerful all of the great old American muscle cars were, and nothing reminds me like having the chance to play with model cars. If you have missed out on this craze, you really should check it out. Until you do, you will never know quite what you are missing.
0 Interest Credit Cards
When I first heard of 0 interest credit cards, I was shocked and amazed. I mean, why would they offer that to you, it was like a free loan for months at a time. I got a credit card, and at first tried to exercise restraint, but soon I was using it for practically everything. I bought vacations, plain flights, my groceries, my new guitar, everything in it, thinking I'd pay it back later.
In the time I was 18 years old and playing in a rock and roll band, and I though I could pay it all back later. How niave I was, but what fun those days were. We travelled all around the country, paying for our hotels and our rock star living using our 0 interest credit cards for years, thinking we were about to make it big until our irresponsible spending caught up with us. We played shows from amsterdam to Arizona, from Berlin to Belgium, but in reality, we weren't making very much money – just barely above breaking even, actually so we did it for the love of the music.
By the time I went home, I was so greatly in debt that I was on the verge of getting my house reposessed for delinquent credit card payments. By that point, it wasn't a 0 interest credit card anymore! I almost had to file for bancruptcy, and as it was, a lengthy legal battle ensued. Fortunately, my bandmates bailed me out, paying for part of my debt so that I could get it taken care of and get back on the road for our fall tour. After that, however, I lived differently. No more staying at the ritz carleton, no more caviar with our jack daniels.
From then on, I was living cleanly and within my means. I'd stay at budget hotels, and spend responsibly. After the shows, we wouldn't even drink the customary bottle of $150 champagne any more. All of us were feeling the burn of our success. Sure we had fans and groupies, but we had gotten deeply into debt and besides, our rock and roll life style was ruining our health. Our drummer had cirhosis of the liver, our guitarist had emphazyma, and our keyboardist had several broken ribs from a fight. You may think, when you're young, that you can spend what you want and do what you want, but in reality, you've got to be careful. You can end up a washed up has been like me when once you were a rock and roller. Your 0 interest credit card certainly can't buy back your youth.
In the time I was 18 years old and playing in a rock and roll band, and I though I could pay it all back later. How niave I was, but what fun those days were. We travelled all around the country, paying for our hotels and our rock star living using our 0 interest credit cards for years, thinking we were about to make it big until our irresponsible spending caught up with us. We played shows from amsterdam to Arizona, from Berlin to Belgium, but in reality, we weren't making very much money – just barely above breaking even, actually so we did it for the love of the music.
By the time I went home, I was so greatly in debt that I was on the verge of getting my house reposessed for delinquent credit card payments. By that point, it wasn't a 0 interest credit card anymore! I almost had to file for bancruptcy, and as it was, a lengthy legal battle ensued. Fortunately, my bandmates bailed me out, paying for part of my debt so that I could get it taken care of and get back on the road for our fall tour. After that, however, I lived differently. No more staying at the ritz carleton, no more caviar with our jack daniels.
From then on, I was living cleanly and within my means. I'd stay at budget hotels, and spend responsibly. After the shows, we wouldn't even drink the customary bottle of $150 champagne any more. All of us were feeling the burn of our success. Sure we had fans and groupies, but we had gotten deeply into debt and besides, our rock and roll life style was ruining our health. Our drummer had cirhosis of the liver, our guitarist had emphazyma, and our keyboardist had several broken ribs from a fight. You may think, when you're young, that you can spend what you want and do what you want, but in reality, you've got to be careful. You can end up a washed up has been like me when once you were a rock and roller. Your 0 interest credit card certainly can't buy back your youth.
0 Balance Transfers
0 balance transfers are a popular feature on credit cards, especially as part of introductory rates. People use them when they get new credit cards, because their old ones have rates that are too high and are crippling them financially. Typically, new credit cards will have a lower rate than the one that you are paying, at least for the first six months, to lure you in and get you to use their card instead of the old one. They use o balance transfers as an incentive to get you to switch your old balance to their card at 0 apr for you. This is deffinitely a good deal for you, if it really is a low apr card.
The problem is that it can be too good a deal, and you can get into further and further debts, until you cant get any new credit cards with 0 balance transfers and low apr. As a result, you'll have to start paying a high rate for your credit card, instead of the low rate you've been paying, and also pay lots of money to transfer your balance. This happened to me once. I had lost my job while paying for my house, and was temping at a low end service industry job. Normally, it would have been enough to live on, but with my mortgage payments, I was racking up debt. Instead of dealing with it, I used low apr cards with 0 balance transfers to cover my high interest rate debt. This was a good idea for the first few months, but soon I began racking up debt faster than I would have thought possible.
When my six month low apr offers from my credit cards ran out, I tried to get new 0 balance transfers cards to move my debt around, only to find out that no one was offering me them any more. They didn't even come in the mail! I was falling very quickly in to heavy debt. Fortunately, I found a new job in an ad agency, and quickly began to make an income similar to what I had been making before, but the damage had already been done. Six years later, I am only just emerging from debt that I accrued during that period. A 0 balance transfer credit card can be very useful, but it is no substitute for responsible spending! In the future, I definitely will be more careful.
The problem is that it can be too good a deal, and you can get into further and further debts, until you cant get any new credit cards with 0 balance transfers and low apr. As a result, you'll have to start paying a high rate for your credit card, instead of the low rate you've been paying, and also pay lots of money to transfer your balance. This happened to me once. I had lost my job while paying for my house, and was temping at a low end service industry job. Normally, it would have been enough to live on, but with my mortgage payments, I was racking up debt. Instead of dealing with it, I used low apr cards with 0 balance transfers to cover my high interest rate debt. This was a good idea for the first few months, but soon I began racking up debt faster than I would have thought possible.
When my six month low apr offers from my credit cards ran out, I tried to get new 0 balance transfers cards to move my debt around, only to find out that no one was offering me them any more. They didn't even come in the mail! I was falling very quickly in to heavy debt. Fortunately, I found a new job in an ad agency, and quickly began to make an income similar to what I had been making before, but the damage had already been done. Six years later, I am only just emerging from debt that I accrued during that period. A 0 balance transfer credit card can be very useful, but it is no substitute for responsible spending! In the future, I definitely will be more careful.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Fresh News Reviews
I have created this blog to comment on up to the minute news that is affecting our lives. Topics will include current events, products, and anything else that will be affecting our daily living. Feel free to leave your comments.
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