Plasma Vs LCD - Among plasma, LCD, and LED LCD your best bet is plasma unless you're looking for a set 42 inches or smaller. If you watch TV in a room full of windows with no curtains, then get an LCD.
Refresh Rate - For an LCD, this is the number of times per second a screen refreshes it's image measured in hertz. This does not apply to plasmas. The standard is 60 Hz, 120 Hz is much better, and 240 Hz is overkill. Just look for the words "refresh rate" not scenes per second (SPS) or TruMotion.
Buy Cheap HDMI Cables -Cheap HDMI are as good as expensive ones. So don't spend more than $5 max.
The 411 On 3D - Active glasses are expensive are heavy and use batteries. But they provide full resolution. Passive glasses are cheap, but since each eye only sees half the image, you're getting only half the resolution. Also the worst 3D is among the best of 2-D TVs.
Forget Smart Features - Don't concern yourself with built in smart features like Hulu Plus, Netflix, and HBO Go. All are available on a $100 Roku 3 external device.
Forget About Ultra UHD - Ultra UHD known as 4K TV provides 4 times the number of pixels as full HD. But its a waste since nothing is broadcast in Ultra HD.
Prices You can pick up a good 42 to 50 inch TV for about $700, and you can get a great one for $1200 to $1500.
Inputs - Good TVs have at least 4 HDMI inputs.
Best Brands -Companies like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG and Sharp have been around a long time. So they have huge repair networks and easy to find parts. Other brands may not.
Sound -In general, the thinner the TV the worse your speakers will be. So either get a sound bar or learn to appreciate sound without the bass.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
Gourmand Grilled Cheese That will Thrill Your Luncheon Guests
First, look for a cheddar that has been aged about 1 year. If it was aged longer, it won't melt well. To quickly brin gthe cheddar to room temperature, microwave the pieces until warm or about 30 seconds. Th first two sandwiches can be held in 200 degree oven on a wire rack or baking sheet. The following recipe serves four:
7 ounces aged cheddar, cut into 24 equal pieces at room temperature
2 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
8 slices hearty white sandwich bread
First, process cheddar, brie and wine in a food processor until a smooth paste is formed, about 20-30 seconds. The add shallot and and pulse to combine, 3 - 5 pulses. Combine butter and mustard in a small bowl. Next, working on a parchment paper lined counter, spread mustard butter evenly over 1 side of slices of bread. Flip 4 slices of bread over and spread cheese mixture evenly over slices. Top with remaining 4 slices of bread, buttered sides up. Then preheat 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. ( Droplets of water should just sizzle when flicked onto pan ) Place 2 sandwiches in skillet, then reduce heat to medium low, cook until both sides are crispy and golden brown, about 6 to 9 minutes per side. Remove sandwiches from skillet and let stand for 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining 2 sandwiches.
OTHER GOURMAND GRILLED CHEESE COMBOS
Substitute Asiago for cheddar, finely chopped pitted dates for shallot, and oatmeal sandwich bread
for white sandwich bread.
Substitute Comte for cheddar, minced cornichon for shallot, and rye sandwich bread for white.
Substitute Gruyere for cheddar, chives for shallot, and rye bread for white.
.
7 ounces aged cheddar, cut into 24 equal pieces at room temperature
2 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
8 slices hearty white sandwich bread
First, process cheddar, brie and wine in a food processor until a smooth paste is formed, about 20-30 seconds. The add shallot and and pulse to combine, 3 - 5 pulses. Combine butter and mustard in a small bowl. Next, working on a parchment paper lined counter, spread mustard butter evenly over 1 side of slices of bread. Flip 4 slices of bread over and spread cheese mixture evenly over slices. Top with remaining 4 slices of bread, buttered sides up. Then preheat 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. ( Droplets of water should just sizzle when flicked onto pan ) Place 2 sandwiches in skillet, then reduce heat to medium low, cook until both sides are crispy and golden brown, about 6 to 9 minutes per side. Remove sandwiches from skillet and let stand for 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining 2 sandwiches.
OTHER GOURMAND GRILLED CHEESE COMBOS
Substitute Asiago for cheddar, finely chopped pitted dates for shallot, and oatmeal sandwich bread
for white sandwich bread.
Substitute Comte for cheddar, minced cornichon for shallot, and rye sandwich bread for white.
Substitute Gruyere for cheddar, chives for shallot, and rye bread for white.
.
Epicurean Summer Grilled Corn Recipes
If you want to wow your cook out guests, then dress up your grilled corn with these incredible summer flavors. First, get yourself a disposable aluminum pan that will hold 6 to 12 corn on the cobs.
Next, whip the flavored butter of your choice. Just combine all the ingredients in a small bowl:
BASIL AND LEMON BUTTER
Mix 6 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons minced basil, 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt & 1/4 teaspoon pepper
HONEY BUTTER
Mix 6 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
LATIN SPICED BUTTER
Mix 6 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt
NEW ORLEANS STYLE BUTTER
Mix 6 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, 1 garlic clove minced, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce,
1 teaspoon tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Next, remove the corn husks from your corn. Then brush them generously with plain old vegetable
oil. This will keep them from drying out. Then place them on a hot grill , turning occasionally until they are lightly charred on all sides.( about 5 to 9 minutes )
Place your favorite butter mix into the disposable aluminum pan. Then place your corn cobs in the pan
and cover with aluminum foil. Place the pan on the grill and shake frequently until you hear the butter
sizzle. Then serve corn, spooning butter in pan over individual ears.
Next, whip the flavored butter of your choice. Just combine all the ingredients in a small bowl:
BASIL AND LEMON BUTTER
Mix 6 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons minced basil, 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt & 1/4 teaspoon pepper
HONEY BUTTER
Mix 6 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
LATIN SPICED BUTTER
Mix 6 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt
NEW ORLEANS STYLE BUTTER
Mix 6 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, 1 garlic clove minced, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce,
1 teaspoon tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Next, remove the corn husks from your corn. Then brush them generously with plain old vegetable
oil. This will keep them from drying out. Then place them on a hot grill , turning occasionally until they are lightly charred on all sides.( about 5 to 9 minutes )
Place your favorite butter mix into the disposable aluminum pan. Then place your corn cobs in the pan
and cover with aluminum foil. Place the pan on the grill and shake frequently until you hear the butter
sizzle. Then serve corn, spooning butter in pan over individual ears.
93 Fun Facts About New Jersey
If you live in or have ever lived in Jersey...you'll appreciate this...if not, you may be surprised!
New Jersey has the second highest per capita income in the U.S.
New Jersey has three counties in the top ten U.S. counties by income.
New Jersey was the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights (Nov. 20,1789)
New Jersey is a peninsula.
New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.
New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.
New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.
New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.
New Jersey has the highest cost of living.
New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.
New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.
Cartoonist Thomas Nast (Morristown) created the popular image of Santa Claus.
New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."
Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.
North
Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world,
with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.
New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.
New
Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns; some of the nation's
most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside
Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.
New Jersey was home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.
The
game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on
its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.
And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world,
Not to mention salt water taffy.
New
Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for
water quality control than any other seaboard state in the
entire country.
The "Trial of the Century" (the Lindberg Baby kidnapping) was held in Flemington.
New
Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is
the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you
include pharmaceuticals.
Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.
You haven't lived until you have eaten New Jersey sweet Corn.
New Jersey is a leader in blueberry and cranberry production.
In 1642, the first brewery in America, opened in Hoboken.
New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.
New
Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the
US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation
imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.
New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.
George
Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War
battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George
Washington. On Christmas Eve 1776 he crossed the Delaware to
attack the Hessian troops at Trenton.
The
light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture
projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ,
laboratory.
We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.
The first movie studio was in West Orange.
The first western was filmed by Edison in the hills of West Orange-"The Great Train Robbery."
Highest population density in the US
Home of the US Olympic Equestrian Team
Home to the United States Golf association (Far Hills)
The transistor was invented by Bell Labs in NJ
The telephone was invented in NJ
Samuel Morse's code machine was built in NJ (Morris Plains)
The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.
The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.
The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.
New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.
New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. (Union, NJ!!!)
New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.
The Pulaski SkyWay, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.
NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).
The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.
The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).
The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they're all gone now!).
New Jersey is home to both of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams!
The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.
The
Great Falls in Paterson, on the Passaic River, is the second
highest waterfall on the East Coast of the US. In 1778,
Alexander Hamilton visited the falls and was impressed by its
potential for industry. Later as the nation's first Secretary of
Treasury, he selected the site as the nation's first planned
industrial city.
All New Jersey natives: (Actually 'Born, Raised 0r Settled')
Jack
Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Derek
Jeter Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy
Blume, Aaron Burr, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott,
Lou Costello, The Jonas Brothers, Alan Ginsberg, Yogi Berra,
Larry Doby, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson,
Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Edison, Frankie Valli, Charles
Lindbergh, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Grover Cleveland,
Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce
Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane,
Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo,
Fanny Brice, Annie Oakley, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Robert
Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd,
Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gordon McRae, Kevin Spacey, John
Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie
Saint, Elisabeth Shue, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral
Wm.Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas
(Wendy's),
William Carlos Williams, Sammy Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert
Wuhl, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia, Brian
Williams, Charles Gibson, Martha Stewart, Andrew Fastow (!) and,
of course, Francis Albert Sinatra.
You know you're from Jersey when . . .
You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges."
You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags.
You don't put pineapple on your pizza.
And, you don't buy pizza at a national "pizza" franchise.
You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.
You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery.
At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from.
You know what a "jug handle" is.
You know that WaWa is a convenience store.
You know that the state isn't all farmland.
You
know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey--there's the
shore--and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore."
And when you are there, you're not "at the shore"; you are
"down the shore."
You know how to properly negotiate a circle.
You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving.
You
know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require
"New" to identify it (try . . . Mexico . . . York .! . .
Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?).
You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege.
Or, ketchup on a hot dog.
You don't think "What exit?" is very funny.
You know that people from the 609 area code are "a little different."
You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-staters.
The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar.
You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.
You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.
Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.
You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.
You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall.
You
know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, and
people from Central Jersey go to Belmar, and people from South
Jersey go to Wildwood. It can be no other way.
You weren't raised in New Jersey--you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey.
You don't consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the state.
You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's.
You also remember Palisades Amusement Park and Olympic Park.
You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.
You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.
And finally . . .
You've NEVER, EVER pumped your own gas.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
How To Grill An Awesome Burger
1. Choose Fatty Meat Start with chuck that is 20% fat.
2. Mix A Secret Powder Into The Meat - This incredible powder make you want one bite after another. To make it, combine 6 tablespoons of porcini powder, two tablespoons portabella powder, two table spoons of Worcestershire powder, two tablespoons onion powder, and two tablespoons of garlic powder. Use one tablespoon of the mixture per pound of meat. The powders can be purchased at specialty stores or online at Amazon.com.
3. Form Flat Patties - Make loose balls of meat 6 to 8 ounces in size, then flatten these balls into patties about 1/2 inch thick. Don't pack these patties very tight , and don't leave the center thicker than the edges since thick in the middle patties don't cook evenly. Next, use two fingers to press a dimple roughly one quarter inch deep into the middle of one side of the patty. This divot prevents the burger from puffing up in the middle as it cooks.
4. Season The Patties On Both Sides with kosher salt and cracked pepper right before you grill them.
Season too soon and the salt will dry out the meat.
5. Let The Patties Cook Undisturbed on high heat( 600F-800F) for two to three minutes. Peak gently underneath after two minutes. If the patties lift easily off the grill and are golden brown underneath, it's time to flip them. If not, let them continue to cook for up to an additional minute. DO NOT poke, prod or push down on the patties as they cook. That just pushes juice and flavor out of the meat. Then move the patties away from the highest heat to cook further without burning.
6. Use A Meat Thermometer To Monitor Temperature After Flipping - Cook to 160 degrees for safety. You might want to consider buying a Thermapen digital thermometer favored by pros for its fast accurate readings. About $96 at Thermoworks.Com.
7. Let The Burgers Rest for 5 minutes before eating. This allows the juices to distribute throughout the meat and keeps the juice from spilling out onto your plate after the first bite.
2. Mix A Secret Powder Into The Meat - This incredible powder make you want one bite after another. To make it, combine 6 tablespoons of porcini powder, two tablespoons portabella powder, two table spoons of Worcestershire powder, two tablespoons onion powder, and two tablespoons of garlic powder. Use one tablespoon of the mixture per pound of meat. The powders can be purchased at specialty stores or online at Amazon.com.
3. Form Flat Patties - Make loose balls of meat 6 to 8 ounces in size, then flatten these balls into patties about 1/2 inch thick. Don't pack these patties very tight , and don't leave the center thicker than the edges since thick in the middle patties don't cook evenly. Next, use two fingers to press a dimple roughly one quarter inch deep into the middle of one side of the patty. This divot prevents the burger from puffing up in the middle as it cooks.
4. Season The Patties On Both Sides with kosher salt and cracked pepper right before you grill them.
Season too soon and the salt will dry out the meat.
5. Let The Patties Cook Undisturbed on high heat( 600F-800F) for two to three minutes. Peak gently underneath after two minutes. If the patties lift easily off the grill and are golden brown underneath, it's time to flip them. If not, let them continue to cook for up to an additional minute. DO NOT poke, prod or push down on the patties as they cook. That just pushes juice and flavor out of the meat. Then move the patties away from the highest heat to cook further without burning.
6. Use A Meat Thermometer To Monitor Temperature After Flipping - Cook to 160 degrees for safety. You might want to consider buying a Thermapen digital thermometer favored by pros for its fast accurate readings. About $96 at Thermoworks.Com.
7. Let The Burgers Rest for 5 minutes before eating. This allows the juices to distribute throughout the meat and keeps the juice from spilling out onto your plate after the first bite.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Do It Yourself Face Lift Makes You Look Years Younger In Just 20 Days
If you've got wrinkles that you would like to reduce but you don't want injections or a surgical face lift, then Chinese facial acupressure may be the answer for you. Just use the following routines each day until you are satisfied with the results.
Forehead Wrinkles - Begin at the top of your right foot, in the junction between your big and second toes. Using medium to firm pressure, massage the point in a clockwise circle 10 times. Repeat on the left foot. Next, move to the backside of your right hand between your right thumb and index finger. In a clockwise circular motion, massage this point for 10 rotations. Repeat on the left hand.
Then move to the back of your neck. Place both thumbs where your spine meets the base of your skull and move them two inches to either side until they each land in an indentation. Massage clockwise with firm pressure for 10 rotations.
Lastly, move your face. Place the pad of index finger a half inch above the center of each eyebrow. Massage with medium pressure in 10 clockwise right to left circles. Repeat the entire sequence three times in a single session each day. For deeper wrinkles, do the sequence several times throughout the day. You should notice a reduction in forehead wrinkles within 20 days.
Under Eye Puffiness - Place your index finger two inches above the inside of your right ankle between the bone and muscle. Do 10 clockwise rotations using medium to firm pressure. Repeat on the left leg.
Next, move to the backside of your right hand between your right thumb and index finger. In a clockwise circular motion, massage this point for 10 rotations. Repeat on the left hand.
Then with your arm at your side, bend your left elbow to make a 90 degree angle. Pinpoint the area located at the outside edge of the elbow crease between the bend and the bone. Use your index finger to massage 10 times in a clockwise rotation using medium to firm pressure. Repeat on your right elbow.
Lastly, move to your face. Place your right index finger just to the side of your right nostril. Move the finger laterally to a spot directly underneath the center of your eye, in your sinus area. Press in and slightly upward, performing 10 clockwise rotations. Repeat on the left side. Do the entire sequence three times daily. You should notice a reduction in puffiness under your eyes in a few days.
Forehead Wrinkles - Begin at the top of your right foot, in the junction between your big and second toes. Using medium to firm pressure, massage the point in a clockwise circle 10 times. Repeat on the left foot. Next, move to the backside of your right hand between your right thumb and index finger. In a clockwise circular motion, massage this point for 10 rotations. Repeat on the left hand.
Then move to the back of your neck. Place both thumbs where your spine meets the base of your skull and move them two inches to either side until they each land in an indentation. Massage clockwise with firm pressure for 10 rotations.
Lastly, move your face. Place the pad of index finger a half inch above the center of each eyebrow. Massage with medium pressure in 10 clockwise right to left circles. Repeat the entire sequence three times in a single session each day. For deeper wrinkles, do the sequence several times throughout the day. You should notice a reduction in forehead wrinkles within 20 days.
Under Eye Puffiness - Place your index finger two inches above the inside of your right ankle between the bone and muscle. Do 10 clockwise rotations using medium to firm pressure. Repeat on the left leg.
Next, move to the backside of your right hand between your right thumb and index finger. In a clockwise circular motion, massage this point for 10 rotations. Repeat on the left hand.
Then with your arm at your side, bend your left elbow to make a 90 degree angle. Pinpoint the area located at the outside edge of the elbow crease between the bend and the bone. Use your index finger to massage 10 times in a clockwise rotation using medium to firm pressure. Repeat on your right elbow.
Lastly, move to your face. Place your right index finger just to the side of your right nostril. Move the finger laterally to a spot directly underneath the center of your eye, in your sinus area. Press in and slightly upward, performing 10 clockwise rotations. Repeat on the left side. Do the entire sequence three times daily. You should notice a reduction in puffiness under your eyes in a few days.
Friday, July 26, 2013
10 Ways To Choose A Great Nursing Home For Your Loved Ones
1. Visit During Meal Times- Mealtimes are when nursing home employees are under the greatest stress. When you visit, observe whether employees are interacting with residents in a friendly manner. If so they'll probably treat residents well at all times.
2. Inquire About Agency Nurses - When a nursing home can't find enough permanent nurses, they hire agency nurses to fill the gap. Most homes use agency nurses from time, but it's a bad sign if 15%-20% of a home's nurses are provided by agencies. Ask the facility what percentage of nurses are from an agency.
3. Check Out The Physical Therapy Facilities - Insist on touring the physical therapy department. If the equipment doesn't look modern or expensive, then it's a bad sign. Also ask whether the physical therapist is on staff or on contract. Homes that have a therapist on staff make a greater commitment to rehab services.
4. Make Sure The Home Has A Five Star Rating The Medicare system website includes a star rating system on nursing homes. Avoid homes with an overall rating lower than five stars. You can view the ratings at www.Medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare .
5. Check The Activities Schedule - Next time you visit, look at the activities schedule. Then look in at one or two activities. Is the activity really taking place? How many resident are there? Does it look like ther're having fun ? Make sure they're not clustered around a nursing station staring into space or at at TV. They should be chatting together, playing cards or interacting.
6. Take A Deep Whiff Making a sub par nursing home smell is a tough challenge. So walk down corridors where doors to patients rooms are open and take a whiff. If the place reeks of urine, feces or large amounts of Lysol, then be suspicious.
7. Is It Really Private? Most homes offer shared rooms since they were built before the importance of singe rooms was recognized. If single rooms are not available, then consider how much privacy the home's shared rooms offer. Some have sturdy partitions and others have thin curtains or nothing at all.
8. Make Frequent Visits -Residents whose families visit often usually receive more attentive care. If you live far away, try to arrange for a friend , relative or concierge service to visit on a regular basis and give you update.
9. Avoid Getting Your Loved One Kicked Out - Nursing homes cannot legally expel residents if they run out of money. So they must resort to Medicaid for payment. But nursing homes are allowed to send away residents that require more care than they can provide. Some greedy nursing homes expel residents who run out of money and claim that their care needs have increased. If this happens to your loved one, then file a complaint with your state's ombudsman through www.LTCOmbudsman.org
10.Don't Let A Hospital Rush You If your loved one requires a nursing home care after a hospital stay, there's a good chance the hospital discharge planner will try to give just a few days to choose a nursing home. That's because the longer your loved one stays, the less profit they make. If the discharge planner won't give you more time to choose a home, then threaten to file an appeal with Medicare if he or she won't relax the deadline. Most planners will back down because they don't want the paperwork hassles. But if you have to file an appeal, the hospital's patient advocate should be able to provide info on how to file. Or you can hire a long term care case manager for a few hundred dollars. Also, your local area agency on aging can help you find a local case manager. Or find one at: www.cmsa.org
2. Inquire About Agency Nurses - When a nursing home can't find enough permanent nurses, they hire agency nurses to fill the gap. Most homes use agency nurses from time, but it's a bad sign if 15%-20% of a home's nurses are provided by agencies. Ask the facility what percentage of nurses are from an agency.
3. Check Out The Physical Therapy Facilities - Insist on touring the physical therapy department. If the equipment doesn't look modern or expensive, then it's a bad sign. Also ask whether the physical therapist is on staff or on contract. Homes that have a therapist on staff make a greater commitment to rehab services.
4. Make Sure The Home Has A Five Star Rating The Medicare system website includes a star rating system on nursing homes. Avoid homes with an overall rating lower than five stars. You can view the ratings at www.Medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare .
5. Check The Activities Schedule - Next time you visit, look at the activities schedule. Then look in at one or two activities. Is the activity really taking place? How many resident are there? Does it look like ther're having fun ? Make sure they're not clustered around a nursing station staring into space or at at TV. They should be chatting together, playing cards or interacting.
6. Take A Deep Whiff Making a sub par nursing home smell is a tough challenge. So walk down corridors where doors to patients rooms are open and take a whiff. If the place reeks of urine, feces or large amounts of Lysol, then be suspicious.
7. Is It Really Private? Most homes offer shared rooms since they were built before the importance of singe rooms was recognized. If single rooms are not available, then consider how much privacy the home's shared rooms offer. Some have sturdy partitions and others have thin curtains or nothing at all.
8. Make Frequent Visits -Residents whose families visit often usually receive more attentive care. If you live far away, try to arrange for a friend , relative or concierge service to visit on a regular basis and give you update.
9. Avoid Getting Your Loved One Kicked Out - Nursing homes cannot legally expel residents if they run out of money. So they must resort to Medicaid for payment. But nursing homes are allowed to send away residents that require more care than they can provide. Some greedy nursing homes expel residents who run out of money and claim that their care needs have increased. If this happens to your loved one, then file a complaint with your state's ombudsman through www.LTCOmbudsman.org
10.Don't Let A Hospital Rush You If your loved one requires a nursing home care after a hospital stay, there's a good chance the hospital discharge planner will try to give just a few days to choose a nursing home. That's because the longer your loved one stays, the less profit they make. If the discharge planner won't give you more time to choose a home, then threaten to file an appeal with Medicare if he or she won't relax the deadline. Most planners will back down because they don't want the paperwork hassles. But if you have to file an appeal, the hospital's patient advocate should be able to provide info on how to file. Or you can hire a long term care case manager for a few hundred dollars. Also, your local area agency on aging can help you find a local case manager. Or find one at: www.cmsa.org
Saturday, July 20, 2013
A No-Brainer Easy Peezy Summer Dessert That Will Wow Your Guests
SWEET & SAVORY GELATO
Buy any good quality store brand of pistachio gelato or ice cream. Drizzle on a little extra virgin olive oil,and then top it off with a dash of flaky sea salt.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
How To Find Hidden Treasures At Yard Sales
You make some nice scores at yard sales when you buy cheap stuff that is worth much more than what you paid. Look for the following items.
Printed cloth handkerchiefs from the 1970's and earlier. Look for those with nice patterns and colors. Some distinctive patterns can be framed as art. Some sell fro about $18 or more.The best examples are hand-hemmed made of fine line or cotton. Also, be on the lookout for scarves from designers like Hermes and Marimekko.
Williamsburg style wood furniture from the 1950's and 1960's. This furniture is not trendy since it has an old fashioned colonial look but is solid wood. Look for pieces made by Baker, Beacon Hill, and Kittinger.
A Kittinger set of library steps brings about $550.
Psychedelic posters from the late 1960's and early 1970's. A lack of pinholes or other signs of age and use might mean its a reproduction. A Peter max poster from 1968 called "Love" sells for $316.
Fisher-Price toys. Look for toys that are in pristine condition. A racer with no plastic parts brings about $350. Also look for Fisher-Price "Little People" from the 1980's or earlier. They can bring $2 to $5 or more.
Modern Swedish glass. Glass from Kosta and Orrefors have been increasing in value lately.
Decorative garden items. Look for bird feeders, birdhouses, fountains, and iron garden sets. A vintage set of two chairs with a cat design on the back fetched $4,000. People who have garage sales sometimes forget to include yard sale items. So take a peek in the backyard and ask if a nice item is for sale.
Printed cloth handkerchiefs from the 1970's and earlier. Look for those with nice patterns and colors. Some distinctive patterns can be framed as art. Some sell fro about $18 or more.The best examples are hand-hemmed made of fine line or cotton. Also, be on the lookout for scarves from designers like Hermes and Marimekko.
Williamsburg style wood furniture from the 1950's and 1960's. This furniture is not trendy since it has an old fashioned colonial look but is solid wood. Look for pieces made by Baker, Beacon Hill, and Kittinger.
A Kittinger set of library steps brings about $550.
Psychedelic posters from the late 1960's and early 1970's. A lack of pinholes or other signs of age and use might mean its a reproduction. A Peter max poster from 1968 called "Love" sells for $316.
Fisher-Price toys. Look for toys that are in pristine condition. A racer with no plastic parts brings about $350. Also look for Fisher-Price "Little People" from the 1980's or earlier. They can bring $2 to $5 or more.
Modern Swedish glass. Glass from Kosta and Orrefors have been increasing in value lately.
Decorative garden items. Look for bird feeders, birdhouses, fountains, and iron garden sets. A vintage set of two chairs with a cat design on the back fetched $4,000. People who have garage sales sometimes forget to include yard sale items. So take a peek in the backyard and ask if a nice item is for sale.
Give Your Foods A Great Rub Down For Fabulous Grilling
Spice rubs and mixes are an easy way to add delicious flavor to your foods. They can be made in advance and kept in an airtight container for up to 3 months. And if you package them as gifts, they make a great hostess present.
Sprinkle dry rubs or pat the food with your spices. Never rub hard into the food since you can damage the meat's fiber and texture. Also, if you're going to season the food overnight, leave out the salt since it will dehydrate the food. Just make sure you sprinkle it on about 15 minutes before you start to cook. Normally, about 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of these rubs will cover 3 pounds of meat.
Sweet N' Spicy Dry Rub
Use as a universal rub for all types of food. 1 tablespoon of dry mustard, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Makes about 4 tablespoons.
Indian Curry Dry Rub
Use on chicken breast and tofu. 1/2 cup mild curry powder, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground ginger. Makes 12 tablespoons.
Asian Five Spice Rub
Use on duck, chicken, pork carrots and autumn squash. 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons five spice powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon sugar. Make 4 tablespoons.
Mocha Rub
Great on steak. 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons instant espresso coffee, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Makes about 5 tablespoons.
Spice Mixtures
Mix these spice blends into ground meat before cooking. Each recipe makes about 2 tablespoons to flavor 1pound of ground meat.
Big Flavor Burger
1 teaspoon ground coriander, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Spicy Turkey Burger Mix
2 teaspoons ground coriander, 2 teaspoons caraway seeds, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Sprinkle dry rubs or pat the food with your spices. Never rub hard into the food since you can damage the meat's fiber and texture. Also, if you're going to season the food overnight, leave out the salt since it will dehydrate the food. Just make sure you sprinkle it on about 15 minutes before you start to cook. Normally, about 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of these rubs will cover 3 pounds of meat.
Sweet N' Spicy Dry Rub
Use as a universal rub for all types of food. 1 tablespoon of dry mustard, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Makes about 4 tablespoons.
Indian Curry Dry Rub
Use on chicken breast and tofu. 1/2 cup mild curry powder, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground ginger. Makes 12 tablespoons.
Asian Five Spice Rub
Use on duck, chicken, pork carrots and autumn squash. 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons five spice powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon sugar. Make 4 tablespoons.
Mocha Rub
Great on steak. 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons instant espresso coffee, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Makes about 5 tablespoons.
Spice Mixtures
Mix these spice blends into ground meat before cooking. Each recipe makes about 2 tablespoons to flavor 1pound of ground meat.
Big Flavor Burger
1 teaspoon ground coriander, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Spicy Turkey Burger Mix
2 teaspoons ground coriander, 2 teaspoons caraway seeds, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
How To Get Anybody To Like You In Two Minutes Or less
If you want to make new friends or land new clients or a new job, the you need to make a great first impression fast. That's because people form permanent opinions about you within just a few minutes of meeting you. So here are 11 easy ways to make people like you:
1. Use a slow flooding smile It's always a good idea to smile but switching on a 100 watt smile can make you seem phony. Instead, let your smile build slowly when you make eye contact. This sends a message that there is something about this person you like.
2. Have "sticky" eyes People are inclined to like and trust those who make eye contact. If you're not a natural at making eye contact, then make it a habit to note the specific characteristics about a acquaintances' eyes. Note the color, the shape, how far apart they are, the length of the lashes, and how often they blink.
Noting these nuances will help you make good eye contact. Do break eye contact occasionally if you notice the other person seems uncomfortable. Just don't do it abruptly. Make sure you break eye contact slowly as if your gaze was stuck on this person and you find it hard to pull away.
3. Select an open welcoming body position Arrange yourself so that your torso is mostly but not completely facing the person you just met. Then during the first few minutes of conversation, very slowly and slightly move your body to face the other person. The only exception to this is when a man is meeting a woman for the first time. In this instance, the man should stop a few degrees short of angling his upper body towards her.
4. Stand with one foot a few inches forward of the other By putting most of your weight on the forward foot suggests that you are an energetic person and that you are interested in the person to whom you are speaking.
5. Find your conversation partner's comfort zone Stand too close to a person and you will make them feel uncomfortable. If you stand too far away, and they may not feel a connection with you. So the best strategy is to stand 26 to 28 inches away and slowly move in closer until you see discomfort in the other person's eyes. Then ease back until the discomfort disappears.
6. When you shake hands, very gently touch your forefinger to the other person's wrist Aim for the spot on the underside of the wrist where you would normally take a pulse. This is a very sensitive spot and touching it tends to foster a feeling of warmth even though your contact may not be consciously noticed.
7. Begin with a conversation starter Questions that make great ice breakers include, "What do you do?" followed by "How did you decide you wanted to do that?" Or to couples ask, "How did you two meet?"
9. Slowly nod when people speak This sends a message of acceptance and encouragement which makes people feel in sync with us. If you're a woman, do not nod if a man is saying something with which you completely disagree. If you're a man, keep in mind that women tend to interpret nodding as "I understand" not "I agree."
10. Listen for words that suggest people's interest The words people use in passing will give you hints to their true interests. For instance, if small talk is about the weather and someone says " At least my plants will get some rain." You should say, "Do you have a garden?" Or if someone says, "Its too hot to walk my dogs." You should respond with " What kind of dogs do you have?"
11. Treat business cards with respect A business card symbolizes some one's professional accomplishments. Showing respect for the card shows respect for the person. So hold the card gently in your hands. Then pause to read it then carefully place it in your briefcase, wallet or purse. Never just jam a a card in your pocket.
1. Use a slow flooding smile It's always a good idea to smile but switching on a 100 watt smile can make you seem phony. Instead, let your smile build slowly when you make eye contact. This sends a message that there is something about this person you like.
2. Have "sticky" eyes People are inclined to like and trust those who make eye contact. If you're not a natural at making eye contact, then make it a habit to note the specific characteristics about a acquaintances' eyes. Note the color, the shape, how far apart they are, the length of the lashes, and how often they blink.
Noting these nuances will help you make good eye contact. Do break eye contact occasionally if you notice the other person seems uncomfortable. Just don't do it abruptly. Make sure you break eye contact slowly as if your gaze was stuck on this person and you find it hard to pull away.
3. Select an open welcoming body position Arrange yourself so that your torso is mostly but not completely facing the person you just met. Then during the first few minutes of conversation, very slowly and slightly move your body to face the other person. The only exception to this is when a man is meeting a woman for the first time. In this instance, the man should stop a few degrees short of angling his upper body towards her.
4. Stand with one foot a few inches forward of the other By putting most of your weight on the forward foot suggests that you are an energetic person and that you are interested in the person to whom you are speaking.
5. Find your conversation partner's comfort zone Stand too close to a person and you will make them feel uncomfortable. If you stand too far away, and they may not feel a connection with you. So the best strategy is to stand 26 to 28 inches away and slowly move in closer until you see discomfort in the other person's eyes. Then ease back until the discomfort disappears.
6. When you shake hands, very gently touch your forefinger to the other person's wrist Aim for the spot on the underside of the wrist where you would normally take a pulse. This is a very sensitive spot and touching it tends to foster a feeling of warmth even though your contact may not be consciously noticed.
7. Begin with a conversation starter Questions that make great ice breakers include, "What do you do?" followed by "How did you decide you wanted to do that?" Or to couples ask, "How did you two meet?"
9. Slowly nod when people speak This sends a message of acceptance and encouragement which makes people feel in sync with us. If you're a woman, do not nod if a man is saying something with which you completely disagree. If you're a man, keep in mind that women tend to interpret nodding as "I understand" not "I agree."
10. Listen for words that suggest people's interest The words people use in passing will give you hints to their true interests. For instance, if small talk is about the weather and someone says " At least my plants will get some rain." You should say, "Do you have a garden?" Or if someone says, "Its too hot to walk my dogs." You should respond with " What kind of dogs do you have?"
11. Treat business cards with respect A business card symbolizes some one's professional accomplishments. Showing respect for the card shows respect for the person. So hold the card gently in your hands. Then pause to read it then carefully place it in your briefcase, wallet or purse. Never just jam a a card in your pocket.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Spice Up You Life With Homemade Sea Salt
To make homemade sea salt, just take seawater from a clean source. Try beaches before swimmers arrive or try before you chum it for bait. Then run it through a fine sieve or clean cheese cloth or use both to catch sand and grit. If you're really particular, you can run sea water through a Brita filter since it won't remove the sea salt. After you filter your seawater, then pour it into a shallow tempered glass baking dish or bowl.
Then choose your evaporation method. You can place your baking dish in an oven at its lowest setting for two or three days or put it on a super sunny window sill for a few weeks. Or you can put it outside on a roof or yards. Just watch out for birds and soot.
Once the edges are dry and chunky, lightly scrape them from your baking dish to remove and break up the bigger pieces. Then just store your salt in an airtight container. To make your salt more zesty, then try these two recipes:
Lemon Salt
You'll need 1/2 cup of sea salt, 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice and the zest of one lemon. To start, zest one lemon into the salt. Then add the freshly squeezed lemon juice to the salt. Then spread out your mixture onto a flat, nonreactive heat proof tray. Then place your tray in a window on a sunny day, or on top of the oven or in a dehydrator. It's ready to use when it's completely dry.
Smoked Sea Salt
For this recipe you'll need 2 cups of apple wood chips and 2 cups of sea salt. First, soak the apple wood chips in cold water for 1 hour then drain.
Next, prepare a grill for indirect grilling by putting all the hot coals to one side and leaving a cool side where you can work. Place the applewood chips on the hot coals and adjust the vent to medium heat. ( about 350 F). Spread the salt in an aluminum foil pie or baking pan. Then place the foil pan on cool area of the grate away from the fire.
Smoke the salt for at least an hour then remove from the heat. Next, cool the salt to room temperature and then put it into an airtight container. It will then keep indefinitely.
Then choose your evaporation method. You can place your baking dish in an oven at its lowest setting for two or three days or put it on a super sunny window sill for a few weeks. Or you can put it outside on a roof or yards. Just watch out for birds and soot.
Once the edges are dry and chunky, lightly scrape them from your baking dish to remove and break up the bigger pieces. Then just store your salt in an airtight container. To make your salt more zesty, then try these two recipes:
Lemon Salt
You'll need 1/2 cup of sea salt, 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice and the zest of one lemon. To start, zest one lemon into the salt. Then add the freshly squeezed lemon juice to the salt. Then spread out your mixture onto a flat, nonreactive heat proof tray. Then place your tray in a window on a sunny day, or on top of the oven or in a dehydrator. It's ready to use when it's completely dry.
Smoked Sea Salt
For this recipe you'll need 2 cups of apple wood chips and 2 cups of sea salt. First, soak the apple wood chips in cold water for 1 hour then drain.
Next, prepare a grill for indirect grilling by putting all the hot coals to one side and leaving a cool side where you can work. Place the applewood chips on the hot coals and adjust the vent to medium heat. ( about 350 F). Spread the salt in an aluminum foil pie or baking pan. Then place the foil pan on cool area of the grate away from the fire.
Smoke the salt for at least an hour then remove from the heat. Next, cool the salt to room temperature and then put it into an airtight container. It will then keep indefinitely.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Hot Summer Travel Tips Save You Big Money
If you're taking a weeklong domestic trip, depart on Saturday and return on Monday and save 16% on airfare. For weeklong international tips, depart on Tuesday and return on Wednesday the following week and save 21% on average. If you're visiting a tourist location like a beach town, avoid weekend to weekend travel. If you're visiting a convention town, the opposite is true. September is the cheapest month to fly domestically. If you want deep cruise discounts use an agent. Find one at www.cruise-compete.com where more than 300 agents compete for your business. When booking hotel rooms, use www.tingo.com . The site automatically registers when the price drops and credits the difference back to your credit card.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Eleven Ways To Avoid Losing Sleep When Buy A Mattress
Mattresses should be replaced every 10 years. And except for certain kinds of specialty mattresses, it is very difficult to compare mattress prices from store to store. That's because retailers use product names and numbers you won't find anywhere else.
1. Take Notes. When you find a mattress that feel comfortable, jot down every detail about the mattress. Your notes should include the coil count, the coil wire gauge, the dimensions plus the height, the length of the warranty, the materials used, how the sleep surface is described, and the list price compared to other mattress stores. Then you will able to compare apples to apples when comparing prices.
2. Determine Firmness. Then note the firmness based on your judgement where if falls on a scale from 1 to 10. To determine this, lie on the mattress for at least 10 minutes to make sure it feels comfortable and it properly supports your spine. Then ask the sales person where each mattress falls on a firmness scale from 1 to 10 so you can discover what firmness scale you like best.
3. Warranty Terms. Keep in mind that manufacturers warranties only cover major defects. They don't let you return because you found the mattress uncomfortable. The exception would be high priced mattresses like Tempur-Pedic which offer a 90 day in home trial period. After you find your best price, compare stores that offer free delivery, free removal of old bedding and the longest free home trial period and free re-delivery and removal of the mattress if you're not happy. Also make sure that you read the store mattress return polices carefully as stated on their respective websites. Normally, extended warranty plans sold by stores aren't worth the paper their printed on. For instance, one major retailer requires you to purchase it if you want a 45 day return period on a mattress. And you can only do it one time.
4.Watch Out For High Coil Count. A high coil count doesn't always mean higher quality. It's true that having more coils is better than having fewer coils but the coils might be made from different materials in different ways. For example, a mattress made with independent coils made from separate pieces of wire will give you a better sleep since they isolate movement better than coils made from continuous strands of wire.
So make sure you include this point when comparing mattresses. You want a high independent coil count made from separate wires.
5. Watch Out For The Pillow Top Trap. Pillow top mattresses feel great when you lay on them because they have thick soft layers of foam . The trouble is that these thick layers soon develop deep, annoying body indentations. So if you love the pillow top feel, opt for a plush top instead. These have just 2 or 3 inches of foam instead of the 4 to 6 inches of foam on a pillow top.
6. New Box Springs May Be A Waste Of Money. When you buy a new mattress, expect the salesperson to recommend a new box spring or "foundation". You might be told that it will extend the life of your mattress or it will void the mattress warranty. None of this is usually true. But if the store says that not buying a new foundation will void the mattress warranty, demand to see a copy of the manufacturers warranty before you commit to buying it. If it's just at store policy, then you should shop elsewhere.
7.High Priced Mattress Drawbacks. Memory foam mattresses do a great job conforming to the contours of the body but they also make some sleepers feel too hot. Dual zone air filled mattresses have a tendency to let humidity and perspiration build up around the the internal air bladders. So mold and mildew can spread in the bladders if not cleaned by using a liquid detergent. Also these mattresses can be opened for cleaning and ventilation but they must be completely dry before closing them up.
8. High Prices Don't Guarantee Comfort. Some people equate high prices with quality. However, a leading consumer magazine reported that 40% of mattress buyers have buyers remorse. They also discovered that a $500 Ikea mattress fared just as well satisfaction surveys as a $3,000 Tempur-Pedic.
9. Check Out The BBB. Before you even waste your time shopping a store, make sure you go to the
Better Business Bureau website and check out the store's reputation. One major furniture retailer who has the biggest national advertising budget, has an "F" rating -- the lowest for customer satisfaction. So go to www.BBB.org and check them out. Also , check out the store's reputation on www.Yelp.com. Look for at least 50 reviews to get unbiased feedback. Or do a Google search like "consumer complaints about "XYZ Mattress Store".
10.Compare Prices. When you have made a mattress choice, go back or call the store you like the most and try to negotiate additional discounts of 20%, 30% or 40% more off of the quoted price. When you negotiate the price, say this: " You know , I really like this mattress and I like your store. But I don't have $1,000 to spend on it right now. All I have in my budget is $700." ( which is 30%v off ) ."Would you consider taking $700 for the mattress if I bought it right now?" Most retailer's list prices double or triple their costs on mattresses, so you have nothing to lose by asking for a discount in this manner. If you like the mattress and the store, and they won't budge on the price, try getting them to throw in new pillows and sheets with the purchase. Also, some stores have price match guarantees so make sure you make several stores compete for your business when all the other factors like reputation and return policies are equal. Keep in mind department stores usually won't negotiate but they may honor price match guarantees if you can show that the mattress is the same despite different names. Also, some department stores may offer better options on returns and delivery if you're not happy.
11. Avoid In Store Financing. When you opt in for furniture in store financing, you may give up some of your rights to dispute any complaints. Although no money down, and no interest for 3 years is quite attractive, make sure you read the financing agreement carefully BEFORE you buy. Don't buy on impulse and take your time. Feel free to take any financing agreements, warranties and brochures home to read them carefully before your buy. Ideally, you'd be better off using a major credit card for any mattress purchase. Then if there is a problem with the product or the store, you'll have 60 days of recourse protection. All American Express cards and most platinum Mastercard and Visa cards also extend the warranty of almost any retail purchase you make and give you other protections. If you really want financing, you can always pay off your credit card balance in full with one of those credit card checks that give you 0 interest for one year. Then when the year is up, you can just pay off the balance with another 0 interest credit card check. Just make sure that the check has no balance transfer fees.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
7 Ways Managers Can Dramatically Boost Prodctivity For Themselves And Their Employees
1. Optimize Your Work Space First,know that staring at cute images like puppies on your walls can narrow your focus and make you less error prone. Second, boost your employee output by trying to keep desks away from windows since good weather is distracting. Third, crank up the heat since employees who work in warm offices make 44 % fewer errors and increase their output 150%. Around 77 degrees is optimal. Fourth, filter out distractions since constant chitchat and exposure to noise makes you less likely to persist at difficult tasks. Fifth, build a nap room. Studies show that napping anywhere from 6 to 90 minutes a day improves memory and learning ability. And last, choose power colors like red rooms to improve performance and blue room to enhance creativity.
2. Don't Reward Failure Your employees will work harder to avoid a loss than to seek a gain. So set targets, impose consequences for failure but don't set the stakes too high.
3.Don't Multitask Studies at Stamford have proven that multitasking doesn't work.So instead, dedicate a 20 minute chunk to a single task, and then switch to the next one. Also, limit the time you spend on emails since it has proven cause stress. So just check your emails a few scheduled times a day and turn off email notifications the rest of the time. Also, quick questions are often better asked face to face or by phone where they don't add to the huge amounts of emails received everyday.
4.Exercise Studies show that working out or doing aerobics improves your brain function.
5. Pay A Bigger Share Of Employees Health Insurance The University of Michigan and Harvard Medical did a study that shows for every $5 increase in health car costs incurred by employees, absences increase by one hour. The authors conclude that the higher the costs, the fewer prescriptions employees fill. So they experience more pain and miss more days of work. The bottom line is that employees with health insurance are far more productive than their uninsured peers.
6.Take Time To Get More Rest You'll find that you'll accomplish more if you give your body sufficient down time. Another Stamford study shows that when college basketball players got 10 hours of sleep a night, their shooting accuracy improved 9 percent.Also, a lack of sleep affects your ability to control your emotions. But sleep isn't the only thing you need. Recent studies by the University of Utah and Kansas have shown that spending time in nature dramatically improves high-level cognition.Activities like hiking influences and improves creativity.
7.Encourage Healthy Conflicts Healthy debates yield better work outcomes since debating makes people divergent , it reduces conformity and fosters competition. But watch out for brainstorming with the assertion that there's no such thing as a bad idea . It has proven to be lousy for productivity. Employee teams produce many more ideas when they are encouraged to challenge each other in a debate setting. Just make sure you don't put all your A players on one team. That's because top performers usually don't work well as a team. This has been proven by the NBA and Wall Street analysts.When you have too many star players on one team, it promotes status conflicts within the team. So make sure your groups are not made up of all leaders. You need some people who are prepared to defer.
2. Don't Reward Failure Your employees will work harder to avoid a loss than to seek a gain. So set targets, impose consequences for failure but don't set the stakes too high.
3.Don't Multitask Studies at Stamford have proven that multitasking doesn't work.So instead, dedicate a 20 minute chunk to a single task, and then switch to the next one. Also, limit the time you spend on emails since it has proven cause stress. So just check your emails a few scheduled times a day and turn off email notifications the rest of the time. Also, quick questions are often better asked face to face or by phone where they don't add to the huge amounts of emails received everyday.
4.Exercise Studies show that working out or doing aerobics improves your brain function.
5. Pay A Bigger Share Of Employees Health Insurance The University of Michigan and Harvard Medical did a study that shows for every $5 increase in health car costs incurred by employees, absences increase by one hour. The authors conclude that the higher the costs, the fewer prescriptions employees fill. So they experience more pain and miss more days of work. The bottom line is that employees with health insurance are far more productive than their uninsured peers.
6.Take Time To Get More Rest You'll find that you'll accomplish more if you give your body sufficient down time. Another Stamford study shows that when college basketball players got 10 hours of sleep a night, their shooting accuracy improved 9 percent.Also, a lack of sleep affects your ability to control your emotions. But sleep isn't the only thing you need. Recent studies by the University of Utah and Kansas have shown that spending time in nature dramatically improves high-level cognition.Activities like hiking influences and improves creativity.
7.Encourage Healthy Conflicts Healthy debates yield better work outcomes since debating makes people divergent , it reduces conformity and fosters competition. But watch out for brainstorming with the assertion that there's no such thing as a bad idea . It has proven to be lousy for productivity. Employee teams produce many more ideas when they are encouraged to challenge each other in a debate setting. Just make sure you don't put all your A players on one team. That's because top performers usually don't work well as a team. This has been proven by the NBA and Wall Street analysts.When you have too many star players on one team, it promotes status conflicts within the team. So make sure your groups are not made up of all leaders. You need some people who are prepared to defer.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Get Free Music, Books & Apps Seven Days A Week
Sunday: Books are available for borrowing through Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Monday: Google's Play Sore gives away a free song of the day on its music home page.
Tuesday: iTunes gives away a free single of the week.
Wednesday: Artist on the Rise page at Amazon's MP3 store allows free download songs by artists.
Thursday: Free TV shows are available at Google's Play Store.
Friday: Get a free book and app verey week on Barnes & Nobles free Friday program.
Saturday: Get incredible free apps on Amazon's free app of the day offer.
Monday: Google's Play Sore gives away a free song of the day on its music home page.
Tuesday: iTunes gives away a free single of the week.
Wednesday: Artist on the Rise page at Amazon's MP3 store allows free download songs by artists.
Thursday: Free TV shows are available at Google's Play Store.
Friday: Get a free book and app verey week on Barnes & Nobles free Friday program.
Saturday: Get incredible free apps on Amazon's free app of the day offer.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Six Ways To Avoid Big Blunders When Refinancing Your Home
1.Ignoring The Age Of Your Old Loan If you are 10 years into a 30 year mortgage when you refinance to a new 30 year loan, you will have to make 10 additional years of payments to pay it off. Unless your goal is to free up cash, you should consider getting a mortgage shorter than 30 years when you refinance. That will reduce your monthly payments without extending your loan payments.
2. Buy A Car Or Changing Jobs The loan approval process doesn't stop when your mortgage is approved. Your lender is likely to reconfirm your employment and financials in the week before your loan closes. So your lender might back away from your if he discovers you changed jobs or incurred more debt.
So don't do anything that will significantly alter your credit score until after the mortgage closes.
3. Assuming The Lowest Advertised Rate Is The Best Deal You really can't compare mortgage offers just by comparing rates. A lender could quote a low rate and and jack up the closing costs. When calling lenders, don't ask , "What's your rate?" Ask instead, "Whats your 30 year fixed rate with zero points if I lock it in for 60 days?" Phrasing the question that way compares apples to apples even if it isn't exactly the mortgage you end up choosing.
4.Allowing Rates To Float Too Long Before locking in a rate, ask the lender what your options are if you over-run your lock up period. Also ask if it's possible to initially allow the rate to float, then later lock it in a few weeks down the road.
5. Letting A Lender Charge You Hidden Points Just because a lender tells you that a mortgage has low or no points does mean it has low or no fees. Points are a type of fee charged as a percentage of the loan. some lenders instead charge steep flat fees so they can tell borrowers that their loans have low or no points without technically lying. So when a lender quotes you a loan ask if there's a "discount fee", "origination fee" or a "broker fee." These are terms lender use to hide points in the form of flat fees. Also, immediately ask for a written good faith estimate of the mortgage terms. Lenders are required to provide these within 3 days after receiving the loan application. Read it to make sure there are no steep undisclosed fees.
6. Choosing An ARM Because You Expect To Sell Before Rates Reset Always choose a fixed low rate mortgage and lock in today's rates even if you expect to move before an ARM's rate resets. ARM's or ajustable rate mortgages, are not worth the risk if there's a chance that you will still own the home after the loan rate resets.
2. Buy A Car Or Changing Jobs The loan approval process doesn't stop when your mortgage is approved. Your lender is likely to reconfirm your employment and financials in the week before your loan closes. So your lender might back away from your if he discovers you changed jobs or incurred more debt.
So don't do anything that will significantly alter your credit score until after the mortgage closes.
3. Assuming The Lowest Advertised Rate Is The Best Deal You really can't compare mortgage offers just by comparing rates. A lender could quote a low rate and and jack up the closing costs. When calling lenders, don't ask , "What's your rate?" Ask instead, "Whats your 30 year fixed rate with zero points if I lock it in for 60 days?" Phrasing the question that way compares apples to apples even if it isn't exactly the mortgage you end up choosing.
4.Allowing Rates To Float Too Long Before locking in a rate, ask the lender what your options are if you over-run your lock up period. Also ask if it's possible to initially allow the rate to float, then later lock it in a few weeks down the road.
5. Letting A Lender Charge You Hidden Points Just because a lender tells you that a mortgage has low or no points does mean it has low or no fees. Points are a type of fee charged as a percentage of the loan. some lenders instead charge steep flat fees so they can tell borrowers that their loans have low or no points without technically lying. So when a lender quotes you a loan ask if there's a "discount fee", "origination fee" or a "broker fee." These are terms lender use to hide points in the form of flat fees. Also, immediately ask for a written good faith estimate of the mortgage terms. Lenders are required to provide these within 3 days after receiving the loan application. Read it to make sure there are no steep undisclosed fees.
6. Choosing An ARM Because You Expect To Sell Before Rates Reset Always choose a fixed low rate mortgage and lock in today's rates even if you expect to move before an ARM's rate resets. ARM's or ajustable rate mortgages, are not worth the risk if there's a chance that you will still own the home after the loan rate resets.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Six New Ways Facebook Is Stealing Your Privacy And What You Can Do About It
1. Timeline Timeline makes its easy for people to search back through your old facebook posts. That could expose private matters embarrassing photos that you've long forgotten. To hide posts you don't want to be seen, hold your cursor over the post and click the pencil con that appears in the upper right hand corner. Then click "hide from Timeline" or "Delete".
2. Facebook Apps Some facebook apps dig deep into your data even accessing info you have designated as private like your religion, political leanings and sexual preferences. So make sure you read the privacy polices carefully before signing up for an app.The free tool available at https://www.facebook.com/Privacyscore will help you evaluate the privacy policies of the apps you use.
3.Facebook "Like" Buttons Each time you click on a "like" button on a website, you alert your interests to your facebook friends and its advertising partners. And if you're a facebook user and you visit a web page that has a "like" button, facebook will record you visit to that page if you don't click "like". One way to prevent facebook from knowing where you go online is to set your web browser to block all cookies. You can also use the "In Private Browsing" mode in Internet Explorer, the "Incognito " mode in Google Chrome, and the "Private Browsing" mode in Firefox and Safari. There are also free plug ins to stop facebook from following you such as http://webgraph.com/resources/facebookblocker/
4. Social Readers If you signed up for sites like The Washington Post it will tell your facebook friends that articles you read on the site. So if you've signed up for a social reader app, then delete it. Just click the lock icon in the upper right hand corner and select"See More Settings" then choose "apps" on the left. Locate the app, click "X" and follow the directions to delete.
5. Photo & Video Tags Some tags can let others see you in unflattering and unprofessional situations. To untag yourself from unflattering photos, hold your cursor over the post and click on the pencil icon. Select "Report/Remove Tag", then follow directions to remove it. Then enable review of all future photos you're tagged in before they appear on Timeline. Click the lock icon in the upper right, the "See More Settings" and select "Timeline and Tagging". Then click "edit" next to "Review posts friends tag you in before they appear on your Timeline, " and click "Enabled" on the drop down menu.
6. Facebook Friends If several of your facebook friends list potentially risky or unhealthy activities, a potential insurer, college admissions office or employer might conclude you also enjoy such behavior. You might consider removing these people from your friends list or make your friends list private. Just click on your name in upper right hand corner, then click "Friends", the "Edit" and select "Only Me" from the drop down menu.
2. Facebook Apps Some facebook apps dig deep into your data even accessing info you have designated as private like your religion, political leanings and sexual preferences. So make sure you read the privacy polices carefully before signing up for an app.The free tool available at https://www.facebook.com/Privacyscore will help you evaluate the privacy policies of the apps you use.
3.Facebook "Like" Buttons Each time you click on a "like" button on a website, you alert your interests to your facebook friends and its advertising partners. And if you're a facebook user and you visit a web page that has a "like" button, facebook will record you visit to that page if you don't click "like". One way to prevent facebook from knowing where you go online is to set your web browser to block all cookies. You can also use the "In Private Browsing" mode in Internet Explorer, the "Incognito " mode in Google Chrome, and the "Private Browsing" mode in Firefox and Safari. There are also free plug ins to stop facebook from following you such as http://webgraph.com/resources/facebookblocker/
4. Social Readers If you signed up for sites like The Washington Post it will tell your facebook friends that articles you read on the site. So if you've signed up for a social reader app, then delete it. Just click the lock icon in the upper right hand corner and select"See More Settings" then choose "apps" on the left. Locate the app, click "X" and follow the directions to delete.
5. Photo & Video Tags Some tags can let others see you in unflattering and unprofessional situations. To untag yourself from unflattering photos, hold your cursor over the post and click on the pencil icon. Select "Report/Remove Tag", then follow directions to remove it. Then enable review of all future photos you're tagged in before they appear on Timeline. Click the lock icon in the upper right, the "See More Settings" and select "Timeline and Tagging". Then click "edit" next to "Review posts friends tag you in before they appear on your Timeline, " and click "Enabled" on the drop down menu.
6. Facebook Friends If several of your facebook friends list potentially risky or unhealthy activities, a potential insurer, college admissions office or employer might conclude you also enjoy such behavior. You might consider removing these people from your friends list or make your friends list private. Just click on your name in upper right hand corner, then click "Friends", the "Edit" and select "Only Me" from the drop down menu.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
How Ordinary People Get Parts In Commercials, TV Shows and Movies And Make Up To $600 A Day Or More
You don't have to move to Hollywood or New York City and don't need movie star good looks. While it's true that movies and TV shows feature people in their 20's, it's a lot easier for older actors to land jobs outside of Los Angeles. Also, most professional acting jobs are parts in local commercials and corporate training films. In addition, directors want actors that look like ordinary people. As an extra, you can earn from $50 to $75 a day, and a principal role pays $600 a day or more.
Three places to find work are the websites of state and city film offices, casting directors, and talent agencies. Type in "film office" of your state or city in Google for job announcements. You can also Google the term "casting director" and t he name of your state or city to find out if they have "open calls" or auditions open to anyone interested in trying out. Plus talent agencies have print departments which help actors and models find work.A good place to find talent agencies is the website of the Screen Actors Guild. At www.Sagaftra.org click on the "Union Info" menu, then click on "Agency Relations" then choose "SAG Franchised Agents".Then at the top of the page click on"Locals" and choose your geographical area. After that, choose "Local Resources" and pick from "Casting Directors", "SAG Franchised Agents" and "AFTRA Franchised Agents". Just make sure that you take some acting lessons before you approach a talent agency. Just Google "acting lessons" with your state or city. A 4 to 6 week class should cost just $100 to $300. A class focused on camera acting for commercials and corporate training films will be useful if you want to launch a part-time acting career and you don't live near NY or LA. Know that agents won't recommend you to casting directors over their existing clients unless they are confident you know what you're doing.
Before you visit a talent agent or casting director, make sure to rehearse a shot monologue that fit your age and looks. Monologue books can be found at libraries, bookstores or online. And most of all, be persistent. The actors or actresses who find work tend to be the ones who audition as frequently as possible. They also monitor their regional film office websites on a regular basis.
Keep in mind that there is work for actors who have little training and experience. But to land better roles, you'll need some experience. The best way to get it is to take roles in local amateur theater productions.
When you audition, dress for the role you hope to land. Also, arrive 15 minutes early because the script is usually not provided to you until you arrive. A good tip is to not try and memorize the script unless it's just a few sentences.
Also, make sure you bring a resume to the audition detailing your acting experience and training. Just type the words "actor's resume"in Google to see how it should be structured. And finally, bring a professional head shot to the audition as well. A talent agent should be able to recommend an area photographer. Expect to pay $175 to $400 which usually includes the cost of a professional makeup artist. Just follow these tips and we may see you on the silver screen.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
15 Easy Ways To Spot A Liar
Here are 15 tell tale signs that someone is lying to you. If the person exhibits two or more of these signs, then there's a good chance they're lying.
1. Convincing Statements are statements that don't answer a question directly. An example would be if
you asked an employee about an overinflated expense report and they respond, "I'm an honest person" or "I would never do something like that".
2 Unusually Long Pauses Since it takes more time to think up a lie than to tell the truth, then consider a long pause to be a sign of deception considering the nature of the question.
3 Relying On God When a person uses ,God to establish their honesty, it sometimes means they're lying. Example: "As God as my witness" or "I swear on a stack of bibles".
4 Nondenial Denials When people say " I would never do such a thing" and fail to deny the specific allegation, watch out. Also look for long winded explanations when a simple yes or no would suffice.
5 Repeating The Question Liars sometimes do this to stall for time while they think up an excuse. They usually say" I'm glad you asked me that."
6. Attack Mode Another tell tale sign of lying might be when the liar questions your competence or fairness by saying, "Who are you to question me?"
7. Inconsistent Statements Liars who have trouble keeping up with their fibs might provide contradictory answers.
8. Unnecessary Detailed Answers An example would be when a sales manager is asked about quarterly sales and he states, "west coast figures are higher than expected."
9. Sudden Politeness Note when the level of politeness increases. If someone answers various questions without saying "sir" and then responds with "no sir" then that may be another indicator of lying. Example:
"Did you take the money out of the safe?" "No, sir."
10.Complaining About The Interview Liars might say, "How long is this going to take?"
11. Appearing To Not Understand A Simple Question People do this intentionally because they don't want to answer the question.
12. Referring Back To A Previous Response Liars might say, "I already told you that yesterday."
13. Adding Qualifiers When people say "frankly" or "truthfully" or "basically" may suggest the person might not be 100% truthful.
14. Nonverbal Signs People's faces and bodies can also provide hints their lying. Look for hand to face activity, nervous movements, clearing the throat or swallowing or grooming. Look for repeated rubbing or scratching of the face, licking of lips or pulling on the ears. Also, watch for movements of the hands, feet or legs in reaction to a question. Liars also sometimes dissipate anxiety by adjusting a tie, smoothing a skirt or aligning pens on a desk.
15. Ask Presumptive , Bait And What Else Questions If you want to know whether someone really went to the office party don't ask "were you there?" but instead ask, "What happened at the party last night?" A bait question might be used if items have gone missing from the office supply closet. Rather than ask each employee if they did it, just ask "Is there any reason why someone may have seen you going into the supply closet this morning?" Also, if money is missing from your wallet, say" I realize the mistake may have been mine. I never explained that you should ask first before you borrow money from me." Also, when someone admits to a misdeed or lie, keep asking "What else?" until no more details are being withheld. \
Make sue you watch and listen for the signs of deception listed above within the first five seconds of asking a question. If two or more appear, then continue monitoring for more signs to detect less than thruthful answers.
1. Convincing Statements are statements that don't answer a question directly. An example would be if
you asked an employee about an overinflated expense report and they respond, "I'm an honest person" or "I would never do something like that".
2 Unusually Long Pauses Since it takes more time to think up a lie than to tell the truth, then consider a long pause to be a sign of deception considering the nature of the question.
3 Relying On God When a person uses ,God to establish their honesty, it sometimes means they're lying. Example: "As God as my witness" or "I swear on a stack of bibles".
4 Nondenial Denials When people say " I would never do such a thing" and fail to deny the specific allegation, watch out. Also look for long winded explanations when a simple yes or no would suffice.
5 Repeating The Question Liars sometimes do this to stall for time while they think up an excuse. They usually say" I'm glad you asked me that."
6. Attack Mode Another tell tale sign of lying might be when the liar questions your competence or fairness by saying, "Who are you to question me?"
7. Inconsistent Statements Liars who have trouble keeping up with their fibs might provide contradictory answers.
8. Unnecessary Detailed Answers An example would be when a sales manager is asked about quarterly sales and he states, "west coast figures are higher than expected."
9. Sudden Politeness Note when the level of politeness increases. If someone answers various questions without saying "sir" and then responds with "no sir" then that may be another indicator of lying. Example:
"Did you take the money out of the safe?" "No, sir."
10.Complaining About The Interview Liars might say, "How long is this going to take?"
11. Appearing To Not Understand A Simple Question People do this intentionally because they don't want to answer the question.
12. Referring Back To A Previous Response Liars might say, "I already told you that yesterday."
13. Adding Qualifiers When people say "frankly" or "truthfully" or "basically" may suggest the person might not be 100% truthful.
14. Nonverbal Signs People's faces and bodies can also provide hints their lying. Look for hand to face activity, nervous movements, clearing the throat or swallowing or grooming. Look for repeated rubbing or scratching of the face, licking of lips or pulling on the ears. Also, watch for movements of the hands, feet or legs in reaction to a question. Liars also sometimes dissipate anxiety by adjusting a tie, smoothing a skirt or aligning pens on a desk.
15. Ask Presumptive , Bait And What Else Questions If you want to know whether someone really went to the office party don't ask "were you there?" but instead ask, "What happened at the party last night?" A bait question might be used if items have gone missing from the office supply closet. Rather than ask each employee if they did it, just ask "Is there any reason why someone may have seen you going into the supply closet this morning?" Also, if money is missing from your wallet, say" I realize the mistake may have been mine. I never explained that you should ask first before you borrow money from me." Also, when someone admits to a misdeed or lie, keep asking "What else?" until no more details are being withheld. \
Make sue you watch and listen for the signs of deception listed above within the first five seconds of asking a question. If two or more appear, then continue monitoring for more signs to detect less than thruthful answers.
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