1. If you’ve been unemployed for six months or more,
they assume that other people passed over you and
they may not want to hire you.
2. When it comes to getting a job, who you know
really matters. No matter how great your
qualifications may be, connections count. So make
you network as much as possible.
3. If want a job at specific company, its best to
bypass the HR department completely. Try to
go through someone you know or go directly
to the hiring manager.
4. You will not be taken serious if your e-mail
address does sound professional like BobJones
@ gmail.Com. BobbyLikes2Booze@ Yahoo.com
just won’t cut it.
5. Most companies practice discrimination.
If you’re in your 50's or 60's, don’t put the year
you graduated on your resume.
6. HR people get irritated about a job hunter
cramming an entire resume on one page in 2 point
type. Use two pages if necessary, but three pages
is pushing it.
7. Most HR people use applicant tracking systems
that scan resumes for key words. To get your resume
through the system make sure you put key words directly
from the job description on your resume.
8. Try to avoid using colored ink and paper when
you submit your resume. Also, dropping off your
resume in person is a no-no.
9.If you want to be considered for a job, make
sure you learn as much as you can about the
company before your interview.
10. A lot of HR people don’t want to hire applicants
with young children. Although its illegal to ask you,
they will pull all kinds of tricks to find out. Some
will put photos of kids on their desks even if they
don’t have children. Then they hope you’ll ask
about the kids and mention your own children.
Or, they may walk you out to your car to see if
you have car seats.
11. HR managers routinely discriminate against
people who are over weight or obese and if you
have a weak hand shake, it will count against you.
12. If you don’t want to blow the job interview,
make sure you turn your cell phone completely
off.
13. Make sure you’re pleasant and cordial to everyone
you encounter at the company. If not, the HR manager
will hear about it and it will count against you.
14. If you have a real personal emergency and you
can’t make your interview, and you have a legitimate
excuse, most HR people probably won’t believe you.
15. Never reveal or on a resume that you were fired.
If you do, it will be trashed. Nine times out of ten,
most state laws on reference immunity and your former
company’s policy will prevent most HR people from
ever finding out.
16. Make sure you know how to pronounce the name
of the person who will interview you. If you must,
call the company receptionist and find out. Also,
make sure your personal hygiene is impeccable.
You should well groomed, and make sure
you wear your best suit or dress for the interview.
17. When asked to talk about yourself, make it
short and to the point. Avoid being a blow hard.
18. Wait at least a week before you send a thank
you note for the interview. In that time, the HR
manager will have interviewed a lot of other
people and your thank you note will stand out.
19. HR managers find persistent people annoying.
Sometimes they’ll tell applicants that they hired
someone internally just to get rid of them. If you want
to check back on your status, limit it to one or two contacts.
20. If you did not get along with your former
supervisor, do not list his direct line as a reference.
Instead, just provide the HR phone number at
your former company. Most will only give out your dates
of employment and your title.
21. If you’re credit score is below 650, it will count
against you when you apply for a job. But since back
ground checks are expensive, HR managers sometimes
bluff and will not even run one.
22. Don’t quote Salary.Com when negotiating pay.
Reason? It’s usually 10 to 20 grand higher than actual
salaries. Plus it annoys HR people like crazy. And
when discussing salary, most HR people try to lock
you in early by saying, “the position pays 35K to 40K.
If they ask you if that’s acceptable, say “no”, “it depends”,
or “it may not be out of the question”. That way, they
can’t lock you into that salary area.
23. If you already have a job, and they start giving you
the worsts assignments possible, with impossible
deadlines, they are setting up to fail so they can terminate it.
So start looking for a new job immediately. Also, watch out
if you’re put on a performance improvement plan and they
say that they want it to work out. They may be looking to
sack you. And the third signal that want to give you
the boot is when you’re a high level employee, and they
start taking away your responsibilities to work on special
assignments. Start sending out resumes fast.
24. If you get laid off, you’ll probably get a separation
agreement where you agree not to sue. Before you sign
it , try to ask for more severance money, a glowing
recommendation in writing or more Cobra. The worst that
could happen is that they'll say no.
25. If you’re asked to travel to attend a conference, try
not to say no. It could end your career.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
New Jersey's Best Vintage, Retro And Couture Second Hand Shops
Asbury Park: http://www.alanandsuzi.net/ Beach Haven: http://www.coastalconsignment-salvage.com/
Bernardsville: http://www.encoreconsignments.com/ Forked River: http://www.stillgreatconsignment.cim/
Haddonfield: http://www.borntoshopthrift.com/ Hawthorne: http://www.secondglance.biz/ Livingston:
http://www.dueteveryday.com/ Princeton: http://www.janeconsignment.com/ Red Bank, Ridgewood, Short Hills And Englewood: http://www.edoubletake.com/ Toms River: http://www.silkpurseconsignment.com/
Westfield: http://www.thecoutureexchange.com/
Bernardsville: http://www.encoreconsignments.com/ Forked River: http://www.stillgreatconsignment.cim/
Haddonfield: http://www.borntoshopthrift.com/ Hawthorne: http://www.secondglance.biz/ Livingston:
http://www.dueteveryday.com/ Princeton: http://www.janeconsignment.com/ Red Bank, Ridgewood, Short Hills And Englewood: http://www.edoubletake.com/ Toms River: http://www.silkpurseconsignment.com/
Westfield: http://www.thecoutureexchange.com/
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Why The Internet Is Making Us Stupid
An experiment at UCLA showed that spending one hour per day on the web alters our neural pathways. Another Canadian study asked 70 people to read a short story on a computer screen. Some read traditional text, while others read a version containing hyperlinks. Only 10% of those who read the traditional text reported any difficulty following the story versus 75% who read the hyperlinked version. Those who read the traditional text did so faster.
Simply ignoring online distractions does not work. That's because our brains must make a split second decision not to be distracted which breaks our concentration. For instance, reading books is often considered a passive activity when compared to web surfing. But we think more deeply when we read a printed page compared to an Internet page. The quiet space afforded by the printed page lets us mull over what we read. That quiet space does not exist online, so we're less likely to formed reasoned conclusions about the validity of what we read.
If we want to increase our concentration and comprehension when we read e-books or text online, we should close our e-mail programs, our facebook page, and other competing info feeds on our screen.
Simply ignoring online distractions does not work. That's because our brains must make a split second decision not to be distracted which breaks our concentration. For instance, reading books is often considered a passive activity when compared to web surfing. But we think more deeply when we read a printed page compared to an Internet page. The quiet space afforded by the printed page lets us mull over what we read. That quiet space does not exist online, so we're less likely to formed reasoned conclusions about the validity of what we read.
If we want to increase our concentration and comprehension when we read e-books or text online, we should close our e-mail programs, our facebook page, and other competing info feeds on our screen.
How To Avoid The Hidden Dangers In Your Clothes And Bedding
Wrinkle free fabrics contain perfluorochemicals ( pfcs) for stain and wrinkle resistance. Clothing labeled no iron, permanent press and wrinkle free often contain pfcs. They last long because they are hard to break down.They accumulate in the body and been linked to reproductive toxicity and liver problems.The chemicals in clothing may be absorbed through the skin or inhaled when they out gas.
Numerous cyclesin the wash may release some but not all. Also, synthetic fibers, contain polyvinyl chlorides a known carcinogen.So to play it safe, try to wear clothes made from 100% natural fibers like cotton and wool.
Dry Cleaning Dangers In dry cleaning, a chemical called perchloroethylene (perc)is used to saturate clothing to remove dirt and stains. But a lot of the solution remains in the clothing fibers after cleaning is done. Exposure to perc had been linked to kidney and liver damage. Plus it causes cancer in lab rats. Even short term exposure results in dizziness, headaches and rapid heart rate. One study found that elevated levels of perc remained in clothing after dry cleaning for 48 hours. California and other states have mandated that dry cleaners stop using perc by 2023. In the meantime, you can air out your perc dry cleaned clothes by removing the plastic and hanging them outdoors or in a garage for one or two days. Also, make sure you wear a barrier like a T-shirt when you wear clothes dry cleaned in perc. You can also find a green dry cleaner that uses liquid carbon dioxide instead of perc.
Problems With Mattresses Most innerspring and foam mattresses and made from polyurethane It is so flammable its considered solid gasoline. To neutralize that, makers are required to add flame retardants to the mattresses. Before 2005, these included highly toxic polybrominated ethers and heavy metal antimonies that disrupt hormone activity and may interfere with normal brain functions. If you're sleeping on a mattress made prior to 2005, consider replacing it with an organic mattress made from natural latex and or wool. If you buy a synthetic mattress, take off the outer wrapping and let air out for a few days outdoors or in a garage. You can also purchase a natural latex mattress topper or one made from cotton or wool to act as a barrier between you and the flame retardant materials.
If It Smells Clean It Could It Could Be Bad For Your Health The National Academy of Science reports that up to 95% of substances used to make fragrances for detergents, plug-in air fresheners, fabric softener, are made from petroleum that can trigger asthma, and may cause problems with the nervous system. So when you can, try to use non-toxic natural fabric softeners and detergents around the house. Also, you can find reusable clothes dryer sheets online that are not coated with chemicals.
Numerous cyclesin the wash may release some but not all. Also, synthetic fibers, contain polyvinyl chlorides a known carcinogen.So to play it safe, try to wear clothes made from 100% natural fibers like cotton and wool.
Dry Cleaning Dangers In dry cleaning, a chemical called perchloroethylene (perc)is used to saturate clothing to remove dirt and stains. But a lot of the solution remains in the clothing fibers after cleaning is done. Exposure to perc had been linked to kidney and liver damage. Plus it causes cancer in lab rats. Even short term exposure results in dizziness, headaches and rapid heart rate. One study found that elevated levels of perc remained in clothing after dry cleaning for 48 hours. California and other states have mandated that dry cleaners stop using perc by 2023. In the meantime, you can air out your perc dry cleaned clothes by removing the plastic and hanging them outdoors or in a garage for one or two days. Also, make sure you wear a barrier like a T-shirt when you wear clothes dry cleaned in perc. You can also find a green dry cleaner that uses liquid carbon dioxide instead of perc.
Problems With Mattresses Most innerspring and foam mattresses and made from polyurethane It is so flammable its considered solid gasoline. To neutralize that, makers are required to add flame retardants to the mattresses. Before 2005, these included highly toxic polybrominated ethers and heavy metal antimonies that disrupt hormone activity and may interfere with normal brain functions. If you're sleeping on a mattress made prior to 2005, consider replacing it with an organic mattress made from natural latex and or wool. If you buy a synthetic mattress, take off the outer wrapping and let air out for a few days outdoors or in a garage. You can also purchase a natural latex mattress topper or one made from cotton or wool to act as a barrier between you and the flame retardant materials.
If It Smells Clean It Could It Could Be Bad For Your Health The National Academy of Science reports that up to 95% of substances used to make fragrances for detergents, plug-in air fresheners, fabric softener, are made from petroleum that can trigger asthma, and may cause problems with the nervous system. So when you can, try to use non-toxic natural fabric softeners and detergents around the house. Also, you can find reusable clothes dryer sheets online that are not coated with chemicals.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Land A Job For Someone Else And Make Up To $250 An Hour Or More
With the local unemployment rate at 9% and up to 40% in some areas, job seekers are in full supply. So that means resume writers are in high demand. So to get training and network opportunities, its critical that you hook up with the Professional Association of Resume Writers. You'll also need to join the National Resume Writers Association for more credentials and leads. After your training, make sure you sign up for the PARW'S $225 certification exam. For more info go to www.PARW.Com and www.TheNRWA.Com. Another good resource to find new clients is www.MovinOnUpResumes.Com
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
GPS Owner Security Alert
FROM ONE OF OUR READERS:
"Wednesday, I approached my truck from the passenger side to place my computer case in the front passenger seat. As I reached to open the door I noticed there was a hole right under my door handle. My first thought was, "someone has shot my truck !" I began to think about it and inspect it a little closer and the "light" slowly began to come on.
I phoned my friend who owns a body shop and asked if he had any vehicles with damage to the doors that looked like a bullet hole. "Yes, I see it all the time. Thieves have a punch and place it right under the door handle, knock a hole through, reach in and unlock it, just as if they have a key.
No alarms, broken glass or anything. I then placed a call to my insurance agent and explained it to him I was puzzled that they left my GPS and all other belongings. Here is where it gets scary! "Oh no, he said, they want the break-in to be so subtle that you don't even realize it."
They look at your GPS to see where "home" is. "Now they know what you drive, go to your home, and if your vehicle isn't there they assume you aren't and break in your home."
He says they will even leave a purse or wallet and only take one or two credit cards. By the time you realize there has been a theft, they may have already had a couple days or more to use them. I didn't realize my situation for two full days! They even give you the courtesy of re-locking your doors for you. Periodically walk around your car, daily if you are in a shopping center or other parking area.
Report thefts immediately....your bank w/missing check numbers, your credit card agencies, police, and insurance companies, etc."
"Wednesday, I approached my truck from the passenger side to place my computer case in the front passenger seat. As I reached to open the door I noticed there was a hole right under my door handle. My first thought was, "someone has shot my truck !" I began to think about it and inspect it a little closer and the "light" slowly began to come on.
I phoned my friend who owns a body shop and asked if he had any vehicles with damage to the doors that looked like a bullet hole. "Yes, I see it all the time. Thieves have a punch and place it right under the door handle, knock a hole through, reach in and unlock it, just as if they have a key.
No alarms, broken glass or anything. I then placed a call to my insurance agent and explained it to him I was puzzled that they left my GPS and all other belongings. Here is where it gets scary! "Oh no, he said, they want the break-in to be so subtle that you don't even realize it."
They look at your GPS to see where "home" is. "Now they know what you drive, go to your home, and if your vehicle isn't there they assume you aren't and break in your home."
He says they will even leave a purse or wallet and only take one or two credit cards. By the time you realize there has been a theft, they may have already had a couple days or more to use them. I didn't realize my situation for two full days! They even give you the courtesy of re-locking your doors for you. Periodically walk around your car, daily if you are in a shopping center or other parking area.
Report thefts immediately....your bank w/missing check numbers, your credit card agencies, police, and insurance companies, etc."
Saturday, February 26, 2011
11 Hot Tips To Sell Your House Fast In A Weak Market
1.Choose A Broker That Can Sell To find the best broker,determine which realtor dominates your market by "For Sale"signs and recommendations by neighbors. Then call the sales manager at the realty office and find out who are the top 10% agents as measured by sales. These agents generate 90% of revenues for an office. So they are most likely to sell your house at the best price. Before you commit to an agent make sure he or she has sold several homes in your neighborhood at attractive prices. Also, make sure that no more than 6 months had passed between the time the homes were listed and sold. Then make sure the agent has a marketing plan tailored to your home. 2. Offer A 2 Point Commission Bonus bringing the total commission to 8%. That way, the listing agent, your broker, and the selling agent, the buyer's broker, get an extra one-point incentive to focus on your property above anyone else's. Tell your agent to make sure the extra commission is clearly stated in the MLS listing - both under "commissions" and under "broker remarks". 3.Get Your Marketing Right Most home buyers start their search on the Internet. So make sure your agent lists your property on the seven biggest real estate sites which are Yahoo, Craigslist ,Trulia, Zillow, Homes.Com ,Realtor.Com and MLS. Only real estate agents can list homes on Homes.Com, Trulia, Realtor.Com and MLS. Ads range from free to $300+ for first page positions, slide shows and videos.
4. Brainstorm With Your Agent to come up with the single most important outstanding feature that makes your property different. It's called a USP or "unique marketing proposition". Then market the daylights out of it. Brainstorm further to come up with a list of special features like a fabulous view or a quiet street .It can be long or short. Then rank the items from most to least important. Then make sure all your advertising includes your USP and your home's special features. 5. Use Professional Photos Market research proves that photos influence buyers more than any other tool. Develop a virtual tour online like something you might see in a home magazine. Whether they're clearly visible or not, each photo or video should include a strongly worded caption that points out interesting details or features. Some agents will send out a professional photographer to take photos. If yours doesn't, you can hire your own for $100 to $500 depending where you live. 4. Clean Out Your Closets Neatness implies that you take care of things. Buyers may think that a messy closet means faulty wiring or plumbing. 5. Get Rid Of Clutter Every piece of junk reduces your homes value because buyers can't see past it. If necessary, rent storage space for a few months. Never underestimate how much a poor appearance will turn away potential buyers and diminish a sale. You want buyers to take a look and say, "Wow! I could move in here today!" 6.Let There Be Light Buyers want a bright house above all except location. So ditch the heavy drapes, have the house cleaned, wash the windows, and move furniture away from the windows. Then trim any outdoor plants blocking the sun. Paint the walls creamy white. And if possible, paint the outside of the house yellow. If you need to re-paint or change the siding of the house, make sure it's yellow. Yellow houses have the most curb appeal and sell faster than any other color. 7.Swipe And Deploy Attend an open house at a few new developments and take note on how the model homes are decorated. Then try to apply some of these latest decorating trends to your house on the cheap. 8. Price It Right The smartest strategy is to under price your house below market value. That's because buyers are looking for value when they buy. This also might force buyers into a bidding war over your house with one another. If you price high and then go low, buyers will sense your desperation and start making low ball offers. Calculate the average on the "comps" for your area and mark it down 10%. If market conditions are deteriorating rapidly, or if you're in a particular hurry, mark it down another 10%. 9. How To Handle Low Ball Bids In A Weak Market When you get low ball bids on your property, never say " NO" regardless of how ridiculous you may think they are. That's because your agent may be able to nurse the buyer along and warm him or her up to a price you may be able to live with. Also, it will be a learning experience. You and your agent will get a chance to get a sense of what a buyer's typical objections may be. Then you'll have a chance to try out some arguments to overcome the next buyer's objections. Based on what you and your agent learn, you can update your marketing materials on the web while your listing is relatively new. 10. Offer Incentives In a buyers market, new home builders will be handing out incentives like Halloween candy. So to sell a used home like yours, giving buyers a cash incentive will give you an unfair advantage over other sellers. Offer to pick up part or all of the closing costs. Then advertise this in advance and more people will want to see your property. You could also offer a decorating allowance of say 1% of the sale price. But do not make this known except to buyers who see the house. Otherwise, prospects may consider it as a sign that the home is not clean or needs work. 11. Hold The Paper First of all, one-fifth of all homes sold involve partial or seller financing. Second, buyers may not be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage because they may be self-employed or can't come up with 20% down. If you don't have a mortgage to pay off, and you aren't buying another house, or if you don't need the cash, this is a win-win for you and the buyer. You can charge 5% interest or more, and the collateral is a property you know and trust. The buyer gets to skip the hassle of applying for a mortgage, and saves on closing costs. The down payment also becomes negotiable. Plus you might be able to spread any capital gains you might owe over several years. Just make sure your agent or lawyer runs a credit check on the buyer and let your lawyer draw up a formal contract. Also, make sure your contract states the if the buyer falls behind on payments just one or two months,the buyer forfeits the down payment and you can take back the property.
4. Brainstorm With Your Agent to come up with the single most important outstanding feature that makes your property different. It's called a USP or "unique marketing proposition". Then market the daylights out of it. Brainstorm further to come up with a list of special features like a fabulous view or a quiet street .It can be long or short. Then rank the items from most to least important. Then make sure all your advertising includes your USP and your home's special features. 5. Use Professional Photos Market research proves that photos influence buyers more than any other tool. Develop a virtual tour online like something you might see in a home magazine. Whether they're clearly visible or not, each photo or video should include a strongly worded caption that points out interesting details or features. Some agents will send out a professional photographer to take photos. If yours doesn't, you can hire your own for $100 to $500 depending where you live. 4. Clean Out Your Closets Neatness implies that you take care of things. Buyers may think that a messy closet means faulty wiring or plumbing. 5. Get Rid Of Clutter Every piece of junk reduces your homes value because buyers can't see past it. If necessary, rent storage space for a few months. Never underestimate how much a poor appearance will turn away potential buyers and diminish a sale. You want buyers to take a look and say, "Wow! I could move in here today!" 6.Let There Be Light Buyers want a bright house above all except location. So ditch the heavy drapes, have the house cleaned, wash the windows, and move furniture away from the windows. Then trim any outdoor plants blocking the sun. Paint the walls creamy white. And if possible, paint the outside of the house yellow. If you need to re-paint or change the siding of the house, make sure it's yellow. Yellow houses have the most curb appeal and sell faster than any other color. 7.Swipe And Deploy Attend an open house at a few new developments and take note on how the model homes are decorated. Then try to apply some of these latest decorating trends to your house on the cheap. 8. Price It Right The smartest strategy is to under price your house below market value. That's because buyers are looking for value when they buy. This also might force buyers into a bidding war over your house with one another. If you price high and then go low, buyers will sense your desperation and start making low ball offers. Calculate the average on the "comps" for your area and mark it down 10%. If market conditions are deteriorating rapidly, or if you're in a particular hurry, mark it down another 10%. 9. How To Handle Low Ball Bids In A Weak Market When you get low ball bids on your property, never say " NO" regardless of how ridiculous you may think they are. That's because your agent may be able to nurse the buyer along and warm him or her up to a price you may be able to live with. Also, it will be a learning experience. You and your agent will get a chance to get a sense of what a buyer's typical objections may be. Then you'll have a chance to try out some arguments to overcome the next buyer's objections. Based on what you and your agent learn, you can update your marketing materials on the web while your listing is relatively new. 10. Offer Incentives In a buyers market, new home builders will be handing out incentives like Halloween candy. So to sell a used home like yours, giving buyers a cash incentive will give you an unfair advantage over other sellers. Offer to pick up part or all of the closing costs. Then advertise this in advance and more people will want to see your property. You could also offer a decorating allowance of say 1% of the sale price. But do not make this known except to buyers who see the house. Otherwise, prospects may consider it as a sign that the home is not clean or needs work. 11. Hold The Paper First of all, one-fifth of all homes sold involve partial or seller financing. Second, buyers may not be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage because they may be self-employed or can't come up with 20% down. If you don't have a mortgage to pay off, and you aren't buying another house, or if you don't need the cash, this is a win-win for you and the buyer. You can charge 5% interest or more, and the collateral is a property you know and trust. The buyer gets to skip the hassle of applying for a mortgage, and saves on closing costs. The down payment also becomes negotiable. Plus you might be able to spread any capital gains you might owe over several years. Just make sure your agent or lawyer runs a credit check on the buyer and let your lawyer draw up a formal contract. Also, make sure your contract states the if the buyer falls behind on payments just one or two months,the buyer forfeits the down payment and you can take back the property.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Ten Keys To Happiness
Here are steps you must take if you want to be happy:
1. Find Something To Look Forward To - One study found that just thinking about watching your favorite movie will raise your endorphin levels by 27%.
2. Infuse Positivity Into Your Surroundings - Another study showed spending 20 minutes outside in good weather will improve your mood and memory.
3. Exercise More - More powerful than antidepressants, even walking is a good way way to improve your mood and your brain.
4. Use Your Strengths - If you don't know what they are, find out for free at http://www.viasurvey.com/
5. Encourage Others - Studies show that teams and improved 31% with encouraging managers Employees don't quit companies, they quit supervisors.
6. Change Your Performance To Change Your Mind - Henry Ford said, "If you think you can or if you think you can't, you're right." When facing a difficult challenge, focus on why you will succeed rather than why you may fail. People with a "fixed mindset" will always be less successful than those with a "growth mindset."
7. Commit Conscious Acts Of Kindness - Be gracious in traffic or in line and let people in. Then see how you feel.
8. View failure As Opportunity - Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he got the light bulb right.
9. Overcome Inertia - Use the 20 second rule to break bad habits. For instance, if you think you watch too much TV, take the batteries out of your remote. The next time you click on the TV, you can read a book or start an important project.
10. Make A Social Investment - A lack of meaningful social contact can add 30 points to your blood pressure. Studies show that a bond between a manager and employees is the prime predictor of both daily productivity and the length of time people stay at their jobs.
1. Find Something To Look Forward To - One study found that just thinking about watching your favorite movie will raise your endorphin levels by 27%.
2. Infuse Positivity Into Your Surroundings - Another study showed spending 20 minutes outside in good weather will improve your mood and memory.
3. Exercise More - More powerful than antidepressants, even walking is a good way way to improve your mood and your brain.
4. Use Your Strengths - If you don't know what they are, find out for free at http://www.viasurvey.com/
5. Encourage Others - Studies show that teams and improved 31% with encouraging managers Employees don't quit companies, they quit supervisors.
6. Change Your Performance To Change Your Mind - Henry Ford said, "If you think you can or if you think you can't, you're right." When facing a difficult challenge, focus on why you will succeed rather than why you may fail. People with a "fixed mindset" will always be less successful than those with a "growth mindset."
7. Commit Conscious Acts Of Kindness - Be gracious in traffic or in line and let people in. Then see how you feel.
8. View failure As Opportunity - Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he got the light bulb right.
9. Overcome Inertia - Use the 20 second rule to break bad habits. For instance, if you think you watch too much TV, take the batteries out of your remote. The next time you click on the TV, you can read a book or start an important project.
10. Make A Social Investment - A lack of meaningful social contact can add 30 points to your blood pressure. Studies show that a bond between a manager and employees is the prime predictor of both daily productivity and the length of time people stay at their jobs.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
25 Fun Facts China Doesn't Want You To Know
#1 The U.S. trade deficit with China increased by 26 percent during 2010.
#2 Since China entered the WTO in 2001, the U.S. trade deficit with
China has grown by an average of 18% per year.
#3 The United States has now had a negative trade balance every single
year since 1976.
#4 The U.S. trade deficit with China during August was more than
4,600 times larger than the U.S. trade deficit with China was for the
entire year of 1985.
#5 According to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute,
between 2001 and 2008 lost 2.4 million jobs due to the growing trade
deficit with China. Every single state in America experienced a net
job loss due to our trade deficit with China during this time period.
#6 China is now the number one producer in the world of wind and solar
power.
#7 Back in 1970, 25 percent of all jobs in the United States were
manufacturing jobs. Today, only 9 percent of the jobs in the United
States are manufacturing jobs.
#8 China now possesses the fastest supercomputer on the entire globe.
#9 Back in 1998, the United States had 25 percent of the world's
high-tech export market and China had just 10 percent. Ten years
later, the United States had less than 15 percent and China's share
had soared to 20 percent.
#10 China now has the world's fastest train and the world's biggest
high-speed rail network.
#11 The United States has lost a staggering 32 percent of its
manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.
#12 The United States had been the leading consumer of energy on the
globe for about 100 years, but this past summer China took over the
number one spot.
#13 China has accumulated the largest stockpile of foreign currency
reserves on the entire globe - $2.85 trillion.
#14 American companies keep handing Chinese companies our most
advanced technology. Just consider the following example that was
just reportedin the New York Times. G.E., in the partnership with a
state-owned Chinese company, will be sharing its most sophisticated
airplane electronics, including some of the same technology used in
Boeing's new state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliner.
#15 All of this new wealth has enabled China to dramatically upgrade
and modernize their military forces. For example, China has actually
developed a missile system that can destroy a U.S. aircraft carrier
nearly 2,000 miles out to sea.
#16 China is now the number one supplier of components that are
critical to the operation of U.S. defense systems.
#17 Since 2001, over 42,000 U.S.factories have closed down for good.
#18 Wealthy Chinese companies are now gobbling up U.S. businesses and
U.S. infrastructure at a staggering pace.
#19 As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in
manufacturing. The last time that less than 12 million Americans were
employed in manufacturing was in 1941.
#20 The United States has 10 percent fewer "middle class jobs" than it
did just ten years ago.
#21 According to Stanford University economics professor Ed Lazear, if
the U.S. economy and the Chinese economy continue to grow at current
rates, the average Chinese citizen will be wealthier than the average
American citizen in just 30 years.
#22 Nobel economist Robert W. Fogel of the University of Chicago is
projecting that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than
the U.S. economy by the year 2040 if current trends continue.
#23 According to one recent study, China could become the global
leader in patent filings by next year.
#24 Today, China controls over 90 percent of the total global supply
of rare earth elements.
#25 According to one shocking new poll, 47 percent of Americans
believe that China is the number one economic power in the world.
Only 31 percent of those responding to the survey indicated that they
believe that the United States is still the number one economic power.
#2 Since China entered the WTO in 2001, the U.S. trade deficit with
China has grown by an average of 18% per year.
#3 The United States has now had a negative trade balance every single
year since 1976.
#4 The U.S. trade deficit with China during August was more than
4,600 times larger than the U.S. trade deficit with China was for the
entire year of 1985.
#5 According to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute,
between 2001 and 2008 lost 2.4 million jobs due to the growing trade
deficit with China. Every single state in America experienced a net
job loss due to our trade deficit with China during this time period.
#6 China is now the number one producer in the world of wind and solar
power.
#7 Back in 1970, 25 percent of all jobs in the United States were
manufacturing jobs. Today, only 9 percent of the jobs in the United
States are manufacturing jobs.
#8 China now possesses the fastest supercomputer on the entire globe.
#9 Back in 1998, the United States had 25 percent of the world's
high-tech export market and China had just 10 percent. Ten years
later, the United States had less than 15 percent and China's share
had soared to 20 percent.
#10 China now has the world's fastest train and the world's biggest
high-speed rail network.
#11 The United States has lost a staggering 32 percent of its
manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.
#12 The United States had been the leading consumer of energy on the
globe for about 100 years, but this past summer China took over the
number one spot.
#13 China has accumulated the largest stockpile of foreign currency
reserves on the entire globe - $2.85 trillion.
#14 American companies keep handing Chinese companies our most
advanced technology. Just consider the following example that was
just reportedin the New York Times. G.E., in the partnership with a
state-owned Chinese company, will be sharing its most sophisticated
airplane electronics, including some of the same technology used in
Boeing's new state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliner.
#15 All of this new wealth has enabled China to dramatically upgrade
and modernize their military forces. For example, China has actually
developed a missile system that can destroy a U.S. aircraft carrier
nearly 2,000 miles out to sea.
#16 China is now the number one supplier of components that are
critical to the operation of U.S. defense systems.
#17 Since 2001, over 42,000 U.S.factories have closed down for good.
#18 Wealthy Chinese companies are now gobbling up U.S. businesses and
U.S. infrastructure at a staggering pace.
#19 As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in
manufacturing. The last time that less than 12 million Americans were
employed in manufacturing was in 1941.
#20 The United States has 10 percent fewer "middle class jobs" than it
did just ten years ago.
#21 According to Stanford University economics professor Ed Lazear, if
the U.S. economy and the Chinese economy continue to grow at current
rates, the average Chinese citizen will be wealthier than the average
American citizen in just 30 years.
#22 Nobel economist Robert W. Fogel of the University of Chicago is
projecting that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than
the U.S. economy by the year 2040 if current trends continue.
#23 According to one recent study, China could become the global
leader in patent filings by next year.
#24 Today, China controls over 90 percent of the total global supply
of rare earth elements.
#25 According to one shocking new poll, 47 percent of Americans
believe that China is the number one economic power in the world.
Only 31 percent of those responding to the survey indicated that they
believe that the United States is still the number one economic power.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
35 Best Beers From Around The Globe
1. Hoegaarden, Belgium 2. Lindmans Framboise, Belgium 3. Ufo White, Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA 4. Coopers Sparkling Ale , Australia 5. Avery Elle's Brown Ale, Boulder. CO 6. Doggie Style Pale Ale, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD 7. Saranac Adirondack Lager, Matt Brewery, Uitica, NY 8. Mama's Little Yellow Pills, Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont, CO 9. Tailgate Beer Jay's Blacktop Blonde, San Diego. CA 10. Back In Black IPA, 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco, CA 11.Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, North Coast Brewing, Fort Bragg, CA 12. Hitachino Nest White Ale, Kiuchi Brewery, Japan 13. Pliny The Elder, Russian River Brewing, Santa Rosa, CA 14. Good Harbor Golden Wheat, Leelanau Brewing, Leeland, MI 15. Sessions Lager, Full Sail Brewing, Hood River, OR 16. Old Abominable Barley Wine, Stoudts Brewery, Adamstown, PA 17. Steel Reserve High Gravity, Steel Brewing, Irwindale, CA 18. V-12 , Victory Brewing, Downingtown, PA 19. St. Ides High Gravity, Irwindale, CA 20. Kiwanda Cream Ale, Pelican Pub Brewery, Pacific City, OR 21. Estrella Damm Inedit, S.A. Damm Brewery, Barcelona , Spain 22. The Sixth Glass, Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO 23. Ommegang Hennepin, Coppertown, NY 24. Chipolte Ale, Rogues Ales Brewery, Newport, OR 25. Wild Raspberry Wheat Ale, Great Divide Brewing , Denver, CO 26. Sea Dog Blue Paw Wheat Ale, Bangor, ME 27. Abita Pecan Harvest, New Orleans, LA 28. Horizon Red Ale, Summit Brewing, St. Paul, MN 29. Harppon Belgium Pale Ale, Boston , MA 30. Silver Moon Bridge Creek Pilsner, Bend, OR 31. Sweet Water SCH' Wheat, Atlanta, GA, Hard To Get & High Alcohol Content Beers: 32. Sink The Bismark, Brewdog Brewery, Scottland 41% proof, 33.Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA , Milton, DE 36% proof, 33. Westvleteren 12, Belgium (considered the best in the world and limited to one case each to customer by the Trappist monks who make it ) 35. Rodenbach Vintage 2008, Palm Breweries, Belgium ( only 30M bottles of were made from a single barrel).
Monday, January 3, 2011
19 Awesome No Brainer Quick Meals For 2011
1. Asian Pork Chops Combine 2 tbs hoisin sauce, 2 tsp fish sauce, and 1 tsp of lime juice. Cut 2 thick pork chops into 1/4 inch slices. Dip in mixture. Saute 5 to 10 minutes or until done. Serve with rice noodles.
Serves 2.
2. Linguine With Anchovies Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet. Add 3 sliced garlic cloves, 4 anchovy fillets, and 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes. Cook until anchovies melt into oil. Stir in cooked linguine. ( 8 oz dry) Sprinkle with 3 tbsp of chopped walnuts. Serves 2.
3. Smoky Spice Rub Combine 1 tbsp each of smoked paprika, cinnamon, garlic powder, cumin and brown sugar. Rub on steak or chicken thighs. Grill outside or in broiler.
4. Pork With Fig Preserves Combine 1/2 cup fig preserves , 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 crushed garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp of lemon juice. Roast 2 ( 1 lb) whole pork tenderloins 15 minutes at 375F. Brush with fig mixture during last 5 minutes of roasting. Serves 8.
5. Smoky Honey Pork Combine 1/4 cup honey, 1 tbsp smoked paprika and 2 tbsp chopped green onions. Brush over 2 lb boneless pork loin. Roast 30 minutes or until done at 375F.
6. Salmon With Miso Combine 2 tbsp each of brown sugar, miso paste, soy sauce, and hot water.
Spoon over 4 ( 5oz) salmon fillets and broil 10 minutes. Serves 4.
7. Chinese Mustard Vinaigrette Combine 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar, 2 tsp Chinese mustard, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1/4 cup walnut or peanut oil, 1 tsp minced shallot, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Drizzle over fish or veggies.
8. Roasted Peppers With Polenta & Cheese Cut a package of polenta into 8 slices. Heat 1 tbsp of Olive oil in a skillet. Add polenta slices and saute 3 minutes on each side. Cover with roasted bell peppers and sliced provolone cheese. Cover skillet and cook until cheese melts. Serves 4.
9. Grilled Chicken With Tahini Sauce Combine 1/2 cup tahini and 1/2 cup plain yogurt. Use as a dipping sauce for 1 lb of grilled chicken tenders. Serves 4.
10. Chicken With Salsa Verde & Feta Place 2 lbs of boneless, skinless, chicken thighs in a roasting pan. Pour 1 1/2 cups salsa Verde over the top. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese. Bake 40 minutes at 375F. Serves 6.
11. Curried Chicken Strips Combine 1/2 cup orange juice concentrate with 3 tbsp of green or red curry paste and 1 tbsp oil. Toss with 1 lb chicken tenders or strips. Roast 15 minutes at 375F. Serves 4.
12. Orange Scallops Combine 3 tbsp orange marmalade , 3 tbsp chopped green onions, and 1 tbsp soy sauce. Toss with 1/2 lb scallops. Saute scallops until done. Serves 2.
13. Mayan Hot Chocolate Stir 1 oz chocolate and 1/4 tsp ancho chili powder into 12 oz of hot milk. Serves 1.
14. Barbecued Salmon Combine 3 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp of ancho chili powder, 1 crushed garlic clove, and 1 tsp of finely grated orange rind. Spread on top of 4 ( 5oz) salmon fillets. Broil 10 minutes. Serves 4.
15. Chipolte Salmon Combine 1 chipotle chilie, 1 tbsp adobo sauce and 1/3 cup mayonnaise. Spread on top of 4 ( 5oz) salmon fillets. Broil 10 minutes. Serves 4.
16. Curried Honey Chicken Thighs Combine 3 tbsp honey, 2 tsp of curry powder, 1 tsp finely grated orange rind, and 1 tsp of ground ginger. Slice 1 orange and place in shallow baking dish. Place 6 chicken thighs on top of orange slices, spread honey mixture on chicken and bake 20 minutes at 375F. Sevres 3.
17. Rice Salad With Peppers & Feta Combine 3 cups cold leftover rice, 1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1 can white beans (rinsed and drained) 1/4 cup chopped parsley,
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 2 tbsp sherry vinegar. Serves 4.
18. Beef With Horseradish Sauce Combine 1/4 cup each horseradish and sour cream with 1 tbsp brown sugar. Serve with beef or hamburger.
19. Couscous Chicken Salad Combine 3 cups cooked garlic flavored couscous, 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, 1 cup shredded lettuce, 1/2 chopped green onions, and 2 tbsp of sherry vinegar and olive oil. Serves 4.
Serves 2.
2. Linguine With Anchovies Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet. Add 3 sliced garlic cloves, 4 anchovy fillets, and 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes. Cook until anchovies melt into oil. Stir in cooked linguine. ( 8 oz dry) Sprinkle with 3 tbsp of chopped walnuts. Serves 2.
3. Smoky Spice Rub Combine 1 tbsp each of smoked paprika, cinnamon, garlic powder, cumin and brown sugar. Rub on steak or chicken thighs. Grill outside or in broiler.
4. Pork With Fig Preserves Combine 1/2 cup fig preserves , 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 crushed garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp of lemon juice. Roast 2 ( 1 lb) whole pork tenderloins 15 minutes at 375F. Brush with fig mixture during last 5 minutes of roasting. Serves 8.
5. Smoky Honey Pork Combine 1/4 cup honey, 1 tbsp smoked paprika and 2 tbsp chopped green onions. Brush over 2 lb boneless pork loin. Roast 30 minutes or until done at 375F.
6. Salmon With Miso Combine 2 tbsp each of brown sugar, miso paste, soy sauce, and hot water.
Spoon over 4 ( 5oz) salmon fillets and broil 10 minutes. Serves 4.
7. Chinese Mustard Vinaigrette Combine 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar, 2 tsp Chinese mustard, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1/4 cup walnut or peanut oil, 1 tsp minced shallot, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Drizzle over fish or veggies.
8. Roasted Peppers With Polenta & Cheese Cut a package of polenta into 8 slices. Heat 1 tbsp of Olive oil in a skillet. Add polenta slices and saute 3 minutes on each side. Cover with roasted bell peppers and sliced provolone cheese. Cover skillet and cook until cheese melts. Serves 4.
9. Grilled Chicken With Tahini Sauce Combine 1/2 cup tahini and 1/2 cup plain yogurt. Use as a dipping sauce for 1 lb of grilled chicken tenders. Serves 4.
10. Chicken With Salsa Verde & Feta Place 2 lbs of boneless, skinless, chicken thighs in a roasting pan. Pour 1 1/2 cups salsa Verde over the top. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese. Bake 40 minutes at 375F. Serves 6.
11. Curried Chicken Strips Combine 1/2 cup orange juice concentrate with 3 tbsp of green or red curry paste and 1 tbsp oil. Toss with 1 lb chicken tenders or strips. Roast 15 minutes at 375F. Serves 4.
12. Orange Scallops Combine 3 tbsp orange marmalade , 3 tbsp chopped green onions, and 1 tbsp soy sauce. Toss with 1/2 lb scallops. Saute scallops until done. Serves 2.
13. Mayan Hot Chocolate Stir 1 oz chocolate and 1/4 tsp ancho chili powder into 12 oz of hot milk. Serves 1.
14. Barbecued Salmon Combine 3 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp of ancho chili powder, 1 crushed garlic clove, and 1 tsp of finely grated orange rind. Spread on top of 4 ( 5oz) salmon fillets. Broil 10 minutes. Serves 4.
15. Chipolte Salmon Combine 1 chipotle chilie, 1 tbsp adobo sauce and 1/3 cup mayonnaise. Spread on top of 4 ( 5oz) salmon fillets. Broil 10 minutes. Serves 4.
16. Curried Honey Chicken Thighs Combine 3 tbsp honey, 2 tsp of curry powder, 1 tsp finely grated orange rind, and 1 tsp of ground ginger. Slice 1 orange and place in shallow baking dish. Place 6 chicken thighs on top of orange slices, spread honey mixture on chicken and bake 20 minutes at 375F. Sevres 3.
17. Rice Salad With Peppers & Feta Combine 3 cups cold leftover rice, 1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1 can white beans (rinsed and drained) 1/4 cup chopped parsley,
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 2 tbsp sherry vinegar. Serves 4.
18. Beef With Horseradish Sauce Combine 1/4 cup each horseradish and sour cream with 1 tbsp brown sugar. Serve with beef or hamburger.
19. Couscous Chicken Salad Combine 3 cups cooked garlic flavored couscous, 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, 1 cup shredded lettuce, 1/2 chopped green onions, and 2 tbsp of sherry vinegar and olive oil. Serves 4.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Why Kids May Be Getting Dumber By The Minute
In the past decade, the number of college grads who can interpret a food label has fallen from 40 percent to 30 percent. And not too long ago, a high school teacher out west handed out an assignment that required students to use a ruler. But she discovered not a single one of them knew how. Kids today seem way dumber than they used to be. That's because they spend all their time playing computer games and hanging out with one another on Myspace and Facebook.
They don't know the most basic stuff like who fought whom in World War II, how many pints are in a quart, and in some cases, even the months or the days of the week. The average kid spends nearly 9 hours a day in front of computers, TV and iPhones screens. Add in 8 hours of sleep and 7 hours in school, that just leaves 1/2 hour when their senses are not under siege while they take a shower. Technology was supposed to set us free, but it seems to be binding our youth to mundane, time-consuming tasks. Each day, kids send and receive more than 4,000 text messages each month or about 100 a day. Plus they have an average of 450 friends on Facebook.
Reading is highly unnatural in that it requires us to filter out distractions and focus on a single task. But a study done at Stamford last year revealed that heavy users of multimedia have a very hard time filtering out distracting information. When the phone rings, their behavior is driven by that distraction. In fact, kids today are assailed by such a constant stream of input that they can't even remember what they see.
Here are some examples of how technology is effecting our brains. Heavy computer users take longer than light users in moving between different tasks and have trouble tuning out irrelevant information. Computer gaming can become literally addictive. Under the stress of playing, a part of the brain produces more endorphins, leading to euphoria. If a kid stops playing, the endorphin level drops and he has to play again.
Computer gaming over time also increases the level of stress, and releases stress hormones.
When kids multitask, their brains become wired for instant gratification. And that makes their attention span shorter. If you ask a kid a question, they get restless. That's because they're used to getting everything at a click. That's why they don't have conversations anymore. If they have something important to say, they text it.
On a final note, with Facebook, their cell phones and laptops, kids don't ever have to be alone but they're always alone. Research has shown that the more they use the internet to connect, the more vulnerable they are to depression. Plus the incidence of depression has doubled among teens in the last decade. In addition, a quarter of all Americans report not having even one person they can confide in. More than half have no close friends outside their immediate family.
They don't know the most basic stuff like who fought whom in World War II, how many pints are in a quart, and in some cases, even the months or the days of the week. The average kid spends nearly 9 hours a day in front of computers, TV and iPhones screens. Add in 8 hours of sleep and 7 hours in school, that just leaves 1/2 hour when their senses are not under siege while they take a shower. Technology was supposed to set us free, but it seems to be binding our youth to mundane, time-consuming tasks. Each day, kids send and receive more than 4,000 text messages each month or about 100 a day. Plus they have an average of 450 friends on Facebook.
Reading is highly unnatural in that it requires us to filter out distractions and focus on a single task. But a study done at Stamford last year revealed that heavy users of multimedia have a very hard time filtering out distracting information. When the phone rings, their behavior is driven by that distraction. In fact, kids today are assailed by such a constant stream of input that they can't even remember what they see.
Here are some examples of how technology is effecting our brains. Heavy computer users take longer than light users in moving between different tasks and have trouble tuning out irrelevant information. Computer gaming can become literally addictive. Under the stress of playing, a part of the brain produces more endorphins, leading to euphoria. If a kid stops playing, the endorphin level drops and he has to play again.
Computer gaming over time also increases the level of stress, and releases stress hormones.
When kids multitask, their brains become wired for instant gratification. And that makes their attention span shorter. If you ask a kid a question, they get restless. That's because they're used to getting everything at a click. That's why they don't have conversations anymore. If they have something important to say, they text it.
On a final note, with Facebook, their cell phones and laptops, kids don't ever have to be alone but they're always alone. Research has shown that the more they use the internet to connect, the more vulnerable they are to depression. Plus the incidence of depression has doubled among teens in the last decade. In addition, a quarter of all Americans report not having even one person they can confide in. More than half have no close friends outside their immediate family.
Employers Are Spying On You At Facebook, Twitter And Linkedin
Remember that hazy trip to Cabo San Lucas with old friends a few years ago? Those margaritas were huge. You just had to post photos of them on Facebook, along with a few other Kodak moments. Then you mostly forgot about them.
Even if you don't recall all of the sordid details from that weekend of debauchery, your employer may know all about it. That's because a new company called Social Intelligence billing itself as a social media private eye will observe your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other online accounts on behalf of employers to make certain you're not a liability. Background checks involving criminal records and credit histories are typical and even expected of many major employers responsible for children, nursing homes or public safety.
But the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based company takes this concept to a new level offering an automated tool that mines social media content for troubling signs. Search filters can be customized "to reflect corporate culture," and additional manual reviews are conducted by "social media experts."
A display tells the human resources manager in your workplace how many "negative" hits are uncovered, placing the names of both job applicants and active employees next to red flags like "drugs/drug lingo," "gangs," "poor judgment" and "demonstrating potentially violent behavior."
Social Intelligence is the latest in an ever-expanding movement by both corporations and government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, to use new communications tools for surveillance
purposes. Some of the most provocative examples yet emerged only in recent weeks.
The trend raises fresh questions about how standards enforcing privacy online can withstand the rush of data about you and everyone else that courses through the Internet.
After finally landing a job, the information gathering has only just begun. From there, Social Intelligence will carry out near "real-time surveillance" of your behavior with screenshots and customizable reports used to document activity and keep the front office informed.
Its marketing materials play into larger fears every employer could have. According to the company's website: Once employees have been hired, their online behavior poses a possible threat to your company. Employees may criticize managers or coworkers on a social networking site, post questionable photos on a blog, or regularly update personal sites while on the clock. Consistent monitoring creates awareness and strict adherence among employees, thereby reducing 'cyber slacking,' fraud and negative company publicity.
Internet.com pointed out Sept. 29 that Social Intelligence doesn't actively "friend" users to surreptitiously access more private posts online. The goal is to shield companies from job seekers and employees who turn out to be dangerous or untrustworthy. Litigation following violent episodes in the workplace can hinge on warning signs an institution may have been aware of in advance. But clearly bloodshed isn't the only thing Social Intelligence is promising to help prevent.
Government investigators, meanwhile, will quietly friend you and more generally use social media to seek out evidence of possible security threats and spy on political organizations.New documents unearthed recently in Pennsylvania show that state homeland security officials used Twitter accounts to watch people who had not violated any laws, including elderly anti-war protesters linked to Quaker activism.
The news came shortly after Pennsylvania's homeland security director resigned amid revelations that the state paid a private contractor thousands of dollars to monitor gay and lesbian groups, environmentalists and even a nonprofit tied to the governor. Findings from the surveillance were compiled in intelligence reports ostensibly designed to inform authorities about potential terrorism. But the public reacted angrily. Gov. Ed Rendell apologized, calling the intel-gathering "ludicrous" and insisting he wasn't aware of it.
Then in October, the Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained documents through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit showing that the federal government created a special center prior to Barack Obama's
inauguration for analyzing oceans of data passing through Facebook, Twitter and other sites in an attempt to identify hazards.
Further records turned over to EFF revealed that federal investigators were taught how they could deceptively "friend" people applying to become citizens and snoop for relationship details meeting the
government's standard of a legitimate marriage. According to one internal memo:
Narcissistic tendencies in many people fuels a need to have a large group of 'friends' link to their pages, and many of these people accept cyber-friends that they don't even know. Once a user posts online, they create a public record and timeline of their activities.
In documents made publicly available earlier this year by the Department of Homeland Security, officials described another new program for maintaining "situational awareness" that involved tracking social media sites and other online destinations.
Personnel at the department's National Operations Center scan the Web using dozens upon dozens of key search terms and phrases, among them "militia," "cops," "riot," "dirty bomb," "Mexican army,""decapitated," "Iraq," "radicals" and many more. The NOC stores and analyzes its results before determining what tips should be distributed to other government agencies and even private companies authorized to receive such information.
As for Social Intelligence, attempting to expose online criticism from employees could become its own liability. The National Labor Relations Board is arguing that condemnation of your boss on Facebook
doesn't justify termination. Lawyers for the labor board alleged in late October that an ambulance company violated the law when it fired an employee for disparaging remarks made on the Web. Observers are
calling the case ground-breaking.
You can check out the company snooping for employers at: http://www.socialintelligencehr.com/home
Even if you don't recall all of the sordid details from that weekend of debauchery, your employer may know all about it. That's because a new company called Social Intelligence billing itself as a social media private eye will observe your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other online accounts on behalf of employers to make certain you're not a liability. Background checks involving criminal records and credit histories are typical and even expected of many major employers responsible for children, nursing homes or public safety.
But the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based company takes this concept to a new level offering an automated tool that mines social media content for troubling signs. Search filters can be customized "to reflect corporate culture," and additional manual reviews are conducted by "social media experts."
A display tells the human resources manager in your workplace how many "negative" hits are uncovered, placing the names of both job applicants and active employees next to red flags like "drugs/drug lingo," "gangs," "poor judgment" and "demonstrating potentially violent behavior."
Social Intelligence is the latest in an ever-expanding movement by both corporations and government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, to use new communications tools for surveillance
purposes. Some of the most provocative examples yet emerged only in recent weeks.
The trend raises fresh questions about how standards enforcing privacy online can withstand the rush of data about you and everyone else that courses through the Internet.
After finally landing a job, the information gathering has only just begun. From there, Social Intelligence will carry out near "real-time surveillance" of your behavior with screenshots and customizable reports used to document activity and keep the front office informed.
Its marketing materials play into larger fears every employer could have. According to the company's website: Once employees have been hired, their online behavior poses a possible threat to your company. Employees may criticize managers or coworkers on a social networking site, post questionable photos on a blog, or regularly update personal sites while on the clock. Consistent monitoring creates awareness and strict adherence among employees, thereby reducing 'cyber slacking,' fraud and negative company publicity.
Internet.com pointed out Sept. 29 that Social Intelligence doesn't actively "friend" users to surreptitiously access more private posts online. The goal is to shield companies from job seekers and employees who turn out to be dangerous or untrustworthy. Litigation following violent episodes in the workplace can hinge on warning signs an institution may have been aware of in advance. But clearly bloodshed isn't the only thing Social Intelligence is promising to help prevent.
Government investigators, meanwhile, will quietly friend you and more generally use social media to seek out evidence of possible security threats and spy on political organizations.New documents unearthed recently in Pennsylvania show that state homeland security officials used Twitter accounts to watch people who had not violated any laws, including elderly anti-war protesters linked to Quaker activism.
The news came shortly after Pennsylvania's homeland security director resigned amid revelations that the state paid a private contractor thousands of dollars to monitor gay and lesbian groups, environmentalists and even a nonprofit tied to the governor. Findings from the surveillance were compiled in intelligence reports ostensibly designed to inform authorities about potential terrorism. But the public reacted angrily. Gov. Ed Rendell apologized, calling the intel-gathering "ludicrous" and insisting he wasn't aware of it.
Then in October, the Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained documents through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit showing that the federal government created a special center prior to Barack Obama's
inauguration for analyzing oceans of data passing through Facebook, Twitter and other sites in an attempt to identify hazards.
Further records turned over to EFF revealed that federal investigators were taught how they could deceptively "friend" people applying to become citizens and snoop for relationship details meeting the
government's standard of a legitimate marriage. According to one internal memo:
Narcissistic tendencies in many people fuels a need to have a large group of 'friends' link to their pages, and many of these people accept cyber-friends that they don't even know. Once a user posts online, they create a public record and timeline of their activities.
In documents made publicly available earlier this year by the Department of Homeland Security, officials described another new program for maintaining "situational awareness" that involved tracking social media sites and other online destinations.
Personnel at the department's National Operations Center scan the Web using dozens upon dozens of key search terms and phrases, among them "militia," "cops," "riot," "dirty bomb," "Mexican army,""decapitated," "Iraq," "radicals" and many more. The NOC stores and analyzes its results before determining what tips should be distributed to other government agencies and even private companies authorized to receive such information.
As for Social Intelligence, attempting to expose online criticism from employees could become its own liability. The National Labor Relations Board is arguing that condemnation of your boss on Facebook
doesn't justify termination. Lawyers for the labor board alleged in late October that an ambulance company violated the law when it fired an employee for disparaging remarks made on the Web. Observers are
calling the case ground-breaking.
You can check out the company snooping for employers at: http://www.socialintelligencehr.com/home
How To Make Venetian Rainbow Cookies For The Holidays
12 Large Eggs, Separated
2 3/4 Cups Sugar
24 Oz Almond Paste
8 Sticks Butter Softened
5 3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Red Food Coloring
2 Tsp Green Food Coloring
16 Oz Orange Preserves ( Smuckers will do fine)
heated and strained
8 OZ Bittersweet Chocolate, Chopped
Preheat oven to 350. Beat egg whites in electric mixer until they hold stiff peaks. Add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until whites hold stiff, slightly glossy peaks, the refrigerate. Beat together almond paste and remaining sugar in mixer. Add butter gradually and beat until mixture is fluffy , about 3 minutes. Add yolks and beat until well combined. Reduce speed to low and add flour and salt and mix until combined. Fold in egg whites. Divide batter equally among 3 bowls; wearing gloves. (1) whisk red food coloring into one, and green into the other, leaving the third batch plain. Spread each batch separately and evenly, about 1/4" thick, onto 3 half-sheet pans , each greased and lined with parchment paper. Bake until barely set, about 7 minutes. ( 2) When layers are cool, spread half the preserves onto the green layer. Invert plain layer over it and discard paper. Spread on remaining preserves , and invert red layer over it, discard paper. Wrap with plastic and top with a weighted baking pan. Refrigerate for several hours. Remove plastic and bring to room temperature. Melt chocolate in a double boiler, and (3) spread thinly on top layer. Chill in freezer briefly until firm. Cover with wax paper, place another baking sheet on top, then invert cake onto sheet pan and remove paper. Quickly spread remaining chocolate and return to freezer until firm. Trim edges, slice and serve.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Best Coffee Shops In NYC
Best Tasting Stump Town Coffee Roasters In The Ace Hotel, 18 W. 29th St, between 5th Ave & Broadway, and http://www.joetheartofcoffee.com/ various locations around New York City
For Hanging Out www.MudNyc.Com 307 E. 9th between First & Second Aves 212-228-9074
For Doing Work www.ThinkCoffeeNYC.Com 28 Mercer St, between 3rd & 4th Sts 212-228-6226
For Work Space www.CoffeeFoundry.Com Rent booth/work space for $15 hr lst hr $10 hr thereafter,
186 W. 4th St between Barrow and Jones Sts
For Hanging Out www.MudNyc.Com 307 E. 9th between First & Second Aves 212-228-9074
For Doing Work www.ThinkCoffeeNYC.Com 28 Mercer St, between 3rd & 4th Sts 212-228-6226
For Work Space www.CoffeeFoundry.Com Rent booth/work space for $15 hr lst hr $10 hr thereafter,
186 W. 4th St between Barrow and Jones Sts
Sunday, December 5, 2010
15 More Incredible Must Know Travel Tips
1. Before You Go Join every airline's frequent flyer program from jet Blue to Continental's One Pass even if you fly just once a year. In any situation, from better seating to bumping passengers off flights, the airlines always pay more attention to and take better care of the passengers they consider loyalist, whatever their mileage balance. 2. Buy One Way Tickets These days, there's no price difference between buying a one way ticket and a return. It's way smarter to buy two one-ways. That's because if the first leg goes unflown, the second is automatically cancelled. So if you miss your flight, you end up shelling out for two replacements. Keeping them separate avoids this problem. 3. Get The Best Fares at http://www.kayak.com/and www.Hipmunk.Com 4. Make Photo Copies & Photos Whether you travel domestically or abroad, make photo copies of your passport and ID and stuff them in your hand luggage in case you lose the originals. It makes them a lot easier to replace. And while you're at it, snap photos of your luggage and keep them handy on your cell phone in case your luggage is lost. Airlines often complain that traveler's can't describe a lost bag which makes it harder to find. 5. Never Pack A Single Suit Case For Each Family Member For more than one person, never allocate a single suitcase. That's because if dad's case is lost, he's not left with nothing to wear but mom's swimsuit. Instead, divvy up clothes for each family member across s the cases so no one will be left shirtless. 6. Check Your Hotel's Website Most hotels list comprehensive amenities. So you can avoid lugging around an iron or hair dryer when you don't need to. 7. Watch Your Books Watch how you pack books. That's one big reason why TSA guards search your luggage. A column of stacked books shows up on X-rays as a blank space. That triggers a search by hand. So pack your books in layers across the case rather then piled up. 8. Remember 311 The 3-1-1 rule which limits you to 3 one ounce containers in a 1 quart zip lock bag. One clever way around this is to use solid shampoos and sunscreens from http://www.lush.com/ 9. How To Handle Cancelled Flights Planes are cancelled for a lot of reasons besides weather. Weather issues rarely result in refunds.If the airline has to nix a flight because of mechanical or labor issues, you're entitled to the next flight to your destination on ANY airline, rather than the same company's next scheduled route. For cost reasons, that's what they're likely to offer you. If so, politely decline and ask to be "FIM-ed". That stands for Flight Interruption Manifest which is the code for switching to another airline's schedule. And no matter what, minimise your plane problems by standing online at the ticket counter while calling your airline's customer service HQ on your cell phone. Work with whomever you reach first. 10. By A Lounge Pass When there's a delay or a snafu, shell out $25 for a lounge pass. Besides buying you drinks and a comfy chair, it will mean you have quicker, easier access to desk clerks than the chumps stuck in line at the main airport. It's also a family stress buster on Christmas Eve. 11. Avoid Outdated Guide Books When you buy a guide book, flip to the small print and check out the publication date. If it's more than 2 years old, it may be outdated. Plus guidebooks sometimes hit the book shelves a year after their printed. So watch out. 11. Best WiFi Reception Since a few airports offer free WIFI reception, it may be spotty. So just lurk outside the airport lounge and piggyback off the gratis signal offered to VIPS. 12. Avoid Credit Card Fees If your traveling overseas, most credit card companies levy fees on foreign transactions. Only Capital One levies NO handling fees and fair exchange rates. 13. Beef Up Your Memory Buy the biggest memory card your camera can handle even if you rarely need to empty it. Holiday snaps pile up quickly and its a pain to ration out how many snaps you can take. 14. Insider Info The best way to get on the ground insider info is by having breakfast at a local sit down cafe and linger over your coffee. Forget Starbucks or other chains. Wait staff folks are least rushed at breakfast and will often like to chat up a friendly guest. This is especially true if you come back more than once. 15 Survive The Language Barrier Even if you flunked high school French, just carry a small note book and pen. No matter how rough your sketch, people will get the gist of what you're trying to convey. A
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Top Ten Turkey Mishaps And How To Avoid Them
1. Forgetting To Defrost Soak your frozen turkey in a brine solution. Unwrap the packaging, rinse well and place in the sink or large container , breast side down. For a 16 pounder, dissolve 1 1/2 cups of kosher salt in 2 gallons of cold tap water. Change the brine every 30 minutes. This trick should halve your defrosting time to 15 minutes per pound.
2. Dry Turkey Breast Your turkey is being overcooked. Make sure you use a meat thermometer and remove the turkey from the oven when the temp reaches 155 F. Once out of the oven, the bird will continue to cook and the temp will rise to 165F. Remove the stuffing from the cavity immediately since a stuffed bird retains more heat.
3.Turkey Breast Is Too Dry After cooking, soak the breast in pan juices ASAP. Otherwise, douse with gravy or save it for turkey day leftovers.
4. Turkey Skin Is Not Crisp Either rub the skin with softened butter or extra virgin olive oil and then season before roasting, OR salt the skin of a thawed turkey and let it air dry overnight in the frig.
5. Turkey Lacks A Golden Hue You need to baste it more. With a brush or basting bulb, coat the turkey evenly all over with pan juices every 15 minutes for the last hour of roasting. If the top is browning too much before the bird is cooked, just cover it with a piece of foil.
6. You Forgot To Take Out The Giblet Bag Even if you do, the turkey is safe to eat. In the future, rinse your turkey inside out and you'll find the bag before you cook it.
7. No One Knows How To Carve It First, you need a sharp knife. Then cut off each leg and slice the band of skin connecting it to the body. Then twist the drumstick to pop out the joint and slice through. Next, wiggle the thigh bone to find the joint and slice through. For the breast make a deep horizontal cut above the wing joint,then make perpendicular slices. Slice behind the wing joint to remove it.
8.Not Enough Breast Meat For Everybody Just cook an extra turkey breast along side your bird.
9.Safely Cook Stuffing Inside The Bird To make sure your stuffing is safe to eat, insert an instant read thermometer in the stuffing when it comes out of the oven. If should read 160 F. If not ,then make sure you transfer it to an oven safe dish. Don't serve from the bird. That way you can pop it back in the oven to get up to 160 F.
10. Attend A Home Coming Game And Cook Your Bird Too Just roast the bird cut into parts. This only takes an hour for a 12 pound turkey.
2. Dry Turkey Breast Your turkey is being overcooked. Make sure you use a meat thermometer and remove the turkey from the oven when the temp reaches 155 F. Once out of the oven, the bird will continue to cook and the temp will rise to 165F. Remove the stuffing from the cavity immediately since a stuffed bird retains more heat.
3.Turkey Breast Is Too Dry After cooking, soak the breast in pan juices ASAP. Otherwise, douse with gravy or save it for turkey day leftovers.
4. Turkey Skin Is Not Crisp Either rub the skin with softened butter or extra virgin olive oil and then season before roasting, OR salt the skin of a thawed turkey and let it air dry overnight in the frig.
5. Turkey Lacks A Golden Hue You need to baste it more. With a brush or basting bulb, coat the turkey evenly all over with pan juices every 15 minutes for the last hour of roasting. If the top is browning too much before the bird is cooked, just cover it with a piece of foil.
6. You Forgot To Take Out The Giblet Bag Even if you do, the turkey is safe to eat. In the future, rinse your turkey inside out and you'll find the bag before you cook it.
7. No One Knows How To Carve It First, you need a sharp knife. Then cut off each leg and slice the band of skin connecting it to the body. Then twist the drumstick to pop out the joint and slice through. Next, wiggle the thigh bone to find the joint and slice through. For the breast make a deep horizontal cut above the wing joint,then make perpendicular slices. Slice behind the wing joint to remove it.
8.Not Enough Breast Meat For Everybody Just cook an extra turkey breast along side your bird.
9.Safely Cook Stuffing Inside The Bird To make sure your stuffing is safe to eat, insert an instant read thermometer in the stuffing when it comes out of the oven. If should read 160 F. If not ,then make sure you transfer it to an oven safe dish. Don't serve from the bird. That way you can pop it back in the oven to get up to 160 F.
10. Attend A Home Coming Game And Cook Your Bird Too Just roast the bird cut into parts. This only takes an hour for a 12 pound turkey.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
No Brainer Thanksgiving Treats Everyone Will Love
Basil Butter Just blend 1 cup chopped basil into 1 pound of unsalted butter and a pinch of salt . Then its good to go on the Thanksgiving dinner table or in a glass jar as a gift with a hand written label. Cheap glass jars and blank labels are available at the dollar store. Be sure to wash and dry the jars before putting anything in them.
Honey Walnut Butter Simply blend in a food processor 1 pound of butter, 1/2 cup honey, 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and a 1/4 cup of walnuts. Just serve with store bought or homemade apple bread. Or just present in a glass jar as a gift with a hand written label.
Chocolate Bark You'll need a 10 ounce package of chocolate chips, 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil, 1 tsp. of peppermint or almond extract, some nuts, dried fruit and candy bits. Just melt the chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power for 3 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add the veggie oil and the extract. Stir in the nuts, dried fruit and/or candy bits. Then spread it out on a baking pan lined with greased foil. Let it harden in the frig for about 2 hours. Then break apart and serve . You can also place the bark in a small gift bag lined with white tissue paper from the dollar store and give it out as gifts.
Orange Cello Vodka You'll need 7 medium navel oranges,( preferably organic) One 750 ml bottle of plain cheap domestic vodka, 2 1/2 cups of water, and 1/12 cup sugar . use a veggie peeler to remove the peel from the oranges in long strips. Save the oranges for a snack or another use. Using a small sharp knife, trim away the white pith and discard. Place the orange peels in a 2 quart pitcher or a large glass bowl. Pour the vodka over the peels and cover with plastic wrap. Steep the orange peels in the vodka for 4 days at room temperature. After the 4 days are up, in a medium saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool for about 20 minutes. Then pour the syrup over the vodka mixture. Cover and let stand at room temperature overnight. Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer. Then discard the peels, and transfer the orange vodka into another bottle with a funnel. Then serve as an after dinner drink. You can pick up a large cheap bottle, a funnel and gift labels at a dollar store for $1 each.Or buy several smaller bottles to use as gifts. Hand write your own labels and place on bottles. Make sure you wash and dry the store bought bottles before putting the orange vodka in them.
Honey Walnut Butter Simply blend in a food processor 1 pound of butter, 1/2 cup honey, 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and a 1/4 cup of walnuts. Just serve with store bought or homemade apple bread. Or just present in a glass jar as a gift with a hand written label.
Chocolate Bark You'll need a 10 ounce package of chocolate chips, 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil, 1 tsp. of peppermint or almond extract, some nuts, dried fruit and candy bits. Just melt the chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power for 3 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add the veggie oil and the extract. Stir in the nuts, dried fruit and/or candy bits. Then spread it out on a baking pan lined with greased foil. Let it harden in the frig for about 2 hours. Then break apart and serve . You can also place the bark in a small gift bag lined with white tissue paper from the dollar store and give it out as gifts.
Orange Cello Vodka You'll need 7 medium navel oranges,( preferably organic) One 750 ml bottle of plain cheap domestic vodka, 2 1/2 cups of water, and 1/12 cup sugar . use a veggie peeler to remove the peel from the oranges in long strips. Save the oranges for a snack or another use. Using a small sharp knife, trim away the white pith and discard. Place the orange peels in a 2 quart pitcher or a large glass bowl. Pour the vodka over the peels and cover with plastic wrap. Steep the orange peels in the vodka for 4 days at room temperature. After the 4 days are up, in a medium saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool for about 20 minutes. Then pour the syrup over the vodka mixture. Cover and let stand at room temperature overnight. Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer. Then discard the peels, and transfer the orange vodka into another bottle with a funnel. Then serve as an after dinner drink. You can pick up a large cheap bottle, a funnel and gift labels at a dollar store for $1 each.Or buy several smaller bottles to use as gifts. Hand write your own labels and place on bottles. Make sure you wash and dry the store bought bottles before putting the orange vodka in them.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
How to Buy Late Model Cars At Deep Discounts
Take your time when buying a car if at all possible. The bigger the hurry, the more you'll end up getting fleeced. The tactics and strategies we are about to suggest are far more effective if you control the purchase time-clock rather than the dealer. Here's what to do:
Once a dealership purchases a car, it anticipates holding that piece of inventory for 60 days or less. The goal of the dealership is to earn a 10% profit on every car it sells, so cars are typically priced about 20% above their initial purchase price. As you determine the next car you would like to purchase, do some research before you make your purchase.
Begin by comparing general prices through online sites such as http://www.autotrader.com/ , http://www.edmunds.com/ and http://www.kellybluebook.com/ about 3 to 4 months before you are ready to buy your new vehicle.
Discover This Dealer Trick and Save Big Money
Dropping ads on trading websites is one dealer tactic to gain attention for their inventory and to determine what the consumer feels is a reasonable price to pay. For example, if the car is listed on the dealership’s own website at $23,900, the dealership likely owns the car for $20,000, and it may list a ‘Buy it Now’ price of $22,900 on Ebay while offering a list price of $24,900 on Autotrader.
This type of stealth marketing can be effective for the dealership for when the consumer does not do sufficient research, he or she may simply purchase the car on Ebay for $22,900 even though the car could have been bought through a salesperson for less.
Timing Is Everything
Since the car industry operates on a 60-day inventory cycle time, dealerships begin reducing prices of their automobiles after the first 30 days if these assets have not sold. This is mainly due to applicable holding costs (and depreciation) as the dealership is paying interest on all of the cars that they have remaining for sale. Therefore, if you start monitoring the make and model that you want to purchase about 120 days in advance of your buying time frame, you will notice how the prices may drop by about 10% over a 60-day period.
If one of the cars that you have been monitoring appears to have been sold, then call the dealership and ask if that unit is still available. The dealership may advise that the vehicle has recently been sold and you can nonchalantly ask for its selling price.
When To Low-Ball A Car Dealer
What you will notice is that the original advertisement price was probably reduced after 30 days and after speaking with the dealership, it will probably be apparent that the final selling price was less than the lowest advertised price. It is also important to note that dealerships will, at times, take a loss on their inventory depending on the situation, so don’t be afraid to offer 20% less than the list price. The worst they can say is ‘no,’ but you could end up receiving the car for 15% less than their asking price.
In the event that the car has been on the lot for 60 days or more, dealership manages essentially have three options; they can further reduce the price, move the automobile to another dealership for new advertising, or sell the car at one of the national auto auctions (where they likely originally purchased the vehicle). In any event, selling the car to a consumer at a lower price than they own it for is sometimes the best-case scenario, as the added cost of transportation or auction fees could cause greater losses for dealerships than a reduced price. And they miss the opportunity to gain a happy customer.
How Your Timing Gets You The Best Price
Since the car business is based on commissions and monthly sales quotas, complete your research ahead of time and then go to the dealership on the last day of the month, just a few hours before closing time to make your offer. You will be amazed how quickly a salesman may be willing to make a deal and even give up some of his commission to make sure the deal is finalized.
Since salesmen typically earn much of their income from bonuses based on sales volume, they have little problem giving up part of their commission if selling one more car will qualify them for their monthly incentive bonus.
Don't Buy A New Car
Buying a late model pre-owned (used) car from a reputable dealer is the best way to save money. Here’s why:
* Today's cars are engineered to last much longer than they used to. Most dealers only sell pre-owned cars that meet far more rigorous standards than in years past.
* New car buyers take a huge depreciation hit for essentially driving the vehicle off the lot – 20% or more. You never get this money back.
* Lower insurance costs, particularly on collision coverage.
Avoid Trade-Ins
Another issue worthy of consideration is whether to trade in your current car. If you have the time and the means, avoid trade-ins at all costs. Better to sell your existing car individually and avoid giving the dealership more leverage/wiggle room in the overall exchange.
A clean purchase without the distraction of haggling over the "value" of your trade-in is far preferable. Sell your vehicle on Craigslist or other car trading post and walk into the dealer on your date of purchase free and clear. The salesman will have less opportunity to wear you down, and he will enjoy less maneuvering room. It reduces the angles he has to deflect your pressure tactics, which involve superior research and impeccable timing as suggested above.
Never Rush
Above all, remember to never be in a rush when buying a car. That's how car dealers get away with high mark-ups. All the blustering and negotiating in going toe-to-toe with a car salesmen can be an exercise in frustration if you haven't properly prepared.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
How To Find The Jobs Of The Future
http://www.ama-assn.org/ lists 80 careers in health care and provides a directory of 8,600 accredited institutions in those fields. Nurses, techs and docs are in high demand. To become a home health care aide requires only short term training and that filed will grow by 50% by 2018.
www.Nrdc.Org/Energy/Greenjobs provides a primer on clean-energy companies that are the biggest players in the field. Between January and March 2010, 83,000 clean energy jobs were created.
http://www.jobnob.com/ showcases jobs with startup companies. Many of these new companies will be looking for staff.
www.Nrdc.Org/Energy/Greenjobs provides a primer on clean-energy companies that are the biggest players in the field. Between January and March 2010, 83,000 clean energy jobs were created.
http://www.jobnob.com/ showcases jobs with startup companies. Many of these new companies will be looking for staff.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Best East Coast Salvage Shop Where You Can Furnish Your Home On The Cheap And Protect The Environment
If you want to spruce up your home but are short on funds, then head over to Build It Green! NYC in Astoria , NY. This 18,000 square foot warehouse is stocked from everything from movie props to antique lighting to wooden doors. In fact, its all materials that would have ended up in a landfill if it weren't for the staff at this nonprofit. Recent finds included a pool table for $50, church pews for $200, and antique and designer appliances. for more info see http://www.bignyc.org/ or call 718-777-0132. Its located at 3-17 26th Ave, Queens, Astoria, NY .
How To Get A Great Face Lift Without Losing Face
The American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that over 94,000 people got face lifts in 2009. 89% were gals and 11% were guys. But the journey between thinking about getting a lift and can be fraught with concerns. That's because there is no way to judge how it will turn out and you can't re-return if you don't like it. Plus the problem is compounded because women won't tell you where they had it done. You can opt for less invasive treatments like botox but they can only do so much. But if you're beginning to look like a shar-pei, then you need to see a plastic surgeon.
There are many variations of a face lift but it is just a resection of sagging skin and muscle from the neck to the mid face. That's one operation. A brow lift and eye surgery are different procedures at additional cost.
A skilled doc will only do one face lift a day which takes about 5 hours. None of it is covered by insurance and there is a two week downtime before you can return to work. In some cases it may take 3 weeks for the swelling to go down.
Keep in mind a plastic surgeon trains as much as a heart surgeon. He or she must go through one or more years of specialized surgical training on top of the general residency requirements. Yet, anyone with an MD after their name can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon. That's why credentials are so important. What you want is a doc that's either board certified in plastic surgery or facial plastic surgery-meaning that the doc is an ear, nose and throat surgeon with specialized cosmetic training. Its a plus if they have aesthetic surgery fellowships.
That's why only a handful of master surgeons do the majority of lifts in either L.A. or NYC. Usually, a skilled doc will only do one face lift a day which takes about 5 hours. Also, make sure you ask your prospective surgeon how many face lifts he or she does a month. You want to hear at least 15 or more. Not one or two.
Next, visit the waiting room. A busy surgeon will have a least several post-operations waiting to see him. Also, check the docs before and after photos. The reason you do this is that you want to get an sense of what the docs idea of beauty is. That's because you can end up with a great surgeon and be disappointed if your idea of beauty is different than his or hers.
Plus a great number of surgeons do a lift that tightens the skin only. You want a surgeon who tells you that he is doing a lift on both the skin and the underlying muscle. This takes extra skill and training. But it generally lasts longer and avoids the bad face lift look.
To find a qualified plastic surgeon you can start by going to your nearest library or bookstore and looking at Americas Top Doctors published by Castle Connolly-9th edition. Also, you can check out these links:
http://www.castleconnolly.com/doctors/results.cfm?source=nymetro&mag=28&speccode=073 or see
http://www.phillymag.com/health/top_docs/listings/202482/results?content=Keyword&category=49&property_value=2&x=17&y=9&my_form_idx_148=148
There are many variations of a face lift but it is just a resection of sagging skin and muscle from the neck to the mid face. That's one operation. A brow lift and eye surgery are different procedures at additional cost.
A skilled doc will only do one face lift a day which takes about 5 hours. None of it is covered by insurance and there is a two week downtime before you can return to work. In some cases it may take 3 weeks for the swelling to go down.
Keep in mind a plastic surgeon trains as much as a heart surgeon. He or she must go through one or more years of specialized surgical training on top of the general residency requirements. Yet, anyone with an MD after their name can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon. That's why credentials are so important. What you want is a doc that's either board certified in plastic surgery or facial plastic surgery-meaning that the doc is an ear, nose and throat surgeon with specialized cosmetic training. Its a plus if they have aesthetic surgery fellowships.
That's why only a handful of master surgeons do the majority of lifts in either L.A. or NYC. Usually, a skilled doc will only do one face lift a day which takes about 5 hours. Also, make sure you ask your prospective surgeon how many face lifts he or she does a month. You want to hear at least 15 or more. Not one or two.
Next, visit the waiting room. A busy surgeon will have a least several post-operations waiting to see him. Also, check the docs before and after photos. The reason you do this is that you want to get an sense of what the docs idea of beauty is. That's because you can end up with a great surgeon and be disappointed if your idea of beauty is different than his or hers.
Plus a great number of surgeons do a lift that tightens the skin only. You want a surgeon who tells you that he is doing a lift on both the skin and the underlying muscle. This takes extra skill and training. But it generally lasts longer and avoids the bad face lift look.
To find a qualified plastic surgeon you can start by going to your nearest library or bookstore and looking at Americas Top Doctors published by Castle Connolly-9th edition. Also, you can check out these links:
http://www.castleconnolly.com/doctors/results.cfm?source=nymetro&mag=28&speccode=073 or see
http://www.phillymag.com/health/top_docs/listings/202482/results?content=Keyword&category=49&property_value=2&x=17&y=9&my_form_idx_148=148
Insider Method For Getting An Unfair Discount At NYC Department Stores
At the Tourist Center counters at Bloomingdale's and Macy's, just show an out-of-state ID for an instant store wide discount of 10% off. That might be 10% off on top of any sales that may be in progress. Since no record is kept of these coupons, you can get them anytime you visit NYC.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
How To Land Cheap Flights For The Holiday Season
Go To The Source: Airlines try to bypass online travel sites by posting discount promo codes on their home pages. So start your search for deals at the carriers' sites. Google It: If you can't find codes on an airline's site, then do a web search with the airlines name and the term "promo codes". You'll be surprized by what you find. Leave It To The Pros: www.AirFareWatchDog.Com scans countless sites for "promo codes" and posts unpublished discount codes.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Get A Solar System On The Cheap
Instead of buying a solar energy system, lease one. In some places, you can get a $30,000 solar energy system for about $141 a month on a 15 year lease with no upfront cost. Plus you'll typically see a 10% to 15% drop in your electric bill every month. But make sure your lease allows you to sell excess energy back to the grid and that your rate is locked in over the life of the lease. Also, make sure the provider passes along the federal residential energy credits and local incentives back to you in the form of a lower monthly lease rate. And if you can afford it, make sure you have the option to prepay the lease. Prepaying even a portion of your lease can double or even triple your net savings. To get more info and ideas visit
www.SolarCity.Com , www.Sungevity.Com and www.SunRunHome.Com .
www.SolarCity.Com , www.Sungevity.Com and www.SunRunHome.Com .
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The Secret To Roasting Carrots
Most of the time when you roast carrots, they come out dry and shriveled. That's because they contain more pectin than any other vegetable or even some fruits. So it takes a long time for this complex carbohydrate to break down. The solution is to precook the carrots covered in foil. This creates a heat stable form so the carrots will stay moist even after you turn up the heat and give them a tasty carmelization. This process works well even when parsnips, fennel, and shallots share the pan. Here's a great recipe you might enjoy:
Roasted Carrots And Shallots With Lemon And Thyme
Ingredients: 1lb carrots, peeled and halved crosswise, and cut lengthwise to create even pieces- 6 medium shallots- 1tsp chopped thyme leaves-2 tbsp butter, melted, salt & ground black pepper- 1 tsp lemon juice
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, combine carrots, shallots, thyme , butter, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and toss to coat. Transfer carrots to foil or parchment lined rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Cover tightly with foil. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue to cook stirring twice, until carrots are well browned and tender, about 30 to 35 minutes. Toss with lemon juice , transfer to platter . Then salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4 to 6.
Roasted Carrots And Shallots With Lemon And Thyme
Ingredients: 1lb carrots, peeled and halved crosswise, and cut lengthwise to create even pieces- 6 medium shallots- 1tsp chopped thyme leaves-2 tbsp butter, melted, salt & ground black pepper- 1 tsp lemon juice
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, combine carrots, shallots, thyme , butter, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and toss to coat. Transfer carrots to foil or parchment lined rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Cover tightly with foil. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue to cook stirring twice, until carrots are well browned and tender, about 30 to 35 minutes. Toss with lemon juice , transfer to platter . Then salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4 to 6.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Save Big Time On Cruising Alaska
One of the greatest secrets of Northwest travel is seeing Alaska by ferry. Nine state run ferries, known as the Blue Canoe cruise the same 950 mile Alaska Marine Highway System that the luxury ships do. Plus they venture into many unspoiled places they don't. One way fares begin at just $375 and you can hitch a ferry ride starting in Bellingham, WA. Unlike a cruise ship, the ferry system allows travelers to stop off at harbor towns whenever and for as long as they like. For more info see http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.shtml
for ferry and cabin fare rates or call 800-642-0066.
for ferry and cabin fare rates or call 800-642-0066.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Hate To Be Put On Hold? Lucy Phone Can Help You For FREE
Lucy Phone promises that you'll never wait on hold again. Here's how the free service works: You type in the toll-free customer service number you want to call at http://www.lucyphone.com/ , on Facebook or through your iPhone app. You enter your phone number and click "Start". In a moment, your phone rings. It's Lucy, who asks you to press 1 to connect with the company you want. Once connected, you navigate the customer service menu. When you get to where you want to go, if you're put on hold, you press "**" and hang up. You then go about your business while Lucy Phone keeps your place in the customer service line. When an agent becomes available, he or she is asked to press 1 to reach you. Your phone rings and then you're connected. Lucy Phone is great for calling the IRS, Social Security, Motor Vehicles and other bureaucratic state and federal government lines that put you on hold forever.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Reverse The Tide Of Government Waste In NJ
www.JoinTheCampaign.Com is a non-partisan public service initiative to get 5,000 citizens to participate in the leadership of their communities to reverse the tide of government waste. The Citizens' Campaign, launched in 2004, works to cultivate a culture of service and develop a new generation of leaders - leaders who put service over personal gain. They recruit, educate and mentor new leaders. Through live events and online classes, the Citizens' Campaign has educated thousands of New Jerseyans in how to navigate the power structure of government and to exercise leadership beginning with their own hometowns.
The Citizens Campaign educates citizens how to enter four powerful non elected leadership positions, including appointed office service, political party service, citizen legislator service and citizen journalist service.
The Citizens' Campaign also devises innovative government solutions that support good government and open the doors for citizen service. They have led the successful fight for the adoption of pay-to play protections at the state level. New Jersey now has the strongest state pay-to-play reform law in the nation.
For more information, click on the link above.
The Citizens Campaign educates citizens how to enter four powerful non elected leadership positions, including appointed office service, political party service, citizen legislator service and citizen journalist service.
The Citizens' Campaign also devises innovative government solutions that support good government and open the doors for citizen service. They have led the successful fight for the adoption of pay-to play protections at the state level. New Jersey now has the strongest state pay-to-play reform law in the nation.
For more information, click on the link above.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Chemicals You Can't Wash Off
Systemic pesticides are chemicals that are actually absorbed by a plant when applied to seeds, soil, or leaves. The chemicals then circulate through the plants tissues, killing the insects that feed on them. Use of these pesticides on food crops began in 1998, and has steadily increased during the past 10 years. Unlike traditional pesticides, you can't wash or peel off systemic pesticide residues because they're in the plant's tissues not on their exteriors.
The four main systemics used on food crops are members of the nitroguanidine/neonicotinoid group of chemicals. They have been implicated in the mysterious colony collapse disorder that has killed millions of bees. Imidacloprid can be applied to many veggies including tomatoes and leafy greens right up to the day they're harvested. Thiamethoxam was first approved as a seed treatment for corn in 2002.
Plus these products have been approved for use on most veggie and fruit crops. Clothianidin is used as a seed treatment on canola, cereals, corn and sugar beets and as a soil treatment for potatoes. Dinotefuran can be applied to soil or sprayed on leafy greens, potatoes, and cucumbers. When the Pesticide Action Network reviewed the results of pesticide residue tests conducted by the USDA from 1999 to 2007,numerous samples contained residues of systemic pesticides. For example, 74 percent of conventionally grown fresh lettuce and 70 percent of broccoli samples showed imidacloprid residues.
The U.S. EPA has launched a comprehensive review of the environmental safety of imidacloprid, but we won't know the results until 2014. In February 2009, California's Department Of Pesticide Regulation cited reports of eucalyptus nectar and pollen with imidacloprid levels up to 550 parts per billion, or nearly 3 times the 185 parts per billion needed to kill honeybees. And deadly levels of of these systemic poisons are even showing up in leaf guttation drops. These are water droplets that plants sometime exude.
According to a 2009 report in the Journal Of Economic Entomology, "when bees consume guttation drops, collected from plants grown with neonicotinoid coated seeds, they encounter death within a few minutes." Equally disturbing, it appears that nitroguanidine pesticides can persist in soil for 500 days or more. Right now, there is no scientific evidence that says foods laced with these pesticides will hurt humans. But when we let a novel, man made chemical loose in the food chain, we can't be certain of what will happen next. This new contamination of our food supply is yet another reason to grow and buy organic.
The four main systemics used on food crops are members of the nitroguanidine/neonicotinoid group of chemicals. They have been implicated in the mysterious colony collapse disorder that has killed millions of bees. Imidacloprid can be applied to many veggies including tomatoes and leafy greens right up to the day they're harvested. Thiamethoxam was first approved as a seed treatment for corn in 2002.
Plus these products have been approved for use on most veggie and fruit crops. Clothianidin is used as a seed treatment on canola, cereals, corn and sugar beets and as a soil treatment for potatoes. Dinotefuran can be applied to soil or sprayed on leafy greens, potatoes, and cucumbers. When the Pesticide Action Network reviewed the results of pesticide residue tests conducted by the USDA from 1999 to 2007,numerous samples contained residues of systemic pesticides. For example, 74 percent of conventionally grown fresh lettuce and 70 percent of broccoli samples showed imidacloprid residues.
The U.S. EPA has launched a comprehensive review of the environmental safety of imidacloprid, but we won't know the results until 2014. In February 2009, California's Department Of Pesticide Regulation cited reports of eucalyptus nectar and pollen with imidacloprid levels up to 550 parts per billion, or nearly 3 times the 185 parts per billion needed to kill honeybees. And deadly levels of of these systemic poisons are even showing up in leaf guttation drops. These are water droplets that plants sometime exude.
According to a 2009 report in the Journal Of Economic Entomology, "when bees consume guttation drops, collected from plants grown with neonicotinoid coated seeds, they encounter death within a few minutes." Equally disturbing, it appears that nitroguanidine pesticides can persist in soil for 500 days or more. Right now, there is no scientific evidence that says foods laced with these pesticides will hurt humans. But when we let a novel, man made chemical loose in the food chain, we can't be certain of what will happen next. This new contamination of our food supply is yet another reason to grow and buy organic.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
How To Treat Common Ailments Naturally
Many medical authorities disparage medicinal herbs. Critics say herbs are ineffective, unsafe, and unregulated. Like drugs, medicinal herbs can cause harm. So to ensure safety, always consult your doctor before taking or mixing herbs with prescription medicines. Or you can read the ABC Clinical Guide To Herbs. Since its $80, see if your local library has it. Or check out the natural medicines database at http://www.naturaldatabase.com/ .
Now anyone who calls herbs dangerous may be misinformed. The University of Toronto did a 30 year study of drug side effects in hospital patients. They estimated that drug side effects kill over 100,000 US hospital patients a year and cause over 2 million serious non-fatal problems. This makes drug side effects the nation's fourth leading cause of death . The true number is actually higher since this study focused on hospital patients and not the public. Also, these deaths occurred when drugs were administered as approved by the FDA.
Before approving new drugs, the FDA requires drug makers to prove them safe and effective. Such tests aren't required of herbs leading to claims that herbs are unregulated and are therefore unsafe. But FDA pre-approval studies usually involve only a few thousand people. Many side effects only turn up in one user in 10,000 to 50,000 people or more. So these problems don't emerge until the drug is widely used by people who are unaware that they are guinea pigs. Since so many side effects show up during the 5 years after approval, the FDA requires drug makers to rewrite warning labels on half of the new drugs that come out on the market.
Although drugs are heavily regulated, it doesn't guarantee their safety. In fact ,hundreds of studies show that when compared to herbs, drugs always cause more side effects. Some critics claim that herbs are not as strong as drugs. This is true. But rather than herbs being too weak, drugs are usually too strong causing sides effects. If you'd like to try herbs instead of drugs, do some research. A good place to start is the Physician's Desk Reference ( PDR) For Herbal Medicines. You can buy it online at Amazon for $47, read it at your local library or check it out at a local health food store.
When you've decided on what herb to take, then check out www.PennHerb.Com Philadelphia. They stock over 400 medicinal herbs and spices in capsule, bulk, powder and extract form. Plus they stock over 7,000 heath remedies. For a free hard copy catalog, or info on herbs, call 215-632-6100 Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5pm EST. For orders only call 800-523-9971
Now anyone who calls herbs dangerous may be misinformed. The University of Toronto did a 30 year study of drug side effects in hospital patients. They estimated that drug side effects kill over 100,000 US hospital patients a year and cause over 2 million serious non-fatal problems. This makes drug side effects the nation's fourth leading cause of death . The true number is actually higher since this study focused on hospital patients and not the public. Also, these deaths occurred when drugs were administered as approved by the FDA.
Before approving new drugs, the FDA requires drug makers to prove them safe and effective. Such tests aren't required of herbs leading to claims that herbs are unregulated and are therefore unsafe. But FDA pre-approval studies usually involve only a few thousand people. Many side effects only turn up in one user in 10,000 to 50,000 people or more. So these problems don't emerge until the drug is widely used by people who are unaware that they are guinea pigs. Since so many side effects show up during the 5 years after approval, the FDA requires drug makers to rewrite warning labels on half of the new drugs that come out on the market.
Although drugs are heavily regulated, it doesn't guarantee their safety. In fact ,hundreds of studies show that when compared to herbs, drugs always cause more side effects. Some critics claim that herbs are not as strong as drugs. This is true. But rather than herbs being too weak, drugs are usually too strong causing sides effects. If you'd like to try herbs instead of drugs, do some research. A good place to start is the Physician's Desk Reference ( PDR) For Herbal Medicines. You can buy it online at Amazon for $47, read it at your local library or check it out at a local health food store.
When you've decided on what herb to take, then check out www.PennHerb.Com Philadelphia. They stock over 400 medicinal herbs and spices in capsule, bulk, powder and extract form. Plus they stock over 7,000 heath remedies. For a free hard copy catalog, or info on herbs, call 215-632-6100 Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5pm EST. For orders only call 800-523-9971
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Best Wedding Cake Bakers In The US
NYC: http://www.cakealchemy.com/ & http://www.gailwatsoncake.com/ & http://www.weddingcakes.com/ CA: Santa Rosa: http://www.fleurdeliscakes.com/ Santa Monica : http://www.vanillabakeshop.com/ MA: Boston: http://www.cakestoremember.biz/ MN: Minneapolis www.Gateaux-Inc.Com TN: Nashville
http://www.maplesweddingcakes.com/ & http://www.dulcedesserts.com/
http://www.maplesweddingcakes.com/ & http://www.dulcedesserts.com/
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Best Websites For Helping Schools
www.DonorsChoose.org lets public school teachers nationwide post info about classroom projects that need funding. If you donate money, you'll receive photos of projects being carried out, a cost report, and thanks. www.AdoptAClassroom.Org provides criteria for selecting an under served classroom. Donors get an expense report, thank you packages and students' artwork. You can also support students directly by visiting the classroom or chaperoning field trips. www.WeGiveBooks.Com provides children's books to literacy organizations while enlisting adults to read with youngsters. Participants choose a title to read online with a child, and a physical copy of the book is donated to the chosen organization.
Best New Canned Gourmet Beers
BACK IN BLACK IPA by 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco. Has smooth flavor with hints of grapefruit, lemon, orange and licorice with color of India ink. SELF-RIGHTEOUS ALE by Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA has a balance of bittersweet chocolate and resiny hops. INIQUITY by Southern Tier Brewery , Lake wood, NY, has a rich fudge-cake flavor ahead of the prickly hops.
Best Gourmet Foods Trucks In USA
Los Angeles: http://www.bigmista.com/ Miami: http://www.gastropodmiami.com/ NYC: www.Twitter.Com/JenAndOutlaws Portland, Ore: http://www.thefryingscotsmanpdx.com/ St.Paul, Minn: www.Twitter.Com/ChefsShack1
At Last! A Free And Easy Diet Trick That Really Works!
A new study says the most effective way to lose weight isn't by taking pills or adopting extreme diets. It's by drinking water before meals. Nutrition researchers at Virginia Tech found that subjects who drank 16 ounces of water-about two glasses-before each of their three daily meals lost 50% more weight than the control subjects did. The study volunteers, 48 overweight and obese men and women, were put on a low calorie diet for 12 weeks. Half were given no instructions about what to drink. Half were instructed to drink two glasses of water shorty before their meals. The first group lost 11 pounds on average. But the water group lost more-15.5 pounds on average. Plus the diet seems to stick. A year after the study, the water drinkers had continued the regimen on their own and lost additional weight.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Europe's Best Outlet Malls
If you're going to Europe, make sure you check out the best outlet malls the EU has to offer. Here are the locations: DUBLIN: http://www.kildarevillage.com/ Round trip bus transportation from center city Dublin is only $15US. BARCELONA: http://www.larocavillage.com/ Round trip bus fare from Placa Catalunya Is $15 US. FLORENCE: This stores at this outlet reads like the who's who of Italian fashion. Simply know as "The Mall", its a round trip SITA bus from center city for about $8US. Check it out at: http://www.themall.it/ LONDON: London's outlet mall is called Bicester Village. A 75 minute round trip ride by bus from central London will set you back about $28 US. For more info see: http://www.bicestervillage.com/ PARIS: http://www.lavalleevillage.com/fr_FR/ has 90+ shops that hit all the designer high points. The round trip bus fare from Place de Pyramides is $27US.
Get A Round Trip Ride To Atlantic City For $3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Every Monday, from 8am to 9:15 am, Stout's Bus Service will give you a round trip ride to Atlantic
City For $3 and drop you off at the Tropicana Casino. So you can take the bus, go swimming or shopping,
and spend the day. There are various boarding locations in Hamilton, Ewing, Yardville, Columbus, and Roebling, NJ . Call Stout's at 609-883-8891 and dial Extension 61 for more info on boarding locations and departure times.
City For $3 and drop you off at the Tropicana Casino. So you can take the bus, go swimming or shopping,
and spend the day. There are various boarding locations in Hamilton, Ewing, Yardville, Columbus, and Roebling, NJ . Call Stout's at 609-883-8891 and dial Extension 61 for more info on boarding locations and departure times.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
How to prepare a FLAWLESS risotto
This a recipe for risotto with pears, goat cheese and freshly crushed black peppercorns
Ingredients:
4 cups vegetable stock ( recipe follows )
8 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup finely chopped shallots
2 cups of Carnaroli rice ( may substitute Arborio rice)
2 cups white wine
2 cups peeled and diced pears ( about 2 pears ) preferably Bosc pears
Salt and freshly cracked black peppercorns
In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable stock to a simmer. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tbsp of butter. When it begins to sizzle, add the shallots, and cook, stirring about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add the wine to the pan to deglaze, and cook, stirring occasionally
until the wine has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Then add enough simmering vegetable stock to reach about 1/4 inch above the rice and cook stirring until the liquid begins to simmer. When the rice absorbs almost all the liquid, add another ladle of stock. Continue to cook in this fashion until all the liquid has been added. (14 to 16 minutes total ) Reduce heat to low. Add goat cheese , pears, and remaining 5 tbsp of butter, and give the mixture a couple of stirs. The cheese and butter should melt, and the risotto should take on a smooth consistency in a minute or so. Add salt and crushed black peppercorns to taste. Serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8.
Ingredients For Vegetable Stock
2 onions, peeled and halved
2 carrots, peeled and quartered lengthwise
2 stalks celery
2 leeks, halved lengthwise ( white and green parts)
5 qts ( 20 cups) water
1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1 bunch fresh rosemary
1 bunch fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
In a large stockpot simmer vegetables, water, and salt for 15 minutes, skimming surface of foam and particles. Add herbs and simmer for another 20 minutes. Strain the stock, and discard solids.
makes about 15 cups. Since you only need 4 cups for the risotto, freeze the rest to make more risotto later on.
Ingredients:
4 cups vegetable stock ( recipe follows )
8 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup finely chopped shallots
2 cups of Carnaroli rice ( may substitute Arborio rice)
2 cups white wine
2 cups peeled and diced pears ( about 2 pears ) preferably Bosc pears
Salt and freshly cracked black peppercorns
In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable stock to a simmer. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tbsp of butter. When it begins to sizzle, add the shallots, and cook, stirring about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add the wine to the pan to deglaze, and cook, stirring occasionally
until the wine has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Then add enough simmering vegetable stock to reach about 1/4 inch above the rice and cook stirring until the liquid begins to simmer. When the rice absorbs almost all the liquid, add another ladle of stock. Continue to cook in this fashion until all the liquid has been added. (14 to 16 minutes total ) Reduce heat to low. Add goat cheese , pears, and remaining 5 tbsp of butter, and give the mixture a couple of stirs. The cheese and butter should melt, and the risotto should take on a smooth consistency in a minute or so. Add salt and crushed black peppercorns to taste. Serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8.
Ingredients For Vegetable Stock
2 onions, peeled and halved
2 carrots, peeled and quartered lengthwise
2 stalks celery
2 leeks, halved lengthwise ( white and green parts)
5 qts ( 20 cups) water
1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1 bunch fresh rosemary
1 bunch fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
In a large stockpot simmer vegetables, water, and salt for 15 minutes, skimming surface of foam and particles. Add herbs and simmer for another 20 minutes. Strain the stock, and discard solids.
makes about 15 cups. Since you only need 4 cups for the risotto, freeze the rest to make more risotto later on.
Secret ingredient to the South's finest fried chicken
Ingredients: 3 lbs organic, free range chicken cut up into 8 pieces
1/4 cup kosher salt
4 cups buttermilk
1 lb organic lard
1 cup flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
8 tbsp ( 1 stick ) unsalted butter
1/2 cup organic country ham pieces
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
The night before, place chicken in a large bowl and set aside. In a large pitcher, combine kosher salt with 6 cups of water and stir until the salt is dissolved. Pour salted water over chicken pieces until they are submerged. Cover and refrigerate over night. In the morning, drain chicken pieces and rinse chicken and the lbowl. Return chicken to bowl and cover with buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours.
About 1 1/4 hours before serving, combine the lard, butter, and ham in a large heavy skillet. Cook over low heat, skimming as needed, until ham is lightly browned, 30 to 45 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove ham and brown bits from fat. Increase heat to medium high to bring the fat to 335 degrees.
In a shallow bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper, mix well. Dredge chicken pieces thoroughly in flour mixture, then pat well to remove excess flour. Working in batches, (do not crowd pan ), place chicken pieces skin side down in fat. Cook 8 to 10 minutes on each side, until chicken is golden brown, and cooked through. Drain on crumpled paper towels. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature or cold. Serves 4 to 6.
.
1/4 cup kosher salt
4 cups buttermilk
1 lb organic lard
1 cup flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
8 tbsp ( 1 stick ) unsalted butter
1/2 cup organic country ham pieces
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
The night before, place chicken in a large bowl and set aside. In a large pitcher, combine kosher salt with 6 cups of water and stir until the salt is dissolved. Pour salted water over chicken pieces until they are submerged. Cover and refrigerate over night. In the morning, drain chicken pieces and rinse chicken and the lbowl. Return chicken to bowl and cover with buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours.
About 1 1/4 hours before serving, combine the lard, butter, and ham in a large heavy skillet. Cook over low heat, skimming as needed, until ham is lightly browned, 30 to 45 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove ham and brown bits from fat. Increase heat to medium high to bring the fat to 335 degrees.
In a shallow bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper, mix well. Dredge chicken pieces thoroughly in flour mixture, then pat well to remove excess flour. Working in batches, (do not crowd pan ), place chicken pieces skin side down in fat. Cook 8 to 10 minutes on each side, until chicken is golden brown, and cooked through. Drain on crumpled paper towels. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature or cold. Serves 4 to 6.
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Saturday, August 21, 2010
7 New Identity Theft Scams You Need To Know
1. Watch Your Back When you're in line to pay at a supermarket or a department store, make sure the person behind you is not using his cell phone to snap a photo of your credit card as your using it. 2. Check Your Check Book & Credit Card Balances Once A Week Identity thieves can do a lot of damage in the 30 days between statements. 3. When Bills Are Late You should be concerned since they might have been stolen. 4. Watch Your Garbage Identity thieves fill their trunks with garbage and sort it out later. Make sure you shred all sensitive documents like old paid bills, checking account deposit slips, job or loan applications, credit card checks and offers for new cards before you throw them out. 5 Watch Your ATM If you see something that doesn't look like it belongs on an ATM, walk away. It might be a skimmer to capture your pin number. 6. Don't Sign The Back Of Your Credit Cards Instead, print these words on the signature strip: "ASK FOR PHOTO ID". 7. Never Use A Credit Card To Pay A Utility Bill ID thieves will call your utility company and say: "I thought I paid this bill, but I can't remember. Did I use my Visa or Mastercard? Can you read me back the number?" You'd be surprised what utility workers will reveal to strangers posing as you.
Friday, August 13, 2010
How To Enjoy Fresh Peaches Out Of Season
Supermarket peaches are usually hard and flavorless. They are picked so green that they don't ripen once you get them home. However, real peaches are super juicy with great flavor. During peach season, which is July and August, local farmers markets usually sell ripe peaches. Even when shipped from a neighboring state, they are almost always better than what you find in a supermarket. Here's a remarkable way to enjoy fresh peaches out of season. Drop the ripened peach in a plastic sandwich bag, zip shut and toss it in the freezer. When you want a fresh peach, just run the frozen peach under water for a moment and the skin will peel off. Slice the peach into a bowl, wait until the iciness is gone, and enjoy the next best thing to a fresh, ripe peach just picked form a tree.
Friday, August 6, 2010
TRADE SECRETS! Butcher,Hat & Boot Maker
If you'd like to hone your artisanal skills without devoting a lifetime to the craft then check out these resources. Shoemaking : www.ShoeMakingClasses.Com NYC Call 646-823-0084. Weekned workshops $795.
www.JCCManhattan.Org 334 Amsterdam Ave between 75th & 76 th Sts, NYC 646-505-4444. Shoe making class $455, pattern making class $295. www.ShoeMakingCourse.Com Various Cities $1495-$1795.
pattern making course $250. Butchering: www.JeffreysMeatMarket.Com 120 Essex St between Delancy and Rivington Sts, NYC 212-475-6521.One class $75, two $140, three $195. Millinery :www.Artikal.Com
$55-$150. 510 E. 12th St, between Aves A & B, NYC 212-260-0278. www.FitNyc.Edu FIT, D Bldg, lower level, Seventh Ave @ 27th St, NYC 212-217-3334. $387.50.
www.JCCManhattan.Org 334 Amsterdam Ave between 75th & 76 th Sts, NYC 646-505-4444. Shoe making class $455, pattern making class $295. www.ShoeMakingCourse.Com Various Cities $1495-$1795.
pattern making course $250. Butchering: www.JeffreysMeatMarket.Com 120 Essex St between Delancy and Rivington Sts, NYC 212-475-6521.One class $75, two $140, three $195. Millinery :www.Artikal.Com
$55-$150. 510 E. 12th St, between Aves A & B, NYC 212-260-0278. www.FitNyc.Edu FIT, D Bldg, lower level, Seventh Ave @ 27th St, NYC 212-217-3334. $387.50.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
When Its Summer,It Pays To Be A Jerk!
Here's a great authentic Jamaican Jerk marinade that you can use on chicken, beef pork or fish. For the best flavor ,try using whole allspice berries and black peppercorns and crush them with the bottom of a heavy pan or in a coffee mill before adding to your food processor. If you want less heat, use jalapenos peppers in place of Scotch bonnets. Here are the ingredients:
1 bunch green onions, cut into 2 inch lengths, 4 garlic cloves, 1 (2 inch) piece of peeled fresh ginger, 1 heaping tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 2 teaspoons of coarsely ground pepper, 1 to 3 Scotch bonnets or habanero chile peppers, stems and seeds removed, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, juice of 4 limes ( 6 tablespoons) 1/2 cup of vegetable or canola oil. This is enough for 3 pounds of chicken, beef, pork or fish
Place all ingredients except oil in a blender or food processor. While the processor is running, slowly add a thin stream of oil until the mixture becomes thick. Save 1/2 cup of the marinade for drizzling over beef, chicken pork or fish during cooking. Place your meat or fish and a good amount of marinade in a zip top plastic bag and marinate at least 2 hours or over night in the frig. Prepare your grill and follow cooking times for various meats or fish.
1 bunch green onions, cut into 2 inch lengths, 4 garlic cloves, 1 (2 inch) piece of peeled fresh ginger, 1 heaping tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 2 teaspoons of coarsely ground pepper, 1 to 3 Scotch bonnets or habanero chile peppers, stems and seeds removed, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, juice of 4 limes ( 6 tablespoons) 1/2 cup of vegetable or canola oil. This is enough for 3 pounds of chicken, beef, pork or fish
Place all ingredients except oil in a blender or food processor. While the processor is running, slowly add a thin stream of oil until the mixture becomes thick. Save 1/2 cup of the marinade for drizzling over beef, chicken pork or fish during cooking. Place your meat or fish and a good amount of marinade in a zip top plastic bag and marinate at least 2 hours or over night in the frig. Prepare your grill and follow cooking times for various meats or fish.
A New Cancer Test Could Save Your Life
A new test called AMAS or Anti-Malignin Antibody Screen can detect early cancer cells of all types.
It has an accuracy rate greater than 95% and with a second test, its accuracy shoots up to 99%. Keep in mind that AMAS cannot be used to diagnose cancer on its own. But it is a remarkable breakthrough for the detection of cancer cells, which taken in conjunction with other factors, may help doctors arrive at a more concrete diagnosis.
If you suspect that you may be at risk for cancer because of family history or other factors, tell your doctor about this test. Chances are he's never heard of it because it hasn't been heavily promoted. If he refuses to give you this test, you can contact Oncolab, Inc at 800-9CATEST or www.Oncolabinc.Com
It has an accuracy rate greater than 95% and with a second test, its accuracy shoots up to 99%. Keep in mind that AMAS cannot be used to diagnose cancer on its own. But it is a remarkable breakthrough for the detection of cancer cells, which taken in conjunction with other factors, may help doctors arrive at a more concrete diagnosis.
If you suspect that you may be at risk for cancer because of family history or other factors, tell your doctor about this test. Chances are he's never heard of it because it hasn't been heavily promoted. If he refuses to give you this test, you can contact Oncolab, Inc at 800-9CATEST or www.Oncolabinc.Com
Why Heavy Exercise May Put Your Heart On Shaky Ground
According to some doctors, there is no relationship between exercise and longevity. Actually, there is no conclusive proof that vigorous daily exercise for its own sake does anything but destroy health.
According to an article in Circulation, the the journal of the American Heart Association, regular exercise did not make one iota's difference in rates of age related physical decline study of more than 800 male and female subjects of various ages.
Measured by periodic tread mill tests over an average age period of 8 years, both the exercisers and otherwise healthy non-obese sedentary types, , experienced a 20% decline in aerobic capacity for every decade past age 70.
That means despite what running shoe makers, sports drink makers, and gym owners tell you, heavy exercise does nothing to stave off the natural reduction in physical strength and stamina that comes with aging.
The Paradox Of The Exercise Craze
Enlargement of the heart, known as cardiomegaly, is considered a healthy sign in athletes. But in the rest of us, its considered to be a serious sign of heart disease. Does this give us any clue as to why super athletes die young from heart disease? Many athletes also have irregular cardiograms that would be considered serious signs of heart disease in most of us. But since they're in shape, its considered benign.
A case in point would be Pheidippides the first marathon runner. He ran from Marathon to Athens which is 26 miles, to announce the Greek victory over the Persians. He delivered his message and then dropped dead. Things have changed much since then since marathoners are still dropping dead at the finish.
One medical study involved 10 cases of sudden death among runners. The researchers discovered severe coronary atherosclerosis is the most common cause of death among marathon runners. The researchers pursued these findings among 24 cases of joggers, not marathoners, but joggers. Thirteen died while jogging, and six soon after jogging. All but one had severe coronary artery disease.
Consider this Swedish study. A total of 315 heart attack patients were divided into two groups. Half received exercise training and half no exercise. There was no evidence that the exercise group fared better than the control group in terms of death rates or rate of recurrence of heart attacks. A Canadian study came up with similar results.
A Little Exercise Goes A Long Way
The key to maintaining muscle mass is balance. In young adults there's a healthy ebb and flow between the buildup and breakdown of muscles that helps maintain that balance. But that's not the case with the elderly. Instead, the muscle breakdown continues unabated while the buildup process slows down considerably.
So the best way to keep muscles strong is to get moderate exercise. Some doctors recommend that if you're over 65 you should walk one mile round trip once a day. And if you want to keep your body fit and strong, there are plenty of low impact exercises you can do to keep fit.
If you're unsure about which exercises to do, you can go to a gym and tell one of the trainers that you want to strengthen your muscles. Tell him or her the specific areas you're interested in working and let the trainer know that you don't want a comprehensive muscle building program. If the trainer asks why, tell him that's all your doctor recommended. If he or she tries to sell you a lot of bodybuilding capsules, don't waste your money. Moderate low impact exercise is all you need to keep fit.
According to an article in Circulation, the the journal of the American Heart Association, regular exercise did not make one iota's difference in rates of age related physical decline study of more than 800 male and female subjects of various ages.
Measured by periodic tread mill tests over an average age period of 8 years, both the exercisers and otherwise healthy non-obese sedentary types, , experienced a 20% decline in aerobic capacity for every decade past age 70.
That means despite what running shoe makers, sports drink makers, and gym owners tell you, heavy exercise does nothing to stave off the natural reduction in physical strength and stamina that comes with aging.
The Paradox Of The Exercise Craze
Enlargement of the heart, known as cardiomegaly, is considered a healthy sign in athletes. But in the rest of us, its considered to be a serious sign of heart disease. Does this give us any clue as to why super athletes die young from heart disease? Many athletes also have irregular cardiograms that would be considered serious signs of heart disease in most of us. But since they're in shape, its considered benign.
A case in point would be Pheidippides the first marathon runner. He ran from Marathon to Athens which is 26 miles, to announce the Greek victory over the Persians. He delivered his message and then dropped dead. Things have changed much since then since marathoners are still dropping dead at the finish.
One medical study involved 10 cases of sudden death among runners. The researchers discovered severe coronary atherosclerosis is the most common cause of death among marathon runners. The researchers pursued these findings among 24 cases of joggers, not marathoners, but joggers. Thirteen died while jogging, and six soon after jogging. All but one had severe coronary artery disease.
Consider this Swedish study. A total of 315 heart attack patients were divided into two groups. Half received exercise training and half no exercise. There was no evidence that the exercise group fared better than the control group in terms of death rates or rate of recurrence of heart attacks. A Canadian study came up with similar results.
A Little Exercise Goes A Long Way
The key to maintaining muscle mass is balance. In young adults there's a healthy ebb and flow between the buildup and breakdown of muscles that helps maintain that balance. But that's not the case with the elderly. Instead, the muscle breakdown continues unabated while the buildup process slows down considerably.
So the best way to keep muscles strong is to get moderate exercise. Some doctors recommend that if you're over 65 you should walk one mile round trip once a day. And if you want to keep your body fit and strong, there are plenty of low impact exercises you can do to keep fit.
If you're unsure about which exercises to do, you can go to a gym and tell one of the trainers that you want to strengthen your muscles. Tell him or her the specific areas you're interested in working and let the trainer know that you don't want a comprehensive muscle building program. If the trainer asks why, tell him that's all your doctor recommended. If he or she tries to sell you a lot of bodybuilding capsules, don't waste your money. Moderate low impact exercise is all you need to keep fit.
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