93 Fun Facts About New Jersey

 

If you live in or have ever lived in Jersey...you'll appreciate this...if not, you may be surprised!

 

New Jersey has the second highest per capita income in the U.S.

 

New Jersey has three counties in the top ten U.S. counties by income.

 

New Jersey was the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights (Nov. 20,1789)

 

New Jersey is a peninsula.

 

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

 

New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.

 

New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.

 

New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.

 

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.

 

New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.

 

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

 

Cartoonist Thomas Nast (Morristown) created the popular image of Santa Claus.

 

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."

 

Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

 

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.

 

New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

 

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.

 

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns; some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.

 

New Jersey was home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.

 

The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.

 

And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world,

 

Not to mention salt water taffy.

 

New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.

 

The "Trial of the Century" (the Lindberg Baby kidnapping) was held in Flemington.

 

New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.

 

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.

 

You haven't lived until you have eaten New Jersey sweet Corn.

 

New Jersey is a leader in blueberry and cranberry production.

 

In 1642, the first brewery in America, opened in Hoboken.

 

New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

 

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

 

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.

 

George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by  General George Washington. On Christmas Eve 1776 he crossed the Delaware to attack the Hessian troops at Trenton.

 

The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory.

 

We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.

 

The first movie studio was in West Orange.

 

The first western was filmed by Edison in the hills of West Orange-"The Great Train Robbery."

 

Highest population density in the US

 

Home of the US Olympic Equestrian Team

 

Home to the United States Golf association (Far Hills)

 

The transistor was invented by Bell Labs in NJ

 

The telephone was invented in NJ

 

Samuel Morse's code machine was built in NJ (Morris Plains)

 

The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.

 

The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.

 

The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.

 

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.

 

New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. (Union, NJ!!!)

 

New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.

 

The Pulaski SkyWay, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.

 

NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).

 

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

 

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).

 

The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they're all gone now!).

 

New Jersey is home to both of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams!

 

The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

 

The Great Falls in Paterson, on the Passaic River, is the second highest waterfall on the East Coast of the US. In 1778, Alexander Hamilton visited the falls and was impressed by its potential for industry. Later as the nation's first Secretary of Treasury, he selected the site as the nation's first planned industrial city.

 

All New Jersey natives: (Actually 'Born, Raised 0r Settled')

 

Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Derek Jeter Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn,  Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, The Jonas Brothers, Alan Ginsberg, Yogi Berra, Larry Doby, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Edison, Frankie Valli, Charles Lindbergh, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Fanny Brice, Annie Oakley, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gordon McRae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue,  James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm.Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas

(Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Sammy Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia, Brian Williams, Charles Gibson, Martha Stewart, Andrew Fastow (!) and, of course, Francis Albert Sinatra.

 

You know you're from Jersey when . . .

 

You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges."

 

You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags.

 

You don't put pineapple on your pizza.

 

And, you don't buy pizza at a national "pizza" franchise.

 

You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.

 

You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery.

 

At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from.

 

You know what a "jug handle" is.

 

You know that WaWa is a convenience store.

 

You know that the state isn't all farmland.

 

You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey--there's the shore--and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore." And when you are there, you're not "at the shore"; you are "down the shore."

 

You know how to properly negotiate a circle.

 

You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving.

 

You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (try . . . Mexico . . . York .! . . Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?).

 

You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege.

 

Or, ketchup on a hot dog.

 

You don't think "What exit?" is very funny.

 

You know that people from the 609 area code are "a little different."

 

You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-staters.

 

The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar.

 

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.

 

You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.

 

Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.

 

You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.

 

You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall.

 

You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, and people from Central Jersey go to Belmar, and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood. It can be no other way.

 

You weren't raised in New Jersey--you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey.

 

You don't consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the state.

 

You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's.

 

You also remember Palisades Amusement Park and Olympic Park.

 

You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.

 

You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.

 

And finally . . .

 

You've NEVER, EVER pumped your own gas.

 

How To Grill An Awesome Burger

1. Choose Fatty Meat  Start with chuck that is 20% fat.

2. Mix A Secret Powder Into The Meat - This incredible powder make you want one bite after another. To make it, combine 6 tablespoons of porcini powder, two tablespoons portabella powder, two table spoons of Worcestershire powder, two tablespoons onion powder, and two tablespoons of garlic powder. Use one tablespoon of the mixture per pound of meat. The powders can be purchased at specialty stores or online at Amazon.com.

3. Form Flat Patties - Make loose balls of meat 6 to 8 ounces in size, then flatten these balls into patties about 1/2 inch thick. Don't pack these patties  very tight , and don't leave the center thicker than the edges since thick in the middle patties don't cook evenly. Next, use two fingers to press a dimple roughly one quarter inch deep into the middle of one side of the patty. This divot prevents the burger from puffing up in the middle as it cooks.

4. Season The Patties On Both Sides with kosher salt and cracked pepper right before you grill them.
Season too soon and the salt will dry out the meat.

5. Let The Patties Cook Undisturbed on high  heat( 600F-800F)   for two to three minutes. Peak gently underneath after two minutes. If the patties lift easily off the grill and are golden brown underneath, it's time to flip them. If not, let them continue to cook for up to an additional minute. DO NOT poke, prod or push down on the patties as they cook. That just pushes juice and flavor out of the meat. Then move the patties away from the highest heat to cook further without burning.

6. Use A Meat Thermometer To Monitor Temperature After Flipping - Cook to 160 degrees for safety. You might want to consider buying a Thermapen digital thermometer favored by pros for its fast accurate readings. About $96 at Thermoworks.Com.

7. Let The Burgers Rest for 5 minutes before eating. This allows the juices to distribute throughout the meat and keeps the juice from spilling out onto your plate after the first bite.       

Do It Yourself Face Lift Makes You Look Years Younger In Just 20 Days

If you've got wrinkles that you would like to reduce but you don't want injections or a surgical face lift, then Chinese facial acupressure may be the answer for you. Just use the following routines each day until you are satisfied with the results.

Forehead Wrinkles -  Begin at the top of your right foot,  in the junction between your big and second toes. Using medium to firm pressure, massage the point in a clockwise circle 10 times. Repeat on the left foot. Next, move to the backside of your right hand between your right thumb and index finger. In a clockwise circular motion, massage this point for 10 rotations. Repeat on the left hand.

 Then move to the  back  of your neck. Place both thumbs where your spine meets the base of your skull and move them two inches to either side until they each land in an indentation. Massage clockwise with firm pressure for 10 rotations.

Lastly, move your face. Place the pad of index finger a half inch above the center of each eyebrow. Massage with medium pressure in 10 clockwise right to left circles. Repeat the entire sequence three times in a single session each day. For deeper wrinkles, do the sequence several times throughout the day. You should notice a reduction in forehead wrinkles within 20 days.

Under Eye Puffiness - Place your index finger two inches above the inside of your right ankle between the bone and muscle. Do 10 clockwise rotations using medium to firm pressure. Repeat on the left leg.

Next, move to the backside of your right hand between your right thumb and index finger. In a clockwise circular motion, massage this point for 10 rotations. Repeat on the left hand.

Then with your arm at your side, bend your left elbow to make a 90 degree angle. Pinpoint the area located at the outside edge of the elbow crease between the bend and the bone. Use your index finger to massage 10 times in a clockwise rotation  using medium to firm pressure. Repeat on your right elbow.

Lastly, move to your face. Place your right index finger just to the side of your right nostril. Move the finger laterally to a spot directly underneath the center of your eye, in your sinus area.  Press in and slightly upward, performing 10 clockwise rotations. Repeat on the left side. Do the entire sequence three times daily. You should notice a reduction in puffiness under your eyes in a few days.

10 Ways To Choose A Great Nursing Home For Your Loved Ones

1. Visit During Meal Times- Mealtimes are when nursing home employees are under the greatest stress. When you visit, observe whether employees are interacting  with residents in a friendly manner. If so they'll probably treat residents well at all times.

2. Inquire About Agency Nurses - When a nursing home can't find enough permanent nurses, they hire agency nurses to fill the gap. Most homes use agency nurses from time, but it's a bad sign if 15%-20% of a home's nurses are provided by agencies. Ask the facility what percentage of nurses are from an agency.

3. Check Out The Physical Therapy Facilities - Insist on touring the physical therapy department. If the equipment doesn't look modern or expensive, then it's a bad sign. Also ask whether the physical therapist is on staff or on contract. Homes that have a therapist on staff make a greater commitment to rehab services.

4. Make Sure The Home Has A Five Star Rating The Medicare system website includes a star rating system on nursing homes. Avoid homes with an overall rating lower than five stars. You can view the ratings at www.Medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare  .

5. Check The Activities Schedule - Next time you visit, look at the activities schedule. Then look in at one or two activities. Is the activity really taking place? How many resident are there? Does it look like ther're having fun ? Make sure they're not clustered around a nursing station staring into space or at at TV. They should be chatting together, playing cards or interacting.

6. Take A Deep Whiff   Making a sub par nursing home smell is a tough challenge. So walk down corridors where doors to patients rooms are open and take a whiff. If the place reeks of urine, feces or large amounts of Lysol, then be suspicious.

7. Is It Really Private? Most homes offer shared rooms since they were built before the importance of singe rooms was recognized. If single rooms are not available, then consider how much privacy the home's shared rooms offer. Some have sturdy partitions and others have thin curtains or nothing at all.

8. Make Frequent Visits -Residents whose families visit often usually receive more attentive care. If you live far away, try to arrange for a friend , relative or concierge service to visit on a regular basis and give you update.

9. Avoid Getting Your Loved One Kicked Out -  Nursing homes cannot legally expel residents if they run out of money. So they must resort to Medicaid for payment. But nursing homes are allowed to send away residents that require more care than they can provide. Some greedy nursing homes expel residents who run out of money and claim that their care needs have increased. If this happens to your loved one, then file a complaint with your state's ombudsman through www.LTCOmbudsman.org

10.Don't Let A Hospital Rush You  If your loved one requires a nursing home care after a hospital stay, there's a good chance the hospital discharge planner will try to give just a few days to choose a nursing home. That's because the longer your loved one stays, the less profit they make. If the discharge planner  won't give you more time to choose a home, then threaten to file an appeal with Medicare if he or she won't relax the deadline. Most planners will back down because they don't want the paperwork hassles. But if you have to file an appeal, the hospital's patient advocate should be able to provide info on how to file. Or you can hire a long term care case manager for a few hundred dollars. Also, your local area agency on aging can help you find a local case manager. Or find one at:    www.cmsa.org

A No-Brainer Easy Peezy Summer Dessert That Will Wow Your Guests

SWEET & SAVORY GELATO

 Buy any good quality store brand of pistachio gelato or ice cream. Drizzle on a little extra virgin olive oil,and then top it off with a dash of flaky sea salt. 

How To Find Hidden Treasures At Yard Sales

You make some nice scores at yard sales when you buy cheap stuff that is worth much more than what you  paid. Look for the following items.

Printed cloth handkerchiefs from the 1970's and earlier.  Look for  those with nice patterns and colors. Some distinctive patterns can be framed as art. Some sell fro about $18 or more.The best examples are hand-hemmed made of fine line or cotton. Also, be on the lookout for scarves from designers like Hermes and Marimekko.

Williamsburg style wood furniture from the 1950's and 1960's. This furniture is not trendy since it has an old fashioned colonial look but is solid wood. Look for pieces made by Baker, Beacon Hill, and Kittinger.
A Kittinger set of library steps brings about $550.

Psychedelic posters from the late 1960's and early 1970's. A lack of pinholes or other signs of age and use might mean its a reproduction. A Peter max poster from 1968 called "Love" sells for $316.

Fisher-Price toys.  Look for toys that are in pristine condition. A racer with no plastic parts brings about $350. Also look for Fisher-Price "Little People" from the 1980's or earlier. They can bring $2 to $5 or more.

Modern Swedish glass. Glass from Kosta and Orrefors have been increasing in value lately.

Decorative garden items. Look for bird feeders, birdhouses, fountains, and iron garden sets. A vintage set of two chairs with a cat design on the back fetched $4,000. People who have garage sales sometimes  forget  to include yard sale items. So take a peek in the backyard and ask if a nice item is for sale.

Give Your Foods A Great Rub Down For Fabulous Grilling

Spice rubs and mixes are an easy way to add delicious flavor to your foods. They can be made in advance and kept in  an airtight container for up to 3 months. And if you package them as gifts, they make a great hostess present.

Sprinkle dry rubs or pat the food with your spices. Never rub hard into the food since you can damage the meat's fiber and texture. Also, if you're going to season the food overnight, leave out the salt since it will dehydrate the food. Just make sure you sprinkle it on about 15 minutes before you start to cook. Normally, about 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of these rubs will cover 3 pounds of meat.

                                                         Sweet N' Spicy Dry Rub

Use as a universal rub for all types of food. 1 tablespoon  of dry mustard, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Makes about 4 tablespoons.

                                                            Indian Curry Dry Rub

Use on chicken breast and tofu. 1/2 cup mild curry powder, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1 teaspoon turmeric,  1 teaspoon ground ginger. Makes 12 tablespoons.

                                                           Asian Five Spice Rub

Use on duck, chicken, pork carrots and autumn squash. 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons five spice powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon sugar. Make 4 tablespoons.

                                                                    Mocha Rub 

Great on steak. 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons instant espresso coffee, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Makes about 5 tablespoons.

                                                                  Spice Mixtures   
Mix these spice blends into ground meat before cooking. Each recipe makes about 2 tablespoons to flavor 1pound of ground meat.

                                                               Big Flavor Burger

1 teaspoon ground coriander, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt.
 
                                                          Spicy Turkey Burger Mix 

2 teaspoons ground coriander, 2 teaspoons caraway seeds, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper  flakes, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon  garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt.    

How To Get Anybody To Like You In Two Minutes Or less

If you want to make new friends or land new clients or a new job, the you need to make a great first impression fast. That's because people form permanent opinions about you within just  a few minutes of meeting you.  So here are 11 easy ways to make people like you:

1. Use a slow flooding smile  It's always a good idea to smile but switching on a 100 watt smile can make you seem phony. Instead, let your smile build slowly when you make eye contact. This sends a message that there is something about this person you like.

2. Have "sticky" eyes  People are inclined to like and trust those who make eye contact. If you're not a natural at making eye contact, then  make it a habit to note the specific characteristics about a acquaintances' eyes. Note the color, the shape, how far apart they are, the length of the lashes, and how often they blink.  
Noting these nuances will help you make good eye contact. Do break eye contact occasionally if you notice the other person seems uncomfortable. Just don't do it abruptly. Make sure you break eye contact slowly as if your gaze was stuck on this person and you find it hard to pull away.

3. Select an open welcoming body position Arrange yourself so that your torso is mostly but not completely facing the person you just met. Then during the first few minutes of conversation, very slowly and slightly move your body to face the other person. The only exception to this is when a man is meeting a woman for the first time. In this instance, the man should stop a few degrees short of  angling his  upper body towards her.

4. Stand with one foot a few inches forward of the other By putting most of your weight on the forward foot suggests that you  are an energetic person and that you are interested in the person to whom you are speaking.

5. Find your conversation partner's comfort zone Stand too close to a person and you will make them feel uncomfortable. If you stand too far away, and they may not feel a connection with  you. So the best strategy is to stand 26 to 28 inches away and slowly move in closer until you see discomfort in the other person's eyes. Then ease back until the discomfort disappears.

6. When you shake hands, very gently touch your forefinger to the other person's wrist Aim for the spot on the underside of the wrist where you would normally  take a pulse. This is a very sensitive spot and touching it tends to foster a feeling of warmth even though your contact may not be consciously  noticed.

7. Begin with a conversation starter Questions that make great ice breakers include, "What do you do?" followed by "How did you decide you wanted to do that?" Or to couples ask, "How did you two meet?"

9. Slowly nod when people speak This sends a message of acceptance and encouragement which makes people feel in sync with us. If you're a woman, do not nod if a man is saying something with which you completely disagree. If you're a man, keep in mind that women tend to interpret nodding as "I understand" not "I agree."

10. Listen for words that suggest people's interest The words people use in passing will give you hints to their true interests. For instance, if small talk is about the weather and someone says " At least my plants will get some rain." You should say, "Do you have a garden?"  Or if someone says, "Its too hot to walk my dogs." You should respond with " What kind of dogs do you have?"

11. Treat business cards with respect A business card symbolizes some one's professional accomplishments. Showing respect for the card shows respect for the person. So hold the card gently in your hands. Then pause to read it then carefully place it in your briefcase, wallet or purse. Never just jam a   a card in your pocket.

Spice Up You Life With Homemade Sea Salt

To make homemade sea salt, just take seawater from a clean source. Try beaches before swimmers arrive or try before you chum it for bait.  Then run it through a fine sieve or clean cheese cloth or use both to catch sand and grit. If you're really particular, you can run sea water through a Brita filter since it won't remove the sea salt. After you filter your seawater, then pour it into a shallow tempered glass baking dish or bowl.

Then choose your evaporation method. You can place your baking dish in an oven at its lowest setting for two or three days or put it on a super sunny window sill for a few weeks. Or you can put it outside on a roof  or yards. Just watch out for birds and soot.

Once the edges are dry and chunky, lightly scrape them from your baking dish to remove and break up the bigger pieces. Then just store your salt in an airtight container. To make your salt more zesty, then try these two recipes:

Lemon Salt 

You'll need 1/2 cup of sea salt, 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice and the zest of one lemon. To start, zest one lemon into the salt. Then add the freshly squeezed lemon juice to the salt. Then spread out your mixture onto a flat, nonreactive heat proof tray. Then place your tray in a window on a sunny day, or on top of the oven or in a dehydrator. It's ready to use when it's completely dry.

Smoked Sea Salt      

For this recipe you'll need 2 cups of apple wood chips and 2 cups of sea salt. First, soak the apple wood chips  in cold water for 1 hour then drain.

Next, prepare  a grill for indirect grilling by putting all the hot coals to one side and leaving a cool side where you can work. Place the applewood chips on the hot coals and adjust the vent to medium heat. ( about 350 F).  Spread the salt in an aluminum foil pie or baking pan. Then place the foil pan on cool area of the grate away from the fire.   

Smoke the salt for at least an hour then remove from the heat.  Next, cool the salt to room temperature and then put it into an airtight container. It will then keep indefinitely.

Hot Summer Travel Tips Save You Big Money

If you're taking a weeklong domestic trip, depart on Saturday and return on Monday and save 16% on airfare. For weeklong international tips, depart on Tuesday and return on Wednesday the following week and save 21% on average. If you're visiting a tourist location like a beach town, avoid weekend to weekend travel. If you're visiting a convention town, the opposite is true. September is the cheapest month to fly domestically. If you want deep cruise discounts use an agent. Find one at www.cruise-compete.com where more than 300 agents compete for your business. When booking hotel rooms, use www.tingo.com . The site automatically registers when the price drops and credits the difference back to your credit card.

Eleven Ways To Avoid Losing Sleep When Buy A Mattress

Mattresses should be replaced every 10 years. And except for certain kinds of specialty mattresses, it is very difficult to compare mattress prices from store to store. That's because retailers use product names and numbers you won't find anywhere else. 

1. Take Notes. When you find a mattress that feel comfortable, jot down every detail about the mattress. Your notes should include the coil count, the coil wire gauge, the dimensions plus the height, the length of   the warranty, the materials used, how the sleep surface is described, and the list price compared to other mattress stores. Then you will able to compare apples to apples when comparing prices. 

2. Determine Firmness.  Then note the firmness based on your judgement where if falls on a scale from 1 to 10.  To determine this, lie on the mattress for at least 10 minutes to make sure it feels comfortable and it properly supports your spine. Then ask the sales person where each mattress falls on a firmness scale from 1 to 10 so you can discover what firmness scale you like best. 

3. Warranty Terms. Keep in mind that manufacturers warranties only cover major defects. They don't let you return because you found the mattress uncomfortable. The exception would be high priced mattresses like Tempur-Pedic which offer a 90 day in home trial period.  After you find your best price, compare stores that offer free delivery, free removal of old bedding and the longest free home trial period and free re-delivery and removal of the mattress if you're not happy.  Also make sure that you read the store mattress return polices carefully as stated on their respective websites. Normally, extended warranty plans sold by stores aren't worth the paper their printed on. For instance, one major retailer requires you to purchase it if you want a 45 day return period on a mattress. And you can only do it one time.

4.Watch Out For High Coil Count.  A high coil count doesn't always mean higher quality. It's true that having more coils is better than having fewer coils but the coils might be made from different materials in different ways. For example, a mattress made with independent coils made from  separate pieces of wire will give you a better sleep since they isolate movement better  than coils made from continuous strands of wire.
So make sure you include this point when comparing mattresses. You want a high independent coil count made from separate wires.

5. Watch Out For The Pillow Top Trap. Pillow top mattresses feel great when you lay on them because they have thick soft layers of foam . The trouble is that these thick layers soon develop deep, annoying body indentations. So if you love the pillow top feel, opt for a plush top instead. These have just 2 or 3 inches of foam instead of the 4 to 6 inches of foam on a pillow top.    

6. New Box Springs May Be A Waste Of Money. When you buy a new mattress, expect the salesperson to recommend a new box spring or "foundation". You might be told that it will extend the life of your mattress or it will void the mattress warranty. None of this is usually true. But if the store says that not buying a new foundation will void the mattress warranty, demand to see a copy of the manufacturers warranty before you commit to buying it. If it's  just at store policy, then you should shop elsewhere. 

7.High Priced Mattress Drawbacks. Memory foam mattresses do a great job conforming to the contours of the body but they also make some sleepers feel too hot. Dual zone air filled mattresses have a tendency to let humidity and perspiration build up around the the internal air bladders. So mold and mildew can spread in the bladders if not cleaned by using a liquid detergent. Also these mattresses can be opened for cleaning and ventilation but they must be completely dry before closing them up.

8. High Prices Don't Guarantee Comfort.  Some people equate high prices with quality. However, a leading consumer magazine reported that 40% of mattress buyers have buyers remorse. They also discovered that a $500 Ikea mattress fared just as well satisfaction surveys  as a $3,000 Tempur-Pedic.

9. Check Out The BBB. Before you even waste your time shopping a store, make sure you go to the
Better Business Bureau website and check out the store's reputation. One major furniture retailer who has the biggest national advertising budget, has an "F" rating -- the lowest for customer satisfaction. So go to www.BBB.org and check them out. Also , check out the store's reputation on www.Yelp.com. Look for at least 50 reviews to get unbiased  feedback. Or do a Google search like "consumer complaints about "XYZ  Mattress Store". 

10.Compare Prices.  When you have made a mattress choice, go back or call the store you like the most and try to negotiate additional discounts of 20%, 30% or 40% more off of the quoted price. When you negotiate the price, say this: " You know , I really like this mattress and I like your store. But I don't have $1,000 to spend on it right now. All I have in my budget is $700." ( which is 30%v off ) ."Would you consider taking $700 for the mattress if I bought it right now?"   Most retailer's  list prices double or triple their costs on mattresses, so you have nothing to lose by asking for a discount in this manner. If you like the mattress and the store, and they won't budge on the price, try getting them to throw in new pillows and sheets with the purchase.  Also, some stores have price match guarantees so make sure you  make several stores compete for your business when all the other factors like reputation and return  policies are equal. Keep in mind department stores usually won't negotiate but they may honor price match guarantees if you can show that the mattress is the same despite different names.  Also, some department stores may offer better options on returns and delivery if you're not happy.

11. Avoid In Store Financing. When you opt in for furniture in store financing, you may give up some of your rights to dispute any complaints. Although  no money down, and  no interest for 3 years is quite attractive, make sure you read the financing agreement carefully BEFORE you buy. Don't buy on impulse and take your time. Feel free to take any financing agreements, warranties and brochures home to read them carefully before your buy.  Ideally, you'd be better off using a major credit card for any mattress purchase. Then if there is a problem with the product or the store, you'll have 60 days of recourse protection. All  American Express cards and most platinum Mastercard and Visa cards also extend the warranty of almost any retail purchase you make and give you other protections.  If you really want financing, you can always pay off your credit card balance in full with one of those credit card checks that give you 0 interest for one year. Then when the year is up, you can just pay off the balance with another 0 interest credit card check. Just make sure that the check has no balance transfer fees.    

7 Ways Managers Can Dramatically Boost Prodctivity For Themselves And Their Employees

1. Optimize Your Work Space  First,know that staring at cute images like puppies on your walls can narrow your focus and make you less error prone. Second,  boost your employee output by  trying  to keep desks away from windows since good weather is distracting. Third, crank up the heat since employees who work in warm offices make 44 %  fewer errors and increase their output 150%. Around 77 degrees is optimal. Fourth, filter out distractions since constant chitchat  and exposure to noise makes you less likely to persist at difficult tasks. Fifth, build a nap room. Studies show that napping anywhere from 6 to 90 minutes a day improves memory and learning ability. And last, choose power colors like red rooms to improve performance and blue room to enhance creativity.

2. Don't Reward Failure Your employees will work harder to avoid a loss than to seek a gain. So set targets, impose consequences for failure but don't set the stakes too high.

3.Don't Multitask  Studies at Stamford  have proven that multitasking doesn't work.So instead, dedicate a 20 minute chunk to a single task, and then switch to the next one. Also, limit the time you spend on emails since it has proven cause stress. So just check your emails a few scheduled times a day and turn off email notifications  the rest of the time. Also, quick questions are often better asked face to face or by phone where they don't add to the huge amounts of emails received everyday.

4.Exercise Studies show  that working out or doing aerobics improves your brain function.

5. Pay A Bigger Share Of Employees Health Insurance The University of Michigan and Harvard Medical did a study that shows for every $5 increase in health car costs incurred by employees, absences increase by one hour. The authors conclude that the higher the costs, the fewer prescriptions employees fill. So they experience more pain and miss more days of work. The bottom line is that employees with health insurance are far more productive than their uninsured peers.

6.Take Time To Get More Rest You'll find that you'll accomplish more if you give your body sufficient down time. Another Stamford study shows that when college basketball players got 10 hours of sleep a night, their shooting accuracy improved 9 percent.Also,  a lack of sleep affects your ability to control your emotions.   But sleep isn't the only thing you need.  Recent studies by the University of Utah and Kansas have shown that spending time in nature dramatically improves high-level cognition.Activities like hiking influences and improves creativity.

7.Encourage Healthy Conflicts Healthy debates yield better work outcomes since debating makes people divergent , it reduces conformity and fosters competition.  But watch out for brainstorming with the assertion that there's no such thing as a bad idea . It has proven to be lousy for productivity. Employee teams produce many more ideas when  they are encouraged to challenge each other in a debate setting. Just make sure you don't put all your A players on one team. That's because top performers usually don't work well as a team. This has been proven by the NBA and Wall Street analysts.When you have too many star players on one team, it promotes status conflicts within the team. So make sure your groups are not made up of  all leaders. You need some people who are prepared to defer.           

Get Free Music, Books & Apps Seven Days A Week

Sunday: Books are available for borrowing through Kindle Owners Lending Library.

Monday:  Google's Play Sore gives away a free song of the day on its music home page.

Tuesday: iTunes gives away a free single of the week.

Wednesday: Artist on the Rise page at  Amazon's MP3 store allows free download songs by artists.

Thursday:  Free TV shows are available at Google's Play Store.

Friday: Get a free book and app verey week on Barnes & Nobles free Friday program.

Saturday: Get incredible free apps on Amazon's free app of the day offer.    

Six Ways To Avoid Big Blunders When Refinancing Your Home

1.Ignoring The Age Of Your Old Loan If you are 10 years into a 30 year mortgage when you refinance to a new 30 year loan, you will have to make 10 additional years of  payments to pay it off.  Unless your goal is to free up cash, you should consider getting a mortgage shorter than 30 years when you refinance. That will reduce your monthly  payments without extending your loan payments.

2. Buy A Car Or Changing Jobs The loan approval process doesn't stop when your mortgage is approved. Your lender is likely to reconfirm your employment and financials in the week before your loan closes. So your lender might back away from your if he discovers you changed jobs or incurred more debt.
So don't do anything that will significantly alter your credit score until after the mortgage closes.

3. Assuming The Lowest Advertised Rate Is The Best Deal You really can't compare mortgage offers just by comparing rates. A lender could quote a low rate and and jack up the closing costs. When calling lenders, don't ask , "What's your rate?" Ask instead, "Whats your 30 year fixed rate with zero points if I lock it in for 60 days?"  Phrasing the question that way compares apples to apples even if it isn't exactly the mortgage you end up choosing.

4.Allowing Rates To Float Too Long Before locking in a rate, ask the lender what your options are if you over-run your lock up period. Also ask if it's possible to initially allow the rate to float, then later lock it in a few weeks down the road.

5. Letting A Lender Charge You Hidden Points Just because a lender tells you that a mortgage has low or no points does mean it has low or no fees. Points are a type of fee charged as a percentage of the loan. some lenders instead charge steep flat fees so they can tell borrowers  that their loans have low or no points without technically lying. So when a lender quotes you a loan ask if there's a "discount fee", "origination fee" or a "broker fee." These are terms lender use to hide points in the form of flat fees. Also, immediately ask for a written good faith estimate of the mortgage terms. Lenders are required to provide these within 3 days after receiving the loan application. Read it to make sure there are no steep undisclosed fees.

6. Choosing An ARM Because You Expect To Sell Before Rates Reset Always choose a fixed low rate mortgage and lock in today's rates even if you expect to move before an ARM's rate resets. ARM's or ajustable rate mortgages,  are not worth the risk if there's a chance that you will still own the home after the loan rate resets.

     

Six New Ways Facebook Is Stealing Your Privacy And What You Can Do About It

1. Timeline Timeline makes its easy for people to search back through your old facebook posts. That could expose private matters embarrassing photos that you've long forgotten. To hide posts you don't want to be seen, hold your cursor over the post and click the pencil con that appears in the upper right hand corner. Then click "hide from Timeline" or "Delete".

2. Facebook Apps Some facebook apps dig deep into your data even accessing info you have designated as private like your religion, political leanings and sexual preferences. So make sure you read the privacy polices carefully before signing up for an app.The  free tool available at  https://www.facebook.com/Privacyscore will help you evaluate the privacy policies of the apps you use.

3.Facebook "Like" Buttons Each time you click on a "like" button on a website, you alert your interests to your facebook friends and its advertising partners. And if you're a facebook user and you visit a web page that has a "like" button, facebook will record you visit to that page if you don't click "like". One way to prevent facebook from knowing where you go online is to set your web browser to block all cookies. You can also use the "In Private Browsing" mode in Internet Explorer, the "Incognito " mode in Google Chrome,  and the "Private Browsing" mode in Firefox and Safari. There are also free plug ins to stop facebook from following you such as http://webgraph.com/resources/facebookblocker/

4. Social Readers If you signed up for sites like The Washington Post it will tell your facebook friends that articles you read on the site. So if you've signed up for a social reader app, then delete it. Just click the lock icon in the upper right hand corner and select"See More Settings" then choose "apps" on the left. Locate the app, click "X" and follow the directions to delete.

5. Photo & Video Tags Some tags can let others see you in unflattering and unprofessional situations. To untag yourself from unflattering photos, hold your cursor over the post and click on the pencil icon. Select "Report/Remove Tag", then follow directions to remove it. Then enable review of all future photos you're tagged in before they appear on Timeline. Click the lock icon in the upper right, the "See More Settings" and select "Timeline and Tagging". Then click "edit" next to "Review posts friends  tag you in before they appear on your Timeline, " and click "Enabled" on the drop down menu. 

6. Facebook Friends If several of your facebook friends list potentially risky or unhealthy activities, a potential insurer, college admissions office or employer might conclude you also enjoy such behavior. You might consider removing these people from your friends list or make your friends  list private.  Just click on your name in upper right hand corner, then click "Friends", the "Edit" and select "Only Me" from the drop down menu. 







   

How Ordinary People Get Parts In Commercials, TV Shows and Movies And Make Up To $600 A Day Or More

You don't have to move to Hollywood or New York City and don't need movie star good looks. While it's true that movies and TV  shows feature people in their 20's, it's a lot easier for older actors to land jobs outside of Los Angeles. Also, most professional acting jobs are parts in local commercials and corporate training films. In addition, directors want actors that look like ordinary people. As an extra, you can earn from $50 to $75 a day, and a principal role pays $600 a day or more.

Three places to find work are the websites of state and city film offices, casting directors, and talent agencies. Type in "film office" of your state or city in Google for job announcements. You can also Google the term "casting director" and t he name of your state or city to find out if they have "open calls" or auditions open to anyone interested in trying out. Plus talent agencies have print departments which help actors and models find work.A good place to find talent agencies is the website of the Screen Actors Guild. At www.Sagaftra.org   click on the "Union Info" menu, then click on "Agency Relations" then choose "SAG Franchised Agents".Then at the top of the page click on"Locals" and choose your geographical area. After that, choose "Local Resources" and pick from "Casting Directors", "SAG Franchised Agents" and "AFTRA Franchised Agents". Just make sure that you take some acting lessons before you approach a talent agency. Just Google "acting lessons" with your state or city. A 4 to 6 week class should cost just  $100 to $300. A class focused on camera acting for commercials and corporate training films will be useful if you want to launch a part-time acting career and you don't live near NY or LA.  Know that  agents won't recommend you to casting directors over their existing clients unless they are confident you know what you're doing.

Before you visit a talent agent or casting director, make sure to rehearse a shot monologue that fit your age and looks. Monologue books can be found at libraries, bookstores or online. And most of all, be persistent. The actors or actresses who find work tend to be the ones who audition as frequently as possible. They also monitor their regional film office websites on a regular basis.  

Keep in mind that there is work for actors who have little training and experience. But to land better roles, you'll need some experience. The best way to get it is to take roles in local amateur  theater productions.

When you audition, dress for the role you hope to land. Also, arrive 15 minutes early because the script is usually not provided to you until you arrive. A good tip is to not try and memorize the script unless it's just a few sentences. 

Also, make sure you bring a resume to the audition detailing your acting experience and training. Just type the words "actor's resume"in Google  to see how it should be structured. And finally, bring a professional head shot to the audition as well. A talent agent should be able to recommend an area photographer. Expect to pay $175 to $400 which usually includes the cost of a professional makeup artist. Just follow these tips and we may see you on the silver screen.

15 Easy Ways To Spot A Liar

Here are 15 tell tale signs that someone is lying to you. If the person exhibits two or more of these signs, then there's a good chance they're lying.

1. Convincing Statements  are statements that don't answer a question directly. An example  would be if
you asked an employee about an overinflated expense report and they respond, "I'm an honest person" or "I would never do something like that".  

2 Unusually Long  Pauses   Since it takes more time to think up a lie than to tell the truth, then consider a long pause to be a sign of deception considering the nature of the question. 

3 Relying On God When a person uses ,God to establish their honesty, it sometimes means they're lying. Example: "As God as my witness" or "I swear on a stack of bibles".

4 Nondenial Denials When people say " I would never do such a thing" and fail to deny the specific allegation, watch out. Also look for long winded explanations when a simple yes or no would suffice.

5 Repeating The Question  Liars sometimes do this to stall for time while they think up an excuse. They usually say" I'm glad you asked me that."

6. Attack Mode Another tell tale sign of lying might be when the liar questions your competence  or fairness by saying, "Who are you to question me?"

7. Inconsistent Statements Liars who have trouble keeping up with their fibs might provide contradictory answers.

8. Unnecessary Detailed Answers An example would be when a sales manager is asked about quarterly sales and he states, "west coast figures are higher than expected."

9. Sudden Politeness Note when the level of politeness increases. If someone answers various questions without saying "sir" and then responds with "no sir" then that may be another indicator of lying. Example:
"Did you take the money out of the safe?" "No, sir."

10.Complaining About The Interview Liars might say, "How long is this going to take?"

11. Appearing To Not Understand A Simple Question People do this intentionally because they don't want to answer the question.

12. Referring Back To A Previous Response Liars might say, "I already told you that yesterday."

13. Adding Qualifiers When people say "frankly" or "truthfully" or "basically" may suggest the person  might not be 100% truthful.

14. Nonverbal Signs People's faces and bodies can also provide hints their lying. Look for hand to face activity, nervous movements, clearing the throat or swallowing or grooming. Look for repeated rubbing or scratching of the face, licking of  lips or pulling on the ears. Also, watch for movements of the hands, feet or legs in reaction to a question. Liars also sometimes dissipate anxiety by adjusting a tie, smoothing a skirt or aligning pens on a desk.

15. Ask Presumptive , Bait And What Else Questions If you want to know whether someone really went to the office party don't ask "were you there?" but instead ask, "What happened at the party last night?" A bait question might be used if  items have gone missing from the office supply closet. Rather than ask each employee if they did it, just ask "Is there any reason why someone may have seen you going into the supply closet this morning?" Also, if money is missing from your wallet, say" I realize the mistake may have been mine. I never explained that you should ask first before you borrow money from me." Also, when someone admits to a misdeed or lie, keep asking "What else?" until no more details are being withheld.  \

Make sue you watch and listen for the signs of deception listed above within the first five seconds of asking a question. If two or more appear, then continue monitoring for more signs to detect less than thruthful answers. 
  

 

How To Create The Perfect Loaf Of Artisanal Bread

Flour, water, yeast and salt are all that are needed to make a spectacular loaf of bread.

All About The Flour The artisan bread bakers’ pick for flour is known as Hard Red Winter Wheat. Hard wheat is used to mill flour that is designed for making bread. It has the protein content necessary to shape and hold together a loaf of bread, whereas soft wheat is appropriate for making cakes and pastries.

Red is the color of the wheat berry. Winter refers to the planting season of the wheat; winter wheat is planted now, in the fall. It sprouts before the frost sets in and then goes dormant during the winter months. Winter wheat comes back to life in the spring, continues to grow and is finally harvested in late spring. The harsh winters of the northern United States make it difficult to grow this type of wheat, so it is traditionally grown in the mid-U.S., where the winters are more moderate. Spring wheat has a much shorter growing season, which means it must be heavily fertilized in order to move the wheat to maturation before winter arrives.

Winter wheat is the gold standard for artisan bread bakers because of the way it is grown. Its long, slow, natural growing cycle produces a flour that has a lower protein, or gluten, content. It sounds contradictory. You would think that bread baking requires a lot of strength from the gluten. But too much strength translates into a tough, dense, overly chewy loaf of bread. While that may be great for a bagel, most breads require a lower protein content to make a light, delicate loaf. Also, winter wheat has a better flavor. As with any crop, the more natural the growing conditions, the better the flavor, and wheat is no different.

Bread bakers have accepted that buying local wheat may not be a choice for them. But think of it like buying coffee or tea. You can’t go to the farmers’ market and find locally grown coffee. You can, however, buy organic and fair trade coffee that is roasted locally. You buy the best that is available to you.

All About The Water Believe it or not, most tap water is great for bread baking. “Wouldn’t bottled water be better for bread?” The simple truth is, no, it’s not better. Once the minerals are filtered out of the water it makes it difficult to make bread. Moderately hard water is better for the yeast, as these minerals have a strengthening effect on it. Water that has been softened with a salt system can also cause problems with the yeast. Salt naturally controls the rate of fermentation in the yeast cells, and so too much salt will slow the yeast down. Not accounting for the salt that is added to softened water can have a big impact on the outcome of your bread.

All About The Yeast   You’re not going to find local yeast at the farmers’ market. But you can make your own yeast with a sourdough culture. It’s easy to start and only takes a few minutes a day to maintain. Then you can leaven your bread with the yeast contained in your sourdough culture. Bread that is naturally leavened with only a sourdough culture will take longer to ferment than those made with commercial yeast. But the flavor is well worth the wait.

All About The Salt The best salt for bread is any that does not contain iodine, as yeast is slowed down by it. You can use kosher or sea salts, which don’t contain iodine and have a better flavor than table salt. You do need to pay attention to the size of the salt crystals; large ones need to be dissolved in the water from the formula before mixing.

All About The Sourdough Culture You will need to start this 10 days to two weeks before it is ready to use. Or, become friends with your local bread baker and ask for a little bit of their sourdough culture to start feeding as your own.

Day 1: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
    3 ounces bread flour
    1 ounce whole wheat flour
    4 ounces water, 85°F

Day 2: Simply stir the mixture well, cover and leave at room temperature.

Day 3: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
    3 ounces bread flour
    1 ounce whole wheat flour
    4 ounces of sourdough starter/mixture from yesterday
    4 ounces water, 85°F

Day 4: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
    3 ounces bread flour
    6 ounces sourdough starter
    3 ounces water, 80°F

Day 5: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
    9 ounces bread flour
    3 ounces sourdough starter
    6 ounces water, 75°F

Days 6–11: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
    9 ounces bread flour
    3 ounces sourdough starter
    6 ounces water, 60–65°F

You may now use the sourdough culture in your bread.

To feed your sourdough culture from here, just follow the Day 6–11 feeding. It is important to feed your sourdough at the same time each and every day. If you are only going to use your sourdough culture sporadically, you will need to store it so that it can survive and be useful later.

For short-term storage—no longer than a week—you can place the sourdough starter into the refrigerator right after feeding. Then bring the sourdough out to room temperature the day before you intend to bake with it, feed it, and allow it to ferment for 18–24 hours. If you want to store it for a longer period, bakers recommend dehydrating the culture and freezing it. It’s easier than it sounds; just do the Day 6 feed but do not add the water.

You will create something that looks like crumbs. Pack this into an airtight plastic bag and freeze it. A day or two before you are going to bake, take the frozen culture out of the freezer, and add the water amount from the Day 6 feed. The water should be very warm—120°F—for this feeding only. The warm water will help bring the culture back up to room temperature. Continue to feed the culture daily or put it away until you need it again.

Once you create your sourdough culture, use it instead of instant yeast and add it to your favorite bread recipe.   

Full Proof Pie Dough For Thanksgiving

Ingredients:

2 1/2    cups unbleached flour

     1      teaspoon table salt

     2      tablespoons sugar

   12      tablespoons cold unsalted butter
             (1 1/2 sticks)

  1/2      cup chilled solid vegetable shortning
             cut into 4 pieces

  1/4      cup vodka ( cold )

  1/4      cup cold water

  Yield:  One 9 inch Double Crust Pie

 Since water bonds with flour to form gluten, too much makes for a tough crust. And rolling out dry dough is hard, so using vodka, which is 60%  water, makes for an easy to roll  crust with less gluten and no added alcohol flavor since it evaporates in the oven.

Process:

Mix 1 1/2 cups of flour, salt and sugar in a food processor  until combined, with about 2 one second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until the dough starts to collect in uneven clumps, or in about 15 seconds.The dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour. Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute the dough evenly around the processor blade. Add the remaining cup of flour and pulse until the mixture is evenly distributed around the bowl and the mass of dough has been broken up with 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty the mixture into a medium bowl.

Then sprinkle vodka and water over the mixture . With a rubber spatula, using a folding motion to mix, press down on the dough until it is slightly tacky and sticks together. Then divide the dough into two even balls and flatten each one into a 4 inch disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.     

17 Secrets Surgeons Pray You Never Find Out

1.Although "best doctors lists" are a good starting point, don't forget to ask hospital employees about a doc you may be sizing up. Their opinions are pretty accurate.  2. Ask you doc about his or her complication rate. If they don't have one, they're hiding something or haven't operated enough to have one. Keep in mind no one is immune to complications. 3. Make sure your surgeon is board certified at www.absurgery.org If your facing a stiff jail sentence and a jury trial, you would want to make sure that your criminal lawyer  was a certified trial attorney. So don't even think about using a surgeon who is not board certified in his field.
4. Always get a second or third opinion since some surgeons won't mention procedures they don't know how to do. Also your primary doctor's referral to a surgeon  may not always be the best .  5. Always ask your surgeon who is going to take care of you after surgery. You want to make sure that your surgeon or his assistants will see you on a regular basis until you have fully recovered. 6. Always have elective surgery early in the week since lots of doctors  go away for the weekend and won't be around to make sure your ok. 7. Make sure you find out who your anesthesiologist will be since he is just as important as your surgeon. Check him out thoroughly. 8. Make sure your surgeon doesn't rely just on one pathologist. Ask him to send all your slides to a nationally recognized reference lab to get a second pathology opinion. 9. Always ask your surgeon what risk about the procedure worries him the most. 10. All surgeon residents have to learn how to operate one time or another, but just make sure it's not at the risk of your health.  Verify that your surgeon will be actively involved in your surgery and not just checking in every hour. 11. Ask your surgeon how many of these operations has he done. The average number of surgeries a  surgeon does during a residency  is about  900.Also ask  your doctor if the surgery is truly necessary , whether you can wait a while, and ask about non-surgical options.  That's because they get paid 10 times more money to operate on you that to manage your illness conservatively. 12. If you have unanswered questions about your surgery after the operation,  ask to read the operative note report dictated by the surgeon . 13 If you have pain in your calf after surgery, or if swells up and looks red, you may have a blood clot which is a risk of every surgery. 14.You should know that 25% of all operations are unnecessary. That's because private hospital administrators push doctors to do more procedures to generate more income. After all, hospitals don't run those expensive TV commercials with celebrity spokes people for their health.    15. The average income of a U.S. surgeon is $265,000.  Some surgeons hire practice management consulltants to generate more revenue. They many want the doctor to build a surgery center to capture facility fees or get an in-office MRI machine. Also, some orthopedic surgeons make millions in soft consulting agreements with device manufacturers. So if you need a medical implant device, ask your doctor if he has a financial relationship with the vendor. If so, you may end up with a device that is more expensive or not the most appropriate. 16. If your doctor wants to give you a stent always ask him if it's better than medicine. If you're not having a heart attack or unstable angina, studies show that you will do equally well with a stent or medicine. Also keep in mind that having something permanently implanted in your body is not a risk free proposition. In addition, there is evidence that thousands of people have had stents implanted that they did not need. 17. If you have any kind of serious medical condition, always go to a university teaching hospital. You'll get doctors involved in the latest medicine and you'll have the advantage of having a resident or physician beside 24-7 and a surgeon will always be on call.   

How To Get Out Of An Arbitration Clause In A Contract

When you're handed a contract containing an arbitration clause, write "I disavow this section of the contract" next to the clause and then initial the modification. Then make a copy. There's no guarantee that the company will accept this-or that the disavow will hold up in court. But there is little harm in trying since in some cases the tactic could increase the odds that the company will be willing to agree to an out-of-court settlement rather than risk the possibility that you could force a court case.

How The Right Real Estate Agent Can Get You Top Dollar For Your Home

Here are five steps you need to take to find the right real estate agent to sell your home at top dollar:

1. Ask for the "relocation coordinator" when you first contact real estate agencies Sellers who call agencies typically are routed to which ever agent happens to be on phone rotation that day.  In contrast, relocation coordinators can be objective because they don't sell homes themselves. Their job is to help executives who are moving in the area. The "relo guy or gal" often is willing to provide an insiders opinion about which agent is most appropriate for a particular listing given the home's location and approximate value.

If you're not certain which agencies to call, lean towards those that seem to have lots of homes for sale in your neighborhood based on yard signs or listings on www.Zillow.Com  or www.Trulia.com. These agencies are likely to be active and respected since they have a strong knowledge of your area. That's because real estate is extremely local, and an agency that sells lots of homes in your neck of the woods most likely understands the nuances of home values in your area.

2. Research agents before you meet with them  Experienced agents should have web pages detailing their background and recent sales usually on their agencies' website. Be wary of those who don't. Also, use the website to confirm the agent has extensive experience selling homes in your price range and area. Also confirm that the agent is full time.  You should not trust your home to a part-timer. Also, do a Google search on the agent's name and agency. Choose a different agent if numerous complaints from prior clients show up.

3. Interview at least 3 to 5  agents from different agencies Interviewing three or more agents will weed out those whose opinion and the listing price diverge significantly from the consensus. Weed out these agents since your home is likely to appear mispriced or  flawed to these agents if they represent buyers too.Here's a prime example: If two out of 3 agents you talk to say your house should be listed at $475,000  and that the hardwood floors should be cleaned and polished. Another agent says that it should be listed at $550,000 as is. There's a good chance that this agent is misreading the market or is telling you what he or she thinks you want to hear.

4. During interviews, ask agents about their marketing strategies and pricing recommendations Agents should be able to layout fairly detailed marketing plans that may include open houses, brochures, online marketing and other strategies. The agent should be able to explain their reasoning for the plan. The explanation as to why the strategy was selected is most telling. For instance, perhaps the agent has learned from earlier sales that placing an ad in a publication that caters to seniors is a great way to find potential buyers for your home.

Stay away from agents who recommend a listing price immediately upon viewing your home.  A responsible agent will take time back at the office to review recent comparable sales before citing a specific listing price.
Also, avoid an agent who solicits a price based on your desires rather then on reality.

5. Ask your agent for references And finally, ask the agent for his or hers five most recent sales. Then call at least 3 sellers to confirm that they had a positive experience with the agent.  
  

Work-At-Home Jobs That Are For Real

There are 60 work from home scams on the web for each legitimate one. And  interviews for online positions are conducted via phone or Skype video calls. So if you lack experience with Skype, then practice with your friends before you interview.  So here are the real deal work at home jobs:

Major employers in this field include http://join.liveops.com/  ,
https://www.alpineaccess.com/careers/corporate-careers/, http://partner.arise.com/,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/jobs/ref=j_sq_btn?jobSearchKeywords=work+at+home+&category=Customer+Service&location=US, and www.RatRaceRebellion.Com . Pay is typically $9-$12 hr. 

8 Ways To Challenge A Noncompete Employment Agreement

1. Show that the new position would not violate the precise terms of your noncompete agreement. An employee discovered that his agreement barred him from working for an employer that used the same or similar technology. The new employer used a significantly different technology.
2. Show that your employer engaged in illegal or dishonest behavior towards its clients. Employers  don't want former employees  discussing corporate misbehavior in court. So they usually agree to waive non compete agreements when employees tactfully bring up these matters. 3. Show that your former employer lacks a legitimate business interest for enforcing the noncompete.  Noncompete agreements are supposed to protect trade secrets and business relationships. If your role in the company did not give you access to trade secrets or clients, then you should be able to work for whomever you please. 4. Show the noncompete agreement is unreasonably broad in terms of time, geography or activities. If your current employer only does business in one state, then your agreement should not bar you in working in other states.Also, if your former employer is in just one market niche, your noncompete  should not bar you from working in the entire sector. 5. Show that the employer tricked you into signing the noncompete by making promises that it did not live up to. Some employers make verbal promises stating that noncompetes will only be enforced if you try to join a particular competitor.   If verbal promises were made to you regarding limits to the enforcement of your noncompete and/or benefits you would receive for signing it, then send an email requesting clarification . Save the email response since it could be used as evidence by you later. 6. Show that you were terminated without cause In some cases, the courts have ruled that employers cannot enforce noncompetes when employees are let go without doing anything wrong as in mass layoffs.7.  Show that the noncompete agreement was never signed. If you don't recall signing an agreement, ask to see it. Also, some employees ask to consult with their lawyers before signing and then never get around to turning in the agreement. 8. Show that the employer breached the terms of your employment contract. If your employer did live up to his end of the bargain, then you likely cannot be forced to live up to your noncompete agreement. To make your case, approach your former employer to challenge your noncompete agreement before you start applying for new jobs. Begin by sending an e-mail to the decision maker using one or more of the reasons listed above to explain why you think your noncompete agreement is not valid. If the decision maker promises that the agreement will not be enforced, then save the email message to show to any potential employers who ask about prior noncompete agreements. If your former employer insists on holding you to your agreement, then hire a lawyer that specializes in employment law to send your former employer a letter. This should only take an hour or two of your attorney's time. If the employer still does not back down, you might have to go to court. But usually, employers generally prefer to negotiate before these cases get to court.

How To Beat Boardwalk & Carnival Games

Balloon Dart Throw  For starters, the darts are dull and much lighter than you would find in a bar. Then the balloons are underinflated  which makes them harder to pop. To beat the game, don't hurl the darts straight at the balloons. Instead, loft them in an arc for a better chance at catching a balloon. The Basketball Shoot The scam here is that the rims are smaller than regulation size and they are shaped like ovals. Next, the backboards are super bouncy, the balls are overinflated, and the hoop is often higher than normal. To walk away with a big prize, make sure you shoot underhand. A ball that arcs in for a swish will slip past the crooked rim. Milk Bottle Pyramid Most people aim for the dead center of the stack. But the trouble is that the bottom bottles are weighted. So if you hit the tops of the bottles, they'll never fall over. To beat the game just aim at the base of the bottom two bottles. 

Insider Secrets Financial Planners Pray You Never Find Out

 Financial planners CANNOT pick winning investments to beat the market, build wealth without risk or let you in on a deal that looks to good to be true. Advisers make money either by getting a commission to sell you a financial product or charge an asset based fee which is usually 1% annually of your assets So if your assets grow, so does their fee. But there are still conflicts since it encourages the fee based planner to capture as much of your  money as he can. That's why  few fee based planners encourage you to pay off your mortgage. They also like to put you in products that pay them automatically each quarter. In fact, few will tell you about a higher paying CD since banks don't pay financial planners.   Obviously, a planner who works on commission  would want to sell you products that yield the highest commissions. Also, if you don't have more than $100,000 to invest, commission based planners are the only ones who might take your business. But the conflict of interest is particularly stark among commission only planners. They usually sell load-carrying mutual funds, hedge funds,and  private investments ranging from insurance to annuities to universal life. Another compensation model is those planners who get paid by the hour. They usually charge from $180 to $240 and hour and can be found at www.GarrettPlanningNetwork.Com

                                                               How They Sell You

Planners know that the quickest way to your money is your emotions.  In one hour they'll try to get you so wound up that you might sign over your entire fortune. Many follow a  multi-step system that gets you to talk about your values and your goals.  They'll say things like, "describe your perfect day." Then they'll tell you how much money you'll need to invest  for a string of perfect days. Or they might say they can get you to your dreams of spending more time with your grand kids if you let them handle your money right now. But most of  them know that  if you walk out of the office without signing , you may realize how manipulative the session was and never return. And once you sign and buy some product, it make take you years to get your money back without penalties. So never sign any document on your first meeting with a planner even if he or she tells you that you can still back out. Also, stay clear of so called free"educational dinners" and ads that boast wealth without risk and high guaranteed returns. They are just bait and switch tactics to get you into the office.You should also remember that anyone can fill an office with prestigious-looking credentials  and call themselves  a "financial planner".   On the other hand, a good financial planner can help you define your financial goals, help you build a low cost diversified portfolio,and make sure you have the lowest cost  insurance coverage for your needs. They can also help make the right moves with Social Security and your pension, reduce your taxes and pass assets to your heirs.

                         How To Get The Best Advice From Your Financial Planner 

If you are going to meet with a planner, first check his or her professional credentials online to see if they have the serious, hard to get designations like CFP ( Certified Financial Planner ) or CFA ( chartered financial analyst. ) Second, go to www.FINRA.Org and http://www.sec.gov/ to see if there have been any regulatory actions taken against your planner. Also, see if he or she is registered with your state securities department at www.NASAA.Org and has any history of complaints. If your planner sells insurance products and annuities, check with your state's division of insurance. At your first meeting, never commit to handing over any money. Thank about it and discuss it with others. If your planner pressures you into buying right away, walk away. When your planner recommends an investment, ask if there's a penalty for getting your money back. If so, ask how much it is and how long the penalty period lasts. Penalties are the best indicator that your planner is getting a big commission. You should also ask your planner to put down in writing why he or she thinks an investment is suitable for you and the total cost you'll be paying. Make sure its under 1% annually. If the planner refuses your requests for  any reason, move on. Next, make sure you completely understand any recommended investment and how it fits your objectives. To test your understanding, explain it to someone you trust. If that person doesn't get it, then you should avoid it. To play it safe, watch for warning signals. Does the product seem too good to be true? ( i.e. high returns-risk free )  Are you being asked to sign a document  saying you read hundreds of pages and understand what you read? Is the planner building trust from affiliations such as belonging to the same club, church or traveling in the same social circles? ( i.e. Bernie Madoff ) Is the planner saying you must sign in the next 24 or 48 hours? And last, don't put your faith in references. Even the worst financial planner on earth can come up with 3 people who like him or her.

7 Secrets Your Vet Won't Tell You

1. Most hospitals keep comprehensive behavior records of you and your pet. If you are agressive to the staff, you will be treated differently. 2. A lot of vets don't use painkillers for procedures they know are painful. They think dog and cats don't need it or that feeling pain after surgery is good because it keeps them from moving around too much. But research has shown that pets who are in less pain heal faster and sleep better. So if your pet needs an operation, make sure you vet assures you that your pet will get the proper sedation for the procedure. 3. Find out where your vet went to school. Vets who can't get into traditional schools because of bad grades can get into Caribbean vet schools as long as they pay the tuition. 4.  When you're searching for a new vet,  always check out the staff. A lot of times they'll be listed online. Look for techs who are certified and licensed. They'll have RVT, LVT, or CVT after their names. 5.One way to check if your vet is up on the latest procedures is to ask how he or she puts  a pet to sleep. If  they use ketamine or halothane gas, they'e using 1970's technology. Modern vets use isoflurane and sevoflurane which are a lot safer. 6. Walgreens has a list of vet medicines for $4 per one month dose. They are the same meds you would pay $20 or $30 from your vet. 7. Avoid using low cost vet clinics since they may use half doses of vaccines which are ineffective and illegal. Also, steer clear of large corporate owned vet  hospitals since vets there get paid a bonus based on how much money they bring in. Fees at these places are much higher than independent vets.   

How To Find A Bargain Vacation Rental Property Online

Imagine finding a 2 bedroom luxury apartment in London for $1,000 a week. Or a furnished studio apartment in the heart of Paris for $540 a week. Or a nice apartment near the water in Miami for $273. It can be done by checking out each one of these websites:  www.HomeAway.Com, www.VRBO.com, www.AirBnB.Com, www.FlipKey.Com and www.WyndhamRentals.Com, .

Eight Professions Hiring Right Now That Require No College

1. Emergency Medical Technicians earn from $24,000 to $39,000 a year. For training requirements see  www.nremt.org 2. Pharmacy Technicians earn $23,000 to $34,000. For training see http://www.ptcb.org/am/template.cfm  and http://www.pharmacytechniciancertificationtips.com/institute-for-certification-of-pharmacy-technicians.html 3. Private Detectives earn from $32,000 to $58,000. There are no formal training requirements. You have to contact the agency that handles licensing in your state. 4. Pest Control Workers earn $24,000 to $37,000 and most training is on the job. 5. Fitness & Aerobic Instructors earn $19,000 to $46,000 a year and no formal training is required. 6. Septic Tank Servicers earn $26,000 to $42,000 and training is provided on the job. 7. Insurance Sales Agents earn $33,000 to $71,000 a year. In most states agents must be licensed. For details see www.naic.org . 8. Athletic Coaches & Scouts earn $18,000 to $43,000 a year. No formal training or certification is required but you need a strong network of contacts in the community to get a job.     

Simple Way To Tell If You Have Bad Breath

First wash your hands with an odorless soap. Then lick the back of your hand and let the saliva dry for five seconds. Then take a whiff.  If you can smell sulfur compounds,  then brush your teeth, tongue and the back of your mouth. If you have chronic bad breath, brush your teeth twice daily in the morning and before bed.
Also, make sure you use a tongue scrapper available from drug stores. Also, make sure you use a blue colored  mouthwash that  contains zinc chloride. Good brands are Smart Mouth and Pro Fresh.  If  bad breath persists,
ask your dentists to check for gum disease, sinus infection, chronic nasal drip or mouth breathing.     

Repair Rolodex: Where Decorators, Antique Dealers & Museums Go To Get Stuff Fixed

Objects: ( marble, bronze, jade, ivory, porcelain, glass & pottery ) Alexander Tsalikhin 201-440-5456,

Bo Studio 212-759-6131, Randy Strohm 718-852-2603. Lighting: Lamp Touch 718-361-2002

Mirrors: http://www.capitolglassnyc.com/ Glass: http://www.newyorkcrystalrepair.com/ , Sorrels Glass:  

http://www.sorrelsglass.com/ Frames: http://www.apfgroup.com/ Furniture: http://www.carltonhouse.net/,  

Fairlough Restoration 718-418-6206, Fischer Furniture 718-418-6206, http://www.furniturejoint.com/,  

http://www.jonathanburden.com/, Uptown Wood 212-694-7425, Caning: http://www.veteranscaning.com/, 

Upholstery/Fabric:  http://www.manzanaresfurniture.com/, DeScassio Antique Textiles 212-794-8807

Rugs/Textiles: http://www.beauvaiscarpets.com/, http://www.mannrugs.com/