JuLeS Blog

Microwaving Water!!!

2009-04-05T21:26:00.004-04:00

Hey guys, I just want to pass this story that I got in my e-mail and if you pass this on, you could very well save someone from a lot of pain and suffering.

A 26-year old man decided to have a cup of coffee. He
took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something
that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set
the timer for, but he wanted to bring the water to a boil. When the timer
shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into
the cup, he noted that the water was not boiling, but suddenly the water
in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he
threw it out of his hand, but all the water had flown out into his face
due to the build up of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st
and 2nd degree burns to his face which may leave scarring.

He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye.
While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that
this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be
heated in a microwave oven If water is heated in this manner, something
should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir
stick, tea bag, etc.., (nothing metal).

General Electric's Response:

Thanks for contacting us, I will be happy to assist
you. The e-mail that you received is correct. Micro waved water and
other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point.
They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated
liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something
like a spoon or tea bag is put into it.

To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do
not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let
the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds before moving it or
adding anything into it.

Here is what our local science teacher had to say on
the matter: "Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen
before. It is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur
anytime water is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that
the water is heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water
(less than half a cup). What happens is that the water heats faster than the
vapor bubbles can form. If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to
have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for the
bubbles to form. As the bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat
has built up, the liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat
up well past its boiling point. What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to
rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is
also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after having been
shaken."

Tagged with a "Friendly Blogger Award"

2009-03-25T17:21:00.007-04:00

I've been tagged by Mylou of her ~Mindless Thought~ with this award. Thanks Chika Mylou for sharing your friendship as well as for this "Friendly Blogger" Award.

"Let's Spread the Spirit of Friendship to all the Blogosphere all over the World."

Here is the rules for this award :
1. Take a Photo or install one now .
2. Do not change clothes,do not trim the hair,the main image is to be captured (we want to see the real you...he..he..) .
3. Post a picture that is in edit .
4. Post this instructions (required).
5. Tag people to show appreciation to them that touch your heart because of their friendly attitude (required).

*******************************************************
Here's my picture...wait I mean, me with my makulit na daughter:)

All the bloggers on my blogroll are welcome to grab this tag. Thank you and have fun!

Why We Need To Read The Bible?

2009-03-23T10:00:00.004-04:00

We people believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and who has accepted Him as Savior and decided to live life by following Jesus and His plan for our lives.
We believe that the Holy Bible is God's message to mankind.
We know that, if we are truly to know God in the personal way He intended for us, they need to read the Bible. To really be Christians, that is, people who follow Jesus and live according to the way He taught when He was here on earth, we need to read the Bible. We need to know WHY we believe Jesus was the Son of God and about the events that led to God sending Him to earth to be our Savior.

There was a time when we grew up going to church and reading and learning about the Bible. There was even a time when the Bible was read aloud in public schools.

If you did not grow up reading the Bible and don't know much (if anything) about it, you start now! This little book is intended to help you understand what kind of book the Bible is:

-how it was written
-how to find a story or passage in the Bible
-the main story the Bible tells
-God will bless your spirit and draw you closer as you come know Him through reading the Bible!

Which Celebrity Chef Are You?

2009-03-20T10:08:00.006-04:00

I like Rachael Ray. Especially her show on the Food Network and guess what? I took a quizz about which celebrity chef are you and YUM-O!
I'm Rachael Ray, hahahah!
Whether shes's whipping up an entire meal or just a dessert, Rachael Ray keeps a watchful eye on the budget - and the clock. Like Ray I know my time is precious, so I stick to recipes that are tasty but won't keep me in the kitchen fro hours. Well it depends what I'm cooking you know:)

Find this article at: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/quiz-which-celebrity-chef-are-you

Migraine Headaches

2009-03-19T12:37:00.003-04:00

Having migraine once a month, sucks...its not regular but when it hits it just floors me. It's like a baseball bat on the skull with every pulse. I'm tired of painkillers. Aahhhhh!!! what is it?

A migraine headache is a throbbing or pulsating headache that is often one sided (unilateral) and associated with nausea; vomiting; sensitivity to light, sound, and smells; sleep disruption; and depression. Attacks are often recurrent and tend to become less severe as the migraine sufferer ages.

Migraine Types
-Abdominal Migraine
-Basilar Migraine
-Complicated Migraine
-Cyclic Migraine Syndrome
-Hemiplegic Migraine
-Nocturnal Migraine
-Ophthalmoplegic Migraine
-Pregnancy and Migraine

Abdominal Migraine

Abdominal migraine is one of the variants of migraine headache. It is also known by other terms including "periodic syndrome". This variant most typically occurs in children. They usually have a family history of migraine and go on to develop typical migraine later in their life.
The attacks are characterized by periodic bouts of moderate to severe midline abdominal pain lasting for 1 to 72 hours. Along with the abdominal pain they may have other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, flushing or pallor. Tests fail to reveal a gastro-intestinal cause for the pain. Medications that are useful for treating migraine work to control these attacks in most children including daily preventive medications and anti-nausea medications to take during the attack.

Basilar Migraine

This type of headache is a rare form of migraine with aura. The aura symptoms come from the brainstem or both sides of the brain. Whether or not the basilar artery to the back of the brain is involved is uncertain. It most commonly occurs in young adults.
The aura symptoms can include dizziness, double vision, loss of balance, confusion, slurred speech, hearing changes and tingling on both sides of the body. During the attack, some people lose consciousness or pass out. The aura typically lasts less than one hour. Often these patients are mistakenly thought to be intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, or suffering from other conditions. There is usually no weakness associated with these attacks. The headache that follows is typical of migraine headache.

A previous history of migraine is helpful in making the diagnosis.

Complicated Migraine

The term "complicated migraine" is no longer used. It commonly referred to attacks of prolonged aura symptoms that could last hours to days or opthalmoplegic migraine where patients developed a partial or complete paralysis of the nerves that are needed for eye movement.
Other unusual types of migraine with aura include hemiplegic migraine and basilar type migraine. Familial hemiplegic migraine can be inherited and has been linked to one of several chromosomes. During attacks, patients develop stroke-like symptoms with sensory and/or loss of strength of muscles. Rarely, this type of migraine occurs without a family history. In basilar-type migraine, patients have migraine aura with neurological symptoms related to the base of the brain called the brainstem, including dizziness, hearing changes and visual disturbance. Unlike migraine with typical aura where numbness can occur on one side of the body, in this form both sides are affected. Sometimes, patients will loose consciousness or pass out with these headaches.

Another form of migraine is retinal migraine where the patient's visual symptoms occur in only one eye, stemming from the retina itself versus the portion of the brain involved in vision, as is the case for the typical migraine aura.

Migraine can also be associated with serious results such as aura lasting longer than a week with or without brain infarction (stroke), and migraine-triggered seizures.

Patients with these types of unusual migraines should be evaluated and treated by a specialist. Because the cause of these migraine types is not fully understood, patients with these symptoms should not use triptans for acute treatment.

Cyclic Migraine Syndrome

Patients with cyclic migraine usually experience ten or more attacks per month. These headaches differ from cluster in that they are long lasting and do not have associated typical cluster symptoms. Patients do have typical migraine symptoms during these headaches. It has been shown that lithium carbonate is of some help in these cases. Careful monitoring of the blood level and of thyroid function is needed with this medication.

Hemiplegic Migraine

This is a very rare form of migraine that is considered to be one of the more severe types of migraine. The sufferer may develop some temporary motor paralysis and/or sensory disturbances on one side of the body, immediately followed by the headache. This may be accompanied by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation. The neurological symptoms usually leave when the headache appears.
With hemiplegic migraine, there is often a familial occurrence. In about 50% of these families, a chromosome defect may be found on chromosome 19 or on chromosome 1 and involves abnormal calcium channels. A physician should be consulted for this type of headache. You should not take triptans if you have this type of headache.

Nocturnal Migraine

Many patients who have migraine will experience their attacks during the middle of the night or early morning hours. This headache often awakens the patient from sleep.
Recent evidence suggests that these attacks are related to changes in neurotransmitters in the brain during sleep. It is recommended that patients treat the headache when the attack begins, elevate their upper torso (back, shoulders, and head) and rest or try to go back to sleep.

When sleeping beyond the normal wakeup time, a patient may be awakened by a migraine attack.

Ophthalmoplegic Migraine

Ophthalmoplegic migraine is a rare condition considered to be an unusual form of migraine.
The pain usually surrounds the eyeball and lasts from a few days to a few months, caused by weakness of the muscles surrounding the eye. It is important to confirm the diagnosis of ophthalmoplegic migraine, as similar symptoms can be caused by pressure on the nerves behind the eye.

Pregnancy and Migraine

Approximately 80% of women who have migraine stop having migraine attacks from the end of the third month of pregnancy until delivery. This is believed to be due to hormonal stability.
During pregnancy, medication use is discouraged unless absolutely necessary. Before using any medication for headache, a physician should be consulted. A non-medicinal treatment program can be effective in pregnancy.

Treating Migraine Headaches

From the National Headache Foundation

Migraine can be effectively managed. With the help of a health care professional, patients can identify and alleviate their symptoms with an appropriate treatment regimen. Medications generally fall into two categories:

-Preventive - Taken on a daily basis, preventive medications can help reduce the number of attacks in patients who experience more than two migraines per month.
-Abortive - Abortive therapy treats the symptoms of migraine after the attack begins. Many medications available to treat an acute attack must be taken as soon as the attack occurs, otherwise they may be less effective.
Non-drug treatments can be effective, especially when used in conjunction with medication. Strategies include relaxation techniques, proper sleep and diet habits, exercise, and avoidance of behaviors or situations that may trigger an attack. Biofeedback has also been used successfully, as have acupuncture, massage, and simple heat and cold applications.

Call Your Doctor If Your Headache:

-is sudden and severe
-occurs with fever, stiff neck, or uncontrollable vomiting
-causes confusion or loss of consciousness
-is persistent, when previously you’ve been headache free
-is accompanied by numbness, weakness, or vision loss
-requires medication more than two days per week
-interferes with your ability to function normally at work or in social situations
-begins after head injury or other trauma
-begins after the age of fifty years

American Idol finalist Adam Lambert

2009-03-11T08:04:00.004-04:00

"You've got the whole package going on," Paula Abdul exclaimed following Lambert's performance last night in American Idol Top 13. He's 26-year-old theater actor from Los Angeles, has an excellent voice and the courage to make it to the end...good luck Adam!!!

Late-Life Fatherhood May Lower Child's Intelligence

2009-03-10T14:34:00.004-04:00

an interesting article By Steven Reinberg

MONDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- Men who put off becoming dads till later in life may pay a price: slightly lowered intelligence in their offspring.

That's the conclusion of an Australian study that found that kids born to older men underperformed on intelligence and cognitive tests from infancy to 7 years of age, compared with children of younger fathers.

But on the other hand, children born to older mothers scored higher on the same tests, the team said.

"The biological clock ticks for men, too," concluded Dr. Mary Cannon, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, and the author of an accompanying editorial in the March issue of the online journal PLoS Medicine.

"There are risks associated with delaying fatherhood," she said. "These risks may be subtle, such as a decrement of three to six points on childhood IQ tests, but can also be significant, as in the increased risks of serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and autism."

One reason may be that men's sperm change as they age, the Australian researchers suggested.

"We suspect that more mutations accumulate in sperm as the dads age," said Dr. John McGrath, from the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, and the study's lead researcher. "These mutations may cause subtle changes in the way the brain develops. But other social factors are involved also."

For the study, McGrath's team collected data on more than 33,000 American children born between 1959 and 1965. The data, which came from the U.S. Collaborative Perinatal Project, included the children's cognitive test results at the ages of 8 months, 4 years and 7 years. The tests included assessments of sensory discrimination and hand-eye coordination, conceptual and physical coordination and, at age 7, reading, spelling and arithmetic skills.

In addition, the researchers took into account socioeconomic factors, including family income.

They found that the older the father, the more likely the child was to have lower scores on all tests except the test for physical coordination. For example, in one model, children born to 20-year-old men scored an average of 106.8 points on a standard IQ test, whereas kids born to 50-year-old men scored 100.7 points, on average.

The researchers also evaluated the children based on their mother's age. They found that the older the mother, the higher the kids' scores on the cognitive tests.

The findings suggest that "we need to worry about age of fatherhood as well as age of motherhood," McGrath said. "We need to work out what underlies this association."

Other research has suggested that the children of older mothers might do better because they experience a more nurturing, attentive home environment, but children of older fathers may not necessarily experience the same benefit.

McGrath's group also speculated that genetics and social factors might play a role in the findings. They point out that a woman's eggs are formed before birth, so DNA may stay relatively stable. But sperm is produced over a man's lifetime. Studies suggest that sperm may gain mutations as men grow older, the researchers said.

"Increased age at fatherhood has potentially significant effects on both the medical and psychological/intellectual outcomes for children," Cannon said. "There has been a great deal of emphasis for many decades on the risks associated with increasing age at motherhood, but men somehow have the impression that fatherhood can be delayed with no ill effects on offspring. It may be time to redress this balance in the minds of the public."

13 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Daylight Saving Time

2009-03-03T15:10:00.003-05:00

Hey guys, I just wanna share this artcle and it was very interesting...now I know:)

When clocks spring forward, people lose sleep, have more heart attacks, and might not even save energy.
By Ben Harder
Posted March 3, 2009
Americans will set their clocks ahead by an hour this weekend, as daylight saving time begins Sunday. "Springing forward" creates another hour of sunlight in the evening. It also has some effects on health and public safety that many people are unaware of. Interesting facts about daylight saving time include:

1. Officially, it's "daylight saving time," not "daylight savings time." But don't feel bad if you thought there was a final "s" on "saving"; far more people Google the incorrect phrase than the correct one.

2. Daylight saving time has mixed effects on people's health. Transitions into and out of DST can disturb people's sleeping patterns, for example, and make them more restless at night. Night owls tend to be more bothered by the time changes than people who like mornings, Finnish researchers concluded last year.

3. There's a spike in heart attacks during the first week of daylight saving time, according to another study published last year. The loss of an hour's sleep may make people more susceptible to an attack, some experts say. When daylight saving time ends in the fall, heart attacks briefly become less frequent than usual.

4. People are safer drivers during daylight hours, and researchers have found that DST reduces lethal car crashes and pedestrian strikes. In fact, a study concluded that observing DST year-round would annually prevent about 195 deaths of motor vehicle occupants and about 171 pedestrian fatalities.

5. A U.S. law signed by President George W. Bush in 2005 extended the length of daylight saving time by four weeks. It now begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March. It ends on the first Sunday in November.

6. Also in 2005, Kazakhstan abolished daylight saving time, citing negative health effects. The country's government reportedly calculated that 51.6 percent of Kazakhs responded badly to the time change.

7. Many other countries observe daylight saving time, but not all do so on the same day. That can create confusion for international travelers, business communications, and more.

8. Daylight saving can also cause confusion close to home. In March 2007, a Pennsylvania honor student was mistakenly accused of threatening his school with a bomb. He had actually called an automated line to get info about scheduled classes. Someone else made the bomb threat an hour later.

9. Two states—Arizona and Hawaii—and three U.S. territories—American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—don't observe daylight saving time. Indiana adopted DST in 2006.

10. Local time determines when DST begins, so America's eastern time zone makes the switch before the rest of the country. This Sunday, cities like New York and Atlanta will be two hours ahead of the central time zone, instead of the usual one-hour difference, from 3 a.m. to 3:59 a.m. EDT. New York City will be four hours ahead of Los Angeles—instead of the usual three—from 3 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. EDT.

11. Daylight saving time was first used during World War I, as part of an effort in the United States and other warring countries to conserve fuel. In theory, using daylight more efficiently saves fuel and energy because it reduces the nation's need for artificial light.

12. The first American to advocate for daylight saving was Benjamin Franklin. He realized in 1784 that many people burned candles at night yet slept past dawn in the summer, wasting early-morning sunlight.

13. The effect of DST on energy use has changed over time and varies from place to place. Experts even disagree on whether DST still saves the nation energy. But so many people like to "spring forward" that it might be hard for officials to end the tradition, even if they determined it's wasteful.

Turn Your Passion into a Profitable Profession

2009-03-03T09:31:00.004-05:00

Creative Careers: Turn Your Passion into a Profitable Profession
Article by Chloë Dowley

If you're most content when creating and designing, whether it be on paper, on a computer screen, or even on your living room floor, consider yourself lucky. The world needs more innovative thinkers, and with the right training you could make a living using your natural artistic inclinations.

Here are 5 career ideas for the creative mind:

1. Marketing & Advertising
Use your creativity to land a corner office as you bring together your business brain and artistic soul.

- Training: With a marketing degree, your creative nature can earn lucrative contracts and profits, whether you choose to work in business, entertainment, media, or any other field of your liking. Earn an MBA degree and give yourself a chance to really work your way up the corporate ladder.

- Salary: Advertising GMs earned median hourly wages of $55.06 in 2004.

2. Digital Graphic ArtsGet in on this growing multi-billion dollar profession that includes career opportunities in entertainment, print media, the internet, television, movies, business, and more.

- Training: You'll need graphic arts training from a respected art school, where you can apply your creative vision with the most recent software applications. After art school, a world of cutting-edge careers becomes available. You can specialize in, 3d animation, web design, marketing design, and even video game design. If you can visualize it, you can design it.

- Salary: Average salaries in digital graphic design professions range from $50,000 to over $60,000.

3. Fashion Design & Merchandising
There's always room for the next Vera Wang or Calvin Klein in this highly competitive field. If you have an eye for style, you may be suited for a career in fashion.

- Training: Two years of fashion school training is typically required for most entry-level jobs. If you've ever dreamed of seeing your creations on thousands of people, fashion school is the perfect way to focus your talents.

- Salary: $55,840 was the median annual salary in 2004.

4. Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management
Make mouths water while you make a living. Or, if you prefer to work outside of the kitchen, a career as a restaurant manager might be your cup of tea.

- Training: To become a chef or restaurant manager at a premier restaurant, a minimum of two years of culinary arts school or hospitality management training is essential. After that, the world is your oyster. You can focus your talents on food preparation and presentation, customer service, finance and budget, employee relations, or all the above.

- Perks: Median hourly earnings were $14.75 in 2004.

5. Interior DesignAn eye for colors, textiles, and spatial relations is key in this profession. You can choose to be a general interior decorator, or specialize in areas such as kitchen and bath design.

- Training: Complete an interior design training program, and put in one to three years as a designer's apprentice. Twenty-three states require you to complete a licensing exam as well. Whether you specialize in home decorating or corporate design, interior design school will give you the tools you need to create dream interiors for your clients.

- Salary: Interior designers earned a median salary of $40,670 in 2004.

Tips for Success
The same great features that attract you to creative occupations are compelling thousands of other qualified individuals as well. Use these tips to set yourself apart from the masses.

1. Do Your Research
Interview a professional in the field about the best and worst parts of their jobs and follow them around for a day to see the reality of the job.

2. Train for Success
Most jobs in the creative sector are competitive, so the more creative training you get, the better qualified you may be for a position. Find an accredited educational program that can prepare you with the skills you need for your chosen career.

3. Build Your Portfolio
In the design and creative fields, your work represents you. Save copies of your finished products to show potential employers.

4. Network
Meet as many professionals as you can. The more people you know, the greater your chances of finding a job.

There's no doubt that your hobby could become a full-fledged profession.

Recipe Of The Day

2009-03-02T10:49:00.000-05:00

The Secret Language of Toddlers: What Their Behaviors Mean

2009-02-27T08:18:00.002-05:00

Your toddler is becoming a verbal, opinionated little person. In fact, he's downright bossy -- he tells you where to sit, which pants he wants to wear, and exactly what he'd like for lunch. But when it comes to communicating more complex thoughts and emotions in words, he still has a way to go, which means you're often forced to interpret some weird behavior. We asked experts to help us decipher the hidden meaning of common toddler tantrums and body language.

She won't look you in the eye.
Translation: "I'm embarrassed."

When babies avert their gaze, they're telling you that they're overwhelmed and need a break from being the star of the show. But some time around her second birthday, your toddler develops the capacity for self-conscious emotions like shame. For instance, she knows that you're angry because she kidnapped her baby brother's teddy bear again. "When a young child refuses to look at you, it means she realizes that her actions may have disappointed you," says psychologist Kristin Lagattuta, PhD, assistant professor at the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis.

Your response: Acknowledge what your child did wrong in simple, short sentences -- "We don't rip books," "We never push" -- and offer up a way to make it right, like taping a torn page or giving a crying pal a hug. "You want her to know that everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but it's important to take steps to fix the damage," says Dr. Lagattuta.

He wants to take all of his stuffed animals into bed with him.
Translation: "I'm scared."

Not too long ago, your baby cradled his fuzzy blankie and slept soundly. Now suddenly, he demands to take so many comfort objects to sleep each night that his bed looks like a modern-art project. "This is the age when a child's imagination takes off, and he starts having nightmares and populating the closets with monsters," explains Kerstin Potter, director of the early childhood education program at Harcum College, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. "Keeping familiar objects nearby makes your child feel secure as he drifts off to sleep or wakes up in the middle of the night."

Your response: Two-year-olds are literal beings -- the monsters they've imagined seem incredibly real, so it doesn't help to show them that there's nothing lurking in the closet. "They'll just think you can't see monsters," says Potter. So let your child surround himself with as many comforting things as he needs. If you're worried that he'll roll out of bed, appeal to another toddler trait: the desire to make his own decisions. Ask him which three animals, two board books, and one toy he wants as bedmates that night.

He lifts his shirt over his head when he meets a new person.Translation: "I'm anxious."

Think about the last time you went to a social event where you didn't know a soul. You probably talked yourself through the discomfort in your mind -- "It's good to be out with other adults. Oh, she looks kind of cool. I like her top; maybe I'll walk over and chat with her" -- and grabbed a glass of wine so you'd have something to do with your hands. Consider your toddler's behavior the age-appropriate equivalent of an adult's social awkwardness. "Your child's not yet able to work through his nervousness, so he negotiates the situation in a purely sensory and physical way," says Lisa Nalven, MD, a developmental pediatrician at the Valley Center for Child Development, in Ridgewood, New Jersey. "Some kids will chew on their shirt or tug at their pants, while others might clutch your leg, suck their thumb, or drop to the floor and bury their face."

Your response: Gently coax your toddler turtle out of his shell. "Young children look to their parents for cues on how to react to new situations," says Dr. Nalven. Relax your own shoulders, smile, say "Hi" to new acquaintances, and give your child a reassuring squeeze. This lets him know that his surroundings are safe and friendly. Then, give him time to warm up.

She hides behind the furniture when she poops in her diaper.Translation: "I want privacy."

This common toddler behavior indicates two things: first, your kid is clued in to her urge to poop and knows there's a BM coming, and second, she's observed that adults do the deed in private. These are two positive signs that she's getting ready for potty training. But the number-one indicator? "She immediately asks to have her dirty diaper changed," says Parents advisor Ari Brown, MD, author of Toddler 411. "If a child doesn't care about sitting in her poop, then she's not ready for potty training." Most kids become interested in using the toilet between ages 2 and 3.

Your response: Encourage your toddler's search for privacy, but steer her into the bathroom. "Just getting a child into the right room of the house is a positive step -- there's no need to pressure her to sit on the potty yet," says Dr. Brown.

She transforms into a total brat -- throwing food, hitting, breaking toys.
Translation: "I'm feeling out of sorts."

It's shocking -- and troubling too -- when your normally sweet, kind 2-year-old turns into Super Evil Child. But it's important to understand that her bratty behavior is probably just a reaction to the current situation and not a sign that her personality has changed. Usually, when kids this age act out, they want to tell you, "I'm bored," "I'm tired," or "I need attention!"

Your response: Try to figure out what's going on. If she's acting out because she's bored, bust out the Legos and play together or head out to the park for a change of scenery. A time-out may also be a good idea. "Toddlers need to learn that there are better ways to get your attention than throwing a fit," says Dr. Nalven. "Putting your daughter in a two-minute time-out -- she sits alone in some place that's boring -- sends a clear message that you won't put up with inappropriate behavior." Then come up with a fun activity to do together.

She pitches a fit while you're cutting the strawberries she just asked for.
Translation: "I want it now."

Babies are born impatient as a matter of survival. They fuss and wail to be fed right now! Changed right now! Cradled right now! Your toddler's inability to hold her horses is a reminder that, though she's growing up at the speed of light, she still has a toe or two in the baby years. The prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain responsible for self-control -- including the ability to cope with a delay in having her needs met -- starts developing most dramatically somewhere between the ages of 2 and 7.

Your response: Do not indulge your toddler's need for instant gratification by moving at warp speed to meet her every demand. Instead, tell her you've heard her request and will get her what she wants as soon as you can. Then gradually begin to draw out the time it takes you to fulfill her commands, talking her through the specific steps you're taking. Say, "Mommy's finishing the dishes, then she'll dry her hands, open the fridge, and pour you some apple juice." You're teaching your toddler a valuable skill -- patience -- by insisting she wait for things.

He yells, "No, my mommy!" when other kids approach you.
Translation: "Pay more attention to me!"

Clingy behavior could signal that your child feels like he's not getting enough of you, especially if you've been working long hours or have recently welcomed a new baby to the family. In the absence of any changes in the status quo, such possessiveness is probably part and parcel of your 2-year-old's blossoming sense of self. "The 'mine, mine, mine' phase is annoying, but it's actually a good thing because it means that your toddler is making progress figuring out who he is as a person," says Dr. Lagattuta. "At this stage, his self-image is tied to the things that are most valuable to him, and Mom is right up there."

Your response: Hug your child, and tell him that, of course, you're his mother and you love him. You could also use this as a quick teaching moment about sharing. Say, "I'm your mommy, not Betsy's, but I can still be nice to other kids and say hello."

Originally published in the September 2008 issue of Parents magazine.

The Ten Most Popular Baby Gender Myths

2009-02-26T13:15:00.003-05:00

The Ten Most Popular Baby Gender Myths
By Julie Tomaro

Are you pregnant and anxiously counting down the day to your big ultrasound? I have the top ten most popular old wives tales and baby gender myths so you can have predicting your baby's gender.

Baby's Heartbeat
This old wives tale believes if you are having a girl, then the fetal heart rate will be above 140. A boy will have a slower heart rate below 140. A baby's heart rate is not affected by its sex until it is born, when a girl's heart rate will increase considerably compared with boys during labor.

Carrying Low or High
Did you know that the way you carry during your pregnancy is one of the most popular baby gender myths when trying to determine the sex of your baby? This old wives tale often believes if you are carrying low then you are most likely giving birth to a baby boy. However, if you are carrying high then you are giving birth to a baby girl.

Food Cravings
Are you craving chocolate and other sweet cravings? If so, you could be having a baby girl! If you are craving salt and sour foods then you may be having a baby boy.

Weight Gain
This old wives tale actually refers to your partner's weight. If your baby's daddy puts on weight during your pregnancy then you might be having a baby girl. The myth also states that if he doesn't gain an extra pound or two then you are carrying a boy.

The Wedding Ring Test
Take your wedding ring and tie it from a string and hold it over your belly. If the ring swings back and forth you might be having a boy. If it goes into a circular motion, then it's a girl.

Acne
Some women believe that if they notice there face is breaking out more then usual then they are having a baby girl.

The Shape of Your Face
Look at your face in the mirror. If your face is more round then usual you could be having a baby girl!

Morning Sickness
This old wives tale believes that the more morning sickness you endure more likely you will be having a baby girl.

Feeling in Uterus
This old wives tale believes that if you feel heaviness in the lower area you will be having a boy. If you feel pressure higher up then you might be having a baby girl.

If daddy drinks a lot of soda, you could be having a boy.

These are all fun ways to predict the sex of your unborn baby. Remember the only true way to find out the sex of your baby is to have a ultrasound done by your doctor.

You're Eating … What?

2009-02-26T09:40:00.003-05:00

You're Eating … What?
A guide to 7 sketchy additives that may be lurking in your food.

You're Eating … What?
By Sally Wadyka for MSN Health & Fitness

Want some dead bugs with your dinner? Well, that's just one of the freaky ingredients involved in making some popular processed foods. And while all seven of these sound incredibly icky—though presumably used to help make your food tastier or look better—some additives are decidedly more disturbing than others. Here's what you're eating—which may inspire you to start contemplating those ingredient labels a lot more closely.

Carmine

According to the FDA, this red food coloring (also known as cochineal extract) is made from dried, ground bugs . The Dactylopius coccus costa insect is native to Peru and the Canary Islands, where it feeds on red berries. The berries accumulate in the females' stomachs and in their unhatched larvae—which is what gives the extract its red coloring. Carmine is one of the most widely used coloring agents, and food manufacturers routinely use it to turn foods shades of pink, red or purple. Chances are it's what makes the color of your strawberry yogurt or that cranberry drink look so appealing.

But the problem is that at the moment, you have no way of knowing if you're ingesting these little red bugs. Instead, the label will simply read, "artificial color" or "color added." But the Vegetarian Legal Action Network petitioned the FDA to disclose the presence of carmine, and in 2010, that requirement will go into effect. "But it will still be listed only as carmine or cochineal extract, with no mention of the ingredient's source," says Michael Jacobson, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "The onus will be on the consumer to know what carmine is, and that's asking a lot."

Source: http://health.msn.com/nutrition/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100232497

Stimulus plan comes to more than a million bucks a day since Jesus Christ was born

2009-02-24T14:31:00.003-05:00

In a CBS Face the Nation interview on Feb. 1, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky, sought to put the proposed economic stimulus bill into some sobering perspective.

"You know, this is huge money," McConnell said. "This is — someone said the other day that, if you started the day Jesus Christ was born and spent $1 million every day since then, you still wouldn’t have spent $1 trillion.”

The bill isn't that expensive yet — the House version is estimated at $819 billion — but the Senate is expected to add new programs and additional tax cuts that could increase the cost significantly. Both chambers are expected to keep the total pricetag under $1 trillion.

We'll save you from counting zeros on your online calculator and give you our quick and dirty assessment of whether his analogy is right.

First, a starting point. Biblical scholars may quibble about the actual birth date of Jesus Christ, but we're going to go with the fairly commonly accepted theory that it was around 4 B.C. That's right, it would mean Christ was actually born "Before Christ."

Add that to Anno Domini time, and you come to 2012 years since the birth of Christ.

So here goes our math: 2,012 times 365 (yes, we are aware there are leap years ... don't be like that) times $1,000,000. A: $734 billion (give or take a few hundred million).

The stimulus package is actually short of $1 trillion too, $819 billion. But that's still more than a million bucks a day since the day Jesus was born. We find McConnell's staggering stat to be True.

All I can say is "WOW."

Source: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/feb/03/mitch-mcconnell/stimulus-plan-more-million-day-jesus-christ-was-bo/

Paczki Day

2009-02-24T07:19:00.007-05:00

Today is Pączki Day (pronounced: pɔntʂkʲi) here in the U.S. and of course I bought a box of Paczki's at Meijer yesterday. I'm doing a Cream cheese one with my coffee right now but I'm gonna say that Custard paczkis is for me, yummm.

In Poland, they are eaten especially on Fat Thursday (the last Thursday before Lent). Many Polish Americans celebrate Paczki Day on Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday). Traditionally, the reason for making pączki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, which are forbidden during Lent.

In the large Polish community of Chicago, and other large cities across the Midwest, Paczki Day is also celebrated annually by immigrants and locals alike. In Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Hamtramck, Windsor, Milwaukee,Pulaski and South Bend, Paczki Day is more commonly celebrated on Fat Tuesday instead of Fat Thursday. Chicago celebrated and Fat Tuesday, due to its sizable Polish population.

In Hamtramck, an enclave in Detroit, there is an annual Paczki Day (Fat Tuesday) Parade, and lines at bakeries can be seen up to 24 hours before the deep-fried delights go on sale Tuesday morning. This happens especially in Parma, Ohio at Europa Deli & Imports, Colozza's Bakery and Rudy's Strudel and Bakery. Europa Deli & Imports keeps to its Polish tradition by celebrating Fat Thursday as well. People will wait in lines, or in their cars that run up and down Ridge Road; Parma Police have regulated traffic in past years. In Toledo, Ohio, people will start waiting in lines at 4 AM to get fresh paczki for Fat Tuesday. A local Polish grocery store called Stanley's, located on the north end of town, makes them homemade. The same thing happens also in Cleveland or Garfield Heights, Ohio, outside the Charles Peters Bakery, which is near the border of both cities (at the triple intersection of Turney Road, Grand Division and Sladden Avenue). According to Garfield Heights police, one year 3,000 people waited for pączki. Police had to close Sladden Avenue, and Rybicki and Son Funeral Home had to delay funerals due to this. Many bars in town open early in the morning and provide free entertainment, a party atmosphere, pączki-clad mascots and, in at least one bar, pączki filled with Jagermeister. The Paczki Day celebration in these areas are even larger than many celebrations for St. Patrick's Day.

Are Your Children Spoiled?

2009-02-20T21:48:00.002-05:00

WebMD Feature from Oprah.com

Children aren't born spoiled. Get the 10 signs your children are brats and what you can do to set them straight.

No child is born spoiled or a brat--it's only indulgent parenting can make them that way, Oprah & Friends Radio host Rabbi Shmuley says. "Naturally, children are innocent and have a cuteness which makes people's hearts warm to them and helps bring out our best qualities," he says. "When we raise kids who are spoiled, we snuff out the child's natural attractiveness." If you are guilty of spoiling your children, Rabbi Shmuley says chances are, you have brats on your hands.

10 Signs Your Children Are Brats:
1. They resort to crying or yelling when they want something.
2. They throw themselves on floor and won't get up.
3. They constantly throw tantrums or even hit you when you punish them.
4. They ignore you when you ask a question.
5. They are rude to other adults and even to other children.
6. They refuse to share toys or treats with other children.
7. They are show-offs and are constantly trying to one-up their peers to be the center of attention.
8. They always want whatever everyone else has. Once they have it, they want something new.
9. They keep a messy room and never help out around the house despite your pleas for them to do so.
10. They refuse to go to bed.

What to Do if Your Children Are Brats:
-Reward good behavior and punish bad behavior.
-If your children yell when they want something, don't give it to them and take away something they like.
-If they won't get off the floor during a tantrum, pick them up and put them in their room until they calm down and apologize.
-If they ignore you when you tell them to do something, punish them immediately. Put them in a corner and don't let them out until they apologize.
-If they won't share, take away the toy or treat.
-Don't buy them whatever they want. Make them earn things.
-If they keep a messy room, don't let them out until it's clean.
-Enforce bedtimes. Continually put them back into their beds. After a while, they'll stop getting out. You must show there is no other option.
-Compliment your children profusely and give them rewards when they do the right thing.

Originally published on August 14, 2008

Time to laugh, hahahaah!!!

2009-02-19T08:41:00.002-05:00

Things To Do On An Elevator

1) CRACK open your briefcase or handbag, peer Inside and ask “Got enough air in there?”

2) STAND silent and motionless in the corner facing the wall without getting off.

3) WHEN arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open, then act as if you’re embarrassed when they open themselves.

4) GREET everyone with a warm handshake and ask him or her to call you Admiral.

5) MEOW occasionally.

6) STARE At another passenger for a while. Then announce in horror: “You’re one of THEM” - and back away slowly

7) SAY -DING at each floor.

8) SAY “I wonder what all these do?” And push all the red buttons.

9) MAKE explosion noises when anyone presses a button.

10) STARE, grinning at another passenger for a while, then announce: “I have new socks on.”

11) WHEN the elevator is silent, look around and ask: “Is that your beeper?”

12) TRY to make personal calls on the emergency phone.

13) DRAW a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers: “This is my personal space.”

14) WHEN there’s only one other person in the elevator, tap them on the shoulder, then pretend it wasn’t you.

15) PUSH the buttons and pretend they give you a shock. Smile, and go back for more.

16) ASK if you can push the button for other people but push the wrong ones.

17) HOLD the doors open and say you’re waiting for your friend. After a while, let the doors close and say “Hi Greg, How’s your day been?”

18) DROP a pen and wail until someone reaches to help pick it up, then scream: “That’s mine!”

19) BRING a camera and take pictures of everyone in the lift.

20) PRETEND you’re a flight attendant and review emergency procedures and exits with the Passengers.

21) SWAT at flies that don’t exist.

22) CALL out “Group hug” then enforce it.

What Your Nails Are Telling You About Your Health

2009-02-16T16:06:00.007-05:00

When you write down your shopping list, as you punch a phone number into your cell, while you wash dishes, do the ironing, clean the windows, or do one hundred other things that women do on any given day – do you take notice of the condition of your nails?

What Your Nails Are Telling You About Your Health
By Sally Wadyka for MSN Health & Fitness

A perfectly manicured hand is one where the nails are strong and smooth, with no discoloration, jagged cuticles or other signs of abuse. But what about nails that are less than perfect? Since many health problems have an impact on the nails, it’s worth listening to what your hands have to say.

The pits
When the normally smooth surface of the fingernail has several small dents or pits in it, that can be a signal that something is going on beneath the nail. Most often, the cause of those dents is psoriasis. The inflammatory skin condition—it shows up as red, scaly patches on the skin—can also affect the skin cells in the nails. Instead of growing out smoothly, the surface of the nail takes on a dented appearance. Once the psoriasis is treated and under control, nails will slowly return to normal. (Since nails only grow about a millimeter per week, it will take a few months for the old, pitted nail to fully grow out and be replaced with a healthy one.)

Spoon-shaped
A healthy nail has a specific shape—slightly raised in the middle, then curving down a bit at the tip. So when you see a nail with the exact opposite configuration, that should be a clue that all is not right. “It’s called a spoon-shaped nail, and it’s a symptom of iron deficiency anemia,” says Dr. D’Anne Kleinsmith, a spokesperson for the American Dermatological Society. As with many health problems, it can take months of iron deficiency before the problem shows up in the nails. And when the anemia is corrected, it will take awhile for normal-shaped nails to re-grow.

Peeling
The nail plate is made up of several layers of keratin (a protein). Ideally, those layers are sealed together to form a unified, strong nail. But when nails aren’t protected—your hands are in water a lot, or exposed to cold, dry air—those layers tend to delaminate. The result is nails that are likely to peel. Besides being an indication that you need to take better care of your nails—polish can help seal the layers and moisturizing them several times a day will keep the layers supple—peeling nails can mean a diet that’s lacking in linoleic acid. The easiest way to up your intake is to increase your use of vegetable oils (add some to your salad dressing or drizzle some on steamed veggies).

Brittleness
By some estimates, about 20 percent of women suffer from a condition called “brittle nail syndrome.” While it may sound like just a fancy name for nails that break easily, the causes go deeper than that. Brittle nails are ones that can’t hold on to moisture, so the layers of the nail plate dry out and crack. Medically speaking, it’s possible for an under-active thyroid to cause both dry skin and brittle nails. Nutritionally, a diet low in iron can cause nails to become thin, brittle and easily broken (eating more green, leafy vegetables, red meat and eggs will help boost your iron intake). Biotin supplements (a B-complex vitamin) have also been shown to improve the condition of brittle nails. And your habits play a role as well. The main culprit: excessive exposure to water. Constantly wetting and drying your hands (and nails) can make brittleness worse.

Looking yellow
A healthy nail (with healthy skin beneath its bed) has a pretty, pinkish hue. When it doesn’t, that may be a reason to worry. “When all of the nails turn yellow it can be a sign of lung disease or diabetes,” says Dr. Arielle Kauvar, a New York City dermatologist. “Yellow spots on the nails can be an indicator of fungus or psoriasis.” Since any of these conditions warrants treatment by a doctor, it’s worth seeing a dermatologist if yellow nails persist. Women who frequently wear very dark nail polish for long periods of time (especially without using a protective basecoat underneath it) may also notice a slight yellowing of their nails, but it’s no reason to panic. The nails are merely stained from the polish and will return to their normal shade if they are left unpolished for a while.

White spots
Tiny white splotches dotting otherwise healthy-looking pink nails are not normally a sign of anything serious. Most often, those spots are the manifestation of some type of trauma to the nail. If you injure the nail matrix—the area at the base of the nail where new nail cells are created—you’ll see the results of that trauma show up as white spots as the nails grow out. But since it takes several weeks for those new nail cells to grow out to a place on the nail plate where the injury is visible, chances are that by time you notice a white spot, you may have forgotten the nail-slamming incident that caused it. But if you’re certain you didn’t injure your nails and you are noticing recurring white spots, there are several other causes—including the skin conditions psoriasis and eczema, or a diet that’s deficient in the mineral zinc (found in whole grains, poultry and seafood).

Turning colors
The most common cause of fingernails that suddenly take on an unhealthy tinge is some type of fungal infection. Both yeast infections and bacterial infections can easily be picked up at an unsanitary nail salon—usually caused by the use of unsterilized tools. “A yeast infection can cause the nail to separate from the underlying skin,” says Kleinsmith. “The nail can start lifting up and a crumbly, white fungus can appear underneath it.” A bacterial infection can cause the affected nail to turn slightly green. And getting too vigorous with the cuticle pusher or nippers can lead to either a yeast or bacterial infection in the cuticle surrounding the nail. “If you notice sudden swelling or pain in the cuticles a day or two after a manicure, see a doctor to get on antibiotics,” she recommends.

The half moon
Officially called the lunula, that little crescent at the base of the nail is where the nail matrix (the birthplace of new nail cells) lies. Normally the lunula is most prominent on the thumbs, and it gets progressively less visible on each finger as you move from thumb over to pinky. “It’s a normal variation to see more of it on some fingers than on others,” says Kleinsmith. “And whether it’s visible or not isn’t indicative of health.” A fun nail fact: the shape of the lunula determines the natural shape of the nail edge.

Ridges
Potato chips aren’t the only things that can have ridges. Nails that have even, vertical ridges are totally normal—a sign not of any health problems, but of age (they tend to become more accentuated as you get older). But a condition called Beau’s lines is a sign of a more systemic health issue. “If a person has been very sick or gone through a lot of stress, the nail may stop growing,” Kleinsmith explains. “When it starts growing again, an indentation occurs at that spot on the nail.” As the nail grows out over the next several months, these indentations (probably in about the same place on each nail) will become visible. A single deep ridge in just one nail may indicate that there’s a small wart or cyst at the base of the nail that is putting pressure on the nail matrix and affecting the way the new nails grow.

Friday the 13th (2009)

2009-02-13T08:22:00.004-05:00

Searching for his missing sister, Clay Miller heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins behind moss-covered trees. And that's not the only thing lying in wait under the brush. Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, Clay pursues what few leads he has in the search for his missing sister, Whitney, with the help of Jenna, a young woman he meets among a group of college kids up for an all-thrills weekend. But they are all about to find much more than they bargained for. Little do they know, they've entered the domain of one of the most terrifying specters in American film history -- the infamous killer who haunts Crystal Lake, armed with a razor-sharp machete... Jason Voorhees.

Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release

Genres: Suspense/Horror and Remake

Running Time: 1 hr. 35 min.

Release Date: February 13th, 2009 (wide)

MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexual content, language and drug material.

Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution

Production Co.: Platinum Dunes, MTV Films

Studios: New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures

Filming Locations: Austin, Texas USA

Produced in: United States

Today is Friday the 13th...are you scared?

2009-02-13T08:00:00.004-05:00

I don’t believe in these superstitions, nevertheless, Friday 13th still portrays exciting adventures and stories.
But...

Friday the 13th is widely hailed as the most common superstition in the world, whose roots trace back to antiquity.

Behind the Superstition: Friday the 13th
This year, February 13th falls on a Friday. On this day, many people may believe their luck is in jeopardy. Friday the 13th is said to be the most unlucky day, but have you ever thought where this superstition was started and why?
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/200624/behind_the_superstition_friday_the.html

The New Amazon Kindle 2 Has Arrived

2009-02-10T07:19:00.003-05:00

Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)
The next generation wireless reading device. With a sleek and thin design that makes Kindle 2 as thin as a typical magazine and lighter than a paperpack, the new Kindle has seven times more storage and now holds over 1,500 books. It has a longer battery life and faster page turns. An advanced display provides even crisper images and clearer text for an improved book-like reading experience. And Kindle 2 even reads to you, with “Read to Me”, our new Text to Speech feature.

With Kindle 2 we kept everything readers love about the original Kindle—the convenience of reading what you want, when you want it, the immediacy of getting a book wirelessly delivered in less than 60 seconds, and Kindle’s ability to “disappear” in your hands so you can get lost in the author’s words.

New Features & Enhancements
Slim & Lightweight : Just over 1/3 inch and 10.2 ounces
Books in under 60 seconds : Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

Improved Display : Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for crisp images and text; even reads well in bright sunlight

Longer Battery Life : 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging

More Storage : Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books

Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns

Read-to-Me : Text-to-Speech feature means Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud.

No Wireless Bills : No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle’s wireless connectivity so you won’t see a monthly wireless bill.

Large Selection : Over 230,000 books, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines and blogs available

Low Book Prices : New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise

Best Prepaid Phone Cards (Calling Cards) with Cheap International Rates

2009-02-06T07:55:00.011-05:00

I recommend this site co'z I love the service and rates, also the ability to recharge online. It was very simple and efficient and I have been using your this site for almost 4 years now. It is quick, convenient, easy, and great deals are easy to find...another good thing is sometimes, they're sending you a 15% Off Phone Card Coupon too that actually I got one last week.

DID YOU KNOW?

2009-02-03T08:27:00.006-05:00

Hello everyone:) as I promised last week, here's the second part---->

Reheat Pizza

Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm.
This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

Easy Deviled Eggs

Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up.
Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly,
cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg.
Just throw bag away when done - easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting

When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes.
You can double it in size! You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount.
You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread

To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water.
The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper weeds away

Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil.
Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch
and forget about weeds.
Weeds will get through some gardening plastic - they will not get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass

Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

No More Mosquitoes

Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away!

To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper.
The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Flexible vacuum

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge
add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum.
It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling

Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress.
Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose.
Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! .. static is gone.

Measuring Cups

Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water.
Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such
as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield?

Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car.
When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope

If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside,
just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Conditioner

Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream
and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought
but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

Goodbye Fruit Flies

To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar
and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well.
You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants

Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants.
They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them.
It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works
and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS

The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us
that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter.
It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.)
He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it.
The lint filter is made of a mesh-material .. I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like.
Well ...
the ho twater just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all!
He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit.

Youcan't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free
... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box ..
well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen.
This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it!
He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time
(and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water
and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every 6 months.

He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?!

Learnsomething new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that.
So, I thought I'd share!

Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen.
I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds.
Then when I rinsed it ... the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all!
That repairman knew what he was talking about!

note from Jean----
I checked out my dryer screen--I seldom use bounce,--
but water would scarcely go through !! Icleaned it and then the water sailed right through -.imagine that ! ----

NOT ONLY COULD IT SAVE SOMEONE'S HOME, BUT IT COULD SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

DID YOU KNOW?

2009-01-30T08:54:00.004-05:00

Part 1

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.
It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Pepperswith 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls
of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.

For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of
garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Left-over snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert.
Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples.
Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!

Ok, that's all for now and I'm going to post the second part next week.

How to Brighten the Winter Blues

2009-01-28T08:49:00.006-05:00

I looked outside this morning and it's snowing again. What can I say...sometimes I get so tired of winter, the snow and cold, bbrrr.

Here are 10 tips to help you change your perception of winter and bring warmth and light into a chilly life:
-Raise the blinds and let the light shine in. Sit by the window look out and gaze, or read. Feel the warmth.

-Try eating more hot soups and stews. Add beans and lentils to your diet. These hearty meals are both comforting and nourishing. (If you use canned soups pay attention to the amount of sodium as many ready-made soups are high in sodium.)

-Go outside to reset your biological clock. Let natural sunlight counteract SAD. Appreciate the winter landscape: the “tree architecture” that we never notice when the leaves are flourishing, or the feathery ornamental grasses swaying in the wind.

-Exercise to stimulate and bring warmth to your body. Many of us are bored with treadmills and stairmasters that go nowhere. Change up your routine. Dress warmly and go for a brisk fitness walk. If you can get to the shore, a walk on the beach is peaceful and inspiring. Try some new classes in Pilates, Yoga, Belly Dancing, Salsa and Weight Training. Join a league to participate in fun team sports. Get a buddy to exercise with or make friends in fitness centers.

-Connect with sunny people. Do volunteer work. We tend to get isolated in the winter and keep to our igloos. Get out and see positive people who appreciate you and if you can’t get out, use the phone or email.

-Bring tropical plants into the house. Their gracious leaves and greenery will lift your spirits and give you a taste of eternal summer.

-Look at the color orange which is cheering. No need to repaint your home; just put something orange on the desk or your coffee table.

-Try a warm glowing candle light meditation. Light a candle in the evening and stare at the flame for about 30 seconds to a minute. Then close your eyes and breathe to your own natural rhythm and see what comes up for you in meditation.

-Give yourself an auto-massage. Warm some inexpensive olive oil in the microwave and massage your body from head to toe. Long strokes for the limbs, circular strokes for the torso. Make sure to massage the temples, and using your thumbs, do windshield wiper movements under and over your eyes. Feel the warmth pervade your body.

-Simplify your home, room by room. Clean out the clutter and donate what you have not used in years. In winter we tend to contract and go inward. Use this indoors time to organize your home. Sharing with the needy will give you an inner glow.

Source

Some Bad Effects for High Heel Shoes Lovers

2009-01-27T09:16:00.007-05:00

High heel are really harmful for health. But most of the Woman like high heel as its seems to increase their height, like me (short huh, lol). By the way, the harmful effect of high heel are illustrated here.

Source

High-heeled footwear

2009-01-27T08:57:00.004-05:00

High-heeled footwear (often abbreviated as high heels) is footwear that raises the heel of the wearer's foot significantly higher than the toes. When both the heel and the toes are raised equal amounts, as in a platform shoe, it is not considered to be a "high-heel". High heels tend to give the aesthetic illusion of longer, slender and more toned legs. High-heels come in a wide variety of styles, and the heels are found in many different shapes, including stiletto, pump, block, tapered, blade, and wedge.

According to high fashion shoe websites like Jimmy Choo and Gucci, a "low heel" is considered less than 2.5 inches) (6 centimeters), while heels between 2.5 and 3.5 inches (8.5 cm) are considered "mid heels," and anything over that is considered a "high heel."

Although high heels are almost exclusively worn by girls and women, there are shoe designs worn by both genders that have elevated heels, including cowboy boots and cuban heels.

History
Raised heels are stated to have been a response to the problem of the rider's foot slipping forward in stirrups while riding. The "rider's heel," approximately 1-1/2 inch (4 cm) high, appeared around 1500. The leading edge was canted forward to help grip the stirrup, and the trailing edge was canted forward to prevent the elongated heel from catching on underbrush or rock while backing up, such as in on-foot combat. These features are evident today in riding boots, notably cowboy boots.

The simple riding heel gave way to a more stylized heel over its first three decades. Beginning with the French, heel heights among men crept up, often becoming higher and thinner, until they were no longer useful while riding, but were relegated to "court-pony" wear. By the late 1600s men's heels were commonly between three and four inches in height.

In 1533, the diminutive wife of the Duke of Orleans, Catherine de' Medici, commissioned a cobbler to fashion her a pair of heels, both for fashion, and to increase her stature. They were an adaptation of chopines (elevated wooden soles with both heel and toe raised not unlike modern platform shoes), but unlike chopines the heel was higher than the toe and the "platform" was made to bend in the middle with the foot.

High-heeled shoes quickly caught on with the fashion-conscious men and women of the French court, and spread to pockets of nobility in other countries. The term "well-heeled" became synonymous with opulent wealth.[citation needed] Both men and women continued wearing heels as a matter of noble fashion throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. When the French Revolution drew near, in the late 1700s, the practice of wearing heels fell into decline in France due to its associations with wealth and aristocracy. Throughout most of the 1800s, flat shoes and sandals were usual for both sexes, but the heel resurfaced in fashion during the late 1800s, almost exclusively among women.

Source

85 ShyBusters That Work!

2009-01-23T14:12:00.004-05:00

I highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers shyness the way I and the author did. Shy people are often mistaken for snobs like me and that's not good :(
This book is GREAT and it opens up your mind and motivates you. I always thought that there was no hope for my shyness but this book gives me a boost for my confidence. If you are shy, this excellent step by step guide book will change your life --- for the better!!!

Shyness is a curse. Shynes makes me feel like I am an unwanted guest in everone else's world. Shyness is the personality trait of all, without a doubt. I would rather be obnoxious and boorish that shy. Obnoxious and boorish at least.

-DaveB., Toledo, Ohio

Good-Bye to Shy

Okay, so you're shy. Here are 85 proven techniques to help you conquer your shyness and change your life for good. No psychobabble. No nonsense. These tested "ShyBusters" prepare you for that upcoming party, work function, interview, date, and the rest of your life.

As someone who overcame debilitating shyness herself, professional speaker Leil Lowndes used this method to become a confident woman who has been interviewed on hundreds of TV and radio shows and has spoken to crowds of 10,000. You'll soon be making "fearless conversation" with people who used to intimidate you. You'll learn how to win the love you deserve and ask for whatever you want. You will overcome embarrassing stammering, sweating, clamming up, and wishing you were invisible.

Good-Bye to Shy will show you how to:

-Make a stronger impression at work, at parties, in any situation .
-Feel more relaxed around people, make eye contact, and spark conversations .
-Boost your career, jump-start your social life, and open your heart to new possibilities .

Say Good-Bye to Shy--and hello to the happy, loving, confident person who's been hiding inside you.

Earn Monthly Paychecks viewing Ads

2009-01-22T09:26:00.004-05:00

I would like to talk about this great program called Clixsense. I have been signed up for about 2 weeks. If I am lucky, maybe I can reach payout by the end of the month, sounds good huh:)

ClixSense.com
ClixSense.com, Inc.
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Advertisers:
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Customers:
By taking advantage of the ClixSense online advertising program, as a potential online consumer, you can actually get paid for your web browsing, up to $5.00 for every 30 seconds worth of work. The income you earn is paid directly to you every month. The best part about the ClixSense program is that as a potential online consumer, there is no charge to register your new account and begin earning money immediately.

Tip
Here is a tip: when you sign up, make sure you check all of the interests because you will receive more ads that way! If you only check the interests that you really are interested in, sure, you will get ads that are more suitable for you. But, if you are like me and want more money, make sure you check all of the interests.

Which Horror Movie Villain are you?

2009-01-21T21:56:00.003-05:00

Muahahhahahaha!!! I just thought this was very funny. I gave it a 10 stars it was funny. I got Frankenstein awww:)

Which Horror Movie Villain are you? Your Result: Frankenstein's Monster You are really very misunderstood, you try so hard to be good but you just ain't, end of story... You just kill people...alot...of times...yeah...you also are in black and white...yay
Ben Willis
Freddy Krueger
Jason Vorhees
Dracula
Michael Myers
Leatherface
Which Horror Movie Villain are you? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

"Ways to tell if you're a real Pinoy"

2009-01-20T09:07:00.005-05:00

I just wanna share this to all my kababayan...it's kinda funny but it's true.

...you're related to everyone.
... your parents call each other "Mommy" and "Daddy"
... you have uncles and aunts names Boy, Girlie, or Baby.
... you have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables, such as Jun-Jun, Ling-Ling, Mon-Mon.
... you call the parents of your friends and your own parents' friends "Tito and "Tita."
... All of your children have 4 or 5 names.
... you greet your elders by touching their hands to your forehead.
... you always kiss your relatives on the cheek whenever you enter or leave a room.
... your grandmother greets you by giving you "smelling kisses."
... you live with your parents until - and at times even after you're married.
... you can't build or buy a house unless you first consult a feng shui expert.
... your house has a distinctive smell.
... you decorate your living room wall with your family's framed diplomas and certificates.
... you decorate your dining room wall with a giant wooden spoon and fork and a picture of the Last Supper.
... you keep your furniture wrapped in plastic.
... most of your home decor is made out of wicker.
... your house has a "dirty" kitchen and a "clean" kitchen.
... your kitchen table has a vinyl tablecloth.
... you recycle plastic shopping bags as garbage bags.
... you own "Footsteps in the Sand" poster.
... you have a piano that no one plays.
... you keep a tabo in your bathroom.
... you own a "barrel man."
... you use a stone to scrub yourself in the shower.
... you use Vicks Vapor Rub as an insect repellant.
... your meal isn't complete without rice.
... you use your fingers to measure the water you need to cook rice.
... you can't eat a meal without a spoon and fork.
... you feel insulted if your visitors don't eat what you offer them.
... you always cook 3 times more than what your visitors can consume, when there's a party.
... your pantry is never without Spam, Vienna sausage, corned beef, and sardines.
... you can't enjoy a meal without patis or bagoong.
... you eat fried Spam and hotdogs with rice.
... you eat mangoes with rice - with great gusto.
... you enjoy chocolate rice pudding and dried salted fish for breakfast.
... you have a rosary or "fake bananas" hanging from your rear view mirror.
... you tail an ambulance or cop just to beat the traffic.
... your car horn can either laugh, bark, or moo.
... your car plays a song when it backs up.
... you can squeeze 15 passengers into your Honda Civic without a second thought.
... you think traffic regulations are recommendations, not rules.
... you think that traffic signs apply to everybody except yourself.
... you point with your lips.
... you eat using your hands and have it down to technique.
... your other piece of luggage is a balikbayan box.
... you collect items from hotels or restaurants "for souvenir's sake."
... you go to a department store and try to bargain the prices.
... you use an umbrella for shade on hot summer days.
... you scratch your head when you don't know the answer.
... you play pusoy and mahjong.
... you put your hand in front of you as if to make a path and say "Excuse, excuse" when you pass in between people or in front of them.
... you buy tons of bath towels when they go on sale.
... you still wear outdated clothes you have when you first came to the USA.
... you say "comfort room" instead of "bathroom"
... you say "for take out" instead of "to go."
... you "open" or "close" the lights.
... you ask for "Colgate" instead of "toothpaste."
... you say Kodakan instead of "take a picture."
... you turn around when someone says "pssst."
... you say "Cutex" instead of "nail polish."
... you say "he" when you mean "she" and vice versa.
... you say "air-con" instead of "a/c" or air conditioner.
... you pronounce "F" for "P" or "P" for "F".
... you own a karaoke system.
... you have 5 pairs of tsinelas on your doorstep.
... you refer to your VCR as the "Beytamax"
... you have a rice dispenser with a matching rice cooker.
... you own a Mercedez and call it "chedeng"
... you have "My Shaldan" air freshener in your car.
... you were raised to believe that every Filipino has an aunt, uncle, and cousins.
... your mom or sister is a nurse.
... you consider dilis the Filipino equivalent of french fries.
... you dip bread in your morning coffee.
... "Goldilocks" means more to you than just a character in a fairy tale.
... your baon is usually something over rice.
... you eat rice for breakfast.
... you wash and re-use plastic utensils and styrofoam cups.
... you have a supply of frozen lumpia in the freezer.
... you have an ice-shaver for making halo-halo.
... you have to have a bottle of Jufran handy.
... you know that chocolate meat isn't really made out of chocolate.
... you spend Holy Week either performing acts of penitence or vacationing.
... you get together with family at a cemetery on All Saints' Day to eat, drink, and tell stories by your loved ones' graves.
... you think the Christmas season begins in September and ends in January.

But still...

How to Get Happy when You're Sad?

2009-01-15T14:47:00.003-05:00

How to Get Happy when You're Sad

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Everyone can feel a bit down and sad sometimes, and it totally stinks. Here are some ways to cheer up.
Remember that sadness will eventually go away if you think positively.

Steps

Call up a friend to talk about it (or to get your mind off it).
Watch a funny movie, preferably one that you've already seen and liked.
Exercise! Go for a walk, a jog, or a bike ride. Doing this will make your body release endorphins and adrenaline through your body which will make you feel better physically and emotionally.
Be spontaneous. Sometimes a consistent and boring routine can make you feel bad. Do something out of the blue, but don't make any rash decisions.
Paint a picture. Express your feelings with color and shapes.
Think about good memories. If you've lived through them once, than you can definitely have them again. Just because things may seem bad right now doesn't mean that tomorrow they will be.
Take a shower. You will feel happier and refreshed.
Get out of the house! The fresh air will make you feel better. Go somewhere with a friend, a family member, or even by yourself. See a movie, shop, go on a picnic, etc. Staying inside is like trapping yourself inside your depression.
Listen to music. Don't listen to sad music–try listening to energetic tunes or a song that inspires you or reminds you of good times.
Have a good cry. Sometimes the sadness stays inside your head if you try to force yourself to be happy. Try to let the tears out at the most appropriate time, mainly the best time when you are alone. Do this, and you might feel more relieved of your sad feelings, as if it "got off your chest".
Put your feelings into perspective. Is what you're upset about really as important as you think? Did it seem to heavily affect more on yourself than those around you? If you sulk about little problems, like not receiving a perfect grade or spilled milk, then you're going to feel sad a lot more easily. Not all of your problems require you to use your head, especially not ones that are very serious like the loss of a loved one. If you use reason to cheer yourself up, chances are you'll feel a lot less stressed.
Eat something that you love and let your feeling go into the food/drink and don't eat/drink the last bite/sip where your sadness will end.

Tips

Writing in a journal can help you figure out your feelings.
Book an appointment with a therapist–especially if you are constantly feeling depressed.
Smile. Even if you don't mean it, you'll feel better.
Practice pranayam.

Warnings

Sometimes people eat when they're sad or stressed out, but this is not the best idea. Sure, it might make you feel good, but eating won't cure you, you'll just feel bloated and put yourself in a tougher situation. However, some people find eating difficult when they are particularly upset or sad. This is just as detrimental to well being as overeating. The brain cannot function properly without the carbohydrates, proteins, fats and other nutrients it needs. This can lead to irrational decisions, decrease in energy and listlessness.
Do not isolate yourself. This is especially important if you are depressed very often. You might just want people to leave you alone, but don't make yourself be with no one else around. Don't push your friends away and try to regularly participate in social activities that you enjoy or don't mind doing.
Don't start doing irresponsible and irrational things. It won't make you truly happy and will only end up giving you more problems. If you don't normally drink/do drugs/smoke, then don't get anywhere near it when you're sad; you won't think clearly and regret it later. Don't do any self-injury either, it will just cause more pain and trouble.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get Happy when You're Sad. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

2009-01-14T13:27:00.000-05:00

You Are Rocky Road Ice Cream

Unpredictable and wild, you know how to have fun.

You're also a trendsetter who takes risks with new things.

You know about the latest and greatest - and may have invented it!

You are most compatible with vanilla ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Dark Chocolate Is Healthy Chocolate

2009-01-12T10:16:00.004-05:00

Dark Chocolate Has Health Benefits Not Seen in Other Varieties

It's the best medical news in ages. Studies in two prestigious scientific journals say dark chocolate -- but not white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you.

Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure
Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood pressure, say Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany. Their report appears in the Aug. 27 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

But that's no license to go on a chocolate binge. Eating more dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure -- if you've reached a certain age and have mild high blood pressure, say the researchers. But you have to balance the extra calories by eating less of other things.

Antioxidants in Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate -- but not milk chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk -- is a potent antioxidant, report Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, and colleagues. Their report appears in the Aug. 28 issue of Nature. Antioxidants gobble up free radicals, destructive molecules that are implicated in heart disease and other ailments.

"Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate ... and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate."

Translation: Say "Dark, please," when ordering at the chocolate counter. Don't even think of washing it down with milk. And if health is your excuse for eating chocolate, remember the word "moderate" as you nibble.

The Studies
Taubert's team signed up six men and seven women aged 55-64. All had just been diagnosed with mild high blood pressure -- on average, systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 153 and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of 84.

Every day for two weeks, they ate a 100-gram candy bar and were asked to balance its 480 calories by not eating other foods similar in nutrients and calories. Half the patients got dark chocolate and half got white chocolate.

Those who ate dark chocolate had a significant drop in blood pressure (by an average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic blood pressure). Those who ate white chocolate did not.

In the second study, Serafini's team signed up seven healthy women and five healthy men aged 25-35. On different days they each ate 100 grams of dark chocolate by itself, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of whole milk, or 200 grams of milk chocolate.

An hour later, those who ate dark chocolate alone had the most total antioxidants in their blood. And they had higher levels of epicatechin, a particularly healthy compound found in chocolate. The milk chocolate eaters had the lowest epicatechin levels of all.

Chocolate for Blood Pressure: Darker Is Better
What is it about dark chocolate? The answer is plant phenols -- cocoa phenols, to be exact. These compounds are known to lower blood pressure.

Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa phenols than those made in the U.S. So if you're going to try this at home, remember: Darker is better.

Just remember to balance the calories. A 100-gram serving of Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 531 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If you ate that much raw apple you'd only take in 52 calories. But then, you'd miss out on the delicious blood pressure benefit.

A hint: Don't replace healthy foods with chocolate. Most people's diets have plenty of sweets. Switch those for some chocolate if you're going to try the truffle treatment.

Also, from WebMD Medical News, learn how dark chocolate may help lower blood pressure.

Source

Disclosure Policy

2009-01-09T12:51:00.001-05:00

This policy is valid from 09 January 2009 This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content. The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. The owner(s) of this blog would like to disclose the following existing relationships. These are companies, organizations or individuals that may have a significant impact on the content of this blog. To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

LOVE!!! I heart my Wacom "BAMBOO" Pen Tablet...

2009-01-07T14:27:00.002-05:00

This is a must have for any illustrator/graphic artist. I have definitely gained a lot more skill with digital/computer art thanks to this product. Wacom is easy to set up, easy to use, and extremely fun to work with! Very useful when using Photoshop but indespensible if using Corel Painter. After a small learning curve, it really is much easier to use and control than a mouse all I can say is Wacom is the best!

2009-01-07T00:40:00.002-05:00

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