Archive for Misc Infos
January 4, 2009 at 3:46 pm · Filed under Misc Infos
Today, I was all by myself. Well, I guess that I was not really all alone. I had the baby with me, my wife was away on business in LA for the week. This week that I needed to do all of the stuff that I takes to take care of the baby. I had to wake up early in the morning so that I could be awake and ready for the baby. The first thing that she does when she wakes up usually, is cry. She will cry and then stretch all out and wake up. Then she will call me into the room to get her up. As soon as I open her door, she stops all that crying. The next thing that I get to do is get her bottle of milk ready to go. Then I feed her, and after that take a shower. Then after the shower I get ready, and play with her for about an hour or so, because pretty soon, it is time for me to feed there again. After eating she will play for about a half and hour, and then take a nap. Usually I need to get her all tired so that she will fall asleep. Now I will have a few hours to do whatever it is that I need to do for the day. After my two hours are up, it is back to the real work of looking after the baby. Eat, play, sleep. That seems to be what she does all day long. Day after day, after day, it is all the same. Sticking to the schedule is just a part of the plan. If I stick to the babies plan and schedule, everything will be just right.
January 4, 2009 at 2:44 am · Filed under Misc Infos
The Internet is loaded with websites that promise free paid surveys. These offers are very appealing. Who wouldn’t want to make an easy living by giving their opinions? It is like a dream come true. But many of these free paid surveys are marketing strategies designed to gather peoples’ contact information so they can be later solicited with email, telemarketers, and junk mail. These types of paid surveys are not necessarily harmful, but they are a waste of time. Not all advertisements for free paid surveys are phony. Many marketing companies do want to know what consumers think of certain products and give some type of incentive to people who take their surveys.
Paid surveys advertised by pop up Internet advertisements or spam emails are usually less trustworthy. Consumers need to realize that they participate in these surveys at their own risk. These types of surveys are very common and alluring because they often promise to give a free product like an Apple I-pod or a Sony Playstation 2 to people who complete the survey. Oftentimes, however, what they really do is get the person’s contact information and sell it to marketing companies.
Keep in mind that not all free paid surveys are dishonest. Most firms that offer rewards to people who actually come into a building to participate in marketing research do follow through on their promises. Well-known marketing companies that have been in business for a long time are also usually honest about their incentives. These legitimate offers are not as extravagant as those offered over the Internet, but it is better to receive a small reward than it is to be promised a big reward and get nothing.
Free paid surveys are risky. It is important to realize that offers that sound too good to be true usually are. It is nearly impossible to make a living by taking free paid surveys, but interested consumers can receive modest rewards for their time and participation if they find legitimate opportunities.
About the Author
Paid Surveys Info provides detailed information about free paid surveys, cash paid surveys, and paid online surveys, as well as paid survey directories, and advice about paid survey scams. Paid Surveys Info is the sister site of Mystery Shoppers Web.
January 2, 2009 at 10:22 pm · Filed under Misc Infos
Cleansing & Balancing the Charkas & Energy Field
By Christin Snyder
Cleansing and balancing the chakra system is important to the overall health of the individual. There are several different techniques that can be used to cleanse and balance each of the charkas. The important thing is finding the one that is most comfortable. The exercise below is simple. It can be done in a few minutes. Practiced each day, it will leave the individual feeling more energetic and focused.
The technique that follows can be modified by the individual to suit his/her own needs. Start off by sitting in a chair or standing somewhere comfortable with your feet flat on the ground/floor. It is particularly important to sit or stand if you are new to meditation practices. Laying down cues the body that it is time for sleep.
Once you are positioned, take a few deep but slow cleansing breaths. The idea isn’t to gasp for air, nor is it to breathe unnaturally, but to get the blood deeply oxygenated. Breath is a natural healing mechanism, and many of us in the west will find that we breathe in a very shallow manner which starves our bodies and brain of oxygen. Breathe in at a slow steady pace and feel the oxygen enter your body, continue the slow steady inhale until the breath has expanded the chest and abdomen just as a balloon fills with air.
Hold the breath for as long as it is comfortable, and then release and do the exhale at the same slow relaxed pace, blowing through the lips as though you were blowing out a candle. Be sure to fully empty the lungs before beginning the next inhalation.
After three of these breaths release tension and relax more deeply. Take a few comfortable normal paced breaths as you do this. Once you are comfortable and ready to continue, close the eyes and envision a golden white ball of light above the head. This is the holy light, representing the connection between yourself and the Divine.
This ball of light sits a few feet above the top of the head and begins to expand and stream down. As you allow the light to flow (don’t force or pull it etc) relax even deeper knowing you are safe and at peace. Be fully present with this light, and as the light descends down upon the crown of your head take another deep breath as we did earlier.
As you breathe in say in your mind “I allow the light to heal, cleanse and balance”". On the exhale say “I release all that is not for my highest good”". Relax and allow the light to move down to the third eye (between the eyebrows) when it is ready, then repeat the breath and mantra on both the inhale and the exhale.
Continue this process slowly and let it flow naturally all the way down your chakra system until it reaches the soles of the feet. When it has reached the soles of the feet, envision a ball of energy from in the Earth rising up slowly into the soles of your feet. Allow this energy to carry away any residual energies that need to be cleansed and take them back into the Earth for reprocessing/healing.
As you continue to relax say a prayer of gratitude. Take a few moments to sincerely reflect on all of your life’s blessings and to show appreciation to Spirit for all the abundance that is housed within you. The important thing to remember is that you are a channel allowing these powerful energies to flow through you. You don’t have to have any special talent or abilities to benefit from this healing as “you” are not doing it, but allowing Spirit/God to do this through you. It is an exercise of “allowing”
Another variation others enjoy, is to do this meditation while in the shower. As you feel the water washing over you, you can envision your energy field also being cleansed and balanced. The water as it goes down the drain, carries away all negativity and extra energy.
For grounding and healing also participate in activities that put you in direct contact with the Earth, walk barefoot in the grass, sit with your back against a tree, plant a garden, (this is healing to your Earth mother as well) anything that puts you in contact with nature is deeply rejuvenating and healing.
Christin Snyder is a personal empowerment advocate and holistic health practitioner who promotes whole being wellness. Visit her for personal development resources at http://www.mysticaltreasures.net
December 29, 2008 at 12:53 am · Filed under Misc Infos
Single parents have it pretty rough when it comes to finding a life long partner. They need to commit them selves to their kids and have to make many sacrifices. That is why I believe online dating services are the best place for them to meet someone.
You see single parents don’t have the time to be heading out to all the usual places to meet someone. Some parents may feel guilty if they head out to the bar. They may feel that they should be staying home with there kid. This makes things very difficult on there personal life.
This is where online dating services can come in to save the day. You don’t have to worry about weather someone will be scared off after they find out you have a kid. You simply can be honest up front that you have kids and anyone who doesn’t like it wont have to be bothered.
There are also some decent services out there that specialize in single parent dating. All though I cant personally recommend any as of yet, I am looking into some. Right now the best places I have seen are Match and One and Only. They have huge database of personals that allow you to filter out what your looking for. These services don’t specialize in single parent dating, but there are a couple of the best.
I think if your a single parent this can be the best way to find a life long partner. I think it greatly simplifies the meeting process. Online dating benefits maybe single parents more then any other group of people.
Surly if your a single parent you are tired of not having a little romance in your life. Why not go ahead and check out some dating services. I think you will be pleased with the results.
About the Author
Tyler Casselman is an online dating expert. He owns the popular site Online Dating Home. www.online-dating-home.com
December 25, 2008 at 10:27 pm · Filed under Misc Infos
Come To Mycircleoflife.com a teens web site! www.mycircleoflife.com
About the Author
None
December 24, 2008 at 12:53 pm · Filed under Misc Infos
You’ve finally found the home of your dreams, 3 bedrooms, attached garage, great neighborhood. You fix sights on the freshly painted walls, new carpeting, beautiful cabinet and a huge back yard. What are you forgetting? Everything else! Don’t forget about the plumbing, heating, A/C, electrical, insulation, ventilation, exterior and roof. These are the most overlooked items because most people know very little about these types of items, or what to look for. You decide to make an offer on the home.
What’s next?
Don’t forget about getting the home inspected. When you made the offer, your realtor should have gone over the inspection contingency in your contract. Simply stated, it’s a clause in the contract that your offer is contingent upon a home inspection, and you have a certain amount of time to get the home inspected. It allows you to have an unbiased professional look beneath the cosmetic items into the complex working components of a home. It also allows you to either renegotiate your offer based on the inspection, or at the very least know what lies ahead of you if you do decide to purchase the home. A seller’s disclosure statement is nice and most seller’s are honest, but don’t even realize that problems exist in their home.
Ask your realtor for a list of home inspectors in your area. Most will be happy to provide you with a list of inspectors in your area. If not, pull some brochures from the realtors lobby, try the phone directory or the internet. Most inspectors these days have a website where you can read about the services they offer. Take the time and call a few from the list to form your own opinion. Some realtors will offer to hire an inspector for you on your behalf. Be sure your realtor has your best interests in mind if you go this route. This is your money and your lifetime investment you’re talking about.
When you call a home inspection company, here are a few important questions to ask:
1. Are you licensed by the state? If the answer is no, say thank you and politely hang up the phone. All home inspectors are required to be licensed in the State of Wisconsin, and to keep their license are require to attend 20 hours of continuing education per year.
2. Are you affiliated with any organizations? Most good home inspectors are associated with a National organization like NACHI (National Association of Certified Home Inspectors) NAHI (National Association of Home Inspectors) or ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) and/or a local organization like WAHI (Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors)
Each organization has is pro’s and con’s and like any organization, are suited to that inspectors specific needs. Most importantly however, these organizations have strict guidelines to a code of ethics and continuing education.
3. How long will your inspection take? A thorough home inspection should take between 2 1/2-4 hours or longer depending on the size, age and condition of the home. In some cases a smaller home (1000sft or less) can be inspected in 2 hours. If the inspector says he can do it in less time, think about how thorough the inspection is going to be.
4. What type of report do you use? Some inspectors use computer generated onsite reporting, some use a handwritten checklist, some do computer generated reporting and send you the report after they’ve had time to look it over twice before sending it out. Each has their pros and cons. Computer generated onsite reporting is nice and you get your report right away. The downside is the inspector doesn’t have time to look any items up that may be in question or be very descriptive in their report. A hand written checklist in my opinion is the most incomplete type of report. You do get your report right away, but it is usually something like: Kitchen countertop: poor. This doesn’t give you much of a description of the defect, like what exactly is wrong with it. The computer generated report is in my opinion the best style. You get a neat, professional looking report, the inspector has had time to be descriptive and to look up any items that he may have had questions on (no, we don’t know everything and if we say we do, take that as a sign). The downside is you don’t get your report for a day or so, but the report can get to you quickly if he/she emails it to you.
All inspectors should be able to provide you with photo’s of the problem areas in their reports. A picture is worth a thousand words. If they don’t include photos in their report (digital or otherwise) you may want to find an inspector that does.
Ask for a sample report. Most good inspectors will be happy to send you a copy.
5. What is your experience and background? Most home inspectors started out with a construction-based background. This is very useful in home inspections. Attending a University with emphasis on construction, or attending a Home Inspection School is almost a necessity in this trade. If an inspector tells you he was in retail (for an example) this may be a time to look elsewhere, or ask a follow-up question as to why he went into the profession and what he has to offer that others inspectors don’t.
6. How much do you charge? This is a very important question. The question you really should be asking yourself “how much are you willing to spend on the most important investment you’re ever going to make?” Think about this. Do you really want to price shop on something this important? Yes, you don’t want to pay too much, but you don’t want to scrimp either. You’re paying $100,000+ for your home and now is not the time to go with the lowest price. Inspectors have overhead costs like any company; Insurance, vehicle, gas, equipment training, professional organization dues, a home, etc. Regardless of what any might say, they don’t work every day of the week, every week of the year.
An average inspection is between $250 and $400 or more depending on the size, age and condition of the home. Some inspectors base their fees from the listing price. Based on what is uncovered in the inspection, you will probably be able to save that much and maybe more. For example: A new water heater will cost you in the neighborhood of $800, and if the inspector finds that the one in the home is nearing the end of its useful life, the inspection just paid for itself and then some. Its money spent wisely.
Most good home inspectors encourage you to follow them on the inspection, and I highly recommend it. It will give you a chance to see what he sees, and ask questions. Be sure to ask questions! The inspector will usually to be happy to answer them for you or if he doesn’t know the answer right then, he should offer to look it up and call you with the answer. This is also a time to find out where key components like shut-off valves or the breaker panel is located in case of an emergency, or get tips on routine maintenance items.
A home inspection is a visual, non-destructive examination of a home. It is not technically exhaustive. Inspectors cannot see defects behind a wall, ceiling or furniture.
He or she will just use their knowledge and experience in their visual examination. If a component doesn’t work by normal means of operation the inspector won’t try to get it operating by any other means. He/she will only open those panels that are normally used to service a piece of equipment. If a danger exists to the inspector, he/she will not inspect that piece of equipment. They will just defer to a professional more experienced in that type of application. They do not move furniture to inspect, so having the home ready for the inspector prior to the inspection will not only speed the process, but give you a more thorough inspection.
You will more than likely not get the chance to meet your inspector before the inspection, so asking these important questions will help make your decision easier.
Having the home inspected is the best thing you can do to have a more informed decision on the purchase or sale of your home. After all, this is probably the biggest investment you will ever make.
For more information on the regulations that govern home inspection industry, visit the Wisconsin Department of Regulations website .
About the Author
Kevin McMahon is a licensed and certified home inspection professional, and owner of ABC Home Inspection based in Stevens Point, WI. Questions or comments can be directed to him at abc@certified-inspector.com or by visiting his website at http://certified-inspector.com
December 24, 2008 at 4:54 am · Filed under Misc Infos
Should I finish my log furniture?
The natural look of log furniture is one of the reasons it is becoming a more popular home décor not only for the log home market, but other home styles as well. We are frequently asked this question. I want to keep my log furniture looking as natural as possible, should I have it finished? The answer to this is in our opinion is yes. Finishing can change the appearance somewhat depending on the type of wood or finish, but the rewards are well worth it in the long run.
The oils in our hands are easily absorbed by unfinished wood. Of course our hands are never perfectly clean and the dirt is also absorbed right into the wood with the oil leaving soiled areas where your hands frequently touch the furniture. On a bed this is usually either the headboard or the footboard. On dressers, of course the drawer pulls and the edge around the top gets the most handling. If an item is finished, washing is easy. It’s another story on bare wood. Some folks have taken the furniture out to the shop to sand it down again, but most people don’t have the proper tools or just don’t want to mess with it. It’s easier to just have it finished to begin with. Finished log furniture will pass the test of time in keeping your furniture looking good for many years.
To keep log furniture looking as natural as possible, most manufactures use a clear finish. There are many types of finishes available on the market. Many retail stores use the term “poly” to describe their finish when in reality it might not be polyurethane at all. Polyurethane in its purest state is a very hard durable finish but doesn’t adhere well to products. For this reason most “Poly” finishes are usually a combination of Polyurethane and Acrylic. Other types of finishes consist of Varnishes, Lacquers, etc. Some finishes are hazardous to your health not to mention bad for the environment. This is the reason we use a non-toxic water base Acrylic on our furniture. It is very durable, will not yellow with time, and even fingernail polish remover doesn’t touch it!
Some types of wood used in log furniture construction such as Pine or Aspen will darken only slightly with the application of a finish. The exception to this is White Cedar. The finish on White Cedar will actually change this wood from a very light uniform color, to a very beautiful distinctive color variation between the sapwood and the heartwood. The heartwood will become somewhat darker giving it a very unique character.
Red Cedar is a different kind of animal. An oil base finish will darken the wood to a deep red or purple color, however a water base acrylic finish will leave it more of a pinkish color. You often have the option when ordering to purchase it unfinished and finish yourself or have the company finish it for you.
So, should you finish your log furniture? We strongly recommend it. We think you will be happier in the end.
About the Author
Mike Messer and his business partner Dave Kondek have a successful business building and selling log furniture to the Continental US, Alaska, and Canada. Copyright 2005 by Great Lakes Rustics LLC. Permission is granted to reprint this article with accompanying website URL http://www.glrustics.com.
December 24, 2008 at 1:46 am · Filed under Misc Infos
When I was a college student, coffee was my stimulant of choice. I spent many a night right beside my electric percolator, carefully measuring the water and ground beans to insure only the best cuppa joe.
Now that I am a busy working woman, I use the ADM (Automatic Drip method). Though more efficient than the old trusty percolator, there is something missing, something that only can be found in those percolated cups of yore.
There is a certain richness that only a percolator can provide. Let’s briefly explore the method that each uses to illustrate this point.
According to the website Fantes.com, “the Percolator is one of the most familiar methods of brewing coffee. It works by filtering boiling water through the coffee grounds over and over. Many people still enjoy this old favorite, especially when it is used with very mild coffees.”
There are three types of percolators, Stovetop, Electric and Cordless Electric. There is a drawback to using a stove top percolator. If not carefully attended to, there is the tendency toward bitterness from “prolonged overboiling.”
ADM’s work by simply dripping a stream of water over filtered grounds so that the coffee “leaches” through and into the pot below. The drawback here is that you can use too little or two much of either coffee or water making either enought bite to put hair on your chest or not enough of a bite to sprout peach fuzz.
Once gaining expertise in the use of either one, however, and the drawbacks disappear. Your hooked on one or the other and search the world over for the machine that will give you the best cuppa joe you can get outside the walls of Dunkin Donuts.
Pricewise, percolators run a bit more (per cup)than ADM’s but are well worth persuing.
Most ADM’s go from anywhere starting at $19.95 for a generic name brand to $139.95 for a Krups. All these are 12 cup ADM’s, the industry standard. Percolators can run from $14.99 for a glass 8 cup Simex stovetop model to $79.99 (actually less than a ADM) for a 12 cup Cuisinart Brew Centrel Electric Programmable Coffee Maker.
When it comes to replacement parts, however, the percolators have the ADM’s beat. Most only need to have the glass tops replaced and they run as little as $1.99 each. Glass carafes for the ADM’s can start at $29.99, in some cases, more than an entire coffee maker and more than double the cost of an 8 cup glass stovetop model percolator.
So how do you choose? If you already own a state-of-the-art ADM, you have half the battle won. You already know how well this type of machine performs, so your next step is to try out a reasonably priced percolator to see the difference. If the stovetop variety leves you a bit on the nervous side, a nice electric model by Farberware can run you about $34.99 and will last quite a long time, if well maintained.
About the author:
Cathy O is a successful author who provides coffee maker tips and information for coffee makers and espresso makers.
December 21, 2008 at 11:55 am · Filed under Misc Infos
Everyone has heard the phrase, my how time flies when your having fun. Well, I am here to tell you it’s true. Because time as most people perceive it is an illusion. You’re probably wondering what I’m talking about, of course that’s why you’re reading this article.
Before I started writing this article I repeated to my self several times that ” one minute is as five ” meaning that for every minute that passed it would be as if I had done five minutes of work. Most everyone has experienced this time distortion. Say for example your in a very long boring meeting or a lecture or any mind numbing activity. Now you will swear the person has been speaking for at least an hour. But when you look at your watch you realize with some shock and horror that only ten minutes has passed. This is time slowing down. The opposite is true as well, when your having fun doing something you really enjoy you figure an hour has gone by and you look at your watch and you have been doing that activity not for an hour but for three hours.
The reason this occurs is because time is fluid but it’s not the same for everyone. Let’s take the lecture as an example. To you the boring lecture felt like an hour, to the lecturer who is nervous it may have seemed like two hours. But, to the fellow three rows up who is very interested in the subject of the lecture it seemed like only a few minutes. Now, who is correct? Well in fact all of you are correct, in your perception of time. You see that’s how it works; it’s your perception of time that is fluid. Once you understand that you can change how you perceive time then you can control time in your life.
Unfortunately that does not mean that you can get home in rush hour traffic in ten minutes when it normally takes you an hour. But you can control how you perceive that hour.
You see man created the concept of time help him control and categorize his world. This was done by dividing up the things he saw in nature IE the seasons and the smaller time bits like the phases of the moon and the still smaller bits of the rising and setting of the sun into smaller and smaller chunks so that he could better arrange his life. Though what has been mostly forgotten is time is an illusion.
If your still with me and like this whole fluid time idea. Try this: the next time you’re in a boring situation, like say stuck in traffic,
Relax take a few deep breaths and tell yourself that “five minutes are as one” and repeat that several times. This will change your perception of time so though you will still have to drive those five minutes they will seem like only one minute. And I am willing to bet that the commute won’t “seem” nearly as long as usual. There are so many application of this concept the only real limit is your imagination.
Allot of people are fascinated by the concept of time travel. There is a lot of controversy both in the scientific community and the hypnosis community. From everything I have read I believe that using current life regression and past life regression as well as other modalities it is possible though not physically possible to go back in time it is possible to alter past personal events to effect your present and your future. The reason I believe this is possible is that not only is time flexible but so is our perception of our reality. For example, let’s say there is someone who is deathly afraid of heights because of a trauma as a child. But using any of several techniques we remove the trauma from that memory so that all subsequent height memories no longer have that trauma and fear connected with them. That person would no longer have a fear of heights. So, have we traveled back in time? I will leave that for you to decide. But the same concepts can be used to visit past lives as well for either therapy or discovery.
It felt as though I have been writing for well over an hour but in fact by my watch it has been about 40 minutes. Not the five to one ratio I was hoping for but that will come with practice.
Go have some fun, go change your perspective today.
Ken Myrback along with his wife Maria are Certified Hypnotherapist and Energy Healers.
They can be reached in their office: Holistic South, Inc. 770-713-2804
Or on the web at: www.holisticsouth.com
Ken is a Certified Hypnotherapist and Energy Healer living and working in Metro Altanta.
December 15, 2008 at 12:30 am · Filed under Misc Infos
What kind of camping lanterns best fit your outdoor needs? Do you need light weight for backpacking, or is maximum light more important?
Camping lanterns have been around for quite a while, especially fuel lanterns like kerosene and gas lanterns. LED lanterns, rechargeable lanterns or electric lanterns, butane lanterns, propane lanterns, battery lanterns and candle lanterns are newer to the scene though. All of them being different they have advantages and disadvantages…
If you already have a camping stove or other camping equipment that uses fuel consider getting a lantern that uses the same type of fuel so you won’t have to remember to bring both fuels and you’ll use less space too. Although some dual-fuel Coleman lanterns will burn both white gas or unleaded gasoline (check to be sure).
Camping lanterns that burn fuel can come with either glass globes or metal mesh globes. The advantage to glass is that it lets more light through, but since it’s glass it is fragile. Metal mesh globes are much tougher than glass but they do block some of the light.
When you buy a camping lantern make sure to get extra mantles, fuel, bulbs, and/or batteries, it’s not much fun needing a lantern part in the middle-of-nowhere and not being able to get it when you need it.
Candle lanterns can be lightweight at 3.7 ounces, but you may not want to use them as a camping lantern as their light output leaves something to be desired at 1 to 1.5 watts. They’re pretty much a candle with a protective sheath to help prevent the flame from blowing out in the wind and keep things a little safer by avoiding an open flame. Another drawback… the sheath enclosure also makes it more difficult to roast marshmallows over your lantern. 
I recommend going flameless especially inside your tent. It doesn’t take much to start a fire with a high intensity heat source. Falling asleep and tipping your camping lantern over is all it takes to put your life in serious jeopardy. There are a lot of great battery lanterns, LED lanterns and rechargeable lanterns available. Play it smart.
While great LED lanterns put out a good amount of light I haven’t found one yet that can match the light output of well-designed flame camping lanterns. If you need a lot of light in a local outdoor area have a look at butane, propane, and gas lanterns. Some of these lanterns crank out up to 235 watts of light! That’s more light than most people use to light a room at home. One of the butane lanterns even allows you to focus the light more intensely with reflectors and another is refillable with lighter fluid helping to make it great for…
If you’d like more information on camping lanterns please visit http://www.hiking-gear-and-equipment-used-for-camping.com/camping-lanterns.html for the whole article. Also you may want to take a look at a related article on how to pick the best camping tent http://www.hiking-gear-and-equipment-used-for-camping.com/camping-tents.html
Marc Wiltse learned how important good quality hiking equipment and camping gear were after his pup tent flooded with over 3 inches of water forcing him to sleep in the front seat of his 2-seat Honda CRX (translation: research is a good thing). His hiking equipment & camping gear guides & reviews save you time & money. Subscribe to his camping & hiking newsletter http://www.hiking-gear-and-equipment-used-for-camping.com/hiking-journal.html & get the most usable information FREE! © Marc Wiltse. Reprint permission if author, copyright, links & this notice are intact.
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