Editorial Nation

Work from home @ Amazon

2011-10-21T09:53:00.002-04:00

Here is an excellent opportunity for long term stability and comforts of home! Work from Home with Amazon a great name and reputation in the work from home market. Work is busy during the holidays then slows dowen a little after January 15th.Tremendous team to work with here at Amazon, rare opportunity grab it before its gone!

Your home address must be in the state of Kentucky and we are recruiting in the Northern Kentucky area. These areas must be in Kentucky within approximately 90 miles of the Covington/Hebron area. This would inlcude the greater Lexington and Louisville areas.
Have (or be able to obtain) High Speed Internet (3mb or better) from a reliable provider
Have (or be able to obtain) a dedicated analog telephone land line from a reliable carrier (must be installed before you can start)
Dedicated home workspace (free from background noise, interruptions, and distractions)

Good luck guys! Apply Here.

1800 Flowers Seasonal Hiring

2011-10-16T07:43:00.000-04:00

1-800Flowers is at it again, it is that time of year , if your looking for a bunch of great people to work
with ,excellence training and repeat business call backs, look no further flowers is for you!

From popular holiday brands of Cheryl's, Harry London's, The Popcorn Factory, or 1800Flowers, they have it all. You can enjoy a friendly enviroment taking sales calls and assiting customers with thier orders.

Pay Range is $8.50 - $11.00 based on experience, set you own blocks of hours pick up extra shifts and bonus incentives. Paid weekly, some sales experience needed, windows operating system vista or higher land telephone and AIM-AOL chat room software (free download).

Apply HERE or see: 1800 Flowers website for more details! Good luck! :)

Teletech Hiring for Fall

2011-10-16T07:28:00.007-04:00

3500 jobs in their biggest Hiring push in five years! With over 44,000 current employees,Teletech is the leading customer service and sales based work form home company on the market. They have been in business since 1982 and are a proven leader for outsourcing corporate workflow in the work from home environment.

With the addition of a new cellular client, Teletech is looking for customer service associates to assist with holiday orders in a work from home environment. After two week paid training, and 90 days probationary Holiday work, opportunities will be posted for permanent work to a selected few based on probationary performance. Pay scale is $8.00 -$9.50 per hour to start plus incentives.

Must have computer or laptop, vista or Windows 7, Land Phone line, Telephonic Headset, no experience required will train. Regular wages and deductions apply Not 1099 employee. Paid every two weeks through direct deposit and classes start Nov 1st! So hurray and apply now if your interested these jobs won't last long!
Apply Here at Hire Point, Teletech Hiring Portal

Work From Home

2011-10-04T09:40:00.002-04:00

If our really serious about working from home and you just do not know where to get started? You need to head on over to WAHM, the folks at this work from home venture, have spent years putting together a place for social networking, jobs, and forums to discuss exactly what to expect from each work from home opportunity out there. It doesn't cost a thing. So whether your looking to read articles about work from home opportunities and learn how to get your business started, or just want to socialize inside the forum with thousands of others doing exactly the same thing they may even have the same questions as you do. It's well worth the effort to visit. Bookmark them you will find that the resources there are a valuable source for any of your home business needs!
WAHM
WAHM Job boards

Sutherland Hiring Virtual Assistants

2011-10-04T09:21:00.003-04:00

Sutherland @HOME

Inbound customer service resolution department, handles 200-300 calls per shift, flexible scheduling and decent pay scales. Long term potential.Must have 3 years experience and good computer skills. Able to pass background check and computer assesments for typing skills.
Apply today for extra holiday pay!

West at Home Hiring For The Holidays

2011-10-04T09:12:00.001-04:00

West@Home
Work for a global leader for customer service. Proven track record for performance to its customers and steady seasonal to season work. If you enjoy the comforts form home environment apply now classes are forming for end of October. Must live in Texas, Georgia, North Carolinato apply. Pay scale in the $10-$12 per hour vacinity.

Sales Represenatives Needed!

2010-11-07T07:52:00.000-05:00

Join Insight, a focus Group Company that specializes in outbound sales and marketing of their product lines to new corporate customers. If your interested in a huge multi billion dollar market in digital internet and cable services and want to start a new career in outbound sale, Insight may be the company your looking for. Insight has entry level positions with starting salaries that range from $56,000 - well over $100,000. Requirements include valid drivers license, good driving record history and passing a company drug screen. Insight is looking to fill the next 100 positions before the holidays so apply here today!

Inbound Customer Service Represenatives Needed!

2010-11-07T07:36:00.000-05:00

Customer Service representatives needed now. Flexible schedules and paid training will set you up with a position as a high level consultant with a recognized professional company for 22 years in 42 countries around the world! Join 88,000 other Customer Service representative's in a relaxed environment immediate positions available start tomorrow! Apply Here today!

New Prose Communications Hiring!

2010-10-23T09:49:00.000-04:00

New Prose Communications

Now hiring sales consultants and customer service representatives. If you live in the Columbus Ohio area, and like the goal oriented fast pace environment then this challenge is for you. The have a regular and split shift available ranging from 8:30 - 5:00 in case you need to get the kiddies after school!

Must have own transportation to qualify and pass a criminal background check. New Prose is hiring 500+ in the next 30 days for the holiday season. Ask for Amanda Wesfalt at 1-866-639-7767 Ext # 1715.

Perfumes

2009-11-05T12:46:00.000-05:00

Want to turn up the volume on that hot date tonight? Everyone knows that your signature scent is where all the mystery begins! At Scent you can find various scents to suit your mood.

Want to put an edge on your personality, at Scent you could try some of Sarah Jessica Parkers Lovely with its citrus and earthly wood tones you'll feel crisp and clean yet just a little edge to make sure you stand out.

Want a stronger fragrance that jumps out to grab his attention? Try some J'Adore by Christian Dior, it has a floral Scent with mixed wild flowers sure to catch his attention with a lasting impression.

For more intersting frangrances please check outScent

Customer Service Tellers Needed

2009-11-05T10:18:00.000-05:00

Alpine Access is hiring again! 600+ positions into their professional training program as Customer Service Tellers taking calls and handling service issues. No outbound calling. They offer flexible training and work hours with in house software as well.

One the greatest perks for working with this company is the resources they offer during and after training. One big family advertisement and easy going technology to work with.

For more information see their website at: Alpine Access.

eHow Writers Wanted

2009-10-31T12:23:00.004-04:00

Become a online blogger and receive award winning training and step by step instructions to complete a professional blog. Get paid monthly, write as often or little as you like on the topics you like.

Plus get an extra $50.00 bucks for writing through the month of November! The more you write the more you earn! Chances to win additional prizes and be featured on their home page are just some of the opportunities that await you!

For more information see their website at eHow.com.

Telemarketers Needed

Medical Transcriptionist Needed

Freelance Writers Wanted

Freebies

Freelance Writer Needed

2009-10-31T12:00:00.002-04:00

Freelance Writers Needed for web articles. Posts must be neat and professional and 200+ words in length.

Work Your own hours, choose topics that interest you while gaining great exposure and support.Wages vary, for more information visit their website Suite101.

Telemarketers Needed
Medical Transcritionist Needed
Freebies

Telemarketers Wanted

2009-10-31T09:49:00.001-04:00

Brighten Communications from Corona California, is Hiring 'business to business' telemarketers for $12.00 to $16.00 per hour. Work 20-30 Hours, set your own hours leads provided.

All you need is personal computer or laptop , your own phone and quiet place to work. No Experience Necessary, earnings paid weekly and direct deposit is available. For immediate consideration visit the Brighten Webpage to apply.

Medical Transcription Jobs

2009-10-30T10:31:00.000-04:00

Check out Outsourcing Solutions, they have a very easy to follow training program and great people to work with. they specialize in Medical Transcription jobs from home.

OSI encourages professional development and associations with other organizations to help increase your social networking!

Outsourcing Solutions

Editorial Nation is Changing!

2009-10-07T08:54:00.009-04:00

After several months of working online from home and spending the last two years of my life learning the "ropes" of the online marketing world, I thought it was time to share the wealth of knowledge I have gained. Share and share alike my mother used to say. There are some things I realized along this path to discovery and one of them is you don't get to many breaks out there, so We have decided to change the face and content of Editorial Nation and starting October15th it will change! But change is good they say, it improves your life and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? :) Here at Editorial Nation we are going to show you the process of online working, but not just where the jobs are, how to market yourself and what's expected. There is a "process" with these companies, and if you don't do certain things at the right time you won't get in! But that's not all, there also cost involved in some of them, how to set up your office do I need headset gear? What about credit checks? These are some of the many questions we will be dealing with on this website plus lots of great links to follow up with jobs plus a running link list of blogs and forums!
This site will be packed with ideas and helpful get started tools plus an added bonus to help those that have finally made it in to one of these lucky at home jobs, a planner and event schedule of things that must be done to maintain and keep your position!
We want to hear from you, your the strength behind these blog pages, let us know what you would like to see and have on the pages! Drop us a line or comment for us and we'll do our best to get it posted!

Please stay tuned and keep watching we are branching out and going to help you on your way to financial freedom in your Work from home enterprise.

~ Editorial Nation

The Best Bride Prices

2009-05-31T13:14:00.013-04:00

The Best Bridal Prices in Town

My girlfriend was so elated last summer when she told me of her engagement. It was then that she realized all the hard work of a wedding that was ahead of her. With the economy down and money being tight , she was not sure where she was going to be able to have the wedding of her dreams on a budget. We started researching the web for answers and found this wonderful little site that has amazing items for the bride , bridesmaid and even the parents!

Best Bridal Prices is most definitely the place to shop for veils, flower girl dresses and even that killer headpiece to top off your gown. The best part is they have amazing prices, better than anywhere else I have been and they customize your size for even those tough to fit sizes!

You need to see there beautiful done photos and helpful tips on wedding planning you won’t regret it.Planning a wedding is fun and exciting but it can be challenging if you don’t plan it properly! Every girls dream begins with picking out her wedding dress. Check out this website it really helped me when I helped my girlfriend pick out her perfect dress :

best bridal prices

Best of Time

2009-05-31T12:27:00.011-04:00

Butterfly Bracelet

Best of Time

Every time I go to the mall I can't resist stopping at the local shops and looking at the jewelry counter. I dream, hope, and even try on my favorite pieces, but I know I just can't afford their retail prices right now and pay the rent at the same time.

If you have ever bee in the market for 100% Genuine Jewelry, I have the solution for you!

Best of time offers substantial discounts by offering new and used jewelry through an independent dealer , some of the jewelry is offered through consignment and other jewelry is purchased at wholesale cost!

While being officially accredited by the Better Business Bureau Best of Time A+ rating qualifies them for the best selection of Jewelry in the world! You know, they even certify their work and offer warrantees. In this economy, now you can look great and not break your budget! That a deal you can't beat! Check it out today: http://www.bestoftime.com/

Discover Beaute de Maman

2009-03-03T11:30:00.015-05:00

One of the most exciting times in a women’s life is to find out she is 'expecting". The world stops and you feel the most beautiful inside and out. You exercise, eat right and make sure your careful with every little thing you do to ensure your pregnancy is healthy.

It is often over looked on what you put on your body in relation to health are products. Shouldn’t it be just as important? Some beauty products can actually harbor harmful bacteria if left open for long periods of time says Dr. David Schlessinger, a board-certified Oculoplastic surgeon and Ophthalmologist and Director of Schlessinger Eye and Face(Marie Claire 2009) These risks are Multiplied when the products is shared or left out to long.

You save the earth, the trees and the whales, why not your skin?

Well if you’re an expectant mom, you know what I m thinking right now, I want to use products that are healthy for me, and good for the baby! You should try out this new innovative beauty line Beaute de Maman that has developed with the expectant mother in mind. They have specifically designed a beauty line of products that deal with issues such as acne, facial scrubs for sensitive skin, and stretch mark cream.

With Celebrities Such as Tim Allen and His wife, and Charlie Sheen and his Wife, these new herbal natural beauty products are catching on fast! Pregnancy magazine named them as one of the Best products for mom and baby, and American Baby magazine's numerous featurette's for this amazing herbal product, are just a few of the reasons to try out these products.

The number one reason is the health of you and your baby, don't you deserve it? But don't take our word for it, check out Beaute de Maman products for yourself, and order now
for a healthier happier lifestyle.

Beaute de Maman

Are You Crabby Tonight?

2009-03-01T21:12:00.011-05:00

Feeling Crabby?

Maybe you’re not getting enough sleep. With the economy falling down, money is tight and your parents are moving in can all be a sign of stress and can make relaxing difficult. All of these everyday stressors can make you seem crabby.

If you add in all the regular worries of jobs, kids, and bills and maybe relationship issues, you are well on your way to insomnia. One of the leading causes of insomnia is lack of sleep (Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2009). If you’re not getting enough sleep the body’s natural serotonin levels actually decrease causing you to feel restless and irritable.

You may not be able to control all the issues in your life, but you can illuminate some of the things that make you more irritable and crabby. Try a few of the things listed below and see if they don’t help you have a better night’s sleep and feel less crabby the next day!

1) Stick to a regular sleeping schedule for at least a month. If you wake and fall asleep at the same times every day and night your body’s natural cycle will even out and you will fall asleep easier and quicker every day you do it.

2) Never eat or drink anything other than water at least two hours before sleeping. It takes your body to long to digest the food and drink and can’t go to sleep properlyuntil it does.

3) Never eat spicy foods or heavy desserts before bed (do you remember what mom taught you about chocolate?) Its true it has such a strong add a lot of acid to your stomach content and it has to work harder to illuminate the acid base in your stomach lining it also effects your liver and your serotonin levels so if sleep is on your agenda it could be hours before you liver digests all those nachos you had to have!

4) Stay away from caffeine or alcohol. Yes, that drink you think will make you tired will also have you up at night because you have to “Go”. Also they act as stimulants to your nervous system and because of that you will have more restless and uncomfortable sleep. This can cause you more irritability in the morning and a Crabby face for the rest of the day!

5) Try to exercise about two hours before bed, a rigorous workout c can burn energy and relax your tense muscles and help you sleep more peacefully at night. Releasing tension in your body is the best way to relax and sleep well throughout the night.

6) This may seem like a no brainer, but it is more common than you think. Sleep with the lights off and as dark as you can get it. More and more people are sleeping with lights on, laptops lights, night lights, hall lights, even televisions on. It is harder for the body to process that it is night time and time for the body to rest if you trick it into thinking it is still daylight!

For More information on sleep disorders:

Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2009.

http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/understanding_violent_behavior_in_children_and_adolescents

Arizona Weather

2009-02-25T20:23:00.013-05:00

I have lived in Ohio all my life. I can honestly say my allergies have grown to love the humidity and pollution! The climate in Ohio is at best freezing in the winter, wet and cold in the spring and fall, and slightly warmer in the late summer. Many people are drawn here because of the extreme swing in temperatures and the nostalgia of four seasons. I have heard people say if you can handle constant climate surges in temperature then Ohio is not for you!

This has been a wonderful place to raise my family; I have kept both a coat and light sweater for unexpected climate changes in my car for several years. Even though I enjoy the National Forests and my kids have grown up swimming and fishing out of the more than 100 lakes and reservoirs, I like many people do, have always dreamed of retiring and moving to warmer climate.

Over the years, we have taken several family vacations as many families do, Niagara Falls, Washington, Florida and Arizona. Several places had their appeal but the one that I loved the most was Scottsdale Arizona.

The weather was beautiful 70's and 80's very comfortable slightly warm during the days and just a little chill in the evenings. March and October are the most beautiful times I have experienced there. The art Museums are exquisite and really show the history of the Aztecs and Indians. The backdrop of Arizona has many canyons to explore and gorgeous little shops that give the feel of nostalgia and history. And as if that isn't enough there is always the fiesta bowl for those sport enthusiasts that just see the live action up front.

If you are considering a move or just a hot little vacation spot with spectacular views and luxurious climate anytime of the year, then you need to hop on over to Scottsdale Properties, I have found that they have the most accurate up to date information and the most affordable prices for vacation, rentals, purchases you can find. The most appealing feature is they specialize in "comfort" living. In other words if you want to be pampered and enjoy some luxury treatment they are the place to go!

No matter what climate you're living in, you must make Arizona a stop on your list, it will make a lasting impression on you for years upon where you may determine this is the place for your retirement! Visit Scottsdale Fine Properties and plan your trip today!

Tax Refunds

2009-02-24T17:05:00.009-05:00

As I was making my check out for the accountant for taxes this year, I realized it has been several weeks since I had filed my tax return and yet…still no refund in the mail. It occurred to me maybe the IRS was busy with tax returns, and were running as slow as I was getting my bills out this month or maybe that the postal service was just as overwhelmed with tax returns that they too were a little behind.

But I am a patient tax payer ,and was giving the IRS the benefit of the doubt during tax return season, I thought I would wait a few weeks before I sent out the dogs to find it. Now that that moment is here I wondered where you go to find out where your tax return is?

After several thousand hits on Google for 'Missing Tax return' I finally sifted my way through the IRS website to find this phone number (800) 829-1954 and Refund Status Website . It was very helpful and answered all my questions in less than 30 seconds!

There are three key pieces of information you need:

Your social security number
Filing status i.e., head of household or single
The exact refund amount your expecting ( Whatever your Accountant or H& R Block told you)

Keep these digits handily in case you need them again next year, in fact I wrote mine down on the front of my tax filings envelope from last year so I will be able to access it fast next year!

Contact the IRS:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html

Testimony Review

2009-02-23T09:14:00.006-05:00

Winter Must Read!

Have you ever picked up a book and realized after two hours you just had to know what happened next? This is that book! It has all the fixings of the perfect winter snuggle!

Now I haven’t had time to read for several months, with busy holiday schedules, kids, bills and electing a new president who has time to read right?

WRONG! This is well worth the investment and the best book I have read in a year. The book resembles that of the Gossip Girl and the backdrop is a rich academy for girls where there is scandal sex and a sex tape!

This is a steamy hot and has a great suspenseful plot that takes you to the very edge of your seat. I must say it is relaxing to let yourself go into the drama of someone else’s world for a while. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Plastic Machine Gears

2009-02-18T20:09:00.017-05:00

Plastic Machine Gears

Been considering moving to plastics? With the economy the way it is, maybe it’s time for your company to consider the efficiency and affordable cost of plastics. At Plastic Machining, not only do they improve the performance of many or your skilled labor projects they are recommended for journeymen and fabricators with the world’s largest online inventory of plastic machine gears, state of the art plastic collars
and sprockets.

Consider the benefits to adding plastic machine gears or Acetal shaft plastic collars to your inventory instead of metal. They weigh less (15% less in fact) carry less noise (improve the health and hearing of your employees) and they require less maintenance than steel products. Plastic Machining has created parts that are safer for the environment than steel; in fact your overall performance is better and easier to run.

Plastic machining has all your needs solved. They have 27 years of knowledge to improve your business and productivity. They can create your Quadrant Engineering plastics pieces, cast nylons, or resins to fit your companies needs by carefully working "each custom piece as if it is there only one” so check out their website plastic collars for a list of parts and a free quote today by filling out the simple request online you will have an answer to your companies needs and keep you competitive while improving production and performance with high performance products.

plastic collars

sales@plasticmachiningcompany.com

XShot

2009-01-21T11:12:00.003-05:00

Here is a product I just love! This is an awesome arm extender to your lens when shot is important. I 'll give you an example, when i was atthe zoo with six little kids and one on every arm, you leaning into the tank to gettheat pic of the dolphins your daughter just has to see and trying not to knock yourself and six kids in to the tank! The XShot is a life saver when you only get one shot to make the pic!

Check This out and see what I'm talking about!

To see what all this product can really do you must visit there site and see all the' user vidios' uploaded to thier site , and add a few of your own this Year! http://xshotpix.com/index.html

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Pamper Yourself?

2009-01-19T10:14:00.011-05:00

Pamper Yourself, No Really

I was walking around the mall this past weekend, while waiting for my manicure appointment (no, really you should see my nails, it’s scary!) and I didn’t realize there were so many great buys! There are some clearance racks in Macy's, Jcpenny's, and Kohl’s you wouldn't believe!

So I took it upon myself to make it "a pamper me" day. I thought to myself, “you know I worked all those long hours of overtime to make the kiddies Christmas to die for”, and now I have to work three months to get out of debt so I can start it all over again this fall!

It is important to take care of yourself, to refresh and rejuvenate after a long stressful holiday

season. And with the economy heading south, I know, I know you, should be saving right?

Well feel no more guilt! With After season in full swing, I found a Tommy sweater set for Honey, a Nike jogger for my son and a half a dozen awesome blouses for under a hundred bucks! The nail salon has had no lines so there manicure prices are 12.50 during the week, talk about a deal!

Because of the economy, there are some great deals out there, so what better time than now? It’s cold and gloomy outside, go pamper yourself and enjoy some shopping therapy and the deals too!

Slavery: The Rite to Freedom

2009-01-17T18:21:00.007-05:00

Slavery:

The Rite of Passage

When the large grandiose Portuguese ships arrived off the Guinea Coast it was known to everyone why they had come. Mainly it was for the riches of gold, ivory and pepper. Yet there was a deeper darker commodity that they craved as well, the growing demand for production workers, they called slaves.

Columbus’s voyage changed the trade world so dramatically that supply and demand grew to gregarious proportions. Similarly the African Government was in the midst of their expansion into The Kingdom of the Congo’s. Therefore the immigrants’ of Africa made themselves for easy targets and prisoners’ of war as they further sabotaged their people by selling off their own enemies and oppressors to trade groups many called the Atlantic Slave Trade Society (Darlene Hine, 2004,p.15).

It did not happen overnight; rather the main intentions of the european foreigners were to purchace the Africans at a fair price to do the job of serventry. After all, African tribesman were no strangers to this type of debauchery, they traded ethnic family members within their tribes for centuries simply because there was no racial solidarity (Darlene Hine,p. 16).

Europeanist didn’t instigate the war but they waited in the wings to capture their prisioners and ship them to the Americas. The passage of these slaves was horrible and brutal that many generations had to endure as prisioners of war. The slaves never gained their right of passage they so richly deserved. The africans had no idea what it was to discriminate the mortality of human beings and because of their ignornace they were attacked and preyed upon for mnay years.

Unfortunatly, greed and self serving goverments led to the demise of the African American descendants as slaves. Europeanism craved the prosperity of the Americas and the riches of Spanish Gold. The Carribbean islands provided anappealing array of spices to sweeten the soul. These very things that were to provide comfort had a high price tag on it. To many the Americas was a second chance at a newl ife of freedom from debauchery and the force of the King. Even though the founding fathers did just that, many years of suffering came and the ground was rich in blood as the high price for passage to America and freedom.

It’s a funny thing, Freedom in all respects is freedom from war, government communisim, and discrimination of race. After all these years we have lived in the Americas, the price is stil being paid with bloodshed. Many Men have stood up like Martin Luther King, to illiminate the bloodshed and dsicrimination even the new impending President Elect Obama. As we look to the future for the first time in peace, and hope to finnally earn our right of passage in the Americas, land of the free.

Sources

Darlene Hine, W. H. African Americans: A Concise History. Upper Saddle , New Jersey Vol.1 p 15-124.

Cocktail Time!

2009-01-17T18:20:00.007-05:00

Boy It's chilly outside!!! Burrrrr!

Time to make something to warm you both up on a cold wintery night!

Try something to give your taste buds atickle with a twist of lime and lemon!

To start with you will need:

1 part Vodka

1part Honey Malt Liquer (your favorite , I allways use top shelve it taste much richer in flavor)

1 part Mikes Hard lemonade

Splash of Simple Syrup

Thyme and Mint sprigs

Two Limes

Serve on crushed ice and your favorite chilled glasses, then grab your honey-pie and curl up on the couch to warm yourselves inside and out!

Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-12-21T09:12:00.026-05:00

So here you go with an “old favorite” from our kitchen to yours with a little help from Nestle sure to please:

Ingredients:

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts
Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.
Mix flour, baking soda and salt, butter, sugar, brown sugar,
and vanilla extract and eggs in large bowl mix on low speed with a mixer until creamy.
Gradually mix in flour a half cup at a time or it will blow all over the place.
Stir in morsels and nuts.
Make circles with the dough into round sizes the shape similar to a milk jug cap or if you want large party sizes make them the size and shape of a small egg, then place them onto a Pam sprayed greased baking sheet.
BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

SLICE AND BAKE COOKIE VARIATION:

PREPARE dough as above.

Divide in half; wrap in waxed paper.
Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Then cut into half inch wedges then place disk shaped cookies on cookie sheet sprayed with pam (non butter flavored). Bake for 8 minutes, then cool on baking sheet or cooling racks, serve and eat!
Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

All that's left to do is enjoy, share with many and you'll have lots of smiles to go round!

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Heart Healthy Meatloaf

2008-12-21T08:18:00.010-05:00

Ever Since my Dad had his heart attack a year ago, my Mom has been revamping every recipe you can imagine. The Doctor said, “You better get Heart Healthy or he won’t be here for too many more Christmas’s”. That was all it took for Mom to get busy in the kitchen!

But dad had other ideas, of course, he was an Ox and gonna live to be a hundred! Yeah, okay whatever Dad, So in an effort to “fool” Dad into thinking he is eating his “regular” foods but keeping with the Doc’s orders, mom has whipped up a few recipes I have tried and there really great! We had this delectable number the other night. It’s a revamp of a winter classic but with a healthy twist! Hope you all enjoy!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since turkey is generally better on the body because of it's low fat and cholesterol content it is a good substitution for beef and less salt than pork, and cooking spinach makes its disease-fighting antioxidants easier to absorb. Yep, this is a feel-good food in every sense of the word; it will even fool you Dad! He he

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp. mustard
2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 can of campbells tomatos soup

1 can of tomato ketchup (hunts lowfat)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 eggs
1 pound ground turkey
1/4 cup grated onion
Salt and pepper
1 cup of strained spinich

PREPARATION

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. In a large skillet, heat oil medium-high heat until hot .

3. Add garlic and spinach, onions, and salt & Pepper. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, about three minutes.

4. Mix in Ground turkey and eggs, cook on medium heat until done.

5. Add the tomatos soup and the paste slowly to the cooked mixture.

6. Add th bread rumbs slowly for th beast southern taste add bread crumbs flavored as italian flavor. Progresso bread crumbs work best.

7. Mix well, using your hands.

8. Make sure you use a deep bread pan or baking dish and spray well with Pam cooking spray.

9. Flatten the meatloaf mixture by patting it into the corners in a"burping" motion. Take thumbs and press a crease around the edge ofthe pan to form a "ditch" that acts as a rim to the finished product.

10. Bake for about 1 hour or until done.
11. Enjoy!

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Hunting as a Recreation Sport

2008-12-18T21:54:00.006-05:00

Hunting as a Recreation Sport

Learning to shoot a gun can be a fun activity for all ages. As long as safety and general knowledge of guns are used you will have a fun time. First before you leave your house you will need to check to make sure you have a trigger lock on the gun, gun in gun case, safety glasses, earplugs, and binoculars.

After getting to the gun range you will need to begin with posting your target at whatever distance you feel comfortable shooting. Then pull the rifle out of the case remembering to always point it down range. If the rifle is a bolt action, install the action into the slide where it will lock into place. To load this type of rifle take one bullet at a time and load it into the barrel or storage clip if applicable. If the rifle is a semi-auto pull the clip out of bottom of the gun and load the clip with ammo, install clip into gun.

Now you are ready to shoot but first make sure you have safety glasses on and earplugs in. Aim the rifle down range at the target that was posted earlier. To aim use the three sights on the barrel. The sight at the end of the barrel will need to go between the two sights right by your eyes. Place the butt end of the gun tightly against your shoulder and place your finger around the trigger. Only when you feel completely comfortable and calm can you pull the trigger other wise this will mess your shot up. On a bolt action pull the action up and back to release the shell and slide forward and down to load the next bullet. A semi-auto will automatically load the next shoot so you’re ready to go. After you are done shooting for the day pack the gun up in the case take the bolt action out and put the trigger lock on the gun.

Finally once you are home don’t forget to clean the, Rifle this is a very important part of shooting. Pull out your cleaning kit and pour the cleaner down the barrel. Use the cleaning swab and rod to clean the inside of the barrel. Once that is finished take the spray can of gun oil and spray two squirts down the barrel. Now use an old toothbrush to scrub the action/slide part of the gun this is where the most dirt and powder are located. Use cleaning pads to wipe this area clean. Repeat steps tell the cleaning pads are still clean after wiping. Oil the action and slide with the spray can of gun oil, proximally 4 small squirts will do. Place the gun back into the gun case and if possible lock the gun case. Place the case somewhere in the house where children and burglars will not easily find it. This is an activity that everyone should partake in at some point in his or her life. Not only will it give you the knowledge of how to defend yourself but can be a hobby on the weekend with your family.

Do-Not-Call Lists

2008-12-16T14:29:00.012-05:00

Do Not Call Laws Remain Active

It’s been five years since the Federal “Do-Not Call” law was enacted and consumers registered their phone numbers. But wasn’t the registration good for only five years? So, the law no longer applies, right? WRONG!

Originally, consumers were required to re-register if they wanted to continue on the Do Not Call list. However in February 2008, legislation was passed that changed that. Consumers no longer need to register their phone number again for the second time. Their original “Do-Not-Call “status remains active.

No change in regulations about cell phone numbers either. You’re still prohibited from calling these numbers unless you have specific written permission or request to contact them at their cell number.

This means companies are still required to observe all Federal and State laws. The penalty for improperly calling just a single number on the Do-Not-call list is a whopping $11,000 dollars at the federal level and up to $25,000 bucks for additional state imposed fines!

National “Do-Not-Call” List Registry:

https://www.donotcall.gov/

Top Ten Ways To Get Rid of Telemarketers

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Erie's Banana Topper

2008-12-15T08:35:00.007-05:00

My darling 12 year old is a wiz in the kitchen! Her older brothers have already picked up on her keen unusual ability to cook up a great meal and hover over her daily with requests! (She sure didn’t get it from me!) Take it from someone who can barely boil water this little darling has been creating her own recipes for two years now! (Yeah, I know I’m shocked too).

In her amazing little trunk of recipes in her room, this recipe is a ‘timeless classic’ she improved on and whipped up on her own the other day. I thought to myself this is a great idea for the holidays. So with her permission, here it is, a delicious scrumptious holiday treat sure to please you and your guests! Hope you all enjoy!

Erie’s Banana Topper

You start this recipe with these ingredients:

*Neapolitan Ice-cream.
* Bananas
*Chopped Nuts
*Hershey’s Chocolate syrup
*Maraschino Cherries
*Pineapple Crushed in Molasses
*Coconut
*Whipped Cream
*Fudge Flavored Waffle Bowls

1) Take a fancy colored bowl, your favorite with some holiday cheer around the rim. Place the waffle bowl in the middle. Take an ice cream scoop and put one of each flavor (Chocolate in the bottom, vanilla and strawberry on the top) in the waffle bowl.

2) Next cut a banana length wise, and then in half. Put the pieces surrounding the waffle bowl inside the colored dish. Then place three scoops of whipped cream around the bowl, shaped like a triangle.

3) Heat Hershey’s syrup in the microwave for 10 seconds then pour syrup in a clock wise motion around on the ice cream lofts then on the bananas to give it the dripped effect. Take a fork and shake crushed molasses pineapple around on the bottom then one last one on top of the beautiful mounds of chocolate.

4) Sprinkle nuts and coconut over the whole plate and top with as many cherries as you like!

Your Delicious Banana Topper is sure to please and leave you and your guests this holiday season with a satisfied palate!

Happy Holidays!

Have You Started Your Holiday Shopping Yet?

2008-12-14T12:22:00.016-05:00

Last weekend I went to the mall and was overwhelmed by all the holiday decorations. Kids were taking pictures on Santa’s lap, the stores were playing Christmas music, and everyone was walking around with red Starbucks’s cups filled with Eggnog, and a Aunt Annie's pretzel wrap.

I love to give people beauty-themed gifts like scrumptious scented body products, luxe candles, and especially those that are filled with Bath and Body Works scrumptious scents for the holidays. Have you tried the baked apple cinnamon? They have so many already prepared gift baskets that sure to please. Even those last minute I forgot my hair stylist gifts for under $20 bucks!

What about you—do you like to get and/or give beauty presents? And more important, have you even started your holiday shopping yet?

For a Whole list of Under $20 bucks Gift Ideas Try Bath and Body Works Website:

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/sm-20-and-under-gifts--fi-3394928_cp-2484530.html

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Role of Psychology in Our Every Day Lives

2008-12-11T22:27:00.006-05:00

Image by FotoBloke (Busy..) via Flickr

Psychology is the scientific study of mental roles and behaviors in humans. Many students find the study of psychology to be fascinating because it helps them to understand and predict the actions of others.

- How can understanding and predicting behaviors benefit us in our lives at home, at work, and in school?

In my place of work we have to deal with customers all day long, I have a headset strapped to my head for eight hours, take warehouse orders, and call the distribution center to load the trucks. After the Sales Rep.’s have been given their weekly reports we then call the Drivers to iron out any delivery problems.

It’s all very stressful and you have to deal with every type of personality on the planet! It is very imperative that we use our intuition skills to decide how the person on the other end of the phone is reacting to you. Understanding and predicting behaviors is a big part of our lives at home work and school.

You may have insight into how people react from the experiences you have had in your life already. For example, If someone calls in with a very irritated voice you may know from previous experience that they are only going to react to someone in a very patient tone of voice and you will have to listen carefully. However, you wouldn’t know that except from previously messing up a call and learning to be patient first.

About two years ago I decided to go back to school. I have to say I am a little biased in my thinking but, online students have it best I think because we bring so much of our own flavor and character to a very fast paced online educational environment. I think it is equivalent to being an online blog writer. These authors spend so many hours each day dedicated to their interests and to educating you as a reader, parent, and friend. You have to really read and pay attention to the details which are the key to the success of this classroom setting, the Blog your writing, or to the child you’re trying to teach.

I mean you could be in a physical classroom setting and only half of the students and the teacher for that matter are even paying attention or know you are there. You could be writing for newspaper that is used to wrap someone’s glass wear before the move. Worse yet your work could end up as doggie training paper!

So no matter how your work gets noticed, whether it is in a newspaper online classroom or in your Childs school, Psychology is a part of our everyday lives. We learn from history and how we raise our families and this make each of us stronger emotionally and mentally ready to handle the real world because we have built on our confidence in ourselves and the work we know how to do from this experience!

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Grandma's Pies

2008-12-11T19:19:00.012-05:00

Ahhh, I remember the good ole days when Grandma baked the pies so early in the morning the aroma of baked apple awoke you from your slumber just enough to make you stomach churn for hours till dinner was ready.

Well me and mine will be sleeping in for Christmas because I have a bunch of teenagers at home who will swear they are 'the spawn of Satan 'if I dare wake them before 11 ' o clock in the morning.

So me and my dogs will wake early enough to thaw the bird, throw some "already made" pies in the oven and start mainlining coffee before I attempt to wake the dead. Image by Lorri37 via Flickr

Then if time allows I will enjoy the peace and quiet of Christmas morning, listen to the church bells and enjoy the Snow if there is any.

Regardless of what is going on in the world this time of year reminds me of the miracles of the holidays, the joy families have of being together and the friendships we have made.

It is the one time when everyone lets go of all there problems and can enjoy peace and beauty of the season. If you can , try to catch a episode of Miracle on 42ed Street, or Christmas Story, these are necessities for the holidays.

You can check out 101 Christmas videos online! so spread some Christmas cheer and enjoy the movies!
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/christmas/soapbox/64

Debilitating Test Taking Anxiety

2008-12-10T08:56:00.009-05:00

As you may have already experienced in life, some stress is good to have. It can keep your alert, attentive, and provide you with motivation. But, some stress can have adverse affects causing you to forget information and become very nervous before and during exams. This good type of anxiety is called facilitating anxiety and this bad type of anxiety is called debilitating anxiety.

Facilitating Anxiety keeps you motivated to succeed. This type of anxiety does not hinder test preparation and test taking abilities. In fact, this type of anxiety may help to improve performance.

Here are some examples of facilitating anxiety: an adrenaline rush before a big game or positive (but nervous) energy before a date. In the career world, it could be a rush of adrenaline before conducting an interview or butterflies before a big presentation.

Debilitating Anxiety has a negative affect and impact on a student's test preparation and test taking abilities. When someone has testing anxiety, they are feeling the influences of debilitating anxiety.

Here are some examples of debilitating anxiety:

Waiting until the last minute to study for a big test and feeling nervous and unprepared. Arriving to a test late and having to rush through the questions to answer them in time. Being pulled over for speeding with the knowledge that your insurance is going to go up as a result of the ticket. Or, in the career world, it could be missing a deadline or being unprepared for a board meeting.

What Can Help Testing Anxiety?

Tests, exams, essays, and projects are all ways for your teachers to make sure you are meeting the objectives of the course. And, outside of the classroom, being an effective test taker can help you meet the challenges you will face in the career world and in life. Tests are not a measure of your self-worth or intelligence; rather they evaluate a certain bank of knowledge.

Just like everything else, our attitudes and perception of test taking are very important. These attitudes can hinder or help with test taking success. If you have had positive and successful test taking experiences in the past, you probably have a good level of confidence with test taking. If you have had bad test taking experiences, you might experience a bit of anxiety before and during exams.

The best way to reduce test anxiety is to have a positive attitude and give yourself plenty of time to study. If you are not prepared for a test, it causes bad stress which in turn can cause severe test anxiety. This test anxiety can cause you to do poorly on the test. When you are prepared for an exam, your levels of bad stress will be low. Test preparation, attitude, and anxiety levels are directly related.

Sources:

Alpert, R. & Haber, R. N. (1960). Anxiety in academic achievement situations. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 61, 201-215.

For More Reading on stress and test Taking Strategies:

Three Tips to Get The Highest Grade on a Paper http://editorialnation.blogspot.com/2008/10/three-tips-to-earn-highest-grade-on.html

Understanding values and Career Goals http://editorialnation.blogspot.com/2008/10/understanding-values-and-career-goals.html

Stress Coping Strategies http://hubpages.com/hub/Stress-coping-Strategies

How To Create critical Thinking Skills http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Create-Critical-Thinking-Skills

White Earth Indian Reservation:A New Begining

2008-12-08T10:20:00.012-05:00

After twenty years as tribal chief Chip Wadena (Kare 11 Television) was finally out of office. On his way to prison for embezzlement of tribal funds, Wadena, who now holds a criminal record can’t run for any tribal office in white Earth Indian Reservation anymore. His criminal record has “proved him unfit for office” says tribal members (Robertson).

According to Erma Vizenour, current Chief and first women chairperson to sit on tribal government, “White Earth has paid their dues and has a fresh start” (Grunderson). Erma grew up in White Earth Indian Reservation and in 1980’s became a vocal critic for the misleading of then tribal chief and government leader Chip Wadena.

After Wadena was convicted on federal corruption charges, Vizenor was appointed secretary and that’s were her mission really started. Vizenor says “she hopes to make a difference to the children who are living with the same poverty I did” (Grunderson). In a recent interview with public radio, Wadena who was recently discharged said “it’s tough to just walk away from something you have known for your whole life” (Robertson). Afterwards he signed up to run for office in the next White earth Tribal Election. But Wadena is now talking of renewed service to his people, Vizenor is acting upon it.

Vizenor says “there’s a critical need for jobs, and reforming the tribal constitution is imperative to prevent future corruption” (Roberston). Even though constitutional reform would most likely keep Wadena from entering any elections vizenor says it’s what the people want not her intentions.

Wadena promises a brighter future and that his concentration will be on family again. However one supporter commented, “it doesn’t really matter anyhow conditions have been this way for so long to hope it would be different” (Roberston).

After the news broke of Wadena’s pending run for office, The U.S. District Court of Duluth handed down a series of indictments involving Wadena and business partner Guillermo Gonzales, for allegedly defrauding car owners by evading taxes and concealing car title status (Oakes). The Federal Grand Jury is expected to hand down indictments this week following an investigation into the criminal acts of Wadena and his business partner (Robertson, Wadena Attempts Comeback, Despite Criminal Indictment).

Vizenor has no comment on this current situation. Meanwhile White Tribe Reservation is starting to flourish under its new commander and chief, Erma Vizenor. As she takes the helm with fresh blood and a new generation to lead them, the tribal community of White Earth can expect to see change and have hope for a brighter future for many years to come.

Sources:

Chip Wadena Pleads Not Guilty. Perf. Minneapolis, St. Paul Kare 11 Television. 2006.

Grunderson, Dan. Erma Vizenor is new White Earth tribal leader. Radio Broadcast. Minnesota: Minnesota Public Radio, 2004 June 9.

Oakes, Larry. Wadena Former White Earth Chairman Pleads Not Guilty. Newspaper Article. Duluth, Minnesota: Star Tribune.com, 2005 November 5.

Roberston, Tom. Wadena Tries For Political Comeback. Radio Broadcast. St. paul ,Minnesota: Minnesota Public Radio, 1999 April 9.

Robertson, Tom. Turbulent Election Nears On White Earth Reservation. Minesota, 9 march 2005.

Website References:

Star Tribune: www.startribune.com/dynamic/mobile_story.php?story=5708786

Minnesota Public Radio:

http://news.minnestoa.publicradio.org/features/2004/05/26_robertsont_whiteearthlex/

http://news.minnestoa.publicradio.org/features/199904/09_robertsont_wadena-m/

http://news.minnestoa.publicradio.org/features/200003/09_robertsont_wadena-m/

http://news.minnesota.public.org/features/2004/06/09_gundersond_vizenorwins/

Associated Press:

http://www.Kare11.com/news/news_article.aspz?storyid=110661

Should Enlistment Be Mandatory?

2008-12-07T12:58:00.007-05:00

Should Enlistment Be Mandatory?

Will America be the last country to instate the mandatory army service? This country is based off of freedom and now some Americans believe that a 2-year mandatory army service is the solution to our problems. “Would you like to see crime, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse rates decline? No, this is not an advertisement for a magic pill; this is an argument for mandatory military service” (Armstrong Williams
Monday, June 19, 2006). I would have to agree with them because not many people are willing to fight for what they believe in, everyone wants the benefits but are not willing to pay for them. This is why America is seen as a week country filled with spineless playboys. Army service should be instated for American high school graduates who are not attending college. With a strong military background I believe that crime rate will dramatically decrease, boost the economy, and the unemployment rate would lower to near zero percent.

America is not the only country that is considering a mandatory army service. In fact “Mandatory military service is practiced in Israel, South Korea, Greece, Algeria, Hungary, Germany, Croatia, Armenia, Switzerland, Turkey, Taiwan, Chile and Nicaragua” (Kimbal Ross Binder Nov 9, 2003). Upon graduation you will have the choice of going to college in which you must graduate or serving 2 years in the army where you will be paid and have full benefits. Sounds like a good deal to me rather than living with my parents and working a dead end job. Millions of men and women will benefit from army service. For example a troubled teenager will go into the army where they will give him/her the tools to become an educated law abiding citizen of his community. Without army service this person would have most likely ended up in jail or on well fair now they have a great head start at life.

“I work with soldiers every day in a classroom setting. Many of these soldiers are fresh out of high school or have already served at least two years. They are mature. They are respectful. They are wise beyond their years. They are disciplined. The same cannot be said for a majority of 18-25 year old "adults" who have never served” (Michael John McCrae, Got Teens?) This is why I believe that crime rate will go down because if the army is so disciplined then who is going to break the law after their service is done?

Many Americans have very different feelings about this topic but there is only one right answer to the magical question vote for mandatory army service. With the facts stated above you can easily see why mandatory service will dramatically improve our most important part of society teenagers. After all they are the future. Mandatory service has been discussed for many years but never instated. I believe this to be because Americans have been living the good life while other countries are laughing at us. With a stronger military background this country will achieve many great things while improving on our week points.

Sources

Armstrong, Williams Mandatory Military Service Would Benefit the U.S. (2006).

Binder Ross Kimbal Mandatory Service? Sir, No Sir! (2003).

Bill Bryson: A Review of Greatness

2008-12-04T14:53:00.013-05:00

Bill Bryson: “Made in America”

The Language of History

Bill Bryson the left handed author of Made in America (2001) gives an informative look at American language and its historical background. Along his journey of discovery he traces the roots of language and dispels many myths and urban legends. In his newest book of nine, Bryson goes on to tell humorous tales of youth that you can chuckle along with if you’re old enough to remember when these tales were told to you as a child (pp 357).

Bryson begins quickly as he unfolds the truths behind the noting nursery rhymes people often told and sang as a child that gave children those images they may never have had of that part of history if it wasn’t laid out in song. Such nursery rhymes were about pilgrims and the rich heritage of the backdrop in history.

Bryson describes the images that only history could tell a fable from a smile song. How else may we have known if the pilgrims crossed over in the first place? What would they have worn, sang and what types of food would they have eaten (p.1-2).

Bryson further dialogs that much of what you do and say in today’s world , reflects that of what the colonists had experienced as they tried to name everything in sight to prevent from getting lost in the new world and to be able to describe how to get there again ( p.11).

Another wonderful example of heritage described in this tale of language, is Bryson’s own ethnic talent he brings into this book by describing the colorful artful and eve en musical past of the historical people from our past.

The music that they sang and poetry they wrote demonstrated the true nature they were living in and the ultimate intelligence level they had. Many were very illiterate Bryson says (p.358), to the point they further complicated issues surrounding language origin such as proper meaning, grammar and sentence structure in the first person or intended towards someone else’s. It was hard to diminish who they were really writing for or telling stories for. If they mispronounced a word it was done so well into the next generation unfortunate because ignorance only breeds more ignorance and language has a lot to do with that.

Another interesting point within the enticing pages of Bill Bryson’s book is the entertainment within this rich heritage of historical language and how it affected the strength of our language today. Many sought other ways to describe the movements they were living in and entertainment was one of them.
The motion picture association and the movies were an exact replica of the culture and peoples language and behavior skills. It showed how they communicated and used body language to describe what they saw as self expression. Even back in the caveman days they used images to describe emotion.

According to Bryson, political correctness has reached n all time limits in the public’s eyes; some might even say if you’re not speaking like us then it is not correctly spoken. Bryson says this new era of political correctness we see today has people judging one another and placing them in a category of good or bad people based on their language skills. This is very much like the colonists used do during the era of the war between the north and the south. You say tomoto and I say tamato literally meant what side of the tracks you were raised on and hence you’re standing in society (p.352).

Overall, language is an expressed desire to communicate what is going on with you. Weather thesis done through nursery rhymes or urban legends is of no matter. Your grandmother may tell you stories or sing songs from her mother. You may have some paintings on your wall of the great Mona Lisa, in your attic. This entire memorabilia is historical evidence that you were here once and it speaks volumes about your characteristics and religious backgrounds. Your familial lineage is instilled in these photographs and letters so don’t ever let them get destroyed. Our history is our lineage and that is our gift of ancestry we leave behind for our children.

Sources

Bryson, B. (Vol.2.2001 pp.417.). Made In America. Newyork, NY: Haper Collins.

Self Esteem Building In Children Is Vital

2008-12-04T14:53:00.007-05:00

In most cases, children with low self-esteem feel that the important adults and peers in their lives do not accept them, do not care about them very much, and would not go out of their way to ensure their safety and well-being.

When kids do something that is viewed as stupid or inappropriate, they instantly feel the hammer of shame, embarrassment, and humiliation. Afterwards they feel even more embarrassed to face anyone about their issues and opinions for fear they will again reserve the same horror of emotions.

Emotionally, low self-esteem affects a child's development in many ways.
Negative self-esteem is related to low self-confidence, insecurity, underachievement, anxiety, depression, acting-out behavior, sleep problems and being a loner. Children's self-esteem is based largely on their perceptions of how the important adults, specifically their parents, judge them and receive them.

Self-esteem includes the feelings and thoughts that we have about ourselves, how competent we feel, and how optimistic we are that we can succeed. According to the text (Bee & Boyd 2006) all children's experiences and perceptions come from the experience they have with their parents.

Once low self-esteem is formed, the fear and anxiety that accompanies it affects everything a person does, say, and thinks. If kids are exposed to negativity to often during the development years it can result in severe nature vs. nurture issues (Bee & Boyd 2006). Low self-esteem can encourage a child to avoid seeking new jobs, initiating relationships, or learning new skills for fear of rejection or failure when they grow up into adulthood.

Anger problems, domestic and teen violence show increasingly low self esteem at the root of these children.

The most effective and lasting treatments is that of a combination of working to improve one's self-esteem along with learning techniques to manage anger. All too often, however, when people seek therapy of enter into anger management classes, self-esteem is not even discussed.

So how do we combat it?

1) Listen: It is important to the child that the parent listens, takes his or her feelings seriously, and spends time alone with their child. They can also show their respect and support by allowing their child to make decisions, respecting their child's possessions, and expressing love with words and hugs.

2) Pay close attention: As the child grows older and develops interests you influence how they play out by supporting their decisions and enrolling them in that music class they felt was there ideal hobby. Or if basketball was the love of their life get involved, go to the games cheer for them, make eye contact and show your there for them 100 percent no matter what they decide to do.

3) Recognize warning signs: Is your child or teen withdrawing from outside experiences, friends, and sports? If they used to play basketball three times a week and suddenly stop all together or if they have a drastic attitude adjustment that just seems so out of character? Do they hurt themselves, cut marks show up and they explain it away as if it is nothing? These are all warning signs and you may need outside help to intervene, but don’t pretend there is nothing wrong, this can actually make the child even more upset that you didn’t notice they needed you.

Just remember these two things: trust from your child or teen is the most
Important. If they feel you’re going to railroad them, they won’t open up to you. The second thing is communicate with your child without sounding like a lecturer at a conference. Try using suggestive talk, as in ...”boy whn I I was younger it sure made me mad when my BFF would ignore me around her new boyfriend”….then simply ask “what do you think”? (Make sure you listen to their answer).

Communicating and asking for them to problem solve will give them so much confidence in their own decisions and increase their trust that you will listen! This makes for a lasting relationship between you and your child that will never be forgotten!

Sources:

Bee, H. & Boyd, D. The Developing Child, (2007) (11th Ed.) (pp.3-4, 12), Pearson Education, Inc.

National Rifle Association

2008-12-04T14:51:00.004-05:00

National Rifle Association

Almost everyone knows what NRA stands for but do you really know what it is? The NRA is an association that is committed to training kids and adults about safe gun use. They also have courses available for police offices, Hunting, and state fish and gaming. There are no requirements to take these courses if you own a gun but are encouraged.

Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate founded the NRA in 1871. The first president of the NRA was Gen. Ambrose Burnside. His first action as president was to build a rifle range where the first shooting compations were to take place. In 1903 the NRA began a rifle club at colleges, university’s, and military academies. In 1906 the NRA focused on the youth program with teaching them shooter safety and proper storage of a firearm. This was a major step for the NRA and is still one of their main goals today.

The NRA has been an established for 137 years. A lot has changed in that many years. The NRA is now nation wide and appeals to all groups not just rifles. Some of those groups include handguns, hunting, fishing and shotgun. Millions of citizens have been trained in these courses and enjoy safe sport shooting. The NRA isn’t just limited to civilians in fact “today there are more than 10,000 NRA-Certified police and security firearms instructors (National Rifle Association 2008)”. The NRA “train about 750,000 gun owners a year” (National Rifle Association 2008). Of course not everyone is eligible to own a gun and join the NRA. Some of these requirements are “An individual 21 ears of age or older may acquire a handgun from a dealer federally licensed to sell firearms in the individual’s state of residence” (nraila.org NRA 2008). And “An individual 18 of age or older may purchase a rifle or shotgun from a federally licensed dealer in any state”. (Nraila.org NRA 2008)

Characteristics of this group are that they are heavily involved in politics. The reason for this is because the NRA and citizens fell strongly about defending the second amendment. This meant a great deal to a lot of people everyone wanted protect their right to bare arms. So in 1975 the NRA formed the Institute for Legislative Action. This is the same legislation that is still fighting to and has gained much respect from the government.

Some issues and challenges facing this group today are people who are against the second amendment. These people believe that guns are causing more violence in society and should not be allowed. When in fact the NRA agrees with this that is why the NRA has training courses for all different types of guns. These courses will teach you how to safely store and handle your gun. Without theses courses how are you suppose to know what is right and what is wrong? This is about the only challenge the NRA is facing today because the government has strict rules on gun ownership and use.

What are some of the benefits to taking these courses? To answer that question we must first look at the main goal of the NRA. “The primary goal of the association would be to promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis” (Col. William C. Church, National Rifle association 2008). The biggest benefit would be knowing how to defend yourself when the time comes. In addition to learning all that they will also teach you the basic laws of owning a gun and your rights to use it.

The National Rifle Association has proven themselves and is well respected by many parts of society. Imagine the world without the NRA training courses how many people would own a gun and have no clue how to use it. What many people don’t see is that the NRA is helping to stop crime by promoting gun safety. Guns should not be a thing to fear but instead a fun activity that can be enjoyed by everyone as long as common sense is used.

Sources

- The National Rifle Association 2008

Http://www.nrahq.org/history.asp

The National Rifle Association 2008

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=60

Self Expression is Part of Human Culture

2008-12-02T12:26:00.004-05:00

November 30, 2008

Human Culture has evolved so much in the last century or so. It has become an advantage to use as political platform to launch people’s opinions and dreams. A way of convincing others to a form of thought, we see this process of self expression being used today as a regular daily activity.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Some watch television and sing along with cartoons. Others go to church on Sunday and sing with the choir. Yet still, others may dance and shout at their favorite night club or football game on Monday nights. All of these things are examples of expression. But where did these ideas come from? Why are things the way they are now?

These are reactions we have observed over time within our own family’s environment. Over time these reactions have changed because of war, decadence, and evolution of thought. The result of these time changing events in our history reprints our imaginations and paints new pictures of our future on the backdrop of society.

“It is human nature to express oneself in the utmost way in order to gain an advantage of human thought” says Dr. Buss, author of The Handbook to Evolutionary Psychology (2005). “Human beings have animal like instincts to express themselves stronger and more powerful than the other…” Buss goes on to explain that over time we have created a more vibrant and exciting view of life this causing more violence and strange ways of amusing ourselves.

Image via Wikipedia

These ways may be seen in our environment of human culture. For example, you wouldn’t still raise your children the same way your grandparents did. Today’s society is different and doesn’t accommodate the era of our relatives. However the thoughts and experiences do change our way of living. The stories we heard of Grandpa In the war may be where your families’ appreciation for god and country comes from.

If we trace our steps backwards we find that people used self expression as a way to communicate through a series of grunts and noises. During the early 1800’s man created music as a form of self expression, to tell of the happenings of the day. There weren’t any newspapers or televisions just each other’s word of mouth. Stories became real through the emotion of music.
Today music is just one of many different forms of self expression. We see human culture come out in art, books, television, and even in political arenas.
This presidential election brought more self expression and human culture than any other has in history. The way that race and gender had come together to invoke change added to the backdrop of human culture.

Paintings and newspapers that reflected the political arena of 2008 provoked change and became a part of our national history and hence a part of human culture.
Human culture is in all of us. It is an expression of our hopes and dreams, and our inner most desires. What we have done in the past and what happens to us in the future, ideas of grandeur will ultimately change the human culture we live in and reflect in the way we express ourselves from day to day.Image via Wikipedia

In the words of Albert Einstein, “Imagination is everything; it is the preview of life’s coming attractions”.

Image by 5348 Franco via Flickr~ Never stop imagining the future, but be sure to live in today~ K.D.C.2008.

Top Ten Ways To Get Rid of Telemarketers

2008-11-25T00:25:00.012-05:00

Its 4am in the morning the phone rings and “Charlie” master telemarketer extrodinare has the best deal of the year to tell you about! Charlie lives In a different time zone and isn’t privy to the fact it is 4am where YOU are, but luckily, “Charlie” has AT & T because he has more bars in more places to call YOU from at 4am with his deals! Telemarketers oh!

And never mind that there are those “do-not –call” lists who pays attention to those, who the hell has those lists anyhow ? Oh yeah all those spammers that want to fill your inbox at the crack of dawn , that say that you “signed up” for there services, but before your able to see your way to coffee pot “Charlie” the master telemarketer, has called again with his this is your last chance deal!

As you nod your head with ‘uh huhs’ and agree with Charlie the master telemarketer, thinking he will just go away, you wonder if there is a way to get rid of these telemarketing callers once and for all! Slowly, you make your way over to the coffee pot which has now run over and the coffee grounds are spilling into your cup when you realize your son’s teenage girlfriend spent the night and is now standing in the hallway mortified because your in your boxer shorts and haven’t got any pants on!

If your tired of those pesky telemarketers and want some unique ways to distract these univited guests and maybe rid yourself of them once and for all read on:

Top Ten Telemarketing Calls:

1. If those telemarketers want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for Bankruptcy and you could sure use some money and maybe they could lend you some of there’s!

2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, “I’m so glad you asked, because no one seems to care these days and I have all these problems, my sciatica is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my hemorrhoids hurt and my dog just died..." When they try to get back to the sell, just continue your problems until they bail.

3. If they say they're John Doe from the Acme Company, Ask them to spell their name, Then have them repeat it. Then ask them to spell the company name, and then repeat it. (Hehe) Then ask them where it located, and repeat it very s-l-o-w-l-y. Eventually they’ll have the headache you started with when you got the call, and hang up!

4. Scare those telemarketers good with this one:In a screeching voice, cry out, in pure pleasure and surprise, "Tom!! Is this really you? Tom, how have you BEEN?" Hopefully, this will give Tom a few brief moments of terror as He tries to figure out where the hell He could know you from.

5. Say, "No", over and over. You remember this game ,yeah you used it to tick off your sister when you were ten! Just remember to say it after every three or four words they say. Make sure to interupt! This is the most fun if you can keep going until they hang up.

6. Here's a great telemarketing call ,If Alltel calls about "My family plan", reply, in a sinister a voice as you can muster, "I don't have any friends for the my circle plan...would you be my friend huh really would you? I could use somone to talk to."

7. If they clean rugs: "Can you get blood out, ( If they say yes make sure you get real loud and excited) say “you can?” Well, how about goat blood or HUMAN blood( said with real devious sinsiter tones). Then if they haven’t hung up yet tell them you have tried to find someone that can do that but they all turned you down or called the police.

8. Let the telemarketer give you thier best sales pitch, but make sure you seem interested by responding"Uh-huh, really, or "That is incredible." Finally, when the telemarketer's ask you to buy, ask them to marry you. They get all flustered, but make sure you give the nail in the coffin tip and tell them you couldn't live with yourself if you gave your credit card number to someone that’s a complete stranger so they will have to marry you.

9. Answer the phone. As soon as you realize it is a telemarketer, shout or scream, "Oh, my God!!!", Breath real heavy, "Oh, my God!!!" then say “can you hang on a minute were almost finished” and then listen as they hang up.

10. Tell the Telemarketer you are busy and if they will give you their phone number you will call them back. If they say they are not alloud to give out their number, Then ask them for their home number and tell them you will call them at home. (this is usually the most effective method of getting rid of Telemarketers) *This tip thanks to Jerry Seinfeld It really works you’ll be surprised!

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Live Your Life and Stay Organized

2008-11-24T22:37:00.007-05:00

The greatest challenges I face in meeting Life’s demands is making sure I have enough time to get everything done by their deadlines. It seems like my biggest problem is making sure I don’t get overwhelmed. I tend to take on more than I can handle because of my crazy need to get everything done in one darn day!

One of my worst negative aspects is procrastination, I know it's bad, I am working on it. Even though I have been working on prioritizing and making a schedule to ease my life and lesson the kayos I’m still a mess!

My girlfriend says I have been known to procrastinate just because I have other things I want to get done first! (Perfectionist or Stubbornness) lol
Well here is a lesson and a word to the wise, hopefully you won’t let this happen to you and buy a day planner to keep yourself better organized!

(This is how you can mess up your life by NOT prioritizing your responsibilities and taking on too much.)

Here's what I did last week that messed everything up for me and my kids. For example: My mother came to visit and did what all moms do, she told me my place was am mess and complained I hadn’t painted the walls in ten years and they needed tending to. So me in my stubbornness to prove to her I can take care of everything myself decide to paint my basement and laundry room last week ( which I had not planned to do or the time to do!) and didn’t account for the fact I would be totally exhausted by then end of the day. I also forgot that my daughters might be in a swim meet tournament if they won the next few nights. (Because their awesome, they did!)

Now I know from looking back, I had this in my computer calendar to remind me, I also had sticky notes, but being of my usual stubborn self, I wanted to get the darn painting done before thanksgiving. So I got up in the morning, without looking at my “to do “list and went right to it.

Throughout the day I ran out of paint, ran all over trying to match it, and forgot to wash the girls’ uniforms for their tournament, and their cookies for the party afterwards (I felt so bad talk about stress). I still had to make dinner, pack the girls up, and drive two towns away for the tournament; plus, I still hadn’t logged in to the computer and did my homework or posted to my blogs!

So the rest of the week was completely off because of all the mistakes and kayos I had inadvertently created for myself, while I spent the rest of my time backtracking to fix all the things I had originally organized on my “to do” lists. Needless to say, I was stressed out, felt sick with a headache and couldn’t sleep; plus I was very angry with myself for messing up the whole week!

Never give up whatever you do! Hopefully you will learn from my mistakes and invest in a good system that really works for you. The good news is these types of organizational problems can be avoided!

For example try getting a dry erase board, you can usually find them at Dollar general really affordable five dollars or so.

Once you have one, and then come the easy part, write down just the things you need to get done that day and place it where you walk by it all day long so you will trigger your mind to remember to stay focused and accomplish a whole lot more throughout the day.

This will make you feel exhilarated and pleased you accomplished it all by yourself! The rest of the week is just "one day at a time" so no stress and worries it will all come together and you will do just wonderfully!
For more information on how to stay organized :

http://www.ehow.com/how_4614648_overcome-jealousy.html

http://hubpages.com/profile/Editorial+Nation

How To Series: Stay Organized

Humor: Counseling

2008-11-16T22:48:00.008-05:00

November 17,2008

A husband and wife came for counseling after 20 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 20 years they had been married.

She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage.

Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and, after asking the wife to stand, embraced and kissed her passionately as her husband watched with a raised eyebrow.

The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze.

The therapist turned to the husband and said, "This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?"

The husband thought for a moment and replied, "Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish."

Want more? Check out these:

"Overcome Jealousy" http://www.ehow.com/how_4614648_overcome-jealousy.html

"Top Tips to Overcome Jealousy"http://hubpages.com/profile/Editorial+Nation

Dont Forget To Change The Clocks Back!

2008-11-02T13:01:00.008-05:00

At 2:00 a.m. local on Sunday, most of the United States (except Hawaii and Arizona) will leave daylight saving time behind and fall back an hour to standard time.
The annoyance of resetting clocks (or forgetting to, and showing up an hour early for appointments on Sunday) may raise the question of why we bother with this rigmarole in the first place.

Daylight saving time is most often associated with the oh-so-sweet extra hour of sleep in fall (and the not-so-nice loss of an hour in spring), but some of the original reasons for resetting our clocks twice a year including saving energy and having more daylight hours for retailers, sporting events and other activities that benefit from a longer day.

As far back as the 1700s, people recognized the potential to save energy by jumping clocks ahead one hour in the summer - Benjamin Franklin even wrote about it - although the idea was not put into practice until the 20th century.

During both World Wars, the United States and Great Britain began observing daylight saving time. After the war, U.S. states were free to choose whether to observe daylight saving time and the calendar start dates of the time change. The result was time confusion for travelers and newscasters. In 1966, Congress enacted the Uniform Time Act, which stated that if any state observed daylight saving, it had to follow a uniform protocol, beginning and ending on the same dates throughout the country.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20081031/sc_livescience/daylightsavingtimewhydidwedoit

All Hallows Eve

2008-10-31T16:57:00.005-04:00

October 31, 2008.

By Karen D. Cecil

Photo from: www.clevercrow.com/samhaingreet.jpg

It was once the celebration of the dead! It is said by many, that on this day in October 31, the spirits of those that had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of bodies to posses for the next coming year. The Celtics believed that all laws of space and time were suspended to allow the spirit world to enter into the world of the living. This practice was believed to be their only hope of the afterlife [i](Santino 1982).

The Celtics divided their years by harvesting and so they had four holidays representing the end of each harvest. October 31st marked the beginning of their winter harvest, called Samhain [ii](Celtic religion and Practices 2008) which produced crops and cattle offerings. To usher in this elaborate holiday they had festivals with fresh crops and vegetables of the harvest. They offered sacrifices to the spirits by killing the fattest calf of the harvest in hopes of helping the spirits of the dead find their way towards the afterlife.

It was also a custom for the poor people and their families to come to beg for offerings at the festival gates in exchange for their promise to pray for the dead spirits of nobles’ families and ensure a safe passage of the spirits to the heavens. These poor families, or “beggars”, would be given soul cakes[iii] (History of Hallows Eve) to fill their soul with safety and protection from the spirits. Many would even walk to these festivals in masks to fool the spirits into thinking they were also kin spirits.

When the Immigrants migrated from England to the Americas, they brought with them their various beliefs and customs. However the strict protestant revivals going on within the colonies kept them from practicing their pagan beliefs in the way they were used to. As Europeans and the Indian rituals merged through the protestant era, they began to experience festivals around the fire, like the Indians did during story telling time within family to family like the Celtics did from the very beginning, it has evolved into a ritual of our very own[iv] (History Channel 2005).

Today we celebrate these same traditions in similar manner. Trick or Treating is our way of celebrating this same holiday tradition. Today it is considered a childhood event in which all the community is involved in. This provides rich culture for us to experience a feel of community with our fellow neighbors. It also provides a time of fellowship and a chance to share stories of our own family history.

__________________________________________________________________

[i] Santino, Jack. Celtic Samhain and the Origins of Halloween. Reprinted by About.com “ The Fantasy and
Folklore of Halloween”. 12 September 1982.
[ii] “History of Celtic religion and Practices”. http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/samhain.html

[iii] “History of Hallows Eve”. http://www.emsb.qc.ca/michelangelo/works/halloween.html

[iv] “The History of Halloween”. October 2005.
http://www.hisotrychannel.com/exhibits/halloween/index.jsp?page=origins3

___________________________________________________________________

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Three Tips To earn Highest Grade on Essay Paper

2008-10-30T10:02:00.008-04:00

Three tips to earn the highest grade on a essay paper:

By Karen D. Cecil

Research, research, and research!

I think that the single most important thing we need to do to gain an edge on the educational process it to make sure we are well versed in the subjects we are studying.

It has been of great help to me to read a lot of different peoples' views and scholarly stands on the subjects of interest and to find journals and newspaper articles that address the issue and see where the public stands on these issues as well.

If we are learning about a subject and we understand how all these different aspects affect it then we can contribute our own thoughts and ideas to the topic. It is in this way that we further educational process for ourselves and others.

In regards to test taking this supports and reinforces us in our ability to answer the questions. For example, if we are going to make pie dough in the kitchen,( for anyone who has ever done this knows that the less you touch it the better it will be).

But to the novice who may have never asked anyone about how they make a pie dough, or checked on the internet for tips on how others make pie dough,( like doing research for a homework assignment or test ) maybe they only read the initial recipe( like only reading the initial homework assignment), then attempted to roll it out with their hands, and they have a tough dough its ruined!
Now to top it all off , you have waited materials and your time an energy in doing something you didn’t get anything out of!

The moral of the story? If your going to put your time and effort into a homework assignment and in preparation for a test, you might as well do the research so you can get something out of it, like a passing grade! Your going to be wiser for it!

For lots of helpful tips on everything you can think of to study, do research better, or even organization techniques; I like some of the articles that are on this site, hope our do to!

http://hubpages.com/profile/Editorial+Nation

http://www.how-to-study.com/

We Are Historians From Birth

2008-10-16T20:42:00.022-04:00

October 16, 2008.
By Karen D. Cecil

Throughout time, history has been based on people’s interpretations of historical events from our ancestors. What you may not realize is that each of you engages in history as you go about your daily lives.

While most people do this with little regard, you’re actually painting your historical past. As families tell stories to their children and grandchildren, specific traditions rich in character are being embedded into their lives and a part of their particular families heritage.

This legacy is the thread that is left behind within our children who become our very own historians. Through them our past is interpreted and our future is retold. Many people say, " I live my life day to day what difference does history make anyhow?" Many of the things we do every day is repetitive in nature, and most because of whta has happenedi nour history. Let me explain.

Rituals, for example, “Children love rituals, it gives them a sense of belonging and comfort” says Martin V. Cohen, Ph.D., associate Director of Marital and Family Therapy at New York Hospital –Cornell Medical Center. “Rituals are events that happened in the past and will continue into the future no matter what is happening in the present”.

These types of behavior structure identity and culture is breed through our behavior. So How and why we pray before we eat our evening meal says a lot about the “how” and the ‘whys” of our religious background.

These important clues leave historians evidence that religion was important to our ancestors and maybe our culture.

The term ethnicity, as defined by American Heritage Dictionary; 1973, says “to be ethnic is to have ethnic pride”. Webster’s Dictionary; 10th edition, describes ethnicity as “the character or quality of an ethnic group”. The extent in which ethnicity has shaped American culture has become the norms for historical verification. A Childs upbringing, religious habits, clothing, speech patterns, and personal hygiene all leave behind many remarkable threads of human culture.

In fact, the development of family life and the remnants left behind help historiographers decipher artifacts and land monuments. Putting a time and date to an era is a very precious commodity. There are a lot of historical abandoned structures in the US that historians are trying to unravel the mystery to who lived there and who built them. If we knew that then we could better understand how society evolved to the circumstances they are in now.

Land ownership is another way in which family heritage and ethnicity play a big role in deciding where the next of kin will live or who gets the family home during an estate. Even state officials need to know this information to better survey land erosion and how to fix climatic problems.

Personal genealogy, another reason many folks want to have their history revealed, medical conditions or even something as simple as and estate question. Maybe you just inherited your great grandmothers house, in it were the contents of many old ink blot letters and a wooden table.

However you don’t know the meaning to these artifacts because your grandmother died before she could tell them to you. So you hire a historian to research this and find your grandmother was Amish and her and her husband built that table to be passed down to each married kin! This would be a very important linage to leave behind in their family genealogy. This kind of information would change history for that family.

Its also important to realize that over time the” melting Pot” of history changes with each generations view and perceptions of their lives.

Everyone has their own unique identity that we leave behind for future generations to unravel. As the pages are still being written by our children, the events our ancestor’s stories tell become our present.

______________________________________________

Refrences

American heritage Dictionary, vol II, 1973.
Cohen, Martin V. Cornell Medical Center
Asc.Dir. Family and Marital Therapy.
Dengel, Janet Family Rituals and Traditions ,
http://preschoolerstoday.com/resources/articles/traditions.htm
Webster’s Dictionary, 10th ed. Pp. 398. Springfield Mass. 2004

College Notes: 8 Steps to Writing Your Article

2008-10-13T23:05:00.009-04:00

October 13,2008.
By Karen D. Cecil

8 steps in how to write research paper/article.

These 8 steps are easy to follow and will increase your accuracy in researching your paper/article. These steps are a helping tool for any college or high school student or even a beginning blogger with a long or short paper/article to write. Like any other writing project, research writing is a process involving a number of steps. Although you may be overwhelmed at first by the large scope of a research paper/article, if you break the task into smaller tasks, you'll find yourself able to complete even the largest assignment.

1) Start by understanding your paper; make sure you know what requirements are for you paper/article. This is a key step in being able to outline your plan of attack.

2) Focus on your topic. Narrowing your topic before you begin, and again several times as you proceed, will help you write a thorough paper, one that treats its subject accurately. The clearer you are at the beginning about your project, the better off you'll be.

3) Make a generalized position on your topic, which support your views. Although you should expect your ideas to change and improve as you continue working, you should begin with a first sense of what you think about your topic. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the opinions of more experienced writers, and if you enter the project without a preliminary sense of your own position, you may have a difficult time formulating an original position later.

4) Decide on a documentation style you would want and pay careful attention to how references are documented in the publications you read. Establishing the proper documentation style from the beginning can save you time from having to reformat your citations, and it will help you to be thorough and organized in gathering the necessary information.

5) Plan a research strategy you are going to use, or in what way you are going to gather your information. You need to make a plan for searching books, periodicals, government documents, and other appropriate resources., Many of these research tools are now available in computerized versions and can point you in the direction of a great deal of very specific information.

6) Ranking your resources or gathered information. As you locate books and articles, you need to assess their usefulness for your project. The ones that seem valuable to you need to be evaluated for their timeliness, relevance, and critical position.

7) You need to take careful and accurate notes. You will want to do several kinds of writing during this early stage of the research paper. You probably will want to keep some kind of a journal to record your responses and evaluation of your findings. You will also want to take careful notes on the information that you will use in your paper. If you find sections that you might quote, copy them exactly and record the page numbers. If you rely on photocopies, be sure to copy the bibliographic information too. The passages that you pare-phrase also needs to be noted carefully.

8) Last but not least you need to make a plan for your paper, a skeletal diagram on how you are going to present your new learned information and views. If your paper will be a long one, an outline will help you to organize your material. Some people will support your point of view, others will voice contrasting positions, and some will provide forceful views.

~Keep an open mind and represent what you learn in an organized manner, and give credit where credit is due. Keep your paper sweet and to the point. Follow these # 8 simple suggestions on how to organize your thoughts through the pre writing process and soon you’ll be on your way to publishing your first paper!

How To Stay Organized

2008-10-13T21:55:00.024-04:00

October 16,2008.
By Karen D. Cecil

Five Tips To Stay Organized:

Its 7am, the dog is barking, you’re buttoning the top button on junior’s dress shirt for that expensive private school you have him in.

Your husband is twittering on Cnn.com, and you’re trying to pull up your pantyhose all the while the burning bacon in the oven you forgot about is now starting to smoke like your grandpas ole cigar.

You have missed your morning meeting, as you rush out the door you realize you’ve left your dry cleaning on the table.

The neighbor man stares at you in disbelief as you race down the driveway like its Indy pit row!
You struggle to put on makeup that the dog half ate and finish your now cold mocha latte that you’re two year old filled with crayons before you dropped her off at day care.

Now a half hour late for work, you realize you broke more traffic laws than Brittany Spears on your mad dash to the office as you wonder empirically how you ever made it through grad school…with your sanity!

If this describes your life, fret no more! Here are ten tips to keep you organized through the holidays all in one piece!

Five Tips to Keep You Organized:

1) Manage your time: Decide which tasks are most important and make a plan of organization. My favorite trick is tear up a bunch of small pieces of paper and write down one thing on each piece of paper I want to get done i.e.; laundry ,supper, and dishes. Then make tow piles immediate and what is not necessary to do now.

For example, you need to make dinner now, but the laundry may be put off till later when the kids are home to help. One of the biggest problems people have organizing is deciding what is important and what to let go.

If the house doesn’t need cleaned right now, then put off the vacuuming till hubby gets home to help while you get dinner started and the laundry going. Then when help arrives you can tackle the other chores and get them done in a lot less time than stressing over things that can wait!

2) Make a list of goals: The most important task it to keep a short term (Immediate list for the week or Month), and long term list (five years or more down the road such as graduate college, pay off the mortgage etc.)To manage your tasks. Ask yourself, “What do I have to do right now, tomorrow or five years from now?”

3) Get yourself organized: Grab a giant white board and make a to-do list for you and your honey, even get the kids involved they’ll love it! Make a new list at the end of every week! Then reward everyone on the list for trying hard! What a better way to end the week than dinner and a movie?

4) Deal with increasing demands from others: Mom does have a way of showing up at the most unsuspecting times! But what would we do without her right? So ask for help when that to-do list is growing! Ask mom for her awesome beef stew she made while you were growing up? (She’ll be flattered you remembered).

Suggest to the kids, that you might feel motivationally moved to make milkshakes if the laundry mysteriously got folded! Then make a point joke about how a ghost came in, did all the laundry, and folded the towels so neatly! (The kids will be so proud they participated).

5) Use Unexpected Gifts of time: Learn to multi task! Try doing more than one thing throughout the whole day. When making dinner, also check email, and look over your shoulder at the kids while they do their homework. Wash the laundry and return phone calls via headset. This way you can sit down to a movie with the kids and not feel guilty about it.

~Don’t forget the most important things you can do is to keep a list and look at it often. Whether it is on your PDA or a yellow sticky post it on your bathroom mirror, look at it often and keep it updated.~

~The second most important is to believe in yourself that you can accomplish this goal and reward yourself every week for the work you have done, it will solidify the results and in a month you’ll be an ole pro at it!~

Monster Directory

'Chartering' Your Childs Future and Beyond

2008-10-13T21:48:00.013-04:00

Pros And Cons Of Homeschooling

Evaluating the pros and cons of homeschooling; homeschooling is becoming a popular alternative to traditional education. Once upon a time, this was something that was done strictly for religious reasons. However, these days, parents are making the choice to home school based on the best educational option for their child.

“Today, over 2 million families educate their children at home, and the number continues to grow steadily each year.”(K12.com).

Making the decision to home school can be a difficult one. There is so much information on homeschooling that often people are not sure where to begin. After evaluating the following pros; educational freedom, one-on-one attention, ability to take life easy, and the option to teach your way, then the cons; cost, and socializing issues.

It is often important to think of the child’s educational freedom and one-on-one attention when homeschooling. If you choose to homeschool your children, as the teacher, you will be able to create the perfect “curriculum” for your children's growth and advancement. You can create “curriculums” that are uniquely tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. This will help them to advance in the areas they are good at and to get that level of nurturing attention where they need some work. Your children will no longer have to worry about competing for any teacher's attention.

As the teacher of your children, you will be able to help them the minute they need “extra attention”. This is the perfect situation for both special needs and gifted children, although on-level children flourish with the extra attention, as well .

You also find that homeschooling seems to make life easier and let you be able teach your own way. One of the best things about home schooling is the freedom that comes with it. You do not have to work on the 8-4 schedule unless that is what works for you and your children. You can homeschool at midnight if you find your children work best at this hour.

You also can choose to homeschool year-round and you can pick the days that you have off. If you are religious, you can teach religious-based curriculum and have prayer breaks if you want them. If you are non-religious, you can teach a secular-based curriculum. You will have the ability to create the structure of your child's school environment from the ground up.

A huge con would be the socializing issues; depending on the area you live in, this may not be an issue at all. All around the world there are homeschool support groups. If you live in a big city, you will have no problem finding groups, co-ops, field trips, and other activities for your homeschooled child.

However, if you are in a more rural area, you might feel you are starving your child of socialization. If this is the case then homeschooling might be a bad idea for you and your family.

Depending on the situation, location, and the child's needs, homeschooling may or may not be a viable option .There is no right choice for every single family. Ultimately, the decision will have to be based on personal choice and opinion. Whatever the decision, you should remember to keep the child's needs at the forefront, when determining whether homeschooling them is the right decision to make or not.

Women Can Change This Economy

2008-10-13T21:42:00.007-04:00

October 14,2008.

By Karen D. Cecil

The 20th century has been a period of rapid and far-reaching change for many women but life for women in some parts of the world still remains harsh. Even where females have experienced great advances like those in Canada, there are still some similarities between their economic role today and the role of women in the 1900s.

During the 19th and 20th century, attempts were made to define and extend human rights. But most of these struggles ignored or denied the rights of more than half the human race, including women.

It wasn't until the women's movement that has touched the lives of most women and transformed the structure of their daily existence; it was this European movement that eliminated the fact that Canada was a patriarchal society and improved the economic role of Canadian women that the rest of the world started to see them through different eyes.

Since the 1960s women have undertaken a vigorous assault on the system of power and within a nation that now claims to be an equal society and emphasizes significantly on equality amongst all but are we all actually equal? Has the glass-ceiling effect been broken at last?

That question still remains unclear but what will remain clear is that once women take up positions where men are unwilling to work, distinguish themselves independent from men in the labor force, and begin to set their desire of exploration for their interest in politics, equilibrium between the two sexes will finally be established.

With great effort, determination, and the right attitude, women today are finally able to thrive for their goals in society, taking on an active role in politics, and proving their independency from men.

The continuing improvement of a women's role in society has and will continue to benefit the US economy. Throughout the past couple of decades, women have played a significant role in politics and are now being recognized as more independent on themselves and less dependent on men.

Moreover, they are willing to take jobs in areas where men have no desire to be in at all. Although there has been a significant improvement for women, there will always be a glass-ceiling unless we end the traditional manners in which we are used to and accept the values of women reflected in today's society.

Women should do what they believe is fair and right and not listen to the voices of society; they should do their own thinking and decide what is best for themselves. Hopefully with the election of a New President, Obama will not o only bring change to the racially challenged, but the gender challenged as well. Maybe we the people can finally realize that means all walks of t life and gender too.

Impressive women like Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Sarah Palin pave the way for more intelligent women to make their place in society, and as women have so much more we can contribute to the very lining of this culture.

No matter what the work is, Women will continue to improve their role in the economy. We must believe that anything is attainable as long as we believe. When this is achieved, equilibrium between man and woman will be accomplished.

Weekly Funny: Understanding Politics

2008-10-10T21:10:00.010-04:00

October 10, 2008.

By Karen D. Cecil

Whether Democrat or Republican, I think you'll get a kick out of this!

A little boy goes to his dad and asks, 'What is Politics?'Dad says, “Well son, let me try to explain it this way”:

~I am the head of the family, so call me The President.

~Your mother is the administrator of the money,
so we call her the Government.

~we are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People.

~The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.

~And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.

Now think about that and see if it makes sense.So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said.

Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.

So the little boy goes to his parents' room and finds his mother asleep.
Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room.

Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny.He gives up and goes back to bed.

The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, 'Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.'

The father says, 'Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.

'The little boy replies, 'The President is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep Dodo.'

Politics: Bush's Unnecessary War!

2008-10-09T15:50:00.052-04:00

By Karen D. Cecil

October 9,2008

When some claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war take a moment to remember history and tell them this:

John Glenn, an American hero,(DEMOCRAT) said this:
(2004 Senate Committee Meetings)

"There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January."

In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January.

That's just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq

FDR (DEMOCRAT) led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us; Japan did.

From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost ... an average of 112,500 per year.

Truman (DEMOCRAT) finished that war and started one in Korea .

North Korea never attacked us.

From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost ... an average of 18,334 per year.

John F. Kennedy (DEMOCRAT) started the Vietnam conflict in 1962.

Vietnam never attacked us.

Johnson (DEMOCRAT) turned Vietnam into a quagmire.
From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost ... an average of 5,800 per year.

Clinton (DEMOCRAT) went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent.

Bosnia never attacked us.

He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions. Terrorists followed his lead on 9-11.

In the years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush has liberated two countries,
crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and,
North Korea without firing a shot!

Because of our Military forces, we captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.

Because of our Presidents Leadership, we still have a country to call home, "home of the brave, and land of the free."

...And the Democrats are complaining about how unnecessary and long the war is.

Some gave all, how much is your freedom worth?

Photos Courtesty of History.com

Understanding Values and Career Goals

2008-10-03T00:18:00.008-04:00

Understanding Values and Career Goals
Karen D. Cecil

What does it mean?

When thinking about what you want to accomplish in life, it is critical to analyze who you are and what you deem most important. Your values, personality, and interests play a significant role in this course of action. They influence your thought processes, your emotions, and your decision-making in regards to your personal and professional life.

Why should you care?

As mentioned above, your values will come into play when choosing a career. Just as each individual has values, so does each individual workplace. When planning for a specific career, it is important to find common ground between your own personal values and your company’s values. To do this, you must first identify your own personal and professional values, and then compare them to the work values of the desired occupation.

How does it relate to your life?

Identifying your values can help you understand the reasons behind your actions. For example, when did you take college classes and why? Most likely, each and every one of you values education and learning, or at least what education and learning can do for you. At some point, you had to identify these values in order to clarify your goal to go on to earn a college degree.

Perhaps the most important thing to you is your family's well-being and maybe earning a college degree will help you get a better paying job so you will be able to take care of them.

Perhaps the most important thing in your life right now is establishing yourself in your chosen professional field and you have found the best way to do that is by working your way up the ropes of success.Whatever your reasons, they all relate back to your values and the goals you made for yourself early on in life.

How can you prepare?

Setting clear and realistic goals for yourself is the first step to creating a manageable plan of success in your life. Creating a white board of your daily activities then setting short and long term goals are just as important to gage your performance over the next few months.

Why set goals?

Studies have shown that people who set regular goals for themselves and gage their progress are more likely to achive great success [i]. When making your lists, make sure you can measure them. For example ask yourself Exactly what you want to accomplish? What does it take to get there? Does someone need to help you with it? What tools do you need to get the task done?

Set a realistic deadline for yourself. Decide when you want to take that long awaited trip to mexico, or if you are going for htat promotion at work first, then stick to it!

Make your golas your own and you will be fully commited to them and that means you will achive them!

Photos From National Geographic.com Jim Richardson 2004.
For More Reading Check Out:

"Stress Management Techniques" http://hubpages.com/hub/Stress-coping-Strategies

[i] Bishop, J., and Carter. and Kravits, S. L. (2001). Keys to Success, How to Achieve your goals
Third Edition (pp.204-218). Boston, Ma: Pearson Custom Publishing.

College Notes: Better Writing Reaches Your Reader

2008-09-15T18:21:00.005-04:00

By Karen D. Cecil

Why is it important for us to know the difference between reliable sources of information and unreliable ones?

What makes a credible source from a non credible source?

Using incorrect information not only looks like you don’t know what your talking about, but showing you do not have credible sources. Ask yourself how much information does this source give you about the information provided. Does it give the author, date, or any publication records. Can you find information at another site that gives information coinciding with the other information you have gathered?

Credible means believable. If Your going to go to the trouble to make an argument or sway someone to your side of things, you need credibility to do that. You want to refer to sources that are sure to support your argument , not ones that will discredit it because of the belief factor.

Credible sources give you that intelligent "I'm done my research" side of things . But having these types of sources also does others things. For example, scientists use credible sources to gain valuable insight into their research. They gather information and build on the research that was already done , to further their own knowledge.

Lets say you were researching cancer treatments. You are probably going to do studies from where someone else left off in their research ( kind of saves time) and gives you the chance to add your own knowledge to it. In doing so you may be able to further research for the next guy who could come up with the cure!

Now imagine you did not do your portion of the research correctly or used "un-credible" studies, ( in other words, studies that were not legit) then you based your research on those sources? Imagine if you were close to a cure, and the next person in the chain of studies tried to complete them without the proper sources? It could be devastating to the results of the findings, and to all the years and generations that have put in time to do those studies to find a cure .

Now I realize this is somewhat drastic, but this is just an example of how it would affect us, and what differences it would make in our lives if we did not use credible sources. It seems to me that it is very important , and what if I was the one that had cancer one day? I would definitely want someone researching credible sources for my treatment , wouldn't you too?

A very credible site I have found for my research is http://www.questia.com/ I like the information, it has scholarly journals and a entire library of books from Primary sources that can be used to help your studies.

One of the most interesting features is a citation feature. It is a click and cite button that gives you’re the proper citation of anything your reading or if you just want to use the journal for a reference. It has all the types of sources you could need, APA, Chicago, MLA and Scientific styles.

What are some of the ways in which you learn? Do you have any special techniques that you use to help you write your stories, resumes or blogs?

Working from Home: Come join me on this venture!

2008-09-09T17:25:00.006-04:00

Are you in need of assistance with administrative projects? If you've got a project, I'm the assistance you've been looking for. I look forward to working with you!

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