SnakeWorlds

2008-01-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to my readers. I wish you all prosperity and happiness in the year to come!

For this Christmas we got ourself a ferret, and the little guy is running around the house like crazy every day now. We have to try to get him a buddy, but that won't be for another couple of months.
Anyway, happy new year!!

Bloggerwave - A New Company With Opportunities For Bloggers!

2007-12-18T18:57:00.000-08:00

One really cool thing about blogs is that you can actually make money from them. It’s not very hard either, and one way is to sign up with companies that pay you to write reviews about different companies or products. There are several sites out there that offer bloggers the opportunity to make money this way, and I would strongly suggest you check out Bloggerwave. It’s a European site, but offers opportunities for people all over the world.

You sign up for them, add your blog and wait for them to review it to see if your blog is accepted. Bloggerwave then give you offers, and if you feel like the product or company in question is worth writing a review about you take it. Bloggerwave will then verify the review you posted on your blog, and pay you the amount offered.

It’s interesting, fun and lets you make money online. If this sounds like something for you, go check it out!

Bloggerwave.

How to Prevent an Cure an Ear Infection

2007-12-17T04:53:00.001-08:00

Ear infections can be both annoying and painful, and most people experience them from time to time. Sometimes these infections accompany a cold, but they can also happen suddenly and without any warning. I get them frequently, and especially at winter time so I have gathered up some good advice that I use to try to cure it myself. Usually there’s no need to rush to the doctor, as most times these infections cure themselves. However, if they are left untreated they might give you serious health problems so to consult a physician is always a good thing. Antibiotics are sometimes necessary, and will help you get rid of the ear infection faster.

There are several ways you can help this yourself, both to cure and to prevent an ear infection. The most important thing in my opinion as far as prevention goes is to remove excess water in your ear after showering/having been in water. This is easily done by using a Q-Tip to soak up the water. Be careful though, as inserting it into the ear canal can be harmful, so make sure you don’t put it too far in. I’ve seen warnings against doing this, but I have never suffered any harm from it personally.

Nasal spray can also help prevent ear infection, as it flushes away irritants. These irritants could have caused a buildup in your nose and thus creating a blockage of the Eustachian tube between the ear and the nose. This blockage again creates pressure and or moisture allowing bacteria to grow in your ear and giving ample conditions for an ear infection. So using nasal spray or another nasal wash is a very good mean of prevention.

Chewing gums that contain xylitol is another good tip. When you chew, the jaw movements itself will reduce the risk of getting pressure in your ear, and xylitol is known to prevent certain bacteria to spread inside your ear. Both nasal sprays and gum with xylitol should be used in case of an ear infection too, and I use both every time I get one. The exception to this is only if the infection is so bad that it’s painful to move the jaws.

Oils that you put in your ear by using an eye dropper etc. are absolutely great. I have tried oils from onions and garlic, as well as store bought ones. The home made oils work just as well as the ones from the store or pharmacy, and are a lot cheaper.

Pain medicine is a must for me during an ear infection. I sometimes wake up several times at night from the pain, so when it’s at its worst I always use pain relievers before going to bed. This helps a lot, because not getting enough sleep will just increase your frustration. Having more than one pillow is another good thing; it helps keep your head in an upward position and minimizing the pain.

If the ear infection won’t go away you must obviously contact a doctor to get advice and prescription medicine.

Make Money With The Job Listing IpsoJobs

2007-12-17T03:52:00.000-08:00

I recently came across a new opportunity to make money online. IpsoJobs is a site where potential employees can do job searches in their own area, in a way like career builder etc. The difference with IpsoJobs however, is that the available jobs are only posted for ten days before they disappear, making this site a place for urgent employment. The job listing is completely free for both employers and job hunters.

So where do you make money? Since this site is brand new they need so called city administrators. As a city administrator you have to remove spam and work to make your city as best you can. On their homepage they estimate that you have to work 7 hours a week, and in return you get 50% of the advertising income. You do not need programming experience to do this job; they have an online tool that’s very easy to use.

The founder of the site is from Spain, but they cover the whole world. When you sign up to be a city administrator you have to state which city you are interested in, and give some information about you as well as your Google AdSense code. You can sign up with as many cities as you like, and the time I applied till I was accepted took no more than a day.

As of now there are very few listings in the US, but this is mainly due to the fact that the site is brand new. I am the administrator of Bremerton, and I can see some good potential here if they manage to get business going. You as an administrator should also promote your city to generate traffic thus being able to make more money.

There are very few cities that have been taken, so there are lots of possibilities to get one or more cities. The downside as I see it now, I don’t know if they are going to change it, is that the advertising they have is in Spanish. Unless they change the languages to the appropriate regions, I have some doubts about the success of the site for administrators. If I was looking for a job I doubt I would have any interest in clicking an ad in Spanish, so I hope this gets fixed.

Another thing I noticed is that there might be problems with spam. An employee can list job offerings without a sign up, but I’ll have to wait till there’s traffic until I know how much spam this will generate.

At any time both you and they can terminate the agreement, meaning that if they don’t think you’re doing a good enough job with your city they will find someone else. It also means that you can quit at any time, you’re not committing yourself to anything. The cost to you is zero anyways, it’s completely free to join and apply.

I see some good potential, not only as a site to make money being an administrator, but also as a job search with many US job listings coming in the near future. Visit IpsoJobs here.

Advantage Term Life - Life Insurance

2007-12-16T10:43:00.000-08:00

After getting married I feel that I have grown up a lot in a short period of time, and I have also started thinking about a family life insurance. If something were to happen to me, I want my spouse to be protected against any hardships that might occur.

I had never even looked into getting a life insurance, so it was important for me to find a good insurance quoting service that could explain the process as well as help me find the right price for my needs.

A friend of mine directed me towards Advantage Term Life. They sell all types of life insurance, and what caught my eye the most was the cheap smoker insurance rates as well as a very good life insurance premiums.

I need every penny I can get, and to save money on insurance premiums is vital. This is why Advantage Term Life proved to be such a good choice for me, as they had the best premiums I could find. In addition to this after reviewing insurance plans pros and cons I came to the conclusion that Advantage Term Life has the best coverage as well as the best online Insurance Policy.

So if you’re looking to save money on insurance, and getting the best coverage I would suggest giving Advantage Term Life a try.

Make Money Online Vindale Surveys and Product Review

2007-12-14T10:20:00.000-08:00

I am always open to ways of making money online. One of the traditional ways by answering simple surveys still holds up strong, and while it won’t give you the biggest cash flow it can help a lot. If you mix these surveys with ones that require sign ups you can make lots more money.

Vindale Research is a legitimate site that pays well for surveys. The surveys come right into your email, and you can of course choose whether or not to take them. If you choose to answer, and they find you eligible you will be given $1 for your time. This isn’t very much, but the best part of Vindale however is yet to come!

Through paid surveys that require a sign up, they pay you between $5 and $75 for evaluating a product! This means that you can sign up for a site, then consider how easy the sign up went and what you think about the product (usually the site). Sometimes you have to use a credit card to sign up, but it’s well worth it considering their high pay outs. All of this is up to you of course, and you can choose if you want to participate each time.

Usually you’ll get offers to participate in surveys once a week, and if you sign up for every one you can really make some good money. You can choose to get payed by PayPal or by check, and the payout is on the 15^th and the last day of every month after you have gained atleast $50 in your account. Considering each survey pays between $5 and $75 this is not hard to get, and is very easy money.

Vindale is a company that can be trusted, and they work only with legitimate sites. If you choose to sign up with them you might be able to do offers immediately, and start making money from them today. Just click the link below if you want to give it a try, it’s totally free to try out and you can choose which surveys you wish to do.

Another great thing about Vindale is their referral program. For every member that you refer who complete at least one Survey you get $5 into your account!

You won’t get rich from this program, but it will definitely help out if you use it frequently!

Try it out right here.

Vindale Research.

Cat's and What Comes With Them

2007-12-14T07:34:00.001-08:00

Having a cat can be very giving and nice. Cats require less care then dogs, and are therefore often the best alternative as they can provide just as much a friend or companion as a dog. There is however way too many people that get a cat without really thinking about what they are getting themselves into. The cute little kitten seems so innocent and sweet, and it’s very easy to forget that the little sweetie will grow up and become an adult cat to be around for many years to come.

Here are just some of the things that a cat owner to be really need to think about before taking the final leap.

The first thing is that one must remember that cats are not dogs. With that I mean that cats do not take no for an answer. If the cat does something it’s not supposed to, you can say no all you want, but the cat will in most cases not learn anything from it. Cats are very independent and think of themselves as the boss around the house. This can sometimes be very frustrating, because you would think the cat would learn what not to do after 50 times. Very often they do not.

Cats scratch. Whether it’s expensive carpets, furniture or kids, the cat is bound to scratch. My cat has a scratching post, and even though he uses it frequently he still scratches carpets and rips up seats of chairs with his claws. I once tried to fix this by putting on him special claw covers, but the result was that once those covers were gone the nails were sharper than ever and the damage even worse. So be prepared for ripped up things around the house.

Cats also require attention and lots of care. You have to be there for them every day of their life. They need food and water of course, you need to find expensive pet sitters if you go away for the week, and these things sum up to a great deal of money. On my last vacation I ended up spending 1\3 of my vacation costs on cat housing. This money I could without a doubt have found more suitable spending for during my trip.

Another thing to think about is that cats have accidents. They get hairballs and puke, and they do not care if it happens on your pillow or favorite blanket, it will come out where the cat wants it to. Sometimes they decide to go potty outside the litter box too, much to the owner’s frustration. The litter box is yet another thing, cleaning up after an animal for the rest of its life can be a hassle in its self. It has to be done however, otherwise you can be sure the cat will go elsewhere in the house and the house itself will smell horrible.

Cat hair everywhere is a given unless it’s a naked breed. So if there are any kinds of allergies in the family, or you like to keep the house nice and clean the cat is going to be a problem.

The commitment you make towards the cat will be for 15-20 years. Cats bond to their owners, and an adoption would break their little hearts. So make sure you are ready to commit for this long time when you choose what to do.

They tear up boxes, want to play when you’re dead tired, nag until they get what they want and get in all the trouble they can think of. Yet they are so adorable and sweet, and are the right choice for many. I don’t want to discourage anyone from getting a cat; this is just a little reminder of the work that comes with it.

How to Use ConvertXtoDvd

2007-12-14T05:16:00.001-08:00

After trying out numerous of DVD burners and converters I have to say that my favorite of all time is ConvertXtoDvd. In this article I’ll show you how to use it to burn your favorite movies, so it can be played on DVD player.

First of all, go here to download the software. You can try it for free; the only drawback is that it places a small icon on the screen of the burnt movie. If you like it, then you can buy it later to get rid of this icon.

After you download it, start the installation. You should be okay to go with the most custom installation, the only place you really have to pay attention is when it asks you what region you are from and to what format you wish to burn. Europe and the United States have different zones on their DVD’s, so go with the one appropriate for you.

After this is done finish the installation and launch application. A small window appears, with a white screen in the middle. On top are the settings and options, and to the right are shortcuts. It might be a good idea to look over these, so you can get better accustomed to the software.

When you feel comfortable with the software either go to File-Add Video File, or click the green “+” sign to the right. This lets you browse through your computer so you can choose the video file that you wish to burn. Find the file that you want and then hit enter or click open.

You should now see a couple of things on the white screen of ConvertXtoDvd. The first thing should be “Menu – “My DVD”. Click the + sign in front of it and you get a list of options.

The custom menu title of the DVD is “My DVD”. By double clicking Title, you can change this to whatever you wish. Further down under Title Font you can also change the Font and Color. If you have a specific background you wish to use you can add this by double clicking on Background.

The same settings as well as more can be applied to the video file itself. If you click the + sign in front of the video file you can choose to remove the audio, add subtitles, edit chapters, change the name of the video file etc.

If you don’t want to change anything, or when you’re done put in a DVD in your computer’s burner and click Convert. This will allow the program to first convert the video file to DVD, and then later burn in on to the DVD. If you just want the program to convert without burning, go to settings and under the tab Burning tick off Burn result to DVD.

Depending on the size of the video file the program will run for a while, then your movie will get burned and you’re ready to go watch it on your DVD player!

Entire Seasons of Series On DVD

2007-12-14T04:50:00.001-08:00

I love watching TV-shows. Instead of as in a movie where you only get a couple of hours with the characters, in a show you can follow the same people for months, or sometimes years.

Earlier I used to be so upset if I missed an episode of my favorite show, sometimes I would completely turn my schedule around to make sure that when a specific series aired I was right there in the chair ready with a bowl of popcorn. Now however, times have changed.

Most series nowadays give out box sets on DVD with the entire season on it. This allows me to watch the shows at my own pace, and I’m free to pick the times I want to watch it. Not having to be a slave to TV-channels times, and having to reorganize my own life because I want to see a certain episode is a big relief. It also allows me to skip the wait in between episodes, like I remember from before when I would be so upset because someone was in a state of life or death right before the episode ended, or the suspense would almost kill me. Now I can go two months in between every time I watch it, or I can watch a whole season in one weekend if I feel like it.

Then it got me thinking, is this really such a good idea?

The last six months I’ve managed to swallow six whole seasons of 24, the last two seasons of CSI, as well as Desperate Housewives and Lost and a few others. The amount of time that I’ve spent watching these series amounts to a great deal of hours; hours I probably would have spent more efficient if it wasn’t for the ready-to-watch box sets on DVD.

I’m not going to say it’s a complete waste of time, because I do enjoy watching it. It’s about just how much enjoyment I really need. Earlier it would be enough to follow two shows a year, now I find myself watching eight or nine, and countless seasons of every one of them. This is not really necessary of course, but because of the accessibility it’s very easy to get drawn into the net of entire seasons.

So while I want to say thank you to the producers of these box sets, I also want to say that a small part of me wish I could go back to the time before these were readily available and it was merely a dream. As for now however, I’ll turn on the latest season of 24 and hope I manage to finish it before work.

Zicam Gets You Over The Cold Faster

2007-12-14T04:26:00.002-08:00

Winter is a typical time for the dreaded cold. Every year it comes back, and for a couple of days knocks you off your feet and puts you to bed with headaches, exhaustion, dizziness and general ill feelings.

When getting a cold I always rush to the store to stack up on pain killers, nasal spray, Kleenex, cough syrup etc. to help me get over it as fast as possible. Then I heard about this product that at first sounded like a miracle cure. Zicam is a cold remedy that apparently gets you over the cold faster. The manufacturer says to take it right away at the first symptoms of a cold, so it can work on your body before the first part hits in.

I bought it the first time last winter. I felt a cold coming up and decided to try Zicam, because if it does work then it would be such a relief. The result however was disappointing; I got sick and felt worse than any cold I can remember. So I put it aside as a joke and scam, and forgot about it until recently.

In October I started getting a runny nose, and felt as if I was about to get sick. I remembered the old Zicam that I had standing in the cupboard, and decided to give it yet another shot. For a couple of days I took the nasal spray as directed on the package, and strangely enough I never got really sick. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it was because of the medicine, I could just have gotten lucky.

Then about two weeks ago in the beginning of December I had a very important appointment coming up. I could not risk getting sick before this, so when I felt the symptoms coming on I went right for the Zicam again. It took a couple of days, and then all the symptoms were gone and I felt perfectly healthy. Was this because of Zicam too, or another lucky shot?

I don’t know. I’ve tried Zicam three times, and for two of them it’s worked like a dream. Both times I took it at the first sign of a cold, and continued to use it for two days.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but when I take Zicam I always feel ten times worse for an hour after I use it. Then my head and nose starts to clear up and it get back to how it was. So Zicam to me has worked great, but until I have used it a few more times it’s hard to say exactly how well it works. Since you have to take it at the first sign of a cold, it could just be that you never would have gotten sick in the first place.

I would recommend giving it a try though!

How to Play Casino!

2007-12-14T04:26:00.001-08:00

Casino is a game that’s both fun and interesting to play. It’s not very hard to learn, all you need is basic arithmetic abilities.

Casino can be played with as few as two people. You use one stack of card, and the idea is to get as many points as possible at the end of the game.

There are 11 points total, and you must do as best you can to reach as many points as possible.

Every card holds the value of their numbers; two’s are counted as two, three’s are counted as three etc. jacks are 11, queens are 12, and kings are 13. There are only a few exceptions to this rule:

Ten of diamonds. This card holds the value 16, NOT 10 when it’s on hand. After the card is thrown down on the table it’s worth 10. Gives whoever wins it 2 points.

Two of spades. This card holds the value 15, NOT 2. Same as with ten of diamonds, when it’s thrown down on the table it’s only worth 2. This card gives whoever wins it 1 point.

Ace. All the aces hold 14 when on the hand and 1 when it’s on the table. Whoever wins it gets 1 point.

Game play:

At the beginning of the game every person is dealt four cards each, and four cards are shown facing up on the table. You have to try to take as many cards, and as many valuable cards as you can by using simple addition. If there is a 4 and a 5 on the table and you have a 9 on your hand, you can use your 9 to take the 4 and 5. Put the cards (4, 5 and 9) in a stack next to you facing down, and then it’s the next person’s turn. Alternatively you could also take a 4 with a 4 etc; the clue is to make the numbers add up to what you have on hand.

If the next person has a 5 and a ten of diamonds, and there is a jack on the table he can put his five to “build” the jack to 16. Then he has to wait till next turn to take the cards worth 16.

Every time you can only use one card from your hand, but you can take as many cards from the table as you are able to. If you have an ace on hand, and there are a total of four cards on the table; ace, 2, 4, and 7, then you can use your ace to take all four cards. Remember, ace on the hand is worth 14 while on the table it’s only 1. (1+2+4+7 = 14)

At the same time while doing this you also clear the table (take all the cards). This means that you get to turn one card from your stack face up, and is worth one point. If the other person clears the table too, you have to turn your card over again.

When it’s the next person’s turn he has to just throw out a card on the table, and hope that the next person cannot take this card.

When all four cards on the hand have been used, the dealer gives everyone four new cards and the game continues like this until the whole stack has been dealt.

When there are no more cards to deal, it’s called the last round. Whoever does the last hit gets the cards that are left on the table, and earns himself 1 point.

Calculating points is straightforward. There are 11 points total; aces are worth 1 point each, whoever gets the most cards gets 1 point, whoever gets the last hit gets 1 point, two of spades is worth 1 point, most spades is worth 2 points and ten of diamonds is worth 2 points. Cards showing face up in the stack meaning they cleared all the cards on the table is in addition and is worth 1 point each.

Once learnt this game is fun and entertaining, as well as it keeps the brain in activity.

How to Close a Program with Task Manager

2007-12-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

If you have problems with a program that is frozen or won’t close normally, a way to fix it is to use the Task Manager in Windows.

Task Manager is a nifty thing, and can be used for far more things than just closing a program or process but this article will keep it simple, and focused just around closing a program or helping a frozen up computer.

I assume that you are using Windows Operating System. On the bottom of your screen, you’ll find the Taskbar. This is where you see what programs you have open, and is left of the clock. Right click an empty space on the Taskbar and choose “Task Manager” from the menu. Alternatively you can press ctrl+alt+del at the same time as this also opens up Task Manager.

Now you’ll hopefully get a new window up, with what might seem like a lot of confusing computer stuff. Don’t worry though, as you cannot break or mess up anything that can’t be fixed by restarting the computer.

On the tabs it should say “Applications”, “Processes”, “Services” etc. We’ll only need the first two, so click on “Applications”.

This shows you which applications are open, so click once on the program you wish to shut down and then click “End Task”. If you get any error messages just click OK. This should in most cases solve the problem, but if the program is still not closing go to the second tab “Processes”.

Here you’ll see all the processes that are running on your computer, and you can monitor anything that runs. If its notepad that won’t shut down correctly look for notepad.exe. If you’re having problems searching for the program you can click “Image Name” on the top to sort the processes alphabetical. Browse your way down the list until you find the name of the program, and when you found it click it once before clicking “End Process”. You can also right click it and choose “End Process” from there.

After you choose to end the process you get a confirmation box asking you if you are sure. Mine says:

“Do you want to end this process? If an open program is associated with this process, it will close and you will lose any unsaved data. If you end a system process, it might result in an unstable system. Are you sure you want to continue?”

Click “End Process”, and voila! The program is no longer lagging up your system. Task Manager puts the program down by removing the process which kept it going.

So now your computer should be back to normal without the frozen up program in the background!

How to Save Big by Making Filter Cigarettes

2007-12-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

Cigarettes bought in the packet as Marlboro or Camel is expensive after time. An option to these ready bought cigarettes, are hand rolled ones either with or without filter. I’ll give a short introduction to the art of handmade cigarettes with filters in this article, based on my own experiences.

By rolling cigarettes yourself you can save at least 75%. Even if you just replace a few packs a week with homemade ones, it’ll still save quite a bit of money over time. The flavor and quality of cigarettes you make yourself is surprisingly good, and even though store bought are still best they can be a very good alternative.

Most people prefer filter cigarettes, and to make these all you need is rolling tobacco, filter tubes and a rolling machine. The initial cost is low, the filters are usually around $3 for 200, and a rolling machine is about $4. I love the Rizla papers and machine, and would recommend these over anything else, but there are many other brands to choose from. As far as the tobacco goes, you shouldn’t pick the cheapest one. Put in a few extra dollars to get an OK tobacco, the price is still ridiculously low as compared to store bought cigarettes.

Open up the machine, I assume you are using a normal manual rolling filter machine. Fill the middle with tobacco, push it down a little bit, put a filter tube on the end and close the machine tight. Make sure that the filter tube is locked in place, while holding the machine closed pull the filter a little bit to make sure it doesn’t move.

When this is done, hold the machine with the filter away from you. Then while still pushing the machine shut in between your fingers, pull the top part towards you. Hopefully the result is a cigarette, but if the paper got tear or something else happened it’s just to try again until you’ve got it. Also, experience with how much tobacco to put in, as too much makes it impossible to make the cigarette while too little doesn’t make much of a cigarette.

When the cigarette is made you might have to beat the tobacco down by tapping the cigarette on a hard surface as a table.

If the tobacco gets dry you can try to put a piece of raw potato in the bag. Leave it overnight, and you should notice a big difference. Just make sure not to make the tobacco too wet, as it gets harder to roll it that way.

Good luck!

Dollar Days Goodwill and Value Village

2007-12-08T09:23:00.001-08:00

Have you ever gone to either Goodwill or Value Village on Mondays? If not it’s well worth the trip.

Monday is the Dollar Day at these stores, and a lot of items go for 99 cents at Value Village and 1.29 at Goodwill. The deals you can make are unbelievable and sometimes I’ve walked home with shopping bags full for very few dollars.

So how does this work? Well, both stores divide their inventory into specific color groups. The color is indicated on the price tag, and it’s when they receive the product that decides the color. So in order for them to make sure no product stays in the store too long, they created this system to get rid of hard to sell stuff and at the same time to give the shoppers opportunities of making great deals.

Every Monday it’s a different color that goes for around a dollar. It doesn’t matter if it’s a leather couch or a rusty sauce pan, if it’s the right color you get it for a dollar. The days leading up to Monday they will usually have the item at 50% off, but there is always plenty to choose from if your there early enough.

To make sure you get good stuff you should be there when the store opens. Most likely there’s a long line, so get there 15 minutes early for a head start. Then go directly to the department what you are interested in is located, and browse through for the right color. It’s also a good idea to look around in the furniture department as very often they have both dressers and couches for a dollar, especially if they initially were marked with a high price.

There are a few dirty tricks you can pull if there’s something you really want, but is afraid someone else might get to before you. Go there on Sunday, and “hide” the item somehow. It can be in between some really old sheets or even hang it on the same hanger as something you doubt will sell. This way if you rush there early Monday morning, chances are you’ll get what you want. It might be a dirty trick, but it’s not against any rules in the store.

Usually there is a special place in the store that holds more valuable items. At Value Village these things are also sold for a dollar on Mondays, and here you can make really good deals! The line is usually long, but it’s first come, first serve so if you get there first you’ll get the pick of everything.

Whether it’s a board game, sports equipment, retro clothes, a jacket or a dining room table; if you’re lucky you might get it on Monday at these stores. I absolutely recommend checking it out!

Tips for Waking Up in the Morning

2007-12-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

I’m going to share a few tips that I find helpful when it comes to waking up in the morning. I am a typical B-person, and getting out of a warm, snuggly bed can sometimes be really tough, especially now when the temperatures are falling and the sky is still dark when the alarm goes off. There are some things however that seem to work, and maybe it will work for others too.

The number one thing is to skip the snooze. The extra 15 minutes feel good, but when I actually have to crawl out of bed after using it I always feel much more tired than when I don’t use it. So when the alarm clock goes off, the best thing to do is to get up right away. As I do this continually it gets easier every day.

Talking about alarm clocks, setting it an hour before having to leave for work gives me time to wake up and is so much better than having to rush right out the door. Having plenty of time in the mornings is so nice, and I wouldn’t be without it even if it means sacrificing an extra 30 minutes of sleep.

Then it’s the old trick my grandmother would always tell me about, and although it’s unpleasant it really does help. As soon as I get into the bathroom I take cold water and splash it in my face. This gets my blood going, and is really a wakeup call.

The next thing that can help is to start the day with a warm cup of coffee or tea. It not only gives me something to look forward to, it also boosts my energy and gets me out of the zombie state I usually am in when I wake up. Having a nice breakfast with my spouse gives me an extra push before starting the day so this is absolutely recommended!

Warming the clothes I’ll wear before jumping into them is another thing that feels very good especially on cold mornings. A couple of minutes in the dryer and the clothes are ready. It feels nice and warm and makes me in a much better mood if I’m tired and suffering from a little morning grumpiness.

These things make it much easier for me to get a nice start on the day, and make me leave the house with a smile instead of rushing out the door the minute I get out of bed.

K-Mart Provides a Poor Shooping Experience

2007-12-03T19:46:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or does K-Mart usually have an insanely slow and frustrating customer service?

I took a trip over there tonight, as we needed a couple of things for dinner. Right away when I walked in the door I got ogling looks from the woman at the closest desk. There’s flooding here now and with the heavy rain it’s impossible not to drag in a little water as you go. Half of their parking lot is closed because of flooding, so you would think they would be a little understanding as you have to fight your way through 2 inches of water just to get away from the car.

Anyways, I ignored her with a blatant look and put my already water-dripping coat in the shopping cart. As I moved on into the stores, there were as usual big boxes of 99 cent toys as always blocking the routes, and add that with screaming kids and frustrated husbands standing in long lines I was happy as could be when I finally found my way to the food part of the store.

The peace and quiet would however not last long, immediately a lady who works there came up from behind and showed big folders of papers in my face asking if I wanted to do a survey as a home owner. I politely declined, as I just wanted to get the shopping done and get home. She looked at me, nodded her head and moved on past me.

I looked around, and saw nobody. Sigh, what a relief! I was able to find a small pack of KRAFT macaroni&cheese, thinking that $1.49 was a rip off considering Fred Meyer has 5 of those for a dollar when on sale. I then went on to find myself a cold and refreshing coke, but there were none that was cold so I ended up with a lunk warm giant coke that would go in the freezer as soon as I got home.

Next thing I know, the lady from before popped up again. She showed the papers in my face again, and then said “hmmm… Did I ask you already? I always have to look the person in the eyes to know.” Then for five seconds she stared me straight in the eyes, just stood there completely still staring. I thought this was very peculiar, so I excused myself and rushed past her.

As I get close to the check out, there was one line open with five people having their carts full. A few feet away two K-Mart workers were laughing and talking, as if they didn’t have one care in the world. OK, they do need brakes but when there’s at least a 7 minute wait to check out it’s kind of ridiculous just to stand there. Everyone is complaining loudly, and I’m trying to stay calm while sneak reading about Celine Dion and her son in a magazine on a stand. I’m sorry to say, but that boy I would have guessed was a girl.

I get closer to the desk, and it turns out that the woman standing there has uncombed hair, wearing horribly and stained clothes that couldn’t have been washed in two weeks, and has an awful mood. I do at least like for the people who serve me when I shop at their store to look a little presentable, but this was certainly not the case here.

When it finally is my turn he asks me if I want to sign up for a Sears’s card and when I reject she asks if I want to give a donation. I tell her I just want to pay, and I finally get my mac&cheese and coke. While I’m walking out of the store I’m wondering why on earth I ever choose K-Mart. This time was even more awful than usual, but every time there is something.

What happened to just walking into a store and be met with people who will help you if you need to, but otherwise leave you alone. I don’t want to do surveys or get credit cards or give donations when all I’m thinking about is finishing my dinner. K-Mart gets a 1 in my book, and that’s 1 out of 5. So I’m curious if anyone else feels the same way.

Unusual Christmas Gifts

2007-12-03T14:27:00.000-08:00

Here are more Christmas present suggestions for the person who seems to have everything.

First up I noticed a product by hitch hands. For $35 you’ll get a hand with five movable fingers to place on a trailer hitch. The fingers can be adjusted any way you like, so if you want to send a message to the person driving behind you then this is the product!

In the last article I told you about a forecasting thermometer. This time it’s about an umbrella that will forecast the weather. The Ambient Umbrella automatically receives the local weather from AccuWeather.com and gives you the predictions using lights in the handle to indicate rain, drizzle, snow and thunderstorms. So if your friend needs an extra reminder to put up his or her umbrella this will be the product! On their website you have to call for availability, and I believe the price is around $125. So for the special someone, a forecasting umbrella might be the thing.

Next up is a ticket to a sold-out concert or sporting event in your area. We Have Seats provides tickets that are hard to come by elsewhere. Maybe you’ll be lucky and get invited if you provide enough tickets!

Everyone has that one person who just seems to take on the Rubik Cube without any difficulties to everyone else’s frustration. For them the ISIS might be just the thing. It’s a handcrafted gleaming orb made in England, and consists of engineered, moveable bands etched with hieroglyphics. This has been called “the most difficult puzzle ever”, and will for sure provide a good challenge even for the smartest. The clue is to position the bands in the right order to unlock the ISIS. Apparently you get 10 encrypted clues to decipher, and if you manage to do so you’ll be able to qualify for cash drawings. The orb looks amazingly beautiful, but the price is very steep at $199.95. Maybe the closest one likes mental challenges and gets be a part of the ISIS phenomenon this Christmas. Be certain that they’ll like it though, as the manufacturer will not return the product “due to the unique nature of this special puzzle.”

Geeks.com has what I think is an excellent product. Stash Card, a small and secret “box” that slides right into the PC card slot in notebooks. It won’t even be visible, and is an excellent idea for storing minor valuables and memory cards. For me I know this would be so practical, and I can’t stop thinking of all the uses I could have for it. Even to do the old fashioned writing down passwords and then hiding those “inside” the computer and then pull it out whenever I need it would be so awesome. The price is only $5.99, and for everyone who uses a laptop this would be an awesome gadget to have! Considering the low price and how much this would be appreciated in my house, this gadget seems like a very good Christmas gift.

I hope I gave you a couple of new ideas, so that the Christmas shopping can be done!

Together yet Alone

2007-11-30T11:45:00.000-08:00

You begin to tell your partner about the last book you’ve read, but the words don’t get wings. You feel a need to share with him or her the feelings that’s inside you, but you know it’s now worth the trouble. He or she doesn’t want to understand what you are talking about anyways, so you don’t even try. Many people get feelings of loneliness and to have nobody to share the most inner thoughts within the relationship. The background of this feeling of loneliness is often that the communication for different reasons has fallen apart, or that you have given up the hope of a soul mate.

Very often one or both for different reasons withdraw and stop talking. There might be many reasons for this; pride, fright, anger, confusion and insecurity. However this does not have to mean the end of the relationship. In the journal Psychologies the issue of loneliness in a relationship has been discussed. There are helpful tips for people who are living with a partner, but who even though feel lonely.

You must know to appreciate different interests, because even though you might not respect or like your partner’s interests or friendships it’s important to accept it. There might be get-togethers with people you don’t have anything in common with or know, but to allow your partner to be able to be with whom he or she wants is in most cases fertile for relationships although it in some cases might feel threatening.

It’s also essential to learn to communicate in a good way. Make sure that you give good example, i.e. instead of saying: “You never talk to me anymore”, try to say “I would really love it if we could try to talk more”. It’s easy to get into a defensive manner if things are said in an accusing way; also you make sure to let your partner know how you feel, because nobody can deny you that right.

According to one of the therapists in Psychologies we have three different needs for attachment:

1. The intimate attachment – the partner

2. The relational attachment – friends, family etc.

3. The collective attachment - Our social identity, our experience of being part of something bigger like for example at work.

To protect our self against the feeling of loneliness it’s important to cherish all three of these attachment needs.

Make yourself know your own history. The therapists feel that if you cannot get rid of the feeling of loneliness you need to look back on your own history and search for clues maybe from your childhood. Maybe it has nothing to do with your partner, but something that you need to resolve internally, either with yourself, with the help of your partner or from a therapist.

Hopefully these steps will help, so when you’re with your partner you’ll feel like you have your safe haven where you’re never alone again.

Dogs can Form Abstract Concepts!

2007-11-30T07:41:00.000-08:00

Friederike Range and his colleagues from the University of Vienna in Austria have now for the first time proven that dogs are able to form abstract concepts. What does this mean?

According to a recent study that’s published online in Animal Cognition, dogs demonstrated their learning through computer automated touch-screens. They were being tested on their ability to visually categorize pictures, and then use that knowledge in new situations by making selections on the computer screen.

First the dogs were shown pictures of landscapes and a dog. If they selected the picture of the dog, they were given a treat to let them know they were doing well, because the goal of the study was to see if dogs were able to form a picture of a dog in their mind, and then pick the correct picture.

The researchers then took it to the next level, by adding variety to the pictures of the dog; instead of just showing one dog, they would pick several different dogs in the photos. The dogs would apparently still recognize the dog from the landscape photo, even though they had never seen those photos before. It is however unknown if the canines knew that it was dogs they were shown pictures of.

Next up was a test that would tell the researchers if the dogs were able to form their own image of a dog in their mind, and use this to separate landscape pictures from pictures of a landscape with a dog in. Sure enough, the dogs would choose the pictures that had the dog in, proving the theory that dogs can in fact form abstract concepts.

This research also demonstrates the use of touch-screen computers where there is no human interference in the choices the animals make, and this might show valuable for use in other studies.

These studies are very important, as they help us understand how animal’s brains work. It’s also very good for the public that these studies and results are published online for everyone to read, as some of these results are indeed surprising. The link to the online version of the journal Animal Cognition is http://www.springer.com/west/home?SGWID=4-102-70-1129795-0&changeHeader=true&referer=springer.com&SHORTCUT=www.springer.com/journal/10071.

Just as a side note to the good news of our canine friends’ intelligence; there were only four dogs that participated in this test so it would be a good idea to do it over again with more of a selection of participants as well as information about the canine breed. Would a poodle be able to form an image of a dog in their mind as well as an English Mastiff?

Anyway, very interesting research!

Clocks and Ways to Measure Time through History

2007-11-27T21:46:00.000-08:00

The word clock was used for the first time in the 14^th century, and derives from the Latin word for bell, “cloche”. Ways to measure the time has however been used a long time before this, and I’ll give a brief description in this article.

Looking at the sun to know what time it is, is a method that’s been around for as long as people have walked this planet. It’s pretty simple to tell the time; when the sun is positioned right overhead on the sky its noon. When the sun is close to the horizon it’s either sunrise or sunset depending on if it’s east or west. The times in between you have to use a feeling for to tell, but it’s not very accurate.

About 5.500 years ago people created what’s called a sun clock, or a sundial clock. It’s a circular disk with numbers, and a metal bar on it, and when it’s put outside in the right position you can use the shadow from the metal bar to tell the time. These clocks are still popular to have in the garden or outside, and are pretty accurate as long as the sun is up.

A little later the Egyptians invented the water clock. It contains two containers of water, with marks to tell the water level. As water passes from one container through a tube to the other, you can look at the marks to tell the time. The Greek took this several steps up, creating a stick with notches that would turn gears as the water level rose and thereby moving a hand that would point to the time. More information and pictures can be seen on http://www.arcytech.org/java/clock/clock_history.html.

The minute hand was created in 1577, tells about.com at http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/clock.html. Jost Burgi was the inventor, and originally created it for Tycho Brahe, an astronomer who needed an accurate clock for watching the stars. Then a few decades later Christian Hygens created the pendulum in 1656, after Galileo Galilei’s designs. The pendulum clock has a pendulum that swings left and right, each time turning a wheel. This made clocks more accurate and trustworthy than ever before. Huygens later developed the balance wheel and spring assembly, for use in wrist watches.

In the 1930s and 1940s clocks that used quartz crystals got more and more popular. When an electric field is applied to the crystal, it changes its shape. This means that when it’s put in an electronic circuit, the crystal will vibrate so a constant frequency electric signal is generated and thereby making it possible to use it to operate an electronic clock display. Quartz clocks are inexpensive and accurate, and they have a large domination of the clock market today.

What? My old teacher molested kids in my class???

2007-10-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

This is just unbelievable. My favorite teacher in junior high was just convicted for child molestation and rape. He was found guilty of molesting four boys, and raping two. The years these attacks took place he was standing up on the blackboard teaching me and my friends, so it must be someone in my class. I've moved alot since then, and have lost contact with most of them, but my god is this sickening. I can't help but wonder who it was, and how nobody found out about this until 8 years later.

For about a year he was our main classroom teacher, and we had him in computer science and English. He also was responsible for the kids who needed extra help, and ran different help programs for them. Perhaps this is where he found his victims, kids who were put under his guidance and didn't dare to say a word. I don't know.

As far as his person goes, he was as far as I could tell a very nice guy. In his forties, living alone, and pretty fat. He would always welcome us by a smile, and would always encourage and help us if we ever needed anything. Well, not those that fell under his curse of course.

All the kids he molested were boys, so I was safe I guess. I just cannot believe that he would do this, but he admitted to it right away when he got arrested.

Now in all the years that's passed I've always thought very highly of him, but can I still feel like that? He's a pedophile, what does it matter if he put aside his own time to help us. When someone does something like this all the things that once were good about them fades away. Everyone will always remember him for being a child rapist, not an excellent teacher. Just six months ago he was credited by the community for his work, none of it matters anymore.

In my opinion he should be ostracized from society and his rewards should be taken away so that he can't hide behind the facade anymore. He is no longer the good person that he was, but then again, he never was. We all just fell for his lies and deception. Until now.

new homepage on snakes and feeders

2007-10-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

I just updated my homepage on snakes and feeders. Check it out!
SnakeWorld

Pancakes in the Morning

2007-10-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

I just woke up to home-made pancakes and a huge cup of coffee. Now that's one of the many things that my husband is the best at; spoiling me. We haven't even been married for a year, but it seems like we've always been together. We go together like corns in a cob, and I am so thankful for him!

Now that he left for work, I'm sitting here looking out at the pitch dark of the morning. I've got Concrete Blonde playing in the background, still sipping my coffee. The pinkie mice's are happily sucking away on their mothers, their little yelping is so innocent and cute. The snakes went back into their hides, they are never out during the day; but look at them in the night and they're out roaming around their tanks.

Even though it's raining it's so peaceful this time of the morning. There's hardly anybody else up which makes me forget I'm right in the city. I love it.

Well, I hope whoever is reading this, will sit down an early morning with a cup of coffee, look out the window and feel how great it is to be alive. Things don't have to be exactly how you want them for life to be perfect.

Storms and Thunder

2007-10-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were without power for maybe 7 hours. The questions on what to do rummaged through our heads; what do we eat, how do we stay warm, what do we do with our snakes that need heat. Ultimately, we ended up walking to the store with gushing wind all around to get some emergency groceries. Crackers, chips, batteries. Then we walked back home in the mess of branches everywhere and paper scattered all over the streets.

The street lights were out, so the people were on their own in busy intersections. Amazingly enough most people were more careful now then usual, just using the intersection as a normal four way stop.

When we got home we turned on flash lights and candles, and it was really pretty cozy. It made us think of how people lived before us, before there were any electricity.

Then the power came back on, and we were drawn back to 2007. Very happy we rushed to the kitchen to make some hot tea, in the ease of putting a pot of water on the stove. I am now very happy to be alive in this time, I would not want it any other way.

I just heard a killer thunder break. Now the fire trucks and ambulances can be heard from the highway. When we're put up against the massive power of weather, we sure seem small.

The First Blog

2007-10-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Right now you're reading my very first blog. Hurray! What makes me so special that you are interested in what I have to say? Is it because you have no idea who I am, and you want to get to know a complete stranger; his or her thoughts, ideas and everyday life? Is it because I might be able to tell you something you didn't already know, so you'll learn new things? Or are you just bored, surfing around randomly and just happened to come by my post?

Whatever reason you have for reading this, I want to welcome you. I think its awesome how I can sit here and write, and people all through the world get to read it. If we go back in time, just a couple of decades that would not be a possibility. So thank you technology!

Ok, now I'm not some sort of tech-worshiper who just saw a computer for the first time yesterday. But without a doubt, computers have a major role in my life. Every day, almost without exception I use one. I might be checking my mail, paying bills, looking up a recipe or finding a direction on a map. Seeing as I recently moved across the Atlantic, computers also help me stay in touch with friends and family back home. And now the time has come for me to keep people I don't even know updated as well. Its great, and makes me very excited!

I hope to meet lots of new people in this blog society; whatever race or political views, no matter how many toes or fingers. Just drop me a note and I'll check out your blog too!

Well, I'm done for now. More to come later!