What Are Your Diversions?

MyView Paid Survey Site Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:12:00 +0000

I've been spending time recently reviewing survey sites to determine which ones fit my needs and qualifications. MyView is definitely worth signing up for. Survey invitations come to my email box on a regular basis, but not too frequently. Too many times paid survey websites waste your time by giving your surveys that you need to pre-qualify for, which is often as long as your average survey, only to find out that you don't qualify time and time again. MyView seems to be more selective. The website itself is also easy to navigate and I've been able to quickly find answers to my questions.

Prospective MyView members must meet the following criterion:

Must have a valid Email address

Must not already be or have been a member of MyView

Must have access to the web, and the ability to participate in online studies

Must be at least 13 years old

You'll like their high quality rewards. Just a few are: $20 Think Geek Virtual Gift Certificate - 28000 points; iPad 3 - 950000 points; VISA Prepaid $25 Gift Card - 35000 points. There are pages of rewards to choose from and you can even navigate with several options.

The rewards for completing surveys are high and the surveys are fun, easy and interesting.

If you join MyView and complete a survey I receive 1000 points. Once you sign up you can get your friends to sign up and you can also receive 1000 points per person.

Help me reach 980,000 points for a super cool reward! When I reach my goal I'll post photos. It's not for everybody, but it's exactly what I've been wanting.

Have you ever won a reward from MyView or other survey sites? Share your experience and post links to your photos.

Contact me via about.me for an invitation or join now. Feel free to send me a referral link via about.me with your favorite paid survey site. I can also be found on Twitter and facebook if you'd like to ask me questions about making money with legitimate paid survey sites.

Easy Relaxation with Harmonic Frequencies Found in the SOTA Bio Tuner

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:16:00 +0000

The SOTA Bio Tuner outputs harmonic frequencies known to help the body relax. It is an extremely easy to use relaxation product for stress relief!

This small device is a well constructed and sturdy product, designed for ease of use so you remain in a calm mental state instead of fussing with confusing electronics. It contains six settings and a timer (in case you fall asleep!)

How to Use: Simply place the Bio Tuner on your arm with the included band and adjust for comfort. Clip on the padded ear clips, one on each ear, choose your setting and you're set! It is small enough to carry in your pocket if you wish, though most people prefer to keep it and the accessories safe in the compact, sturdy zip up case.

Combine this with your other relaxation techniques for a more rounded experience. I suggest a lavender scented eye pillow and a "day at the beach" recording with a warming light nearby.

If you are ready to purchase this enriching product, please visit SOTA and select Choice 1: Let Me Order near the top of the screen. You will then be asked a couple quick questions before you are allowed to proceed to the easy account setup. This allows you to have access to the SOTA community. (The Agreement is necessary due to the current political climate.)

Free Coffee When You Sign Up for DD Perks® Rewards from Dunkin’ Donuts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:11:00 +0000

Enroll in DD Perks^® Rewards from Dunkin' Donuts and receive email updates on the latest news and offers as well as a free medium beverage of your choice and another one on your birthday. (See website for details.)

Wives of Football Fans: How Owning a Canvas Tent Can Save Your Suburban Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 06:10:00 +0000

Ladies, have you given into the weekly football parties in your living room? Do you put off what you’d rather be doing around the house on your precious weekend because you’ve got company and don’t want to be rude? Do you find you can’t enjoy your favorite activities with all the ruckus? Are you the good wife that tries to stay out of the way, or perhaps you’ve attempted to adapt to your husband’s enthusiasm by cheering on the team, and tending to his entertainment needs? Do you wish you could reinvent your Sundays?

There is an answer, and yes, if presented in the right way, can even appear as an upgrade to the Sunday football experience for the guys. It is a "man cave" in your backyard; one that can completely disappear and reappear without much effort. The answer is: Canvas tents.

Before you object, just imagine what you could use a sturdy canvas tent for.

Your own temporary escape
Enjoy eating outdoors
Birthday parties, anniversaries, and other celebrations
A temporary place to store short-term messy projects
Fun “camp outs” for little ones and slumber parties for teenagers
Hide surprises
Hide a hot tub
Your own anti-football parties!

With a little emotional support, you might find your husband so pleased with you over his new “man cave” that you actually want it to stay up, at least until football season is over. Encourage him to run with his ideas (biting your tongue and keeping in mind the benefits), provide some helpful ideas and ask him how you can assist him in getting set up without stepping on his toes. The last thing you want is him feeling like your trying to take charge and settle for the status quo instead - your living room.

There are some essentials he’ll need to ensure there is no trespassing into your new Sunday sanctum.

If you’re serious about your peace, you’ll want a port-a-potty. They’re cheaper than you think, and this will add to the “tailgate party” feel.
You’ll also need electricity; don’t worry, he and his buddies will figure it out.
They’ll need a TV, but chances are if your house is THEE football spot, you’ve already got that. You might also want to consider a projector television, using a wall as the screen. This will make for one less heavy thing to move.
A refrigerator or coolers will also be critical. I’d shoot for encouraging coolers. Friends will want to bring along their own treasure chest of booty. Again, this contributes to the “tailgate party” feel.
A few dim bulbs will be helpful. The best place to start looking is your collection of LED Christmas lights, but also check novelty catalogs and thrift shops.
As for chairs, you can go the “bring your own” route. This additional preparation for guests will add to the anticipation of the festivities.
You might want to even offer to assist in creating a 50 yard line in the grass, within the confines of the tent of course.
As far as food goes, the obvious answer is BBQ! They’re already outside and no pseudo-tailgate party is complete without the smell of burgers and kielbasa.

In the end your only task may be gathering the supplies during your shopping trip and washing up a few dishes.

You get back the house, for a whole afternoon and evening, to do just about anything! Remember those hobbies you haven’t had time for in ages? Maybe you’ll even have the quietude to write that book you’ve been meaning to get to, or finally learn how to paint. Perhaps you’ll be happy just to be able to enjoy a movie marathon or spend quality time with the kids, all because of one simple canvas tent.

You did wish for an extra day in the week, didn’t you?

Advantages of Audio Studio Mastering

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:36:00 +0000

An experienced audio mastering studio will perform modifications to your recording by adjusting overall sound levels, balancing, equalizing and enhancing your composition to your satisfaction. You don’t want anyone to ever know they’re not listening to something of the same caliber as any of their other new favorite musical artists.

Audio mastering is a skill requiring not only training and experience, but a natural talent some might call magic. It is about shaping, refining, harmonizing and weaving a cohesive web in a way few could even imagine themselves to begin to achieve. A children’s writer can rarely make their story come alive without the help of a talented and properly matched illustrator. The same applies to musical artists. Having a passionate, yet objective professional sound engineer master your audio recording is crucial to make your album shine. A true professional will work with you to find that special quality you are looking for and enrich what you have worked so hard to attain.

When searching for a proper audio mastering studio it must be accessible, in your price range, have the right tools for the job and have caring and personable staff with communication skills. Take some time to get to know the people behind the magic. Be sure you are on the same page, speak the same language, that they know the tools of their trade and most of all – make sure they have proof they can walk the walk. Ask for samples, and ask if they can provide a mastered sample of your own work.

Audio mastering is a critical component in the music world. Don’t leave your success to chance or think you can do it yourself. Consider it a bargain investment in your future. Chances are you’ll never make it without a professional master. Lucky for you studio mastering is affordable!

What I Learned from Picard: Never Give Up

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:11:00 +0000

I learned many lessons from Star Trek: The Next Generation. I even wrote an English Composition paper about the lessons contained within Star Trek and ST: TNG during my short stint in college.

There have been many times in my life when dealing with tough situations that I have played this scene in my head, where Picard's persistence finally shows it's fruit - he is to be returned to the Enterprise. It reminded me to be brave, never give up and stick to my guns.

I sum up the lesson I learned from Picard like this:

Never compromise what is in your heart for temporary relief and comfort.

Back then I hadn't accepted Jesus into my heart, but I can never deny my past. When I was barely a teenager I began my study of the deeper messages embedded in most of the Star Trek episodes, like I study passages in the Bible today. Those lessons pulled me through some tough times in my young life. I know from attending several conventions, there are millions of people out there that feel the same way.

If you ever need to feel an overwhelming sense of hope and don't feel comfortable attending a church - go to a Star Trek convention with an open mind and let yourself feel the collective love and warmth shine through all those that attend.

The Hydrogen Car and Multifuel DVD is BANNED from GOOGLE !

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:03:00 +0000

From the USH2.com website:

WHAT GOOGLE DID TO STEVEN HARRIS AND ROY MCALISTER
What did Google Do to us ?? This is a story you just are NOT going to believe. Google has BANNED our sale of our famous 3.5 Hour Hydrogen Car and Multifuel DVD by Roy McAlister and Steven Harris.

From USH2.com: Roy McAlister standing next to his 1991 Geo Metro Multifuel Vehicle. This car runs on Gasoline, Natural Gas, Land fill Methane, Hydrogen, Propane, home made turpine fuel and any combination of the above fuels with hydrogen, or hydrogen on its own.

We use Google "Adwords" to advertise our DVD and other Hydrogen Books, DVDs and Solar Items. Google Adwords are the "ads" that show up in the RIGHT SIDE of the search screen in Google. Google has a policy that you cannot sell 'false' things on google adwords. This includes the selling of anything related to a car that runs on water. Cars that run on water are 100% Junk Science, False, 100% Stupidity and a 100% Scam and WE AGREE that this should not be something available for sale but the problem is Google Does NOT know the difference between Hydrogen and water !! Read on....

Reuters states Google has invested over $350 MILLION dollars in Alternative Energy Programs and despite this corporate commitment some Google Employees DO NOT know the difference between Hydrogen and water. NO Matter HOW BLATANTLY I posted on the advertisement that this is NOT a water car, that the car really does run on Hydrogen and other fuels. (See the 18 minute video of it running on PURE HYDROGEN and home made turpines) Google REFUSES to allow the ad and has now SUSPENDED my entire Google Adwords Account !!! This is a VERY Serious thing to have your account suspended...its not trivial. This happened WHILE I had letter of explanation submitted to them and WHILE the account was under a REVIEW.

Visit USH2.com for the rest of the story and more information about the DVD.

European Space Elevator Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:39:00 +0000

From the European Space Elevator Challenge website:

EuSEC 2011 will definitly take place! Nine teams from USA, Japan, Mazedonia, England, Iran and India have registered for the competition. After consulting all teams, we decided to move the date to late August. The planned weekend is on 19th August to 21th August 2011 with backup (e.g. in case of bad weather) on 26th August to 28th August 2011

Free Cheese Variety Guide Poster from Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:47:00 +0000

from the Eat Cheese website:

Do you love cheese but you’re not familiar with a particular cheese variety? Do you like trying new cheeses? Refer to this handy guide for 33 popular cheese varieties from Wisconsin. Contains cheese descriptions, cheese storage guidelines, buying tips, handling and cooking guidelines and tips on serving a Wisconsin Cheese Course.

Visit the Eat Cheese website and order your free Cheese Variety Guide poster.

By Humility and the Fear of the LORD are Riches, and Honour, and Life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:14:00 +0000

Proverbs 22 - King James Version

If you are ever at a loss on how to comport yourself in public and in business dealings, Proverbs 22 is rich with knowledge. You have only to ask God for the wisdom, always in the name of Jesus Christ.

1 A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Prayer for Sanctification and Guidance

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 20:21:00 +0000

Almighty God, who alone gavest us the breath

of life, and alone canst keep alive in us the

holy desires thou dost impart; We beseech

thee, for thy compassion's sake, to sanctify

all our thoughts and endevours; that we may

neither begin an action without a pure

intention nor continue it without thy

blessing. And grant that, having the eyes of

the mind opened to behold things invisible

and unseen, we may in heart be inspired by

thy wisdom, and in work be upheld by thy

strength, and in the end be accepted of thee

as thy faithful servants; through Jesus

Christ our Saviour. Amen.

(from The Common Book of Prayer)

Ahh, Amigurumi!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:26:00 +0000

I recently stumbled upon these cute crochet creatures called amigurumi.

They are usually crocheted, but sometimes knitted. Characterized by anthropomorphic animals and objects, these small creations fit into the palm of your hand. Amigurumi is a Japanese art and the word translates into English as "knitted stuffed toy".

My favorite is the Ninja Bunny Minion.

Amigurumi grew in popularity in the early and mid-1990's. Most have much more charm than even the best Beanie Babies.

Even if you don't know how to crochet, I think by the end of the day most people that are half decent at making small things with their hands will be able to make a simple creature out of yarn and a few beads if they put their mind to it and have a little bit of patience.

Thumbs up to this purely aesthetic diversion!

The Value of a Teacher

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:41:00 +0000

Original article written by Sherrie Hatfield

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.

— Albert Einstein

"I have had many teachers in my lifetime. While we may think of teachers and students in relation to school, I like to think of my parents as being my first teachers. We are all born with innate instincts that no one can teach us; we know to cry when we are hungry or in pain, to laugh when we feel joy, to turn over, crawl, walk, and run. What my parents did teach me was how to use my instincts to create my life, and they provided me a safe environment with which to do so.

When I began school, I found another type of teacher and became a different type of student. In the beginning, my schoolteachers made learning fun; they challenged and encouraged me, allowed me to explore what I was capable of, to push beyond my limitations. I loved my teachers and loved learning so much that my favorite game to play with my younger sisters was “school”. Of course, I was always the teacher!

In later years, I became aware that not all teachers were the same. I learned that many teachers were more concerned with grades and performance, with being the best and the fittest. In those later years of my education, the joy of learning was lost as I was simply fed information to memorize by teachers who did not see me as an individual but simply another student. I no longer saw my teachers as people, either; my respect for them had started to fade.

I left school at the end of my 11th year; the joy of learning had been lost. I entered the workforce and found, in my colleagues, yet a new kind of teacher. Here, I was able to choose my teachers and my fields of interest; I felt as if I was free to learn once again. From these teachers, I learned how to apply my knowledge and skills, how to interact with and manage the people around me. While I could not name it at the time, those who I chose as my teachers not only had knowledge and information, they applied it in everyday life. They walked the walk and talked the talk and lived what they knew.

When I began my journey of self-discovery in order to enhance my personal relationships, understand family dynamics, and gain a greater sense of self, as well as become the best child care teacher I could, I met a teacher with whom I spent 15 years, first as a student and then as a teacher working alongside of her. With this teacher, I studied spiritual and personal development through meditation, opening to psychic and intuitive awareness, exploring diverse philosophies and esoteric beliefs, and engaging with my inner child. I was a full-time student of this teacher for two years before working side by side with her as a teacher. My dedication was so deep that I even lived on the same property with her for years.

During that time, I taught meditation and self-growth, and even taught child-care teachers internationally how to work more openly and effectively with children. I discovered the greatest reward in teaching was to witness the uniqueness, the potential, that lay dormant in each student and help them to give it life, not as the teacher or the world envisioned it should be, but as the student chose..."

Original article: http://www.robertrabbin.com/reading-room/new-article/a.php?article=thevalueofateacher

The Nexus of the Universe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:47:00 +0000

One of my favorite scenes from Seinfeld.

This is from "The Maid", episode 175 , the 19th of Season 9.

KRAMER:

Hey, I'm on first and first.
How can the same street intersect with itself?
I must be at the nexus of the universe!

If you'd like to find more funny quotes

from your favorite Seinfeld episodes, check out this website

dedicated to Seinfeld Scripts.

Sarcasm Abounds - Father Darth Emerges on Twitter, William Shatner Portrays Dad of Justin Halpern on CBS $#*! My Dad Says

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 29 May 2010 11:05:00 +0000

I'm not sure if this is the same guy from @shitmydadsays. The humor is similar but decidedly much darker. True to the role of Darth as a suburban dad? You decide, I'm not so sure. Still -- a creative use of Twitter. This tweeter consistently mentions current events, through a dark lens of course.

If you don't know about @shitmydadsays, it's a Twitter account managed by Justin Halpern, a guy who has this to say in his bio: “ I'm 29. I live with my 74-year-old dad. He is awesome. I just write down shit that he says". On August 25, 2009 Harry Kimball at Newser.com reported that the account had only be in existence for 3 weeks and already there were almost 70,000 followers. These days Justin's account has 1,368,782 Followers and is on 34,886 Lists on Twitter.

On March 4, 2010, Less than a year after the Twitterverse was blessed with the reality driven wisdom of Dr. Halpern via his grateful son, HarperCollins released the hardcover book "Sh*t My Dad Says". Audible.com has also released the unabridged audio book narrated by Sean Schemmel.

Justin Halpern is the founding editor of the comedy website HolyTaco.com and a senior editor at Maxim.com. He is co-writing and co-producing a sitcom adaptation of his book on CBS for their new season.

"$#*! My dad Says" the new show starring William Shatner, is already set for the next television season in the CBS line up for Thursdays at 8:30 PM / 7:30 PM Central. The smash hit "Big Bang Theory" airs in the preceding spot, a cozy slot for a new show. In case you don't know, the show is officially pronounced "Bleep My Dad Says", though I'm sure there will be many who will just say it as it really is. Would "Dad" want it any other way?

William Shatner read off a few lines from @shitmydadsays Twitter stream at the Shorty Awards this year, which was broadcast live March 3, 2010.

I'm still not so sure his dad actually says all these things, though I've known cranky old men like him.

This is what I do know:

I've followed @shitmydadsays for quite some time, sharing the nuggets of harsh enlightenment.
I've recently stumbled upon @shitmydarthsays looking for the self-professed jedi on Twitter. Whether it is an homage or from the source, it's rich satire worthy of my attention.
I've listened to the sample of the audio version of the book, which was better than my high expectations.
The brief CBS preview prompted a few honest chuckles during the clips.
There's no reason Justin Halpern should not be a sustainable source of quality comedic entertainment. I could only imagine what "Dad" would have to say about the relative success of his son. I don't think this is a man who is impressed with the glitz.

Justin had this to say in a blog posting referencing the booking of television shows with his dad:

"So what ends up happening is the show that is considering booking me says "We'll have him on if he comes on with his dad." So then, even though I know my dad doesn't want to go on any shows, the people at Harper Collins have me ask him every time, just in case he changes his mind. That ends up in conversations like this: "Hey dad, would you be interested in going on the Jimmy Kimmel show?" Then my dad looks at me confused and says "Who the fuck is Jimmy Kimballs?" Then I explain and he says "No," and goes back to whatever he was doing."

Enjoy the Quantum Leap Justin et al.

Click Here to Advertise on My Blog

Rabbi Haim David Zukerwar: "Spiritual Structure of Reality"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:20:00 +0000

Rabbi Haim David Zukerwar: "Spiritual Structure of Reality" from Metanexus Institute on Vimeo.

Rabbi Haim David Zukerwar: "Spiritual Structure of Reality"

When we try to apprehend our essence, to come to our Self, we perceive that thought dilutes before the question "who am I?" This happens because our inner Self is in itself "part" of the essence of the whole of reality. In the same way as water held in a container melts and unifies with the sea when it is returned to the ocean, each soul is an immanent part of the Infinite Essence.

2008 July 14

Ban of Third Party Paid Tweets on Services that Leverage the Twitter API

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:57:00 +0000

Twitter is an open, real-time introduction and information service. On a daily basis we introduce millions to interesting people, trends, content, URLs, organizations, lists, companies, products and services. These introductions result in the formation of a dynamic real-time interest graph. At any given moment, the vast network of connections on Twitter paints a picture of a universe of interests. We follow those people, organizations, services, and other users that interest us, and in turn, others follow us.

- @dickc Twitter Blog

Twitter announced Monday that there will be no more third party paid tweeting using the Twitter API. This less than two weeks after Ad.ly completed 5 million dollars in equity funding. In October of 2009 Ad.ly received $500,000 in seed money. As of yet there has been no blog postings on Ad.ly mentioning this move by Twitter. Twitter is in the process of updating their ToS to "articulate clearly what we mean by this statement, and we encourage you to read the updated API Terms of Service to be released shortly".

Twitter's blog post was made to explain what they are building and how they intend to "sustain the company and ecosystem". Buried in paragraph eight is the potential killshot to third party applications that leverage the Twitter API to inject paid tweets into a timeline.

Taking Time Out for Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:00:00 +0000

What's gonna set you free...
look inside and you'll see...

Check Your Head is available on Amazon Check Your Head (2-CD Ecopak)

Insomniacs - Simple Solutions to Better Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:11:00 +0000

Original Article: http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/article/insomnia

Can't Sleep? 15 Proven Tips for Insomnia

by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.

Marsha had been suffering from insomnia for a long time. She's tried just about everything that folk wisdom and her beloved Grandmother taught her - counting sheep, warm milk before bed, reading, rubbing her feet and rubbing her head. She's spent a fortune on relaxation tapes, mood music, as well as a computer self-hypnosis program that just seems to wake her up and make her dizzy more than put her to sleep. All too many nights, she lays in bed, listening to her partner snore, while she tosses, turns, gets up and reads Internet self-help articles about what to do!

The science of psychology has a lot to say about what works and doesn't work for people like Marsha. Those who struggle with insomnia and other sleep problems often benefit from a range of solutions, rather than a single cure. Here are some facts for you to consider while you think about your own sleep disturbances.

I. Insomnia can be caused by a variety of conditions including: change, stress, physical pain, trauma, illness, and emotions, PTSD, death of a loved one, or recurrent thoughts.

II. Insomnia can come on at any stage in life. Old sleep habits might need to be changed or altered to be successful at overcoming insomnia. Returning to more natural rhythms and habits can take time. Be patient. If you've had a lifelong problem with sleep, you unfortunately may not find an overnight cure. There is no immediate solution unless you want to take medicine, which can often lead to a wide range of other serious problems. The goal of this article is to help you make sensible decisions regarding the role of sleep in your life, and return to more natural, reasonable ways of approaching and thinking about sleep.

III. 15 Tips to Overcome Insomnia

RETINAL STIMULATION - make it a point to go outside and stimulate your retinas (eyes) for about 15 minutes a day with sunlight. This "full on" light exposure can help restore your body's natural sleep/night cycle, also known as the "circadian rhythm." Looking straight into the sun is never a good idea, but being in an area where you receive the full brightness of the sun around you is what's recommended.

NO NAPS – Avoid naps during the day. If you sleep during the day, your body may not be as tired as necessary to get to sleep at night.

COOL ROOM - Keep the temperature in your room cool and comfortable.

WAKING ACTIVITIES – Don’t participate in waking activities while in bed, like watching TV, eating, talking on the telephone, texting your friends, or using your laptop. Remember, bed has traditionally been for sleep. Train yourself to limit your bed-related activities, and your body will begin to associate your bed with sleepiness. Reading in bed is different. Reading can help you focus your mind, especially if what you read is boring. Save the murder mysteries for daytime and pick up a boring book for sleep. Reading in bed is an age-old trick for quickly getting to sleep.

GO TO BED AT REGULAR TIME – There's no easy answer to the problem of being too tired during day-time and not tired enough at bed-time. Nonetheless, most experts agree that it is most helpful for you to go to bed at a regular, planned time. If you need to sleep more, it's better for you to go to bed at your regular time and get up earlier. With time, your body should re-adjust and give you the hours you need. Be careful about driving or operating machinery when not fully rested, though. If you feel tired to the point of losing visual focus, you should definitely not be operating heavy machinery - no matter what. When not sleeping well for a period of time, ask someone else to drive you to work, if you can.

DON’T EXERCISE (<3 HOURS) – Don’t exercise within three hours of trying to fall asleep – this raises the heartrate. Slow stretching on the other hand might be just what the doctor ordered to get your body slowed down and feeling good.

DON’T EAT STIMULATING FOODS (<3 HOURS) – Don’t eat stimulating foods within three hours of trying to fall asleep – lying horizontally interrupts digestion and may cause heartburn. Also, eating high fat and carbohydrate foods might help make you groggy and help you fall asleep, but calorie-conscious people may need to weigh the benefits of such an approach to insomnia.

AVOID STIMULANTS (<2-3 hours) – Avoid all stimulants such as caffeinated and nicotine in cigarettes. Caffeinated products include coffee, tea, sodas, and especially colas. Even some aspirin or other headache remedies often contain caffeine! "Energy drinks", Mountain Dew and a wide variety of other "energy bars" or supplements often contain a high amount of stimulating products. Check your vitamin and other supplements to make sure none of them are stimulating as well. (Look them up on an Internet search engine if you are unsure.) Check labels to see if products like aspirin are in any other product you take before bed. It is a surprise to many people to learn that even cigarettes can be stimulating when you are tired. Stay away from all these substances if you want a good night's sleep.

AVOID LIQUIDS. (<2 HOURS) - many people are just simply drinking too many fluids before sleep. Parents with bedwetting children learn to curtail all liquids about 2 hours before sleep, thereby allowing the child's body to void excess liquids about 30-60 minutes before actual bed-time. Well, adults have the same pattern of voiding as children. If liquids are taken before sleep, those liquids create an urgency to urinate that can awaken the adult. While that adult usually has enough bladder control to get to the bathroom, they often do not have the ability to get back to sleep. Stop drinking before sleep, and see if you stop waking up to urinate.

WIND DOWN (<90 MINS) - 90 minutes before you go to bed, wind own your day and don’t participate in anxiety-inducing activities like checking your mail, email or even watching the evening news.

WRITE DOWN CONCERNS (<30 MINS) - Spend a few minutes before bed at night writing down your concerns and stresses, then hopes or things you’re thankful for, so that you can give your mind a rest while you are sleeping.

CALMING MUSIC/SELF-HYPNOSIS - Listen to calming music, white noise, self-hypnosis or a "brain recalibration" tape for sleep. Such tapes are scientifically designed to help you "reset" your brain and calm down. When developed by researchers rather than marketers, they are remarkably effective. Just be sure to buy your brain recalibration audios from reputable sleep companies, and not slick marketing companies.

GET UP IF YOU CAN'T SLEEP – If you can’t fall asleep after 15-20 minutes get out of bed.

AVOID BRIGHT LIGHTS – if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep within 30 minutes, get up but avoid as much light as possible. Light will only stimulate your brain’s day/night balance (circadian cycle). Avoid computer-based hypnosis programs just prior to going to bed for the same reason. The light emitted from a computer screen is intense. Any strong light is more likely to stimulate and wake your nervous system.

REDIRECT NIGHTMARES/BAD THOUGHTS – If you have a nightmare or stress-inducing thoughts, focus on a different ending. Write down your nightmare, or tell someone else about it to stop the continual thoughts.

The goal of this article was to help you find the right self-diagnosis for your specific underlying problem.

If you are doing all 15 suggestions above and still have sleep problems, it's time to call a professional. Contact a physician or psychotherapist who specializes in sleep.

If you still can't sleep well after a few months of working with your sleep specialist, ask your doctor for a formal "sleep study." Be sure that study doesn't just check to see if you have "sleep apnea" If you're going to go to the hassle of a sleep study, be sure they check for all possible sources of your difficulty and not just one. Most insurance carriers will pay for such a study of it is requested by a licensed specialist.

If your sleep study suggests a "C-PAP" machine, try it. While it can be off-putting at first, most people can successfully adjust to it and find it to be enormously helpful if they have sleep apnea.

Avoid sleep medication, as this might create a dependency and only prolong your sleep problems. Some classes of such medications are far worse than others. For example, if your doctor tries to give you benzodiazepines for long-term sleep problems, run for the hills. Benzodiazepines have some of the most negative withdrawal symptoms of any other class of medication. In fact, withdrawal from heroine has been documented to pale in comparison to some withdrawal from long-term use of ativan, klonipin or valium.

Keep yourself honest by asking your loved ones for feedback about your sleep habits. Ask any one who lives with you for their honest opinion regarding how you might or might not be adhering to the full list of suggestions above.

Everyone has a different underlying reason why they are having sleeping problems. Experiment with the above 15 steps and see what works for you.

References:

1. "Several Sleep Disorders Reflect Gender Differences". http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/42/10/40. Retrieved 2008-08-29.

2. Mendelson WB (2008). "New Research on Insomnia: Sleep Disorders May Precede or Exacerbate Psychiatric Conditions". Psychiatric Times 25 (7).

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/insomnia/article/10168/1163082.

3. Kripke DF, Garfinkel L, Wingard DL, Klauber MR, Marler MR (February 2002). "Mortality associated with sleep duration and insomnia". Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 59 (2): 131–6. PMID 11825133. http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/59/2/131.

4. Kirkwood CK (1999). "Management of insomnia". J Am Pharm Assoc 39 (5): 688–96; quiz 713–4. PMID 10533351.

5. Jacobs, Gregg; Edward F. Pace-Schott, Robert Stickgold, Michael W. Otto (September 27, 2004). "Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Pharmacotherapy for Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Direct Comparison". Archives of Internal Medicine 164 (17): 1888–1896. doi:10.1001/archinte.164.17.1888. PMID 15451764.

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/164/17/1888?ijkey=6a2af558....

6. KARL E. MILLER, M.D. (July 2005). "Cognitive Behavior Therapy vs. Pharmacotherapy for Insomnia". American Family Physician. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050715/tips/7.html.

About the Author:

Dr. Maheu is an licensed psychologist, author, speaker, and researcher.

She is the lead author of "E-Health, Telehealth & Telemedicine: A Guide to Program Startup and Success" co-written with Pamela Whitten and Ace Allen, published by Jossey-Bass: San Francisco.

She has also been the author for these books: "Infidelity on the Internet" and "The Mental Health Professional and the New Technologies."

Originally published 4/15/98

Revised 8/31/09 by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.

Understanding Brain Function Through Song

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 16 May 2010 05:32:00 +0000

A new study of songbirds by Professor David Clayton at the University of Illinois might change the way we think about memory formation and speech development in the human brain.

http://www.news.illinois.edu/videos.html?webSiteID=vmGiOUsYPk2IJcKSvIjqAA&videoID=vCD8UH7wWEyMOlVAMLx67g

Indulge in Dunkin' Donuts Perks for a Free Beverage and Exclusive Offers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:52:00 +0000

In honor of Dunkin' Donuts 60th BirthDDay, they've introduced two new perks for "Dunkin' Perks" members. Enroll in Perks today and get a coupon in the mail for a free medium beverage, simply for signing up, plus another one on your birthday. Learn more at the Dunkin' Perks tab on the Facebook page.

While you're there check out the "Fan of the Week" photo album. Fans share their stories, DD favs and fun photographs. Want to be a FotW? Just submit a pic to the Dunkin' Donuts Facebook page wall, from wherever you're running on Dunkin's and you could be featured next!

Dunkin' Donuts "Create Dunkin's Next Donut Contest" is now closed. The Grand Prize Winner will be revealed June 4th on National Donut Day. In the meantime, check out the gallery full of sweet creations!

X-Conference 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:25:00 +0000

“It’s not just about lights in the sky; it’s about lies on the ground.”

X-Conference 2010 brings the UFO/ET issue to the National Press Club in Washington, DC between the Capitol and the White House.

George Noory of
Coast to Coast
AM will be there.

Topics included this year will be: The government imposed truth embargo; Rockefeller Initiative; UFO/ET connections to the Obama administration; U. S. Presidents and Exopolitics; 1980 UK Bentwaters case: Disclosure – UFOs and the National Security State; Developments in the UK; Extraordinary developments in Brazil: UFO/ET Connections to Russia and the Soviet Union, and much more.

The schedule for Friday May 7th through Monday May 10th is: Friday – Meet the Speakers Cocktail Party; Saturday – lectures, banquet with keynotes, PRG Awards, special guests, documentary screening; Sunday – lectures, documentary screening; Monday – National Press Club press conference (public welcome).

Speakers: Cheryll Jones (Host); George Knapp; Richard Dolan; A. J. Gevaerd (Brazil); George Haas; Gary Heseltine (United Kingdom); Linda Moulton Howe; John Burroughs; Jim Nichols; William Saunders; Paul Stonehill; Stephen Bassett; more TBA.

Documentary: The Day Before Disclosure (New Paradigm Films) plus Q&A with Richard Dolan, Stephen Bassett.

Solar Roadways is a finalist in the 2010 ACE Awards 2010 EE Tuesday, April 27th

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:27:00 +0000

The Solar Road Panel is a series of structurally-engineered solar panels that are driven on. They are feasible alternatives to asphalt roads, parking lots and driveways. Energy can be used to supply businesses and homes.

A series of panels forming a roadway is essentially a decentralized power grid. LED's within can form messages pertinent to driving conditions. The panels are able to heat themselves to eliminate snow and ice. The surface layer has great traction, can handle heavy loads and still allows sunlight to pass through to the solar collector cells. The base layer below the electronics layer has the ability to serve the community with electricity and data streams such as phone and internet.

One benefit of a system of Solar Road Panels is the ability to help underdeveloped areas to have access to clean water. According to the website the panels don't even have to be set up into a roadway. Panels can provide electricity to run pumps for wells and satellite dishes.

Other clean water related issues that are being discussed is the problem of storm water from roadway runoff.

"We're experimenting with a solution to relocate stormwater. First, to a water treatment facility, where necessary. Then, to whatever location the filtered water is needed."

If you like the idea of this new kind of roadway, show your support. Solar Roadways is on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.

Solar Roadways was selected as a finalist in the Most Promising Renewable Energy Categoary for the 2010 EE Times ACE Awards. Awards will be presented on April 27th during the Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley.

The following companies are up against Solar Roadways: Cymbet, National Semiconductor, and PV Powered, Inc.

The EE Times Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) Awards celebrate the creators of technology who demonstrate leadership and innovation in the global industry and shape the world we live in.

The presentation of the 2010 EE Times ACE Awards will take place on Tuesday, April 27th at the Club Regent Room in the Fairmont. All finalists are invited to attend. Complimentary tickets will be sent directly to each finalist company.

Tickets are $99.00 per person and include a one and half hour cocktail reception and awards presentation.

CleanWear Aims for Positive Impact with "Put on a Clean Shirt" Message

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:26:00 +0000

Hope for a Child's Future Spurs a Small Business

The story behind CleanWear Fashion is not an unfamiliar one when it comes to parents not only trying to cope with a child's struggle with drug abuse, but provide for guidance and a hopeful message with meaning and substance.

I first became aware of CleanWear when being offered a sponsored link distribution. At first I was confused as to what they were all about, but I knew there was a message. I felt like I was onto something good and diverted my attentions away from the task at hand. I think I was ripe to hear a feel-good story with substance and was hoping this would be one. My first jump was to their story page and there I found the heart of the matter.

CleanWear Fashions is a fresh homegrown business built on the desire to give hope and provide opportunity to those in negative situations that impact personal and societal growth, in turn benefiting the community as a whole.

According to the founders of this homegrown business:

CleanWear came to be in the fall of 2009 when our family envisioned a way for our oldest son, Josh, to have a second chance at success after many years of substance abuse problems that led him down a dark road.

They believe that communities should not dismiss those that have made mistakes or have lacked opportunities. Those at CleanWear wish to make a positive impact with their "Put on a Clean Shirt" message as well as provide support for those wanting to pull away from addiction, abuse, poverty, homelessness and other situations that impact personal and societal growth.

The CleanWear mission is as striking as their clothing line. A portion of their revenue from clothing and fashion accessories goes toward personal growth programs such as addiction and education. They are committed to hiring people who need a second chance. Presumably not wanting to take a narrow approach, they strive to keep manufacturing of their products within American borders whenever possible.
Their clothing label ranges from bold urban to humorous, appealing to a broad market. Josh's parents nurtured his love of art, wrapping it around a business model to ensure an outlet for his creativity. This start up is an active member on Twitter and Facebook, attempting to utilize social media marketing to get out the word about their mission and interact with fans who understand the deeper meaning.

It's not just a shirt, it's about hope and empowerment. When communities pull together, have a solid plan, and lift others up, we are surely all better off. Indeed it often takes faith to understand the value of a mission like this. Smart business plans and the visibility of a product tempered with gratitude make it that much easier to have the continued strength and reach needed to keep pulling up on the bootstraps of our neighbors.

CleanWear Fashion is about helping a person help themselves, actively using their resources to lift others out of despair and give them opportunities to keep their head above water. If you believe in what they are doing, please take the time to show your support.

The World's Best Psychics

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:44:00 +0000

By Jeffry Palmer

Ask most people who the world's best psychics are and they will probably name the ones they have last seen on television, people like Sylvia Brown or John Edwards. I want to point out that a syndicated television show or regular appearances on Montel Williams do not necessarily equate to great psychic ability. In fact it may mean that these people are better at marketing themselves than they are at using the psychic faculties of their minds.

The truth of the matter is that the world's best psychics are people you have never heard of. Some of the world's best psychics are farmers, plumbers, students, and people just like you. They may not publicize their psychic abilities; actually it is quite common for many people with psychic abilities to keep the fact a secret. Most people fear ridicule and it is a sad fact that psychic abilities still have a stigma attached to them.

Some people who have exhibited incredible psychic abilities are placed into special secret government experimental programs. These people are isolated from the public, kept under military guard and studied for possible military and espionage purposes. In the past individuals like this have exhibited the ability to psychically transport material from one location to another, exert control over time and space and cause physical damage to another human being using psychic means across a great distance. It is easy to see why these people are never heard of even though the may be some the greatest psychics ever to walk the earth.

In China today there is an active and growing psychic research program in place, in what Chinese researchers refer to as EHF or Exceptional Human Functions. The psychics involved in research programs such as this are rarely known by the public. China is not alone in conducting secret psychic research programs. A classified program focusing on psychic remote viewing took place in the US for many years until it was made public and discontinued in the 1990's. Only a few years ago, the US Air Force applied for 7.5 million dollars in funding to study psychic teleportation. One has to wonder what type of covert research programs are underway right now in the US and what abilities such programs may be studying.

Today's most popular psychics appear on national radio shows and make failed predictions or appear on Larry King and attempt to refute skeptical analysis of their abilities. Meanwhile psychics of vast ability are the subject of secret government and military experiments into the control of matter, the manipulation of time and the expansion of awareness beyond the physical realm. And you will never hear their names mentioned on TV.

Jeffry R. Palmer is an Intuitive Advisor, author and researcher who offers psychic readings by email from his website Psychic Clairvoyant Readings

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffry_Palmer