Everyday Living

5 Keys To Success

2012-01-23T18:36:00.000-08:00

Steve Jobs advice in outlining five keys that lead to success...

“Your time is limited. Don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drowned your own inner voice. And, most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” Steve Jobs

5 Keys To Success

You’re Running Out of Time – Use It Wisely
Steve Jobs channels Buddhist monks from all over the world for this piece of advice. We barely ever really think about how little time we have on this planet. That within a blink of an eye everything could be gone.

The Buddha recognized this fact and used it as one of his motivations for enlightenment.

Don’t wait for tomorrow because tomorrow may never come.

Start right now, in this instance, to work on your success.

Dreaming of it. Crafting it. Creating it.

Don’t wait for the kids to go off to college, the stars to align, or until everything is just right.

Don’t Live Someone Else’s Life
If you truly buy into Steve’s first key to success. Or you’ve recently had tea with the Dalai Lama and he swayed you to the dark side of realizing that we all have a fixed amount of time, then why would you waste it living someone else’s life.

You’ve got dreams of your own. They may have been beaten into silence, but you know they’re still there. Waiting patiently for you to remember them. To nurture them. And have the courage to share them with the world.

Have the courage to be yourself.

What are your dreams?

What do you want?

What make YOU happy?

Dive deep into the mystery and miracle of who you are. There’s never going to be another person like you on the face of this planet. EVER.

Think about that for a second. Embrace it. And get on out there and discover who you are.

Ignore Other People’s Opinions
Abraham Maslow said that the happiest people are the ones that are, “Oblivious of the good opinions of others.”

Now I don’t think Mr. Jobs is saying to steer clear of wise council. It’s good to have other people perspective on things. And I’m sure that apple has a lot of geniuses, clairvoyants and witch doctors to help Mr. Jobs divine the future.

But there’s a lot of people out there who will tell you that it can’t be done. Or you’re not the right person for the job. Or some other form of baloney.

Thank them for their concern and keep pressing on with your dreams.

Listen and ask for the opinions of people who have more experience than you. But keep far away from dream stealer’s.

Follow Your Heart
So often we choose to ignore the “still small voice within.” We get that gut feeling. We know something is up.

We hear our dreams calling out to us but for whatever reason we suppress them, ignore them, and shove them down deep inside.

Maybe we’re trying to keep up with Jones’. Maybe we buy into the “get a good job, keep your head down, and work hard” story they sell us in school.

Whatever the reason the truth is when we stuff those dreams away and lock them deep within our hearts we suffer.

Silently we ache. An agony most of us take quietly to our graves.

The only cure is to dream again. To follow our hearts. To go where life is calling you. To run through fields of wide open possibility.

A quote I love and have adapted slightly from Frederick Buechner is, “Success is found through marrying the worlds deep hunger with your hearts deep gladness.”

It’s no wonder that Steve Jobs has been successful.

So what do you want to be successful at?

Article by: Ian Paul Marshall of ianpaulmarshall.com

Tips For Living Longer

2012-01-18T08:53:00.000-08:00

Great article from AskMen.

In 1920, the average lifespan of an American was 60 years. Today, our life expectancy is about 78. What's more, we've learned that genes account for about a third of the problems associated with aging. The other two-thirds? Our lifestyles; including our eating and exercise habits, and how we handle stress.

According to the US Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health, 75% of cardiovascular disease, 60% of women's cancers, and 40% of men's cancers are related to nutrition and diet. Many deaths can be avoided if the persons take proper care of their health. But that, of course, varies across different cultures.

The latino lifeline
Latino senior citizens use hospitals less, yet live longer and die less of heart disease, cancer or stroke. This is good news for our Health Care Systems. But, how do they do it?

Most analysts attribute this to the seeming paradox of longer life expectancies, which for Latinos points to lifestyle as a determinant. Chief among the habits of the "Latino heart" are the importance of family, the maintenance of a work ethic, the role of religion, and the formation of community.

Having strong, healthy family and community life contributes tremendously to living longer. We are, after all, social animals. And we need to balance our emotional needs by interacting with people on a daily basis. The Latino culture provides numerous opportunities for social interaction between family, friends and strangers.

Body batteries
Although social interaction is a big part of a healthy lifestyle, it is also important to have your own "quiet time." In the Latino culture, this is called the siesta. For a couple of hours a day, around early afternoon, Latinos take a small nap in order to rejuvenate their minds and bodies. Although most of us work hard during the day, it's not a bad idea to take at least a half hour nap right after arriving home from work. However, be careful not to sleep longer than 2 hours since this can have a negative effect on your body's energy levels, ultimately draining you as you enter deep sleep mode.

Another key factor that comes into play from the Latino lifestyle is their diet. Latino cuisine includes a lot of fish, olive oil, vegetables, cheeses, and breads. Red meat is almost always kept to a minimum, and rice is used abundantly. The key is that they eat 5 times day in small portions, and generally love to exercise. Their meals are always balanced across all food groups, and they devour large amounts of fruits and vegetables, not to mention corn, wheat and oats.

The following is a comprehensive list you can refer to for tips on how to extend your life and make it more enjoyable at the same time.

Without further ado, I give you the best age-busting tips for the new millennium

Read full article:
Tips For Living Longer

What is the Best Cardiovascular Exercise?

2012-01-17T08:21:00.000-08:00

A very informative article from Health News Digest about the cardiovascular exercise.

Running? Biking? Swimming? Insanity? TurboFire? People often ask, "What is the best cardiovascular exercise?"

The answer is simple: There really is no "best" exercise. All types have benefits, and no one exercise will produce greater results than the others. To find the best cardiovascular exercise for you, look at what you enjoy and what will increase your heart rate.

Different types of cardiovascular activities

Cardiovascular, or aerobic, exercise is any continuous activity that gets your heart working and can be sustained from 15 to 60 minutes or beyond. Common cardiovascular activities include jogging, cycling and hiking.

At health clubs, you'll find machines for stair climbing, rowing and elliptical cross-training (your feet move in an elliptical shape), as well as aerobics classes.

The two main types of cardiovascular exercise are weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing.

Weight-bearing: With weight-bearing exercises, your feet and legs support your body weight. Examples include running, stair climbing and rope jumping. These are great for strengthening your bones.

Non-weight-bearing: Here, the body is supported during exercise (i.e., you are not carrying your body weight), as in bicycling, rowing and swimming. These exercises tend to be easier on your back, knees and other joints and can have a lower risk of injury than weight-bearing exercises.

Getting in your zone
For the best results, you need to get in your zone — heart rate zone, that is.
"Exercising at the correct level of intensity is important for proper effectiveness," said Dale Huff, R.D., C.S.C.S. and co-owner of NutriFormance Fitness, Therapy and Performance in St. Louis. "Exercising too lightly may not produce adequate results, while exercising too hard risks injury and exhaustion. For optimal benefits, get in your target heart rate zone and stay there while exercising regularly."

You can roughly calculate your target heart rate zone by taking 60 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. One formula (there are many) for determining your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. Another more accurate — but also more expensive — way to figure out your maximum heart rate is to be tested in various cardio exercises at a physiology lab.

To help you stay in the right heart range, many fitness equipment manufacturers offer cardiovascular machines that include heart rate sensors. For example, Life Fitness treadmills, total-body elliptical Cross-Trainers, Lifecycle exercise bikes and stairclimbers have Lifepulse digital hand sensors and heart rate Zone Training workout programs that automatically adjust the resistance level based on your heart rate. Or better yet, purchase a heart rate monitor that you can wear during all of your workouts to always know the effectiveness of your workout.

The bottom line
Figure out what cardiovascular activities you enjoy and will do consistently. For best results, mix up your workouts.

"Over time, your body gets more efficient, so you burn fewer calories doing the same exercise. In addition, without variety, boredom can quickly set in," according to Nicole Irlbeck, M.S., a certified athletic trainer in Chicago.

Walk outside one day. For your next workout, try an aerobics tape. Then swim laps or use the stairclimber at the gym. If you prefer a certain exercise or machine, shake things up by incorporating interval training into your routine. Adjust the speed, resistance or incline and push hard for a few minutes. Recover, and then step it up again.

"Interval training is an excellent way to vary your training, increase your results, get better conditioned and fend off boredom," Irlbeck said. "Using cardiovascular machines at the gym is an easy and efficient way to start interval training because most are able to monitor your time, intensity and even your heart rate."

Your options are endless. Jump on a treadmill, go for a run outside, hop on a Lifecycle or dive into a pool — just choose an activity that gets your heart pumping. The "best" cardiovascular exercise is what you enjoy and will do again and again.

Setting Goals: Dream Bigger!

2012-01-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

One of the people I truly admire are people like Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Mark Victor Hansen to name a few... since we are on the early part of 2012 this is a great time to set your goals for 2012 if you haven't already.

If you need a little bit of push this article is perfect for you. It's Dreaming Bigger by Chalene Johnson, one of the people I also truly admire.

A fitness, business, and lifestyle coach, Chalene Johnson is a self-made millionaire and captivating motivational speaker. Having shared the stage with Brian Tracy and Brendon Bruchard, she is adept at a variety of topics, from family to business management.

With over 22 years of experience, Chalene was voted one of the World’s top three Instructors by IDEA Fitness 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Here's her article:

‘Tis the season for setting goals! Each time January 1st rolls around, it seems as if everyone vows to finally get their life in order…again. New Year’s resolutions like “get in shape,” “be more organized,” “save money” are all too common.

The first few weeks of the year, the gym is packed – not a parking space to be found! The house is all cleaned up with everything neatly in its place, and you haven’t gone shopping since the day after Christmas. Things seem to be on the right track!

However, the 3rd and 4th week of January, for most people, things start to slip a back to normal. The reason for this is often lack of motivation…but our lack of motivation often comes from unfulfilling goals.

So, ask yourself: are your dreams big enough? Do your goals reflect your true desires?

Yes, you can achieve mini-goals such as organizing your garage or finishing the laundry. But, how excited are you really going to be?

We get energized when we do something that we really want – something that we’re super-excited to achieve. So don’t limit yourself to a clean garage. Want more. Challenge yourself. Don’t be afraid to desire.

When we start to want and hope and dream we wake up our creativity and we’re inspired to do the work to achieve our goals.

Don’t put limits on your dreams by reaching too low. Set goals that are thrilling, challenging and awe inspiring. Then, take the steps to achieve them. When you move forward a step or two a day, you’ll be shocked at how much you can accomplish. Dream bigger!

Chalene Johnson's website: http://www.chalenejohnson.com/

15 Surprising Ways To Improve Your Cholesterol

2012-01-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

The Fountain of Youth may be fiction, but there really is a magic gene pool in northern Italy. A few decades ago, researchers discovered that, despite unhealthy cholesterol levels, 40 inhabitants of the village of Limone sul Garda were seemingly immune to heart disease. Turns out it wasn't the famed Mediterranean diet at work, but rather a variation of a protein in HDL cholesterol (the good kind) called ApoA-1 Milano. In less scientific terms, the villagers were born with self-cleaning arteries.

Researchers immediately went to work creating a synthetic version of the plaque-busting protein. And in 2003, they created one. Problem is, the drug is still too expensive to mass produce.

Luckily, you don't have to wait for a magic drug to improve your cholesterol. Here are 15 ways to raise your HDL or lower your LDL (the bad cholesterol) today. The best part: Doing so will literally cost you peanuts--or even less.

1. Eat more nuts.

In an analysis of 25 different studies on walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, and macadamia nuts, researchers at Loma Linda University found that eating 67 grams of nuts per day--that's a little more than two ounces--increased the ratio of HDL to LDL in the blood by 8.3 percent. And Australian scientists found that when men replaced 15 percent of their daily calorie intake with macadamia nuts--12 to 16 nuts a day--their HDL levels went up by 8 percent. Even better: You can eat nuts covered in chocolate or rolled in cocoa powder; a Japanese study found that the polyphenols in chocolate activate genes that increase HDL production.

25 Ridiculously Healthy Foods

2. Boost your endurance.

Researchers in Japan found that exercising for 20 minutes a day increases your HDL by 2.5 points. That's not much, but for every additional 10 minutes per day you keep huffing in the gym, you add an extra 1.4 points to your HDL. It doesn't matter whether you pull a rowing machine or power through a tough barbell routine, just keep your activity level at a point where you're panting but not out of breath.

3. Build killer quads.

Ohio University researchers discovered that men who did lower-body work--squats, leg extensions, leg presses--twice a week for 16 weeks raised their HDL levels by 19 percent. For legs and HDL levels that are something to look at, follow the lead of the men in the study: Do three sets of six to eight repetitions of the half squat, leg extension, and leg press, resting no more than 2 minutes between sets. Use a weight that's about 85 percent of the amount you can lift just once.

Get a Thigh-Toning Treadmill Routine

4. Pop a milk pill.

In a study published in the American Journal of Medicine, people who took a daily 1,000-mg calcium supplement saw their HDL-cholesterol levels rise by 7 percent. Choose a brand that contains calcium citrate (not coral calcium) and 400 international units of vitamin D for maximum absorption.

5. Make a date with Mrs. Paul.

When Canadian researchers compared a steady diet of whitefish with regular consumption of lean beef and chicken, they found that the fish-eating folks experienced a 26 percent increase in HDL2, a particularly protective form of HDL. Remember: Fish sticks aren't health food--unless they're baked, like Healthy Selects Sticks from Mrs. Paul's.

6. Learn how to pronounce "policosanol" (poly-CO-sanol).

This mixture of alcohols derived from sugarcane wax is the rare natural supplement that may actually live up to its hype. Doses of 10 to 20 mg a day can increase HDL by up to 15 percent, according to David Maron, M.D., a cardiologist at Vanderbilt University medical center. Two brands to try: Naturals and Nature's Life, both sold at health-food stores.

7. Drink cranberry juice.

University of Scranton scientists found that volunteers who drank three 8-ounce glasses a day for a month increased their HDL-cholesterol levels by 10 percent, enough to cut heart-disease risk by almost 40 percent. Buy 100 percent juice that's at least 27 percent cranberry.

8. Eat grapefruit.

One a day can reduce arterial narrowing by 46 percent, lower your LDL cholesterol by more than 10 percent, and help drop your blood pressure by more than 5 points.

9. Don't let your tank hit empty.

A study in the British Medical Journal found that people who eat six or more small meals a day have 5 percent lower LDL cholesterol levels than those who eat one or two large meals. That's enough to shrink your risk of heart disease by 10 to 20 percent.

10. Eat oatmeal cookies.

In a University of Connecticut study, men with high LDL cholesterol (above 200 mg/dL) who ate oat-bran cookies daily for 8 weeks dropped their levels by more than 20 percent.

11. Switch your spread.

Buy trans fat-free margarine, such as Smart Balance Buttery Spread. Researchers in Norway found that, compared with butter, no-trans margarine lowered LDL cholesterol by 11 percent.

12. Take the Concord.

University of California researchers found that compounds in Concord grapes help slow the formation of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol. The grapes also lower blood pressure by an average of 6 points if you drink just 12 ounces of their juice a day.

13. Swallow phytosterols or phytostanols.

Both substances--derived from pine trees and soy--lower bad cholesterol levels by an average of 10 to 15 percent. Besides being available in supplements, the compounds are in cholesterol-lowering spreads like Benecol and Take Control.

14. Be a part-time vegetarian.

Researchers in Toronto found that men who added a couple of servings of vegetarian fare such as whole grains, nuts, and beans to their diets each day for a month lowered their LDL cholesterol by nearly 30 percent.

15. Switch to dark chocolate.

Finish researchers found that consuming 2.5 ounces of dark chocolate each day boosts levels of HDL by between 11 and 14 percent.

One final tip: Your heart will benefit more from a few long-term health improvements than from a flurry of activity followed by a return to the dangerous norm. Above are the tools to protect yourself. Work five of them into your daily routine over the next month. When they become second nature, try five more. By year's end, you will have given your heart a beating chance.

Tax Deduction Tips You Might Not Know

2012-01-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't want to receive a bigger check on their tax refund? There are two kinds of people. Dead people for one and aliens is the other. LOL! On a serious note, I found a helpful article from Professional Tax Resolution

Here are a few things YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW that you can do that may save you some 2011 tax dollars:

1) Make a charitable contribution.
If the last minute contribution is for more than $250, it must be documented by a contemporaneous acknowledgement from the donor organization.

2) Make a contribution to an IRA, 401(k) or other retirement account.
Most retirement plans actually give you up until April 15, 2012 to make a contribution as long as you designate that the contribution should apply to the 2011 Tax Year.

3) Fund a Health Savings Account or a Medical Savings Account.
The money put into these accounts is tax deductible up to certain limits and is not taxed when it is taken out as long as it is used for medical expenses. Any funds put into either of these account types before December 31 can be counted as a tax deduction for 2011 even though will not used for medical expenses until 2012. At the end of each year, money in these savings accounts that has not been used to cover medical expenses during the current year can be rolled over for use during the next calendar year.

4) Consider selling investments that are down if you have sold investments that have shown gains in 2011.
Although the entire amount of capital gains is taxed during the year they are realized, the maximum yearly deduction for capital losses is $3000. However, any capital gains realized during a calendar year can be offset by capital losses posted during the same year. This tax law essentially allows you to increase the allowable capital loss deduction by the entire amount of any gains realized during the same year.

5) If you own a small business, consider making equipment purchases.
A special tax code makes it an advantage to purchase business tools and equipment before the end of 2011. Although the cost of a capital expenditure usually must be depreciated over the predicted life of the equipment, a special tax code allows you to deduct the full amount of a purchase, up to certain limits, in the calendar year it is made. This amount is $500,000 for 2011 but will drop to $139,000 in 2012 and then to $25,000 per year. However, since it's already past Dec 31, 2011 you can take advantage of this on your next filing for your 2012 Tax Returns on or before April 15, 2013.

If you have other questions here is their information:
Professional Tax Resolution
2100 Main Street, Suite 240
Irvine, CA 92614
Phone: (949) 596-4143

Health & Nutrition: 3 Ways To Cook Salmon

2012-01-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

We've got three delicious recipes that maximize the flavor and health benefits of this pink-fleshed fish. Plus our nutrition expert has top picks for the ingredients.

By Monica Kass Rogers
WebMD the Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

Celtic myth tells the tale of Fionn MacCumhaill, a poet's apprentice who absorbed all the wisdom of the world by eating just a drop of oil from a special salmon. Turns out Fionn was on to something: We're all wise to eat salmon -- especially that marvelous fish oil. Vibrantly colored, tenderly textured, and richly flavored, salmon is loaded with the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

Multiple studies suggest that these polyunsaturated fats help boost the immune system, help reduce the risk of heart disease, and are especially beneficial for a developing fetus, nursing infants, and young children.

The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings a week of fish, preferably oily fish such as salmon. Salmon is one of a few fish rich in omega-3s (1.2 to 1.9 grams per serving, compared with almost none for chicken, pork, and beef). Salmon is also an excellent source of protein, vitamin B12, and selenium, with good amounts of vitamin B6, thiamin, and niacin.

Salmon's characteristic rosy color, which ranges in hue from pale pink to orangey-red, comes largely from astaxanthin, a naturally occurring pigment salmon ingest from microalgae in their diet. Research on astaxanthin suggests that it, too, points to potent protection for the immune system.

Because salmon is a rich fish, the best preparation methods are those that add little or no fat, such as the following three recipes. Cook up your own poetic homage to one of the healthiest fish in the sea.

Salmon Cakes With Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

Salmon cakes

1 lb cooked, flaked salmon

1/ 4 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 egg slightly beaten

½ cup light mayonnaise

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 small red onion, finely minced

2 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

dash hot sauce

cooking spray

Sauce

½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tbsp fresh dill

1 tbsp chopped parsley

½ cup seeded, chopped cucumber

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine all salmon cake ingredients and mix well. Form into four patties.

2. Spray a large skillet and heat over medium heat. Sauté patties 3 - 4 minutes on each side until golden brown.

3. Make sauce by combining all ingredients.

4. Serve each salmon patty with the lemon dill yogurt sauce.

Per serving: 397 calories, 30 g protein, 13 g carbohydrate, 25 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 134 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 377 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 56%.

Spicy Citrus Grilled Salmon and Asparagus Salad

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

4 4-oz salmon filets

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp chili powder

dash salt and ½ tsp pepper

cooking spray

12 spears asparagus

4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, baby lettuce)

Pecan-Crusted Salmon

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

4 4-oz salmon filets

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp panko breadcrumbs

2 tbsp chopped pecans

1 tbsp chopped parsley

fresh lemon cut in wedges

Directions

1. Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper.

2. Place salmon skin side down on baking sheet.

3. Combine mustard and honey, and brush on salmon.

4. Mix topping of breadcrumbs, pecans, and parsley and sprinkle over salmon, pressing down into honey mustard coating.

5. Bake salmon at 400°F 10–15 minutes or until flaky.

6. Serve with lemon wedges.

Per serving: 265 calories, 29 g protein, 9 g carbohydrate, 12 g fat (1.6 g saturated fat), 78 mg cholesterol, 0.4 g fiber, 282 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 42%.

Salmon Pantry Picks

No matter how you prepare it, versatile salmon cooks up quickly and plays well with a variety of ingredients you'll want to have on hand for these recipes. WebMD's director of nutrition, Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, suggests these staples for healthy, tasty results.

Greek Yogurt

Higher in protein, more firmly textured, and more tart than regular yogurt, Greek yogurt is great for cooking. Try Fage Total Classic Plain, Total 2% Plain, or Total 0% Plain. Other options? Voskos Greek Plain Non-fat and Plain Low-fat options, Chobani Non-fat Greek and Low-fat (2%) Greek, and Stonyfield's Oikos Plain Organic Greek yogurt.

Light Mayonnaise

The reason there's little flavor difference between regular and light mayonnaise is that mayo makers achieve lightness by whipping mayonnaise with air and water. Light mayos made with canola or olive oil are best, but all vegetable oil-based mayonnaises are fine. Zelman's go-to brand? Hellmann's Mayonnaise Dressing With Extra Virgin Olive Oil. She also recommends Hellmann's Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise, Duke's Light Mayonnaise, Kraft Mayonnaise with Olive Oil, and Miracle Whip Light Mayonnaise.

Panko Picks

Uniquely light, crisp, and perfect for baking or breading salmon, Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs are finely ground without seasonings or fat. Less dense than regular breadcrumbs, panko crumbs have only 100 calories per half cup. They also let the foods they're served with stand out without masking flavor. Try Asian Gourmet Japanese-style Panko Breadcrumbs or Kikkoman Japanese-style Panko Breadcrumbs. For a little boost of fiber and whole grains, Zelman likes Ian's Whole Wheat Panko Breadcrumbs.

Sweet Success

Brown sugar unrefined or partially refined sugar crystals from which all of the molasses has not been spun off is a cooking essential, favored for its rich, caramel taste. There are a lot of "unrefined" sugars out there that are technically brown sugars: turbinado, demerara, and muscovado, to name a few. But they are all pretty much the same, says Zelman. All sugars, except maple, go through the same kind of processing. So choose what you like, just use a little. Some options: C&H Golden Brown Sugar, India Tree Demerara, Billington's Natural Demerara, and Florida Crystals Demerara.

Cool Condiment

Mustard -- that magical yellow mix of seed, vinegar, and spice -- works wonders in recipes by adding flavor without fat and with very few calories. If you've had only "plain" yellow, it's time to branch out. Here is what you'd find in Zelman's refrigerator: Maille Dijon is a delicious classic, French's Sweet & Zesty adds a touch of sweet to spicy mustard, Inglehoffer Stone Ground is handy when you want added texture, and Gulden's Spicy Brown adds a real kick of great spicy flavor.

The Strangest Secret

2012-01-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

By Earl Nightingale

The late Nobel prize-winning Dr. Albert Schweitzer was asked by a reporter, "Doctor, what's wrong with men today?" The great doctor was silent a moment, and then he said, "Men simply don't think!"
It's about this that I want to talk with you. We live today in a golden age. This is an era that humanity has looked forward to, dreamed of, and worked toward for thousands of years. We live in the richest era that ever existed on the face of the earth ... a land of abundant opportunity for everyone.

However, if you take 100 individuals who start even at the age of 25, do you have any idea what will happen to those men and women by the time they're 65? These 100 people believe they're going to be successful. They are eager toward life, there is a certain sparkle in their eye, an erectness to their carriage, and life seems like a pretty interesting adventure to them.
But by the time they're 65, only one will be rich, four will be financially independent, five will still be working, and 54 will be broke — depending on others for life's necessities.

Only five out of 100 make the grade! Why do so many fail? What has happened to the sparkle that was there when they were 25? What has become of the dreams, the hopes, the plans ... and why is there such a large disparity between what these people intended to do and what they actually accomplished?

THE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

First, we have to define success and here is the best definition I've ever been able to find: "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal."
A success is the school teacher who is teaching because that's what he or she wants to do. A success is the entrepreneur who start his own company because that was his dream — that's what he wanted to do. A success is the salesperson who wants to become the best salesperson in his or her company and sets forth on the pursuit of that goal.
A success is anyone who is realizing a worthy predetermined ideal, because that's what he or she decided to do ... deliberately. But only one out of 20 does that! The rest are "failures."
Rollo May, the distinguished psychiatrist, wrote a wonderful book called Man's Search for Himself, and in this book he says: "The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice ... it is conformity." And there you have the reason for so many failures. Conformity — people acting like everyone else, without knowing why or where they are going.
We learn to read by the time we're seven. We learn to make a living by the time we're 30. Often by that time we're not only making a living, we're supporting a family. And yet by the time we're 65, we haven't learned how to become financially independent in the richest land that has ever been known. Why? We conform! Most of us are acting like the wrong percentage group — the 95 who don't succeed.

GOALS

Have you ever wondered why so many people work so hard and honestly without ever achieving anything in particular, and why others don't seem to work hard, yet seem to get everything? They seem to have the "magic touch." You've heard people say, "Everything he touches turns to gold." Have you ever noticed that a person who becomes successful tends to continue to become more successful? And, on the other hand, have you noticed how someone who's a failure tends to continue to fail?

The difference is goals. People with goals succeed because they know where they're going. It's that simple. Failures, on the other hand, believe that their lives are shaped by circumstances ... by things that happen to them ... by exterior forces.

Think of a ship with the complete voyage mapped out and planned. The captain and crew know exactly where the ship is going and how long it will take — it has a definite goal. And 9,999 times out of 10,000, it will get there.

Now let's take another ship — just like the first — only let's not put a crew on it, or a captain at the helm. Let's give it no aiming point, no goal, and no destination. We just start the engines and let it go. I think you'll agree that if it gets out of the harbor at all, it will either sink or wind up on some deserted beach — a derelict. It can't go anyplace because it has no destination and no guidance.
It's the same with a human being. However, the human race is fixed, not to prevent the strong from winning, but to prevent the weak from losing. Society today can be likened to a convoy in time of war. The entire society is slowed down to protect its weakest link, just as the naval convoy has to go at the speed that will permit its slowest vessel to remain in formation.

That's why it's so easy to make a living today. It takes no particular brains or talent to make a living and support a family today. We have a plateau of so-called "security." So, to succeed, all we must do is decide how high above this plateau we want to aim.

Throughout history, the great wise men and teachers, philosophers, and prophets have disagreed with one another on many different things. It is only on this one point that they are in complete and unanimous agreement — the key to success and the key to failure is this:

WE BECOME WHATWE THINK ABOUT

This is The Strangest Secret! Now, why do I say it's strange, and why do I call it a secret? Actually, it isn't a secret at all. It was first promulgated by some of the earliest wise men, and it appears again and again throughout the Bible. But very few people have learned it or understand it. That's why it's strange, and why for some equally strange reason it virtually remains a secret.
Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman Emperor, said: "A man's life is what his thoughts make of it."
Disraeli said this: "Everything comes if a man will only wait ... a human being with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and nothing can resist a will that will stake even existence for its fulfillment."

William James said: "We need only in cold blood act as if the thing in question were real, and it will become infallibly real by growing into such a connection with our life that it will become real. It will become so knit with habit and emotion that our interests in it will be those which characterize belief." He continues, " ... only you must, then, really wish these things, and wish them exclusively, and not wish at the same time a hundred other incompatible things just as strongly."

My old friend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale put it this way: "If you think in negative terms, you will get negative results. If you think in positive terms, you will achieve positive results." George Bernard Shaw said: "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them."

Well, it's pretty apparent, isn't it? We become what we think about. A person who is thinking about a concrete and worthwhile goal is going to reach it, because that's what he's thinking about. Conversely, the person who has no goal, who doesn't know where he's going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion, anxiety, fear, and worry will thereby create a life of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry. And if he thinks about nothing ... he becomes nothing.

AS YE SOW — SO SHALLYE REAP

The human mind is much like a farmer's land. The land gives the farmer a choice. He may plant in that land whatever he chooses. The land doesn't care what is planted. It's up to the farmer to make the decision. The mind, like the land, will return what you plant, but it doesn't care what you plant. If the farmer plants too seeds — one a seed of corn, the other nightshade, a deadly poison, waters and takes care of the land, what will happen?

Remember, the land doesn't care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up come the two plants — one corn, one poison as it's written in the Bible, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap."

The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn't care what we plant ... success ... or failure. A concrete, worthwhile goal ... or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, anxiety, and so on. But what we plant it must return to us.
The problem is that our mind comes as standard equipment at birth. It's free. And things that are given to us for nothing, we place little value on. Things that we pay money for, we value.
The paradox is that exactly the reverse is true. Everything that's really worthwhile in life came to us free — our minds, our souls, our bodies, our hopes, our dreams, our ambitions, our intelligence, our love of family and children and friends and country. All these priceless possessions are free.
But the things that cost us money are actually very cheap and can be replaced at any time. A good man can be completely wiped out and make another fortune. He can do that several times. Even if our home burns down, we can rebuild it. But the things we got for nothing, we can never replace.
Our mind can do any kind of job we assign to it, but generally speaking, we use it for little jobs instead of big ones. So decide now. What is it you want? Plant your goal in your mind. It's the most important decision you'll ever make in your entire life.

Do you want to excel at your particular job? Do you want to go places in your company ... in your community? Do you want to get rich? All you have got to do is plant that seed in your mind, care for it, work steadily toward your goal, and it will become a reality. It not only will, there's no way that it cannot. You see, that's a law — like the laws of Sir Isaac Newton, the laws of gravity. If you get on top of a building and jump off, you'll always go down — you'll never go up.

And it's the same with all the other laws of nature. They always work. They're inflexible. Think about your goal in a relaxed, positive way. Picture yourself in your mind's eye as having already achieved this goal. See yourself doing the things you will be doing when you have reached your goal.

Every one of us is the sum total of our own thoughts. We are where we are because that's exactly where we really want or feel we deserve to be — whether we'll admit that or not. Each of us must live off the fruit of our thoughts in the future, because what you think today and tomorrow — next month and next year — will mold your life and determine your future. You're guided by your mind.
I remember one time I was driving through e a s t e r n Arizona and I saw one of those giant earthmoving machines roaring along the road with what looked like 30 tons of dirt in it — a tremendous, incredible machine — and there was a little man perched way up on top with the wheel in his hands, guiding it. As I drove along I was struck by the similarity of that machine to the human mind. Just suppose you're sitting at the controls of such a vast source of energy. Are you going to sit back and fold your arms and let it run itself into a ditch? Or are you going to keep both hands firmly on the wheel and control and direct this power to a specific, worthwhile purpose? It's up to you. You're in the driver's seat. You see, the very law that gives us success is a doubleedged sword. We must control our thinking. The same rule that can lead people to lives of success, wealth, happiness, and all the things they ever dreamed of — that very same law can lead them into the gutter. It's all in how they use it ... for good or for bad. That is The Strangest Secret!

Do what the experts since the dawn of recorded history have told us to do: pay the price, by becoming the person you want to become. It's not nearly as difficult as living unsuccessfully.
The moment you decide on a goal to work toward, you're immediately a successful person — you are then in that rare group of people who know where they're going. Out of every hundred people, you belong to the top five. Don't concern yourself too much with how you are going to achieve your goal — leave that completely to a power greater than yourself. All you have to do is know where you're going. The answers will come to you of their own accord, and at the right time.

Start today. You have nothing to lose — but you have your whole life to win.
30-DAYACTION IDEAS FOR PUTTING THE STRANGEST SECRET TO WORK FOR YOU

For the next 30-days follow each of these steps every day until you have achieved your goal.
1. Write on a card what it is you want more that anything else. It may be more money. Perhaps you'd like to double your income or make a specific amount of money. It may be a beautiful home. It may be success at your job. It may be a particular position in life. It could be a more harmonious family.
Write down on your card specifically what it is you want. Make sure it's a single goal and clearly defined. You needn't show it to anyone, but carry it with you so that you can look at it several times a day. Think about it in a cheerful, relaxed, positive way each morning when you get up, and immediately you have something to work for — something to get out of bed for, something to live for.
Look at it every chance you get during the day and just before going to bed at night. As you look at it, remember that you must become what you think about, and since you're thinking about your goal, you realize that soon it will be yours. In fact, it's really yours the moment you write it down and begin to think about it.

2. Stop thinking about what it is you fear. Each time a fearful or negative thought comes into your mind, replace it with a mental picture of your positive and worthwhile goal. And there will come a time when you'll feel like giving up. It's easier for a human being to think negatively than positively. That's why only five percent are successful! You must begin now to place yourself in that group.
"Act as though it were impossible to fail," as Dorothea Brande said. No matter what your goal — if you've kept your goal before you every day — you'll wonder and marvel at this new life you've found.

3. Your success will always be measured by the quality and quantity of service you render. Most people will tell you that they want to make money, without understanding this law. The only people who make money work in a mint. The rest of us must earn money. This is what causes those who keep looking for something for nothing, or a free ride, to fail in life. Success is not the result of making money; earning money is the result of success — and success is in direct proportion to our service.
Most people have this law backwards. It's like the man who stands in front of the stove and says to it: "Give me heat and then I'll add the wood." How many men and women do you know, or do you suppose there are today, who take the same attitude toward life? There are millions.
We've got to put the fuel in before we can expect heat. Likewise, we've got to be of service first before we can expect money. Don't concern yourself with the money. Be of service ... build ... work ... dream ... create! Do this and you'll find there is no limit to the prosperity and abundance that will come to you.
Don't start your test until you've made up your mind to stick with it. If you should fail during your first 30 days — by that I mean suddenly find yourself overwhelmed by negative thoughts — simply start over again from that point and go 30 more days. Gradually, your new habit will form, until you find yourself one of that wonderful minority to whom virtually nothing is impossible.

Above all ... don't worry! Worry brings fear, and fear is crippling. The only thing that can cause you to worry during your test is trying to do it all yourself. Know that all you have to do is hold your goal before you; everything else will take care of itself.

Take this 30-day test, then repeat it ... then repeat it again. Each time it will become more a part of you until you'll wonder how you could have ever have lived any other way. Live this new way and the floodgates of abundance will open and pour over you more riches than you may have dreamed existed. Money? Yes, lots of it. But what's more important, you'll have peace ... you'll be in that wonderful minority who lead calm, cheerful, successful lives.

Great Entrees for your SUPER BOWL Celebration

2012-01-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

Since football is a rugged and physical sport I thought it will be a great idea if have something messy and rugged too! So let's start with a Scott Hibb's Amazing Whisky Grilled Baby Back Ribs.

By: Scott David Hibbard
"Man, when your guests bite into these at the Memorial Day cookout, they'll savor meat so tender and juicy that it slides right off the bone and gets you the respect you deserve! I have found that the major restaurant chains who make this awesome dish pre-cook their ribs SLOWLY before the quick grilling process."

Ingredients

2 (2 pound) slabs baby back pork ribs
coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon ground red chile pepper
2 1/4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup minced onion
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 1/4 teaspoons liquid smoke flavoring
2 teaspoons whiskey
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon dark molasses
1/2 tablespoon ground red chile pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degree F (150 degrees C).
Cut each full rack of ribs in half, so that you have 4 half racks. Sprinkle salt and pepper (more pepper than salt), and 1 tablespoon chile pepper over meat. Wrap each half rack in aluminum foil. Bake for 2 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir the onions in oil for 5 minutes. Stir in water, tomato paste, vinegar, brown sugar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, liquid smoke, whiskey, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, dark molasses, and 1/2 tablespoon ground chile pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 1 1/4 hours, uncovered, or until sauce thickens. Remove from heat, and set sauce aside.

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.

Remove the ribs from the oven, and let stand 10 minutes. Remove the racks from the foil, and place on the grill. Grill the ribs for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Brush sauce on the ribs while they're grilling, just before you serve them (adding it too early will burn it).

Best Crab Cakes

Ingredients

1 egg
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 tablespoon minced green onions
8 ounces crabmeat
1/2 cup crushed buttery round crackers
1 tablespoon butter
Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, mayonnaise, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, tarragon, and scallions. Gently stir in crabmeat, being careful not to break up meat. Gradually mix in cracker crumbs, adding until desired consistency is achieved.
Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Form crab mixture into 4 patties. Place patties in skillet, and cook until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes on each side.

Great Super Bowl Appetizer Ideas

2012-01-11T18:07:00.000-08:00

Here are 3 great appetizer ideas for your Game Day Party. Start with a great Guacamole recipe and here's a good one from Alton Brown of Food Network.

Appetizer 1: Guacamole

Ingredients
3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
1 lime, juiced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced

Directions:

In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.

If you would like to see how it's done click on the link for the video:

Appetizer 2: Buffalo Wings

Ingredients

12 whole chicken wings
3 ounces unsalted butter
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Place a 6-quart saucepan with a steamer basket and 1-inch of water in the bottom, over high heat, cover and bring to a boil.

Remove the tips of the wings and discard or save for making stock. Using kitchen shears, or a knife, separate the wings at the joint. Place the wings into the steamer basket, cover, reduce the heat to medium and steam for 10 minutes. Remove the wings from the basket and carefully pat dry. Lay the wings out on a cooling rack set in a half sheet pan lined with paper towels and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Replace the paper towels with parchment paper. Roast on the middle rack of the oven for 20 minutes. Turn the wings over and cook another 20 minutes or until meat is cooked through and the skin is golden brown.

While the chicken is roasting, melt the butter in a small bowl along with the garlic. Pour this along with hot sauce and salt into a bowl large enough to hold all of the chicken and stir to combine.

Remove the wings from the oven and transfer to the bowl and toss with the sauce. Serve warm.

Appetizer 3: Potato Pinchos

Directions

Spanish tapas bars typically serve pinchos, bite-size snacks held together with toothpicks (pincho means "spike" in Spanish). Try these potatoes: Mix mayonnaise with capers, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Spread on rounds of boiled potato and add your choice of toppings, such as chorizo, manchego and olives. Skewer with toothpicks.

A Prayer To Share

2012-01-10T13:03:00.000-08:00

Guard our thoughts and senses,
so that all that we do may be pleasing to You.

Give us the strength of the Holy Spirit,
so that we may never grow tired of serving You and our neighbor.

Teach us obedience to God’s will in spite of hardships and trials in life.

Help us to honestly and faithfully pray;
and not to do good only to be seen by people.

Lord God, come and strengthen the hope and faith that You have given us,
so that we may truly experience Your presence in our lives...

- Excerpts from the Prayer of Nazarene

15 Cancer Symptoms Men Shouldn't Ignore

2012-01-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

For men, most of us usually put things off when it comes to the doctor. We tend to downplay symptoms and think it's just a minor thing or it will go away.... We are too busy for that and have more important things to do or more important stuff to worry about.

But as they say "knowledge is power. Catching cancer early can help save our life or someone you dearly love. So to help us men out there here is a great article to help us to be aware of what symptoms to watch out for. If you experience any of these... talk to your doctor. So let's get started....

Experts say that men could benefit greatly by being alert to certain cancer symptoms that require a trip to the doctor’s office sooner rather than later. But when it comes to scheduling doctor visits, men are notorious foot-draggers. In fact, some men, would never go to the doctor if it weren't for the women in their life.

Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, is deputy chief medical officer for the national office of the American Cancer Society. According to Lichtenfeld, men often need to be pushed by women to get screened for cancer. That’s unfortunate. Routine preventive care can find cancer and other diseases in their early stages. When cancer is found early, there are more options for treatment. That means there are also better chances for a cure.

Some cancer symptoms in men are specific. They involve certain body parts and may point directly to the possibility of cancer. Other symptoms, though, are vague. For instance, pain that affects many body parts could have many explanations. It may or may not be a sign of cancer. But you can't rule cancer out without seeing a doctor.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 1: Breast Mass

If you’re like most men, you’ve probably never considered the possibility of having breast cancer. Although it’s not common, it is possible. "Any new mass in the breast area of a man needs to be checked out by a physician," Lichtenfeld says.

In addition, the American Cancer Society identifies several other worrisome signs involving the breast that men as well as women should take note of. They include:

Skin dimpling or puckering
Nipple retraction
Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
Nipple discharge
When you consult your physician about any of these signs, expect him to take a careful history and do a physical exam. Then, depending on the findings, the doctor may order a mammogram, a biopsy, or other tests.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 2: Pain

As they age, people often complain of increasing aches and pains. But pain, as vague as it may be, can be an early symptom of some cancers. Most pain complaints, though, are not from cancer.

Any pain that persists, according to the American Cancer Society, should be checked out by your physician. The doctor should take a careful history, get more details, and then decide whether further testing is necessary. If it's not cancer, you will still benefit from the visit to the office. That’s because the doctor can work with you to find out what's causing the pain and determine the proper treatment.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 3: Changes in the Testicles

Testicular cancer occurs most often in men aged 20 to 39. The American Cancer Society recommends that men get a testicular exam by a doctor as part of a routine cancer-related checkup. Some doctors also suggest a monthly self-exam.

Evan Y. Yu , MD, is assistant professor of medicine at the University of Washington and assistant member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Yu tells WebMD that being aware of troublesome testicular symptoms between examinations is wise. "Any change in the size of the testicles, such as growth or shrinkage," Yu says, “should be a concern.”

In addition, any swelling, lump, or feeling of heaviness in the scrotum should not be ignored. Some testicular cancers occur very quickly. So early detection is especially crucial. "If you feel a hard lump of coal [in your testicle], get it checked right away," Yu says.

Your doctor should do a testicular exam and an overall assessment of your health. If cancer is suspected, blood tests may be ordered. You may also undergo an ultrasound examination of your scrotum, and your doctor may decide to do a biopsy. A biopsy requires the removal of the entire testicle.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 4: Changes in the Lymph Nodes

If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be a reason for concern, says Hannah Linden, MD. Linden is a medical oncologist and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She is also a joint associate member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. "If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's been longer than a month, see a doctor," she says.

Your doctor should examine you and determine any associated issues that could explain the lymph node enlargement, such as infection. If there is no infection, a doctor will typically order a biopsy.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 5: Fever

If you've got an unexplained fever, it may indicate cancer. Fever, though, might also be a sign of pneumonia or some other illness or infection that needs treatment.

Most cancers will cause fever at some point. Often, fever occurs after the cancer has spread from its original site and invaded another part of the body. Fever can also be caused by blood cancers such as lymphoma or leukemia, according to the American Cancer Society.

It’s best not to ignore a fever that can’t be explained. Check with your doctor to find out what might be causing the fever and to determine its proper treatment.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 6: Weight Loss Without Trying

Unexpected weight loss is a concern, Lichtenfeld says. "Most of us don't lose weight easily." He's talking about more than simply a few pounds from a stepped up exercise program or to eating less because of a busy schedule. If a man loses more than 10% of his body weight in a time period of 3 to 6 months, it’s time to see the doctor, he says.

Your doctor should do a general physical exam, ask you questions about your diet and exercise, and ask about other symptoms. Based on that information, the doctor will decide what other tests are needed.

“Any man (or woman) who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup,” says Lichtenfeld. Experts have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer. Other symptoms of pancreas cancer may include jaundice, a change in stool color -- often gray -- a darkening of the urine. Itching over the whole body may also occur.

Expect your doctor to do a careful physical exam and take a history. The doctor should order tests such as an ultrasound, a CT scan or both, as well as other laboratory tests.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 8: Fatigue

Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer in men. But many other problems could cause fatigue as well. Like fever, fatigue can set in after the cancer has grown. But according to the American Cancer Society, it may also happen early in cancers such as leukemia, colon cancer, or stomach cancer.

If you often feel extremely tired and you don’t get better with rest, check with your doctor. The doctor should evaluate the fatigue along with any other symptoms in order to determine its cause and the proper treatment.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 9: Persistent Cough

Coughs are expected, of course, with colds, the flu, and allergies. They are also sometimes a side effect of a medication. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- or a change in a cough should not be ignored, says Ranit Mishori, MD, assistant professor and director of the family medicine clerkship at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Those cough patterns warrant a visit to the doctor. They could be a symptom of cancer, or they could indicate some other problem such as chronic bronchitis or acid reflux.

Your doctor should take a careful history, examine your throat, listen to your lungs, determine their function with a spirometry test, and, if you are a smoker, order X-rays. Once the reason for the coughing is identified, the doctor will work with you to determine a treatment plan.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 10: Difficulty Swallowing

Some men may report trouble swallowing but then ignore it, Lichtenfeld says. "Over time, they change their diet to a more liquid diet. They start to drink more soup." But swallowing difficulties, he says, may be a sign of a GI cancer, such as cancer of the esophagus.

Let your doctor know if you are having trouble swallowing. Your doctor should take a careful history and possibly order a chest X-ray and a barium swallow. The doctor may also send you to a specialist for an upper GI endoscopy to examine your esophagus and upper GI tract.

You should be alert to not only changes in moles -- a well-known sign of potential skin cancer -- but also changes in skin pigmentation, says Mary Daly, MD. Daly is an oncologist and head of the department of clinical genetics at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

Daly also says that suddenly developing bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling are reasons to check with your doctor. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes, but most experts say not to wait longer than several weeks.

To find out what’s causing the skin changes, your doctor should take a careful history and perform a careful physical exam. The doctor may also order a biopsy to rule out cancer.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 12: Blood Where It Shouldn't Be

“Anytime you see blood coming from a body part where you've never seen it before, see a doctor,” Lichtenfeld says. "If you start coughing up blood, spitting up blood, have blood in the bowel or in the urine, it’s time for a doctor visit.”

Mishori says it’s a mistake to assume blood in the stool is simply from a hemorrhoid. "It could be colon cancer," he says.

Your doctor should ask you questions about your symptoms. The doctor may also order tests such as a colonoscopy. This is an examination of the colon using a long flexible tube with a camera on one end. The purpose of a colonoscopy is to identify any signs of cancer or precancer or identify any other causes of the bleeding.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 13: Mouth Changes

If you smoke or chew tobacco, you need to be especially alert for any white patches inside your mouth or white spots on your tongue. Those changes may indicate leukoplakia, a pre-cancerous area that can occur with ongoing irritation. This condition can progress to oral cancer.

You should report the changes to your doctor or dentist. The dentist or doctor should take a careful history, examine the changes, and then decide what other tests might be needed.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 14: Urinary Problems

As men age, urinary problems become more frequent, says Yu. Those problems include the following:

The urge to urinate more often,especially at night
A sense of urgency
A feeling of not completely emptying the bladder
An inability to start the urine stream
Urine leaking when laughing or coughing
A weakening of the urine stream
"Every man will develop these problems as he gets older," Yu says. "But once you notice these symptoms, you should seek medical attention." That's especially true if the symptoms get worse.

Your doctor should do a digital rectal exam, which will tell him whether the prostate gland is enlarged or has nodules on it. The prostate gland enlarges as a man ages. It’s most often caused by a noncancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.

Your doctor should also order a blood test to check the level of prostate-specific antigen or PSA. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland, and the test is used to help determine the possibility of prostate cancer.

If the doctor notices abnormalities in the prostate or if the PSA is higher than it should be, your doctor may refer you to a urologist and perhaps order a biopsy. Prostate cancer may be present even with a normal PSA level.

Cancer Symptom in Men No. 15: Indigestion

Many men, especially as they get older, think "heart attack" when they get bad indigestion. But persistent indigestion may point to cancer of the esophagus, throat, or stomach. Persistent or worsening indigestion should be reported to your doctor.

Your doctor should take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion episodes. Based on the history and your answers to the questions, the doctor will decide what tests are needed.

Article from WebMD

15 Cancer Symptoms Women Shouldn't Ignore

2012-01-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

According to Dr. Judy Kinzy, more often than not, it’s the smart, educated women who put off going to the doctor, even when it should be a top priority. Here's a great article to help women out there who might be experiencing some symptoms but who tend to ignore those signs. If you are experiencing one of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about it. So let's get started...

Women tend to be more vigilant than men about getting recommended health checkups and cancer screenings, according to studies and experts.

They're generally more willing, as well, to get potentially worrisome symptoms checked out, says Mary Daly, MD, oncologist and head of the department of clinical genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

But not always. Younger women, for instance, tend to ignore symptoms that could point to cancer. "They have this notion that cancer is a problem of older people," Daly tells WebMD. And they're often right, but plenty of young people get cancer, too.

Of course, some women are as skilled as men are at switching to denial mode. "There are people who deliberately ignore their cancer symptoms," says Hannah Linden, MD, a medical oncologist. She is a joint associate member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle. It's usually denial, but not always, she says. "For some, there is a cultural belief that cancer is incurable, so why go there."

Talking about worrisome symptoms shouldn't make people overreact, says Ranit Mishori, MD, an assistant professor of family medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. "I don't want to give people the impression they should look for every little thing," she says.

With that healthy balance between denial and hypochondria in mind, WebMD asked experts to talk about the symptoms that may not immediately make a woman worry about cancer, but that should be checked out. Read on for 15 possible cancer symptoms women often ignore.

No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss

Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out, Mishori says.

"Unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not," she says. It could, of course, turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid.

Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to "rule out the possibilities, one by one," Mishori says.

No. 2: Bloating

Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.

If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.

No. 3: Breast Changes

Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined, Linden says. "If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated," she says.

Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. "If it's outgoing normally and turns in," she says, that's not a good sign. "If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal." It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.

If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.

No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding

''Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding," Daly says. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer.

Think about what's normal for you, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "If a woman never spots [between periods] and she spots, it's abnormal for her. For someone else, it might not be."

"Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic cancer," Saslow says. "At least three-quarters who get it have some abnormal bleeding as an early sign."

Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.

No. 5: Skin Changes

Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation, Daly says.

If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too, she says. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.

No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing

If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes.

But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus, says Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.

Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.

No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place

If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid, says Mishori. "It could be colon cancer."

Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer.

Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating, Mishori says. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer, she says.

Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, Mishori says, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.

No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression

Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup, says Lichtenfeld. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.

No. 9: Indigestion

Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.

It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.

Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.

No. 10: Mouth Changes

Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.

Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.

No. 11: Pain

As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.

Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.

No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes

If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome, Linden says.

"If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor," she says. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement.

If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.

No. 13: Fever

If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society.

Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool.

Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.

No. 14: Fatigue

Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.

No. 15: Persistent Cough

Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored, Mishori says.

You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.

Article from WebMD

Baked Salmon Recipe

2012-01-04T09:20:00.000-08:00

Are you getting tired of your Baked Salmon recipe? Here's a bit of a twist for you. This recipe was posted by Lonbinder at Allrecipes.com

Enjoy!!!

"A simple and tasty salmon entree. Mayo and onions deliver a sweet and creamy flavor which is perfect with the crunch of the bread crumbs. I sometimes add nutmeg, totally optional. Tastes great with rice pilaf."

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup herb seasoned bread crumbs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise, or as needed
1 teaspoon mustard powder
2 salmon fillets (about 1 inch thick)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet, and set aside.
Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion with dried garlic, salt and pepper until tender. Transfer to a medium bowl, and mix with bread crumbs, mustard powder and mayonnaise. If necessary, add more mayonnaise to achieve a paste like consistency.
Place salmon fillets onto the greased baking sheet, and press the crumb mixture on the top so that it is about 1/4 inch thick.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until salmon is easily cut with a fork, then broil for 5 minutes to crisp the top.

The Top 25 Home-Based Business Ideas

2012-01-02T10:21:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be great to have your own business instead of working for someone else? After researching on the net on different business ideas I came across an article from allbusiness.com I would very much like to share with you... Here it is:

WHICH BUSINESS IS BEST FOR ME?

If you're thinking about starting your own home-based business, the available options can seem overwhelming. What type of business is the best fit for your background, skills, and interests? If you don't have a lot of initial capital to invest, which ones can be started at a low cost? And, most important, which home business has the best chance of succeeding, especially with the U.S. economy still on the rebound?

Narrow down your search with these 25 home-based business ideas that have growth potential, both now and in the future. Your new life as a small business owner awaits!

1. PERSONAL TRAINER
An aging baby boomer population eager to invest in longevity, along with a growing concern over childhood obesity, make it a great time to join this expanding field. As a personal trainer, you can visit clients in their homes and work with fitness centers on a contract basis.

Check out the National Federation of Professional Trainers for information about the certification process, insurance, marketing, and more. To make yourself stand out, think about taking extra courses in specialized fields, such as nutrition or Pilates.

2. YOGA INSTRUCTOR
It's undeniable -- yoga is a trend with staying power. And it's especially appealing to an aging population, as seniors benefit from low-impact workouts. Yoga is also gaining attention in the medical community; according to a 2008 study by Yoga Journal, nearly 14 million Americans reported that a doctor or therapist had recommended yoga to them. And yoga is attractive to today's price-conscious consumers who don't want to spend a lot of money for exercise equipment.

You don't need a studio to teach yoga; just like a personal trainer, you can visit clients at their homes or offices. The Yoga Alliance website provides information on yoga schools, certification, insurance, and more.

3. TUTORING
This field no longer only caters to struggling children or those with learning disabilities -- ultracompetitive parents are flocking to tutors to help their children get ahead and, ultimately, into the best colleges. The tutoring industry has also seen a boost from the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires government-funded schools that have fallen short of performance goals three years in a row to offer federally financed tutoring.

You can start by tutoring students in their homes, at schools, or at local YMCAs or other child-care organizations. Talk to your local school district officials and school principals to determine their needs.

To have a successful tutoring service, you'll need excellent credentials, competitive pricing, relevant experience, and glowing references.

4. CHILD CARE SERVICES
If you enjoy working with children, you can start a home-based daycare center. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, self-employment opportunities in this easy-to-enter industry are among the best in the current economy.

Before making the leap, find out about your state's regulations and insurance requirements. The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education provides helpful information on its website. Aside from insurance, licensing fees, and advertising, you'll need enough startup capital to buy things like play equipment, toys, and educational supplies -- and don't forget to get CPR and first aid certified. If you set up your business as a nonprofit, you'll have better access to grants.

5. BUSINESS COACHING
In a tough economy, businesses need all of the help they can get. As a business coach, you can empower individuals -- often business owners and managers -- to improve their work performance through personal change. The most successful business coaches have plenty of experience in the business world, along with specialized expertise (e.g., marketing, finance, or sales). Whatever your niche, you need to have the ability to help your clients set and achieve their goals.

Network with others in the business world, both business coaches and owners, to find out what clients want and how to market to them. The International Coach Federation provides certification and a coach referral service for its members.

6. CONSULTING
Business consultants analyze businesses, identifying problems and implementing solutions. To be competitive, you'll need to be an expert in a special subject. Think human resources, IT, inventory management -- the possibilities are nearly endless. Many consultants have master degrees, and all have plenty of real-world business experience.

Once you've identified your niche, find out if there's a market for your services and what the competition is like. To set yourself up as the expert in your field, you'll need to make yourself heard in the local community (via speaking engagements, business events, interviews) and online (via your website, blogs, and social media)

7. MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION
Because they perform a necessary function, medical transcriptionists are always in demand. And with its low overhead -- you'll need a computer, Internet access, a printer, headphones, medical dictionaries, and a foot pedal and software for audio playback -- this business is easy to start.

Medical transcriptionists listen to audio recordings of medical records, such as doctors' notes, X-ray reports, and discharge summaries, and transcribe them into a word processing program. You must be able to listen and type at the same time, and quickly. A medical spellchecker helps, and you can get a system for rapid text entry, such as Instant Text. Find out about training and connect with others in the field through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity.

8. LEGAL TRANSCRIPTION
To become a legal transcriptionist, you'll need the same equipment as a medical transcriptionist (but swap those medical dictionaries for legal ones). You can work from home transcribing client interviews, court hearings, depositions, interrogations, and more.

As with medical transcription, top-notch typing skills are a must. While legal transcription training isn't required, it will give you the legal terminology and legal formatting knowledge you need to succeed. Check local community colleges or search online for transcription training courses.

9. ACCOUNTING
With loads of businesses looking to save money by outsourcing accounting services to qualified individuals, certified public accountants can make a solid income.

Starting a CPA business from home requires relatively low overhead, but it may take time to land the clients needed to turn a profit. You can market your services through networking, and you might consider starting your business part time until it gets off the ground.

While you can be an accountant without CPA certification, CPAs have a strong advantage over their noncertified peers. Visit the American Institute of CPAs website for information on specific state requirements.

10. WEB DESIGN
In today's tech-savvy world, more and more businesses and organizations are realizing that DIY websites or -- gasp -- no website at all just won't cut it. And with mobile Internet usage set to overtake desktop usage by 2014, the do-it-yourselfers are going to have a hard time designing websites that are smartphone compatible.

If you've got what it takes, Web design can make for a satisfying career. But the road isn't easy: You'll need to be able to market your skills effectively to stand out. Network as much as possible. You can start a blog, speak at local events, and learn from others in your field. You'll also need to have the skills to complete complex projects and the personality to please demanding customers.

11. SENIOR CARE SERVICES
A growing population of senior citizens means big opportunity for nonmedical home care providers, who help seniors with tasks of daily living. The services you offer might include transportation, house cleaning, dietary assistance, bathing, administering medicines, and, perhaps most important, companionship.

Before getting started, do your research. Find out how many seniors are in your area and what types of services they need. Contact local and state government agencies to learn about the regulations governing senior care businesses in your area. For more tips, visit the Small Business Administration website.

12. PHOTOGRAPHY

While royalty-free stock photo websites are taking a bite out of some photographers' profits, assignment photography is still big business. If you're skilled with a camera and have a mind for business, you can make money as a portrait, event, or wedding photographer.

Keep in mind that starting a photography business requires substantial capital for lighting, cameras, lenses, and photo-editing software, in addition to normal business expenses. Aside from skills and equipment, you'll have to market your business (think a cutting-edge website, social networking, and mailers) and set your pricing. Find out what similar photography businesses in your area are charging and work from there.

13. DEBT COLLECTION AGENCY
With scores of people falling behind on debts, now's the perfect time to start a debt collection agency, which requires little more than a phone and a computer. You'll help retailers, hospitals, and credit card companies recover money they're owed, and in return you'll get a percentage of the collected debt.

Before starting, you need to fully understand the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Also research state and local regulations, such as licensing. Though not required, training or a degree in business or finance may add credibility to your company. Finally, realize that debt collection requires a certain amount of finesse, empathy, and resolve.

14. REPOSSESSION SERVICES
This is another business that benefits from a down economy. In this trade, you'll repossess vehicles on behalf of banks and loan companies from borrowers who fail to make payments.

Once you're experienced, repossessing a vehicle is a quick job, and you can make a lot of profit. Keep in mind, though, that the startup expenses can be substantial, including a tow truck, storage space, insurance, licensing, and more. You'll need to be well-versed in the repo laws for your state, and, of course, have the temperament to handle run-ins with potentially disgruntled borrowers.

15. VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
Businesses are looking to outsource key services, and instead of hiring full-time assistants, many are looking for virtual ones. As a virtual assistant, you'll perform office support duties, such as word processing, data entry, bookkeeping, and research, from your home.

Think about the expertise you can offer and what types of clients you'd like to cater to. Having specialized skills will make you stand out from the competition. Depending on your experience level, you may consider taking a virtual assistant training course, like one from VAClassroom. Find out more and connect with the virtual assistant community through the International Virtual For the rest of the article Assistants Association.

For the rest of the article please go to:
Source: http://www.allbusiness.com/top-25-home-based-businesses/16659292-16.html#ixzz1iK6zCm3A

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

2011-12-31T09:16:00.000-08:00

People like us get so excited about the New Year. Don't we? Why is that? It is because New Year symbolizes a fresh start, something positive, starting over, something to look forward to or something like that. And it's different for everyone. But whatever it is for you, it brings hope, excitement and good energy. Doesn't it? That is why millions and millions of people around the world celebrate it every year!

So today on New Year's Day, before we enter and embrace on the new promises and hopes of what New Year brings, let's make sure we go into the New Year with new shoes and new clothes metaphorically speaking. Let's create a new attitude. New positive energy to start our New Year right.

To do that we ask or Good Lord, to help us get rid of the old ones and let go of them

Heavenly Father, the past we give to you. The things that held us back, our reactions, our over reactions that might have hurt others or ourselves, the people that we allowed to affect our peace, our attitudes, and our lives in a negative way instead of growing in a positive way, here you go Lord... We leave behind us before your feet all our disappointments, frustrations, brokenness, heartaches, pain, bitterness and our physical sickness....

As we enter this New Year, a new chapter in our lives, help us Lord, to see more the good and beauty in others and ourselves, to be more constructive than critical or judgmental. For that is what you command of us. Bless us with a new attitude and positive mind set that you may fill our homes with so much grace and healing. Filled not only with a positive energy but with a God filled presence.

Bless us with good health, divine protection, new opportunities to grow as a person and in our careers... Open the doors of heaven and shower us with many blessings to bless others..

Give us a new, pure and clean heart, so you may dwell in it and make it your home. Finally, breathe in us new life so that we may be more alive in mind, body and spirit in this coming year...

We praise You and thank You, our Lord and our God, our Savior and our dearest Friend, Amen.

The LA Kings Will Make the Playoffs

2011-12-29T15:34:00.000-08:00

Hockey is such a great sport and really fun to watch. The first hockey game I watched was between the LA Kings against oh yeah you've guessed it the Edmonton Oilers. The Wayne Gretzky era. To this day, I have been a Kings fan ever since. My whole household and all my friends are now Mighty Ducks fans since we all live in OC.

This year's LA Kings started with so much promise. With the acquisition of Mike Richards and the signing of Simon Gagne, a great defense and a top notch goaltending the Kings were highly regarded to be one of the top contenders for the Stanley Cup. But the story didn't unfold the way most people thought it would especially to the LA Kings including yours truly.

With the firing of Terry Murray and replaced by Darryl Sutter at the helm the Kings at least are 5-1-1 in the last 7 games. The Kings main problem is offense. No more no less. They have only scored an average of 2 goals or less in most nights. They are last in the league for goals scored. The good news is that they are still knocking at the playoffs for the 8th and final spot. Thanks to a great defense and penalty kill backed up by the stellar goaltending of Jonathan Quick.

The main problem for LA is the offensive side of their game. The Kings need definitely to score more goals for them to have a chance of making the playoffs. To prove my point the Kings are ranked 30th out of 30 teams in the entire NHL in goals scoring. Ranked 26th out of 30 teams on the power play. Defensively, they are ranked 6th best in the league on goals allowed and fifth best on the penalty kill.

So how can the Kings produce more offense. Her's my take on it. I don't think anyone should overreact The problem the Kings have is fixable. The issues I believe hovering the team in my opinion besides the obvious is consistency. The Kings are inconsistent because they lack discipline and maturity. I think the hiring of Darryl Sutter in my opinion is a wonderful move. I think Terry Murray did an excellent job in teaching a young team to play defense and have some structure. What the Kings need now is someone who will demand and get the best out of each player. And this is where Sutter is great at. His teams are all about grit, determination and passion. Excellent in fundamental execution taking teams into submission. This is where we'll find out who deserves to be here or not no matter how talented they may be.

For the players I think it's time to "step up or ship out."

I really believe that the Kings are so capable of scoring more than 2 goals a game and just needs someone at the helm who can get the best out of each player. Based on the type of team LA has Sutter fits the bill. We will make the playoffs and make it to the second round.

LA is in good shape in my opinion. No need to panic folks. No need at all.

Redesigning Your Website? Ask These 3 Questions First

2011-12-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking of redesigning your website I came across an article from Inc.com contributed by Amy Buckner Chowdhry that will you get started in the right direction.

Amy is chief executive and co-founder of AnswerLab, a digital experience research consultancy in San Francisco. In 2011,

Amy received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Winning Woman Award. She also serves on the advisory board for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Before you even begin a website redesign, you should answer several questions to help you get it right. From my years in website user experience and design, I've whittled these down to three key questions, and also mapped out a scientific way to go about answering them

First, you need to know the profile of the people who visit your site. If your intended target market isn't currently on the site, you'll need to revisit your online marketing efforts. Knowing who is on the site will help reveal the mindsets of those visitors, and how your design can support their goals. Tailoring your website to their objectives might result in different paths from the home page, each serving content differentiated for user needs. For example, the Wells Fargo retirement website has three paths for exploring information based on your age range, and stage of saving toward retirement. Demographic information about your site visitors can also influence design decisions. If you serve an older demographic, for instance, the website should have options for increasing font size for easy reading.

2. What do your website visitors look for?

Many companies incorrectly optimize their websites for the content they have, rather than aligning their web content around what customers need. A classic case of this is automotive manufacturer websites. Consumers consistently want more information on future technologies, future vehicles not yet on the market, and car comparisons to older model years. But many automotive companies continue to plug only current model year content, leaving a large portion of site visitors dissatisfied. When setting your web strategy, find out what information online visitors are seeking—and then shape the content strategy around what users need.

3. Are they able to find it? If not, why?

Your site may offer the information users need but–if it's poorly organized–they will never find it. In studies we've conducted at my digital research consultancy, AnswerLab, we found on average 30 percent to 40 percent of site visitors are unable to find all the information they're seeking on a website. Common causes: poor navigation, unclear link names, site errors, and technical issues. Consumers don't like to have to play around to uncover the information they need. Eliminating basic usability issues can increase online acquisition and retention efforts dramatically.

Grasp the current experience on your website

To answer these three key questions, and set the strategy for your entire website redesign effort, consider using what we call an "intercept survey."

Here’s how it works: Upon reaching your website, users receive an invitation to answer a few questions about why they’re visiting. After completing their intended tasks on your site, they answer a few follow-up questions about the overall experience. The survey is extremely short—around 10 questions—so you can keep customers focused on the task at hand. In addition to gathering profile information, surveys like these often measure ease of use, brand impression, and the ability of the site to drive key calls to action—like talking with a doctor, visiting a dealer, contacting the company, or signing up for more information.

By running the survey again post-redesign, you'll then be able to confirm if the project had an impact, and gather additional insights to inform future improvements. In work like this, we recently found a pharmaceutical company had improved its online satisfaction scores by 15 percent simply by moving the links to important drug information to be in a more prominent place on the website.

And, of course, evidence of improvement in customer satisfaction and brand impression motivates everyone involved.

10 Great Ideas for your New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

How well did you do on your New Year's Resolution last year? And the previous year? Don't feel too bad most people I know did just about average. So I thought about putting a different twist on New Years Resolutions for next year in the hopes of sharing with you ideas and to positively give you an extra nudge to make you DO IT! Hopefully :)

I have divided these 10 ideas into 3 areas.
Area 1: Personal
Area 2: Financial
Area 3: Career

I am a firm believer in "balance." Taking care all areas of our life is not only healthy but smart and sound wouldn't you agree? You don't have to follow these suggestions exactly the way it is. My goal is to hopefully tap into your creative mind. YOU - decide for yourself what is best for you. and what works for you.

So let's get started.

Section 1:
4 Ideas for Personal Development:
A. Set health goals - They say health is wealth." It doesn't matter if you are as rich as Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. If you don't have your health we won't be able to enjoy life anyway.

So on health goals think about your eating habits. You might have to make hard choices and eat smart. That means cutting on red meat and junk foods. Minimizing on your soda intake and sweets. Eat more poultry, fish & vegetables. In others words, a truly balanced diet.

Increase physical activity like exercise. Jog, walk or simply dance to your favorite music at the comfort of your home. No need to join ta gym and pay monthly dues. Make sure you know your ideal weight for your height and mass. Consult your doctor first and ideally talk to a nutritionist about your diet.

Another form of physical activity is rest, relaxation of the mind. Remember, "balance" is key to have a happy and a healthy living. It's a lifestyle change.

B. Set relationship goals - The problem or challenge I should say about relationships is that people get too comfortable sometimes when we know someone really cares about us. There's a tendency to take them for granted, don't we? That is very true in any relationship. Personal or business. Send a card, a text, make a quick phone call. Just stay in touch and to say how much
they mean to you from time to time. Whether it's your parents, kid, friend or someone close to you make sure you give them "quality time." It can be as short as 5-10 minutes. It's not that hard if you really care about them.

Make sure you plan & set vacation or getaway goals for your family. With the current economic conditions, it doesn't have to be a grand vacation unless you can afford it. Although, if you search the web I am sure you will find great deals. Try a picnic, Netflix night, ice cream night, a Sunday BBQ day, a Just Because kind of day... I am sure you can be creative and think about something.

C. Emotional goals: This could be also classified as health goals. But I wanted put it in a section on it's own to emphasize it's importance. We all know that if we don't throw away have our garbage get picked up, our house will smell so rotten it will eventually attract flies, mosquitoes and other yucky stuff.... it will be unhealthy ultimately, we will get sick! I believe that also is true with our emotional garbage. What do I men by that? Any emotions that makes us mad, bitter, hurt, disappointed, discouraged, helpless, hopeless, annoyed, etc,... Justifiably or not, fair or unfair, by the end of the day it is our choice to make not the circumstances or things or others but ourselves...if we don't get over it and change our thinking it will sooner or later make us unhappy no matter how good our life is. It can make you SICK as well.......

Life is TOO SHORT & TOO BEAUTIFUL to waste on matters that doesn't EMPOWER us and makes us SMILE... That's my motto.

Throw that garbage out! Don't let it STINK your life. You deserve better.

D. Spirituality - It's an AWESOME thing to know that in spite of our imperfections, weaknesses and limitations we have a Higher Being which personally I call God who I connect to. But through Him I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Some call it different names. I call mine Jesus. Whatever you call your God, each of us needs that spiritual growth and connection. That spiritual connection and relationship with our God gives us guidance, wisdom, strength, comfort, peace, love and LIFE... Spirituality gives us internal strength, hope and direction in our journey in this life.

Financial Goals:
A. Set Cash Flow ideas/goals - This includes, income from your job or business. Investments. clearing unnecessary clutter from your house and selling it. Start selling stuff at Ebay. Start a part time business at your home. Something that you are passionate about.

B. Liabilities - Try to limit buying "wants" instead focus on buying "needs". Make a list of your buying habits for 30 days. Just buy as you normally do. At the end of the month, see and mark the things that are wants on one side and needs on the other. You will be surprised how much mony you can save. . Start your change there. To help you check out my article on the Three Principles of Personal Finance: All You Need to Know for Financial Success. http://vitalexpressions.blogspot.com/2011/02/three-principles-of-personal-finance.html

c. Smart Choices goals - Make sure you have set aside 6 months of emergency fund for all your total monthly expenses. Open a Christmas Club account. It really works. Setting aside $15-20 each paycheck can come a long way during the holidays. DO IT TODAY :) The great thing about this account is that you won't have to use your credit card during the holidays that is great! You will thank yourself come January.

Invest wisely.
- Take advantage of your 401k. It still works too. But also do your homework on what funds to invest in. It's not that easy but it's not hard either. Diversity is always key. Check out Mint.com they are awesome.
- Planning to buy a home or any major purchase? Set a 5 year goal. Invest in mutual funds.
Check out:
- morningstar.com
- Money.com
- Forbes.com
They all have the best Mutual Fund Reviews.

Make sure you check your credit annually to see if there any inaccuracies. Don't go over your credit limit it lowers your credit score. Don't even come close to your limit it also lowers your credit score.

3. Career goals:
With so many unemployed people out there. The business environment has changed dramatically, It's not just about getting a job and maintaining it but you have to excel and more at what you do.

a. Acquiring more skills and knowledge is essential. Because when a company starts to downsize it is the people with less skills who are the first ones to go. Make sure you retool yourself and go back to school for advanced studies.

b. Make sure if you do something that you love to do. That will help your longevity in your career.

c. Improve yourself. Think and find ways how to be more efficient every day. If you improve just 1% better every day... you will have improved 365% for the year.

Common Cold Treatments - What Works What Doesn't

2011-12-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

This is a combined article that I put together from WebMD and the Mayoclinic to help us with the common cold on this very cold winter.

Since there is no cure for the common cold, treatment has two goals: to make you feel better and to help you fight off the virus.

From WebMD & Mayoclinic:

Lots of rest is the key treating a cold. You may find you need 12 hours of sleep each night, so don't set that alarm. You'll be most comfortable in a warm, humid environment. It's also important to drink lots of water. This makes mucus flow more freely and helps with congestion.

No specific treatment exists for the virus that is causing your cold, but in treating your symptoms you can find relief. For aches and pains accompanied by a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, give Tylenol rather than aspirin to avoid the risk of Reye's syndrome, a sometimes fatal condition that occurs in children with viral illnesses, especially if they have taken aspirin. If your throat is sore, gargle as often as you like with salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 1 cup water).

Think twice before using heavily advertised over-the-counter cold and flu medications, which likely contain drugs for symptoms you don't have and therefore may result in needless overtreatment. The FDA and manufacturers now say that over-the-counter cough and cold drugs should not be given to children under age 4.

Over-the-counter decongestants containing pseudoephedrine can help dry and clear nasal passages, but only temporarily. Decongestant nasal sprays can help, too -- but watch out! Decongestants used for more than three to five days may cause a "rebound" effect. This means more mucus and worse congestion. Pseudoephedrine may increase blood pressure and heart rate. Do not take it without first checking with a doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, prostate problems, diabetes, or thyroid problems.

Over-the-counter decongestants containing phenylpropanolamine have been pulled voluntarily from the shelves because they increase the risk of stroke. If you have a drug containing this ingredient, also called PPA, throw it away.

Over-the-counter cough suppressants, such as those containing dextromethorphan, can be helpful if your cough is so severe that it interferes with sleeping or talking. Otherwise, allow yourself to cough as you need to (always covering your mouth as you do), because coughing removes mucus and germs from your throat and lungs.

Antihistamines seem to help some people, but their effect during colds remains controversial.

Good nutrition is essential for resisting and recovering from a cold. Eat a balanced diet. Take supplements as needed to ensure you are receiving the recommended dietary allowances for vitamin A, the vitamin B complex (vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, folic acid) and vitamin C, as well as the minerals zinc and copper. Both vitamin C and zinc are essential for production of infection-fighting neutrophils; without adequate levels, you're an easy mark for all types of infections. Evidence is not clear on whether zinc lozenges or tablets cut colds short -- you can find studies supporting either side of the issue. However, the latest research shows zinc may shorten the duration of a cold and even prevent one if taken regularly.

Despite much research, the jury is still out on whether vitamin C can help prevent or shorten colds. There have been several large studies in adults and in children, but the results have been inconclusive. Taking a lot of vitamin C over a long period of time can be harmful.

Chicken soup has been heralded as a cold therapy since the 12th century. Recent scientific evidence shows mild support for the notion that chicken soup reduces cold symptoms, especially congestion.

Asian healing treatments often use hot soups to treat upper respiratory infections, making use of red pepper, lemongrass, and ginger in particular. Any food spicy enough to make your eyes water will have the same effect on your nose, promoting drainage. If you feel like eating, a hot, spicy soup may help ease your cold symptoms.

To ease cold symptoms, the essential oils of aromatherapy may be rubbed on the body, inhaled with steam, diffused into the air, or poured on a cloth to be used as a compress. Try rubbing diluted eucalyptus oil on the chest as a decongestant, or inhale eucalyptus or peppermint oil to clear stuffiness. Adding lavender, cedar, or lemon to steam may also soothe nasal passages. Inhaling menthol not only provides relief from nasal congestion, but might help inhibit infection as well. Rosemary, thyme, mint, basil, and tea tree oils can also provide relief from symptoms of a cold. Use caution if you have asthma, since aromatherapy can trigger an attack.

Many Americans turn to herbal remedies to ease cold symptoms. Some research supports the use of the Chinese herbal remedies yin chao and gan mao ling. Rather than self-prescribe, it's best to consult an expert practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Echinacea may help strengthen the immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells, but there is little evidence that it can prevent colds in particular. Several studies show adults using echinacea at the first sign of a cold suffered shorter and less severe illness. Because herbs are so poorly regulated and labeled in the U.S., however, it's difficult to know if the product you're using contains the right species and active ingredient. If you decide to try echinacea, take small doses for no more than eight weeks, since prolonged use may suppress your immune system.

Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with honey is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat. But honey may be an effective cough suppressant, too. In one study, children age 2 and older with upper respiratory tract infections were given up to 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of honey at bedtime. The honey seemed to reduce nighttime coughing and improve sleep. In fact, in the study, honey appeared to be as effective as the cough suppressant dextromethorphan in typical over-the-counter doses. Since honey is low-cost and widely available, it might be worth a try.

Cold remedies: What doesn't work

Antibiotics. These destroy bacteria, but they're no help against cold viruses. Avoid asking your doctor for antibiotics for a cold or using old antibiotics you have on hand. You won't get well any faster, and inappropriate use of antibiotics contributes to the serious and growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Over-the-counter cold and cough medications in young children. OTC cold and cough medications may cause serious and even life-threatening side effects in children. The FDA warns against their use in children younger than age 2. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) has voluntarily modified consumer product labels on over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines to state "do not use" in children under 4 years of age, and many companies have stopped manufacturing these products for young children. The FDA is evaluating the safety of these medications in older children.

Take care of yourself

Although usually minor, colds can make you feel miserable. It's tempting to try the latest remedy, but the best thing you can do is take care of yourself. Rest, drink fluids and keep the air around you moist. Remember to wash your hands frequently.

What is the meaning of Christmas?

2011-12-21T20:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas can mean different things to people and not so significant to a few... To me, it's such a special time. People are generally in a giving and cheerful mood.

Wherever you go, the smiles on people's faces are endless, wide and hearty. I think Christmas brings more "smiles" in peoples' hearts than any other holiday! Brings families and friendships closer... rekindles "love' for others.

For me Christmas is a GIFT. Because on this day a Savior was born. That child sacrificed His life for me that I might live. He said in His Book, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16
To me that means in my journey through life, it doesn't matter if my challenges and problems are as deep as the ocean or as high as a mountain... or if I can't see the light of day in sickness, pain, hurts or disappointments. Because I know He will always come through.

I know this because He said in the Book of Matthew, "...do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

One perfect example and I have many of them happened back in 1989. I just got laid off and lost my health insurance. A few days after I remember it was a Sunday. I woke up with the most excruciating pain in my stomach. With no access to any medications and no one was home with me I called 911. Once there at the ER in the midst of pain, a nurse was asking me about my health insurance. I replied, "I have none." She asked, "how are you going to pay for it?" I responded without thinking. I said, "cash." Looking back the best I can do was to make a monthly payment plan.

I did get better thank God. I was there for 5 days in the surgical floor diagnosed with a "kidney stone." The day I got discharged and signed off on all the required paperwork I was anxiously looking for my medical bill which I did not find. So I asked, where's my medical bill? They said, I will be billed and not to worry it will be mailed to me. But it was around $5,000 to $7,000 approximately. OK just great I thought.

One month passed, a year, 5 years, 10 years... now it's 2011 and it's been 22 years and "no medical bill" was ever mailed. That was one of many miracles in my life. Yes, that Savior saved me... that child's name is Jesus!

Christmas doesn't have to be a season. But a lifetime. It can be every day*...

Christmas brings peace to our hearts... healing to our brokenness... hope in our hopelessness.... faith that in spite of our weaknesses and imperfections there is Someone who is more than able... greater than us who will always take care of us...

He promised in Hebrews 13:5
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you

...and the joy of His Promises where not only speaks of spending eternal life with Him where there is no more sickness, death, pain or crying... but experience His Love, Mercy, Miracles & Grace today in our lives...

That to me is what Christmas is all about....

Have a wonderfully blessed Holiday Season to and your families :)

Travel, Vacation or Business the Best for 2012

2011-12-18T10:04:00.000-08:00

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure be sure to check this out before you plan your next one. Here's a great article from toptenreviews.com on the best travel online sites for 2012.

We rank the best online travel sites services with side-by-side comparisons. Read in-depth service reviews and online travel sites services articles. Compare features ... Ratings. Booking Options, Excellent, Good, Very Good, Good, Very Good, Fair. Ease of Use/

Travel Anywhere in the World for Less Money
Online travel sites allow you to plan trips or vacations and make reservations for airline flights, car rentals and hotels with ease. Special deals and discounts are also available, offered only by online sites.

With Why Online Travel Sites?

Online travel sites let you be your own travel agent. Plan your trips or vacation and make reservations quickly with just a few mouse clicks. Make reservations for a flight or a cruise, hotel or car rental. Pay and get your confirmation numbers online. Travel planning that once took hours now takes only a few headache-free minutes. An additional advantage: deals offered only by online sites, since they are often given exclusive discounted rates to sell to customers.

Another benefit of online travel sites is the research factor. You may not want to spend time searching hundreds of airline fare prices and hotel locations, but online travel sites do the searching for you and find the best available prices. You also get bonus information like weather updates, flight status, travel guides and tips. Use these sites as a one-stop shop for all your travel needs.

On this site, you’ll find comprehensive reviews and side-by-side comparisons that help you make an informed decision about which travel site to use for your trip or vacation. You’ll also find travel-related articles such as Airfare and the Fine Print that provide additional information. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

What to Look for in an Online Travel Site

Searching for the best travel deal can be a frustrating experience. Airfare, hotel rates and car rentals can change daily. Many like to shop for the best deal available. Often we will browse dozens of online travel sites comparing prices, fees and times.

Online travel sites should be easy and secure to use. Booking flights, hotels, cars and cruises can be expensive. Always make sure every piece of information is correct and to your satisfaction before clicking the payment option. Be aware of how much the online travel site’s policies, procedures and booking fees are. Since online travel sites offer discounted fares, many tickets or reservations are not refundable.

This is the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate online travel sites.

Booking Options
Online travel sites usually offer airfare, hotel rooms and car rentals; many travel sites also offer cruises. Top travel sites include train tickets, vacation packages and activity booking. Additionally, this feature includes how specific or flexible you can be when booking your reservation.

Additional Features
Travel services may offer additional features. These may include the ability to earn frequent flyer miles, the service’s low price guarantees or the ability to access your itinerary through a cellular phone.

Resources
First–class travel websites provide reading material and information to fulfill your travel needs. This may include weather reports, maps, security updates or travel guides.

Ease of Use/Support
Information about travel websites should be easy to find and provide comprehensive details about the services offered. You should feel secure and comfortable providing sensitive credit card information to book reservations. They should also provide FAQs about the various booking options as well as responsive email or telephone support.

Here are the winners:

1. Smarter Travel

2. Expedia

3. Orbitz

4.Travelocity

5. Kayak

6. AirGorilla

7. OneTravel

8.CheapAir

9. Priceline

10. Hotwire

Please go to this link to see a more detailed analysis with graphics on how they went about rating these travel sites.
http://online-travel-sites-review.toptenreviews.com/

So before you book your next vacation or travel make sure you check this out to save the most money without sacrificing quality.

The Truth About Diet Soda: Beware

2011-12-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

For you diet soda lovers who think it is a healthy alternative than the regular soda? You might want to reconsider a different drink.... Here's a great article from Men's Health magazine this year.

Think choosing no-calorie diet over the regular sugary soda is the smarter choice? Maybe not. A recent study found that diet sodas drinkers have larger waistlines than non-drinkers.

Zero calories—and zero nutrition.
The study compared diet soda drinkers to a group of non-diet drinkers (including both regular soda fans and people who didn’t drink any soda). While all participants’ waists grew over the course of the 9.5-year study, the diet soda drinkers had 70 percent greater increases in belly bulge.

But the results were downright shocking when researchers looked only at people who drank two or more diet sodas per day. The increase in their waist circumference was five times greater than the increase for non-diet drinkers, found the team of researchers from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. (Researchers haven’t yet released the exact waist size numbers.)

While the study shows a connection between drinking diet soda and an increased waist circumference, it’s too soon to say that drinking diet causes belly bulge. Here’s what researchers believe might be going on—and what that means for your Diet Pepsi addiction.

Explanation 1: Artificial Sweetness Tricks The Brain?

“Some studies suggest that when our taste buds sense sweetness, the body expects a calorie load to accompany it. When that doesn’t happen, it may cause us to overeat because we crave the energy rush our body was expecting,” says Cheryl Forberg R.D., author of Flavor First.

HIGHLIGHTS
Diet soda drinkers have a 70% bigger gain in waist circumference over time
Drinking diet might just be a sign of bad overall eating patterns
Artificial sweeteners could make your brain crave sweets or dull taste sensations
Your best bet: avoid diet. While it may or may not actually do harm, there’s no nutrition in it
Similarly, artificial sweeteners might also dull the taste buds—meaning you eat more high-flavor, high-calorie foods to satisfy your cravings, explains Forberg.

Avoid ‘Diet’ Foods

Explanation 2: It’s a Sign of Larger Dietary Patterns?

In a previous study, diet soda drinkers were found to have an increased risk of diabetes, despite the fact that diet soda doesn’t contain natural sugar. But that association disappeared after researchers accounted for other diabetes-related factors, like exercise. One theory: Diet soda drinkers choose the zero-calorie, artificial drink because they had questionable eating habits and were trying to lose some weight.

“Often times these soft drinks are consumed with fast foods, fried foods, etc.—sometimes as a rationale that their zero-calorie diet soda is negating or mitigating the harmful effects of the fast food simply because the beverage has no calories,” Forberg says.

Diet drinkers may have bigger waists, then, not because of diet soda—but because they have a poor diet, and people with poor diets are (in theory) more likely to drink diet soda.

Explanation 3: Biological Effects?

Just because diet soda is calorie-free, doesn’t mean it’s the healthier choice—the beverage contains no nutrients. And in fact, it might be harmful, according to limited research on test animals. When diabetic-prone rats were fed a high-fat diet with aspartame—an artificial sweetener used in diet products—they showed higher blood glucose levels (a diabetes risk factor) than those just fed a high-fat diet. “Excessive amounts of glucose in the blood stream are sent to the liver and converted to excess body fat,” Forberg explains. But further research is needed before we can compare these findings in rats to humans, the researchers caution.

Bottom line: While drinking diet soda isn’t an end-all-be-all sentence to weight gain, there’s no reason you should drink it. So replace your daily diet soda with healthier drinks such as water, green tea, seltzer water (if you’re craving the carbonation), or even coffee, which has been shown to lower the risk of diabetes. If you can’t kick the habit entirely, Forberg recommends limiting diet soda consumption to one—at most two—cans a day.

Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Under $15

2011-12-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

Here are great last minute gift ideas for this holiday season for under $15. Wonderful article from WiseBread.com

t’s that time again. You think you’ve got presents for everyone on your list, but somehow you forgot Great Aunt Noonie. Or your neighbor pops over with a gift and now you want to return the sentiment. What do you get?

The internet is usually my first resource for finding gifts, but now you have the dreaded shipping-and-handling issue to deal with. Sure, you could get it in time, but pay through the nose to get it overnighted. Plus, the stores are emptying faster than a beer keg at a frat party. But don’t despair.

Here are 11 last-minute gift ideas that can help you spread some cheer without giving yourself an ulcer in the process.

1. Magazine Subscriptions
There are many places to buy these, inlcluding Amazon.com. They can start from as little as $3 per year and will usually come with an e-card or printable gift card that you can pop in an envelope.

2. Apps
With the enormous popularity of the iPhone and other smartphones, it makes sense that gifts for these phones are also increasing in number. You can now buy apps as gifts, with many apps giving you the option to “gift this app.” Most apps are well under $10, so maybe you can gift a few. You can also add a personalized message.

3. Cook Something
Well, that’s a broad term, but nothing says you care like something home-made and delicious. From jams and jellies to cakes and cookies, they’re usually something you can make within a day. Wrap them in something nice and wait for the smiles. It sure beats a tie.

4. The Re-Gift
I did a whole post on this, and while some people think it objectionable, most see it as a way to make someone happy with a gift that you personally don’t like. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, but you must of course follow the re-gifting guidelines.

5. Movies
I’ve had Netflix for a few years now, although recently it has come into its own thanks to instant streaming through the Wii and Roku. For just $7.99 for the first month, you can give someone the gift of a whole month of streaming movies. It’s a little more for a month that includes DVDs, but it’s still a great gift that can be delivered instantly via email. Amazon.com also offers movies on demand, and you can buy credits to use in the Movies On Demand section of Amazon. Again, it’s instant and will be enjoyed by many over the holiday season.

6. iTunes Cash
If you don’t have time to run out and buy a CD, you can give your gift recipient a code that will let them download it themselves. Most albums are available through iTunes for $10, and the iTunes program will let you print the gift certificate, or email it to your friend or relative. Just go to the iTunes store and click the Buy iTunes Gifts button on the top right, under Quick Links.

7. Gift Cards
If music isn’t their cup of tea, you can always pick up gift cards for a wide variety of stores from the checkouts of your local grocery stores. They start at $5 and show a little more thought than just throwing a few bills in an envelope.

8. Free 1-Day Shipping
Procrastinators of the world, unite. You have friends in some very big corporations. The biggest is Amazon, who is offering free 1-day shipping on over 15,000 items. You can bag jewelry, watches, clothing, toys and a whole lot more for under $15 and still get it before the big day.

9. Get Your Groupon
This is a double-whammy. Not only can you get something very quickly and print it out, but you also get huge savings. Groupon deals are different for every city but they are always worth checking it. For instance, at the time of writing this article, the Groupon for my city, Denver, was a $30 meal at an Indian restaurant for just $15. Other regular Groupon deals include spa treatments, magazine subscriptions, dance classes and a lot more.

10. Get Artistic
This isn’t for everyone, but then again, art is in the eye of the beholder. All you need is a little paint (or whatever else you have laying around) and something to paint on. You could go for the traditional canvas, they start at just a few dollars at places like Michaels and Joann’s. You could decorate pottery. You could use fabric paint on a t-shirt. You can glue shells to bottles if you like. It’s up to you. But it’s unique, it shows you really care, and it’s quick and inexpensive.

11. Facebook Credits
It’s estimated that 1 in 2 American’s now have a Facebook account. And games are one of the most popular features of this website. Of course, like most things in life, there can be costs associated with the fun, and many games have premium items associated with them. For instance, my Achilles Heel is Bejeweled Blitz, and if I want extra credits for power-ups, I can pay for them. Other games even come with merchandise and collectibles. If you know someone who is hooked on Facebook games, the gift of Facebook Credits may go down very well. Target and Walmart both carry $10 Facebook Credits gift cards, and you can also buy them online for instant redemption.

If you have any more ideas, please share. It is the season of giving after all. Have a very happy and safe Holiday season.

LIVE Free Webcast Reaching More Customers

2011-12-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how marketing has evolved in the last 4 years. Social media, branding. networking, etc, etc... As a business if you are not up to date on these areas chances are the competition will catch up to you or pass you by. If you're starting a business or new to it, then, you'll never get up and running because the competition is so great out there. You need every ounce or inch of creativity and ideas on how to market your product or service and reach more customers.

So today let me introduce to you Mike Koenigs. Here's an overview about him just in case for those who don't know him.

MIKE KOENIGS is the “2009 Marketer of the Year” winner, an entrepreneur, filmmaker, speaker and author.

He is the CEO, “Chief Disruptasaurus” and Founder of Traffic Geyser and Instant Customer. His distribution and relationship automation systems simplify marketing for tens of thousands of small businesses, authors, experts and speakers worldwide.

His celebrity and bestselling author clients and friends include Paula Abdul, Tony Robbins, Tim Ferriss, Debbie Ford, John Assaraf from “The Secret”, Brian Tracy, Jorge Cruise and Harvey MacKay.

Traffic Geyser distributes video, articles and media to over 150 different social media and social networking platforms with the press of a button. Instant Customer is an automated “multi-channel” marketing platform that captures leads with voice recognition, mobile. For over 20 years, Mike has worked with Sony Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, 3M, General Mills, Dominos Pizza, BMW, Ralston and Mazda.

He executive produced “Bill’s Gun Shop”, an independent feature film that was distributed by Warner Brothers and produced a feature documentary, “LifeWithTesla” about living gas-free with an electric car charged by the Sun. He’s created over 300 web sites and more than 35 products.

Originally from Minnesota, Mike lives in San Diego, CA with his wife and son.

Just got an email from him and this a FREE 3 day Webcast 6 hours a day and this is what you are going to get.

This event is a total of 24 hours of jaw-dropping
awesomeness: 6 hours today, 6 hours tomorrow,
12 hours on Saturday.

No matter what day (or days) you attend,
you're going to discover:

- What Cross-Channel marketing is,
how it works and what it will do for you
and your business

-- Access to a live, interactive demonstration
of cross-channel marketing

-- The latest advances in mobile, tablet
and direct marketing technologies and
systems

-- Brand new, advanced selling psychology strategies that have never even been
possible until now

-- How to get YOUR OWN cross-channel
results by people who are already having
HUGE success using the same MOJO
system that you're going to register for
right now

-- The EXACT techniques Mike's customers
are using to pull in HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
of dollars in new contracts

-- Why you'll make MORE money by
connecting with customers in ways that
your competition HASN'T EVEN THOUGHT
OF YET

And I repeat: this is LIVE, not recorded!

All new info.

This is as cutting edge as a new machete.

Register for the LIVE Webcast!
Thursday, Dec. 15th, 2011
11am - 5pm PST / 2pm - 8pm EST
http://www.instantcustomer.com/go/40458