Sunday, December 14, 2008
Whatever Happened to Monchichi?
Growing up in the 1980s holds a special place in my heart. During my childhood, I got a chance to view some of the most popular cartoons and toys during that time period. One of these cartoons was called “Monchichi.” There was also a doll of the same name.
I remember owning the cute little monkeys with a hole in their mouth for their pacifiers. Recently, I was thinking about the Monchichi dolls and wandering whatever happened to them.
Whatever happened to these little monkey creatures? Before I can get into what happened to them, I have always wandered about how did the monkeys get their start.
The very first Monchichi dolls were created by Koichi Sekiguchi Corporation, which is based in Tokyo, during the early 1970s and became very big in terms of production. They are so adorable!
Before the Monchichi cartoons were broadcast in the United States in 1983-1984, the cartoon was shown on Japanese television in 1980. This was due to having a very successful license and the making of these monkey dolls.
Many of us that grew up in the 1980s may also remember the Monchichi cartoons. Although it did not last very long, it still was a very cute series. The plot was that the Monchichis were living above the cloud under the control of Wizzer. They had a very positive outlook on life. But as with any obstacles in life, they were constantly resisting the evilness of Grumplins, who was always attempting to ruin their lives.
It seems that one minute the Monchichis were fighting off evil spirits. The next minute, they just disappeared, as if they packed up their bags and left the entertainment industry—at least in the United States. They went into oblivion, with the exception of the e-Bay auctions in recent years.
However, they are still the phenomenon in their native Japan. These little monkeys continue to be the hot commodity item. In 2005, these dolls were featured in another series. After the year, many children became aware of Monchichi, which caused the sales to skyrocket along with the airing of the television series.
As a thirty-something adult, I am still feeling nostalgic and missing the presence of the Monchichis. They were full of excitement, very cuddly, cute, and great buddies during my ups and downs. This may sound pretty crazy, but if I had a personal message to send, it would say, “come back to the States Monchichis!”
Source:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-monchichi.htm
The Computer Virus Drama
Many people think that since the Internet has been in existence that the computer viruses were started. It turns out that the computer viruses have a history—the first virus took place during the 1980s.
The early computer virus was known as the “Elk Cloner,” which was created by Rich Skrenta, who was in the ninth grade at the time. This virus, like any computer virus, was very annoying but it was not nearly as malicious as the computer viruses in recent years. In matter of fact, it did not look anything like the modern viruses. However, it was still a pain-in-the-neck for the people who had to sort our all of this virus mess. As the number of people purchasing computers increased, so did the computer hacking problem.
During an interview, Skrenta stated that it was dumb, “ It was some dumb little practical joke.” “I guess if you had to pick between being known for this and not being known for anything, I'd rather be known for this.” “But it's an odd placeholder for all that I've done.”
Why would anyone want to known as a computer hacker? If I want to be known for anything, it would be something that does not cause the world a big headache! I would want to do something in which the world can benefit in a positive perspective.
His friends were very weary of him because of his hacker mannerisms. They did not want to exchange computer games and/or software with him. Skrenta had floppy disks that he changed to be given out to send very bothersome messages that appeared on-screen. By the way, piracy circles were very popular during the early 1980s.
Thanks to Mr. Skrenta's prank antics, this was only the beginning of the problem with computer viruses. The Internet brought us even more malicious viruses.
Does anyone remember Melissa, Love Bug, and So Big? Anyone who was connected to the Internet and using e-mail during these times is very familiar with these viruses.
Just to refresh the memory bank, Melissa was that e-mail virus which had many names such as “Mailissa,” “Simpsons,” “Kwyjibo,” or “Kwejeebo.” It also had various variants as in Melissa V and Melissa O, just to name a few. In addition to being very malicious to e-mails throughout the world, it also made its way to the word processors Microsoft Word 97 and 2000.
Who can forget the Love Bug, or I Love You, virus? No one can forget this one. This virus paralyzed the business and government computers on a global basis. It preyed on files with extensions such as .jpeg, .mp3, .mp2, .jpg, .js, .jse, .css, .wsh, .sct, and .hta. These files had overwritten itself, which changed the extensions to .vbs or .vbe. After changing the file extension, the files were re-stored from backups. They could not be used repeatedly or retrieved.
I remember getting so many e-mails in my inbox that it looked worse than a celebrity's e-mails from fans. But it came from the So Big worm, which was more prevalent in the “Sobig.F” variant. Fortunately, I deleted all of them.
It had subject lines such as Re: Approved, Re: Thank You, and Re: Your Application. Also in the body of the e-mail, it included the text, “See the attached file for details.” Sometimes it also said, “Please see the attached file for details.”
As for the pioneer of computer hacking, he is still working with computers. The difference is that he began Topix and has written many computer programs, but not for hacking purposes. To this day, Skrenta is recognized for wreaking havoc on the world by spreading the “Elk Cloner” virus.
I am surprised that the authorities did not catch him. Maybe it was more difficult to detect the problem during that time.
Source:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295813,00.html?sPage=fnc/scitech/cybersecurity
http://www.securityworld.com/ia-420-love-bug-virus.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_(computer_worm)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobig_(computer_worm)
A Few Solutions for Our Computer Eyes
Our society is really obsessed with the usage of computers and with good reason. About ninety-five percent of our livelihood depends on computer technology. But this is only the beginning of the problem: problems with our eyes.
For those of us that are on a computer for a certain period of time on a regular basis, it is likely that we will suffer from blurred vision and some symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. This includes eyestrain and tired eyes during the time at the computer. Everyone that has worked and/or operated on computers has experienced some or all of these dilemmas.
It is not the end of the world; there are some solutions to the eye straining problems that are associated with using the computer. Computer glasses are one of the solutions. Not many individuals would think to purchase any of these glasses. Instead, they choose to get regular glasses, which are not equipped for computer usage. However, computer glasses are less economical than most regular glasses. These glasses are custom-made to take on the eyestrain and to allow individuals to feel comfortable and at the same time have the efficient vision at the computer.
If having computer glasses is not the only option for individuals, then there is also the computer screen. This type of screen is referred to as the intermediate zone of vision, which is the computer distance but it is also farther than the reading distance, as in reading a book.
If the proper computer glasses are not worn, and then it is likely that computer user will have blurry vision along with back pain, headache, a few sore limbs, and of course, straining the eyes.
The following are a few of the specially designed equipment for the computer glasses:
The simple vision lenses are the basic forms of computer glasses, which includes modified lens powers. This allows the computer users to see comfortably during his/her computer session.
One of the requirements of the simple vision lenses is to keep subjects in perspective in terms of the distance of the computer. It also gives the largest field of view—this limits the risk of straining the eyes, having blurry vision, and having a less than perfect sitting posture, which can lead to back and neck pain.
Unlike the simple vision lenses, the occupational progressive lens is designed for individuals with presbyopia. An individual with these lenses can see from near, intermediate, and distance vision from a certain perspective. These progressive lenses have a much massive intermediate zone than regular progressive lens. The purpose is for computer users to have a more suitable vision during the computer usage. However, the occupational progressive lens is not for driving or attempting to see very distant subject matters.
In addition to the simple vision lenses and the occupational progressive lens, there is also a couple more lenses to choose: occupational bifocal, which consists of the top part of lens, which is for computer viewing and the bottom lens, which is for reading. There are also the lined trifocals, which has a larger intermediate zone.
There are many options to choose from in terms of having better computer eyes. If we, the computer users, choose any or all of these options, we will feel much better and so will our eyes.
Source:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/computer_glasses.htm
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Lip Gloss: A Hazard to Our Health?
Like many women who like to enhance her lips, I find myself putting on different lip products just to achieve these goals. It works! These products make my lips look and feel good. But has anyone ever heard that one particular lip product is very hazardous to our health? I am sure that most people have not given it a thought.
The lip product that I am referring to is lip gloss—yes, lip gloss. It is hard to believe! According to various dermatologists, putting on this stuff can increase the chance of getting skin cancer. If individuals are wearing any lipstick, chap stick, or even lip gloss without SPF protection, then it is less likely that it is protecting this delicate organ from this deadly condition. However, the greasy look from the lip gloss can prove to make the ultraviolet rays to be more brutal, according to some of these experts.
This type of damage from the sun can cause deadly forms of skin cancer. There are approximately thirty-five hundred skin cancer case that are reported on an annual basis. But approximately ninety percent of this type of cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. Although this is not considered to be a serious form of cancer, it can become more prevalent on the lips than on any other parts of the skin. If the cancerous form is not treated, then it can become very disfiguring for the lips and also can spread to other organs and may cause death, which is very rare.
Hearing that lip gloss may be hazardous to one's health, it makes any lip gloss fanatic wander about purchasing this beauty tool for their lips. I am such a lip gloss aficionado. This is news to me! It is a possibility that the amount of sun exposure can build up non-cancerous crust on the lips. This is known as actinic keratosis, which is a small, scaly skin patch that is likely to grow into a warty bump if it is not treated. In addition to the scaly skin patch, it may develop small, freckle-like spots on the lips. Usually, these spots are not cancer forming.
As most of us know, too much sun exposure can cause individuals to age very quickly, causing the skin on the lips to become thinner and are more likely to tear and rip. We do not want this to happen! These ultraviolet rays takes away the elasticity from the skin on the lips which leaves the lips look very unattractive. As a result of the decreasing elastic of the lips, it prevent the lips from lining up in its proper form. The saliva will go to the corner of the mouth.
The best suggestion for keeping the lips in fairly decent shape: when preparing to wear lip gloss, apply on some lip products, such as Chapstick, with a SPF of at least thirty under the lip gloss. Sounds perfect to me!
Source:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24190829
The lip product that I am referring to is lip gloss—yes, lip gloss. It is hard to believe! According to various dermatologists, putting on this stuff can increase the chance of getting skin cancer. If individuals are wearing any lipstick, chap stick, or even lip gloss without SPF protection, then it is less likely that it is protecting this delicate organ from this deadly condition. However, the greasy look from the lip gloss can prove to make the ultraviolet rays to be more brutal, according to some of these experts.
This type of damage from the sun can cause deadly forms of skin cancer. There are approximately thirty-five hundred skin cancer case that are reported on an annual basis. But approximately ninety percent of this type of cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. Although this is not considered to be a serious form of cancer, it can become more prevalent on the lips than on any other parts of the skin. If the cancerous form is not treated, then it can become very disfiguring for the lips and also can spread to other organs and may cause death, which is very rare.
Hearing that lip gloss may be hazardous to one's health, it makes any lip gloss fanatic wander about purchasing this beauty tool for their lips. I am such a lip gloss aficionado. This is news to me! It is a possibility that the amount of sun exposure can build up non-cancerous crust on the lips. This is known as actinic keratosis, which is a small, scaly skin patch that is likely to grow into a warty bump if it is not treated. In addition to the scaly skin patch, it may develop small, freckle-like spots on the lips. Usually, these spots are not cancer forming.
As most of us know, too much sun exposure can cause individuals to age very quickly, causing the skin on the lips to become thinner and are more likely to tear and rip. We do not want this to happen! These ultraviolet rays takes away the elasticity from the skin on the lips which leaves the lips look very unattractive. As a result of the decreasing elastic of the lips, it prevent the lips from lining up in its proper form. The saliva will go to the corner of the mouth.
The best suggestion for keeping the lips in fairly decent shape: when preparing to wear lip gloss, apply on some lip products, such as Chapstick, with a SPF of at least thirty under the lip gloss. Sounds perfect to me!
Source:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24190829
Labels:
lip gloss,
skin cancer,
SPF,
SPF protection
Traveling to Kangaroo Island
Love viewing the wildlife? There is a place where visitors can come and enjoy. This tourist destination: Kangaroo Island.
Kangaroo Island is located in South Australia. By hearing the name of this island, it does have kangaroos! But kangaroos are not the only wildlife attraction that is in existence. There are koalas, goannas, platypus, wallabies, and many others. Wildlife is not the only type of adventure that tourists can enjoy.
Unlike the seasons in the Western Hemisphere, summer takes place during the months of December through February. During the summer months, the wildlife returns to their shelters when it is very hot. Besides the intense heat, Kangaroo Island is very colorful with the pastures being a very golden color against the wildflowers and the native trees—the true representation of summer. Also in this season, since it is in a very constant environment, the goannas lay approximately between ten and seventeen eggs. This is a very good incubator period. In addition, wildlife such as the kangaroos and wallabies are giving birth to their young during this time.
Autumn, which falls between March and May, is a time when nature begins to blossom. Pastures becomes greener and waterways have a very beautiful flow. During this season, many changes are taking place, such as more frequent raining which results in the vegetation to grow and wildlife can have something to eat. Also in the autumn season, animals such as cockatoos and penguins are nesting. Fungi begins to grow on damp ground and decaying wood.
June through August, this is the sign of wintertime. Unlike the wintertime that most Americans are accustomed to, this season on the Kangaroo Island is filled with a beautiful green countryside, irresistibly flowing rivers and fill of wildlife. This is what this island is all about! Animals such as the land mammals, which are mainly nocturnal animals, come out every often during the daytime. Unlike other animals in the animal kingdom, which hibernate during the winter months, the koala comes out of their mother's pouch and take refuge on their back.
The spring months are between September and November. Within these months, everything goes through the rebirth experience, of course we see the return of wildlife such as the birds and the vegetation, as in the wildflowers. In addition, nature on Kangaroo Island begins to re-emerge.
Getting around Kangaroo Islands can be a bit of a challenge, if visitors choose to look at in that manner. Two ways of arriving here are by ferry and air. The Sealion 2000 and the Spirit of Kangaroo Island are operated by Sealink. These include two gigantic vehicles that are full of luxury and passenger ferries Bookings are a requirement. The connection points to this island are from Penneshaw to American River and Kingscote. Another way is by flight. The Regional Express, or REX, and Air South conducts the half hour flights from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport. Tourists can have shuttle transportation to Kingscote, which is the capital of Kangaroo Island.
There are so many different activities that tourists can enjoy during their visit to the Kangaroo Islands. One of the activities is enjoying the caving expedition. Kelly Hill Conservation Park is a great start to explore this underground system. In this cave, tourists can learn about how the ornate calcite is formed. This is a great site for those individuals who just love pure adventure.
If exploring the underground is not part of the vacation plan, there is something for the art lovers as well. Visitors can check out the Rustic Blue Gallery. Although this gallery is opened certain times of the year, it is worth a tour. These artworks, such as jewelry and sculpture, highlights everyday life on the Kangaroo Island. The good thing is that these works are created by local artists. In addition to the art in the gallery, it also has a spiritual room where tourists can have the experience of a lifetime. This is a real gem.
But before planning a trip to Kangaroo Island, there are a few things that visitors should know in advance. These items are not allow on this island: bee and honey products due to the fact that it is a haven for bees, potatoes for planting and eating, foxes, and rabbits. Also, weeds are not permitted on the islands. Other than those restrictions, tourists will have a blast on Kangaroo Island!
Sources:
http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/about/default.aspx
http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/gettingthere/default.aspx
http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/wildlife/parks.aspx
http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/art/default.aspx
Kangaroo Island is located in South Australia. By hearing the name of this island, it does have kangaroos! But kangaroos are not the only wildlife attraction that is in existence. There are koalas, goannas, platypus, wallabies, and many others. Wildlife is not the only type of adventure that tourists can enjoy.
Unlike the seasons in the Western Hemisphere, summer takes place during the months of December through February. During the summer months, the wildlife returns to their shelters when it is very hot. Besides the intense heat, Kangaroo Island is very colorful with the pastures being a very golden color against the wildflowers and the native trees—the true representation of summer. Also in this season, since it is in a very constant environment, the goannas lay approximately between ten and seventeen eggs. This is a very good incubator period. In addition, wildlife such as the kangaroos and wallabies are giving birth to their young during this time.
Autumn, which falls between March and May, is a time when nature begins to blossom. Pastures becomes greener and waterways have a very beautiful flow. During this season, many changes are taking place, such as more frequent raining which results in the vegetation to grow and wildlife can have something to eat. Also in the autumn season, animals such as cockatoos and penguins are nesting. Fungi begins to grow on damp ground and decaying wood.
June through August, this is the sign of wintertime. Unlike the wintertime that most Americans are accustomed to, this season on the Kangaroo Island is filled with a beautiful green countryside, irresistibly flowing rivers and fill of wildlife. This is what this island is all about! Animals such as the land mammals, which are mainly nocturnal animals, come out every often during the daytime. Unlike other animals in the animal kingdom, which hibernate during the winter months, the koala comes out of their mother's pouch and take refuge on their back.
The spring months are between September and November. Within these months, everything goes through the rebirth experience, of course we see the return of wildlife such as the birds and the vegetation, as in the wildflowers. In addition, nature on Kangaroo Island begins to re-emerge.
Getting around Kangaroo Islands can be a bit of a challenge, if visitors choose to look at in that manner. Two ways of arriving here are by ferry and air. The Sealion 2000 and the Spirit of Kangaroo Island are operated by Sealink. These include two gigantic vehicles that are full of luxury and passenger ferries Bookings are a requirement. The connection points to this island are from Penneshaw to American River and Kingscote. Another way is by flight. The Regional Express, or REX, and Air South conducts the half hour flights from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport. Tourists can have shuttle transportation to Kingscote, which is the capital of Kangaroo Island.
There are so many different activities that tourists can enjoy during their visit to the Kangaroo Islands. One of the activities is enjoying the caving expedition. Kelly Hill Conservation Park is a great start to explore this underground system. In this cave, tourists can learn about how the ornate calcite is formed. This is a great site for those individuals who just love pure adventure.
If exploring the underground is not part of the vacation plan, there is something for the art lovers as well. Visitors can check out the Rustic Blue Gallery. Although this gallery is opened certain times of the year, it is worth a tour. These artworks, such as jewelry and sculpture, highlights everyday life on the Kangaroo Island. The good thing is that these works are created by local artists. In addition to the art in the gallery, it also has a spiritual room where tourists can have the experience of a lifetime. This is a real gem.
But before planning a trip to Kangaroo Island, there are a few things that visitors should know in advance. These items are not allow on this island: bee and honey products due to the fact that it is a haven for bees, potatoes for planting and eating, foxes, and rabbits. Also, weeds are not permitted on the islands. Other than those restrictions, tourists will have a blast on Kangaroo Island!
Sources:
http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/about/default.aspx
http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/gettingthere/default.aspx
http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/wildlife/parks.aspx
http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/art/default.aspx
Saturday, December 6, 2008
What is Boxing? Day
Well, it is the day after Christmas, and our loved ones are still celebrating. Are they over the Christmas celebration? Maybe or maybe not. Just in case individuals are wandering, this holiday is known as Boxing Day.
It is not a day when all of the boxing contenders get together and have a fight club. Many Americans do not know the significance of this holiday although it is marked on the calender. There is a reason for that! Boxing Day is hardly celebrated in the United States. Even though this holiday is celebrated in countries such as Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada, many people do not understand why they are off work the day after Christmas. Boxing Day is not a very clear holiday, not even to individuals who reside in these countries.
Many people has interpreted this holiday as individuals giving back gift to the designated stores. As a result, Boxing Day is linked to hauling boxes of gifts that were no longer wanted on December 26.
All we know is that Boxing Day originated in the United Kingdom. In the UK, this holiday is also referred to as St. Stephen's Day. According to the origins of Boxing Day, the true purpose was to donate cash and/or durable goods to the less fortunate individuals. On the other hand, exchanging gifts among people from the same economic class took place either during Christmas Day or before the actual day. The gifts were very beneficial to the lower class people after Christmas.
There are many different versions of Boxing Day that people tell. I will mention two of these interpretations.
During the past centuries, the merchants donated fruit and floor to people who had connections to the trade and servants on December 26 as a tip for the season. As with many gifts, these gifts were a token to give thanks to the employees that worked for them. This is in the same way that a customer may tip the mail three dollars during the Christmas season for performing a great duty. During Boxing Day, of course, these gifts were placed in boxes. This is one theory on how the holiday Boxing became so renowned.
Unlike the first theory, this theory consists of churches having boxes of donations for the Christmas season. These donations were for the less fortunate and were opened on Christmas Day. The actual contents of the boxes were passed out by the church clergy the next day. The gifts in the alms box were given by the church parishioners who were not obligated to give these gifts. These parishioners were not affiliated with an employer/employer relationship. Therefore, Boxing Day can from a bunch of parishioners giving donations in a very huge box.
Regardless of the different theories of Boxing Day, this holiday is really about helping out the less fortunate. My conclusion on Boxing Day: individuals can believe anything that he/she desires to believe.
Source:
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/Christmas/boxingday.asp
It is not a day when all of the boxing contenders get together and have a fight club. Many Americans do not know the significance of this holiday although it is marked on the calender. There is a reason for that! Boxing Day is hardly celebrated in the United States. Even though this holiday is celebrated in countries such as Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada, many people do not understand why they are off work the day after Christmas. Boxing Day is not a very clear holiday, not even to individuals who reside in these countries.
Many people has interpreted this holiday as individuals giving back gift to the designated stores. As a result, Boxing Day is linked to hauling boxes of gifts that were no longer wanted on December 26.
All we know is that Boxing Day originated in the United Kingdom. In the UK, this holiday is also referred to as St. Stephen's Day. According to the origins of Boxing Day, the true purpose was to donate cash and/or durable goods to the less fortunate individuals. On the other hand, exchanging gifts among people from the same economic class took place either during Christmas Day or before the actual day. The gifts were very beneficial to the lower class people after Christmas.
There are many different versions of Boxing Day that people tell. I will mention two of these interpretations.
During the past centuries, the merchants donated fruit and floor to people who had connections to the trade and servants on December 26 as a tip for the season. As with many gifts, these gifts were a token to give thanks to the employees that worked for them. This is in the same way that a customer may tip the mail three dollars during the Christmas season for performing a great duty. During Boxing Day, of course, these gifts were placed in boxes. This is one theory on how the holiday Boxing became so renowned.
Unlike the first theory, this theory consists of churches having boxes of donations for the Christmas season. These donations were for the less fortunate and were opened on Christmas Day. The actual contents of the boxes were passed out by the church clergy the next day. The gifts in the alms box were given by the church parishioners who were not obligated to give these gifts. These parishioners were not affiliated with an employer/employer relationship. Therefore, Boxing Day can from a bunch of parishioners giving donations in a very huge box.
Regardless of the different theories of Boxing Day, this holiday is really about helping out the less fortunate. My conclusion on Boxing Day: individuals can believe anything that he/she desires to believe.
Source:
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/Christmas/boxingday.asp
Labels:
Boxing Day,
donations,
gift boxes,
post-Christmas season
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Many Sounds of Ringtones
We are surrounded by computerized technology whether it is a PDA or a cell phones. These gadgets also have personalized built-in materials that can be a bunch of fun at home, such as videos and video games. Now we have our personalized soundbyte—that is—our cell phones.
Welcome to the world of ringtones. There are some ringtones that are very pleasing to the ear. At the same time, there are those tones that are just plain horrible and irritating.
Ringtones are meant to allow the cell phone users to have the soundbytes that match our personality along with letting the phone's ring be different from other cell phone customers.
But how does these ringtones come to life? It is pretty simple, but if anyone is not really musically-inclined, then it may sound a little bit difficult.
These sample pieces of soundbytes is from a computerized program that is in the cell phone's memory clip. The purpose of this memory clip is to tell what the microprocessor what the speaker system on the mobile phone should do in case during an incoming call.
Remember music class? I have a very vivid memory of music class, learning about first note and second note. The same thing applies to ringtones on cellular phones. These have a number of notes that are in the phone's memory. In other words, there is information about different frequencies that will create these very distinctive ring sounds. The microprocessor is told to play a particular tune in a certain order and speed. On the cell phone, the microprocessor can play unlimited number of these soundbytes.
These tones also come to life by a program language known as RTTTL, or Ringing Tone Text Transfer Language. This was brought to life by Nokia. The following are the representations of duration and octaves on the cell phone ringtones:
On the duration side, one represents a full note while two represents a half note. There are also the quarter note, eighth note, the sixteenth note, and the thirty-second note. In contrast to the duration, there is the octave. The octaves are represented in hertz and kilohertz. For example, octave number five is the representation of A, which is four hundred forty hertz. Octave number six is eight hundred eighty hertz. Getting past the sixth octave, we are getting into kilohertz. The seventh octave is 1.76 kilohertz and the eighth octave is 3.52 kilohertz.
Of course, there are many different software applications in which ringtones can be customized. I am very open to creating some unique soundbytes. Let's see what other unique ringtones that individuals can come up with. Keep the ears opens because sky is the limit!
Source:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ringtone.htm
Paying Less for Our Scents
Although our economy is far from recovery, there are some ways to shop on a budget, mainly on the Internet. This is the case of everything that is sold online, such as perfumes.
Guess what? It is possible to find these wonderful scents, even the discontinued ones, without breaking the bank, thanks to the World Wide Web. This Christmas shopping season, I am in the market for purchasing some designer perfume, but I do not want to pay a fortune for it. While conducting some research for online stores that sell inexpensive perfumes, I stumbled across three different websites that specializes in designer perfumes.
They are PerfumeOutlet.net, AffordableScents.com, and Scentiments.com. On the PerfumeOutlet.net, consumers can purchase sample perfume testers. In addition, he/she can also receive free gift perfume samples with any purchase that is made. AffordableScents.com is an online perfume store which do not sell any imitation products. They specialize in designer name brands for much less and also have some perfume products that are discontinued and harder to locate. This is one of my favorite perfume stores that is on the Internet—Scentiments.com. Consumers can save up to almost ninety percent off retail prices and also has free ground shipping for all purchases that are seventy-five dollars and over. That is a deal!
The following are some tidbits to think about when looking for inexpensive perfumes:
Perfumes are sold at a very low price due to the fact that online stores are not required to have a traditional store building. In addition, warehouses do not pass along the price tag that typical retail stores are required to do. Also, the sellers have more spacial room for their money.
Since new perfume scents are created almost on a daily basis, typical perfume and department stores have very little space. In contrast, the Internet store's storage room is unlimited. Well, that is very obvious. As a result, there is a better opportunity for individuals to track down their favorite scents at a much lower price and also search for discontinued fragrances via Internet.
The perfume stores that exist online purchase their products in volumes. Therefore, these stores get a better deal per unit. Also, the savings do not go through a third party, but straight to the consumers.
Individuals should be careful when getting ready to make that selection of online perfume stores or any other online stores. These online stores should be safe from hackers. This is for the prevention of identity theft and credit card fraud, which is a huge problem in the computer technology world. These should be a seal on the company's website, such as the McAfee seal.
Even with perfumes, which are hot commodity items, research should always be conducted. Do some price shopping on different online perfume stores. When the math is done, he/she is more likely to get the best offers for their favorite fragrances. Research does pay off!
Many individuals would not consider purchasing perfume testers. I guess because they are very small. I am one of those people. The only way I get samples for perfumes if the sellers are passing them out on the streets. Just for a tryout, testers are the best option to take. They are only trials to see if the consumers like the fragrance.
There is one way to think about perfume testers. They are the real McCoy, but without the classy-looking box and bottle packaging that are seen in specialized fragrance shops and department stores.
Since Christmas is around the corner, I think that I will avoid standing in the long lines just for a seventy-eight dollar designer perfume. Instead, I am making the smarter choice: to purchase the perfume for far less money via Internet.
Source:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/cheap-perfumes-doesnt-mean-bad-perfume.html
Guess what? It is possible to find these wonderful scents, even the discontinued ones, without breaking the bank, thanks to the World Wide Web. This Christmas shopping season, I am in the market for purchasing some designer perfume, but I do not want to pay a fortune for it. While conducting some research for online stores that sell inexpensive perfumes, I stumbled across three different websites that specializes in designer perfumes.
They are PerfumeOutlet.net, AffordableScents.com, and Scentiments.com. On the PerfumeOutlet.net, consumers can purchase sample perfume testers. In addition, he/she can also receive free gift perfume samples with any purchase that is made. AffordableScents.com is an online perfume store which do not sell any imitation products. They specialize in designer name brands for much less and also have some perfume products that are discontinued and harder to locate. This is one of my favorite perfume stores that is on the Internet—Scentiments.com. Consumers can save up to almost ninety percent off retail prices and also has free ground shipping for all purchases that are seventy-five dollars and over. That is a deal!
The following are some tidbits to think about when looking for inexpensive perfumes:
Perfumes are sold at a very low price due to the fact that online stores are not required to have a traditional store building. In addition, warehouses do not pass along the price tag that typical retail stores are required to do. Also, the sellers have more spacial room for their money.
Since new perfume scents are created almost on a daily basis, typical perfume and department stores have very little space. In contrast, the Internet store's storage room is unlimited. Well, that is very obvious. As a result, there is a better opportunity for individuals to track down their favorite scents at a much lower price and also search for discontinued fragrances via Internet.
The perfume stores that exist online purchase their products in volumes. Therefore, these stores get a better deal per unit. Also, the savings do not go through a third party, but straight to the consumers.
Individuals should be careful when getting ready to make that selection of online perfume stores or any other online stores. These online stores should be safe from hackers. This is for the prevention of identity theft and credit card fraud, which is a huge problem in the computer technology world. These should be a seal on the company's website, such as the McAfee seal.
Even with perfumes, which are hot commodity items, research should always be conducted. Do some price shopping on different online perfume stores. When the math is done, he/she is more likely to get the best offers for their favorite fragrances. Research does pay off!
Many individuals would not consider purchasing perfume testers. I guess because they are very small. I am one of those people. The only way I get samples for perfumes if the sellers are passing them out on the streets. Just for a tryout, testers are the best option to take. They are only trials to see if the consumers like the fragrance.
There is one way to think about perfume testers. They are the real McCoy, but without the classy-looking box and bottle packaging that are seen in specialized fragrance shops and department stores.
Since Christmas is around the corner, I think that I will avoid standing in the long lines just for a seventy-eight dollar designer perfume. Instead, I am making the smarter choice: to purchase the perfume for far less money via Internet.
Source:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/cheap-perfumes-doesnt-mean-bad-perfume.html
Friday, November 28, 2008
Going Shopping? Hurry Before Everything Runs Out!
Once we have gobbled up all the Thanksgiving dinner, many of us have another alternative to burning off the calories. It is not by exercising on the treadmill. It is an exercising routine that is referred to as Black Friday.
By now, everyone knows that Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. This is the official Christmas shopping season.
Retailers usually begin decorating for the Christmas season very early. I know from working in a retail store. Although Black Friday is not a legal holiday, many individuals treat it as legal. Many go as far as ditching the work day. I guess it is a good thing—at least from the retailers' perspective. This boosts the number of these holiday shoppers. As a potential Christmas shopper, I am not willing to risk my life just for a couple of items!
Many retailers open during the wee hours (approximately 5 am or even earlier) and give these great price deals just to recruit individuals to their stores. There are many people who have seen these early-bird shoppers line up much earlier than four o'clock in the morning. These lines are very long—almost two miles long. Lining up for a fifteen-dollar Barbie doll on Black Friday is not unusual. This is pretty typical on the day after Thanksgiving. These shoppers generally rush and grab as if the products were the last item standing on Earth! Come on, what is the big rush?
The most popular shopping items that are sold on Black Friday and afterwards are electronics and the most commercialized toys. Discounts are king during this day. A large number of people make the smart decision to remain at home. I do not blame them!
Besides the shoppers being the main attraction of Black Friday, who can forget about the news and other mass medias? The mass media are hungry to hear about it! Normally, the local news media will do a story on the biggest shopping day of the year. Sometimes the reporter may ask the shopper, “How long have you been standing here?” The shopper may reply, “Since two thirty this morning.” As a result of standing in line for a long period of time, the shopper walks out with their wanted items.
Black Friday does not only apply to the typical retail stores. The Internet is also cashing in on this shopping frenzy.
On various online shopping websites, there is information on Black Friday specials at least a month before this “holiday” arrives. These listings includes items and prices in addition to the pictures of the original advertisements. However, this information is often revealed by insiders or the heavyweight retailers may give away details in order for consumers to plan ahead for the Christmas holiday season. Recently, there have been some retailers that stated that the advanced Black Friday advertisements, which includes the prices are copyrighted.
In essence, many of the retailers have utilized the DMCA, or Digital Millennium Copyright Act, take down system for the purpose of removing the price listing for having violating information. According to some of these companies, this particular policy is the result that competitors may cut prices. This is a sign of fear. Also the shoppers may want to price shop. Others say that this claim that prices give some type of authorship is unclear as the price may not be looked at as a factor that would be the similar type of protection as the average work that has a copyright.
Although I am not a retailer, my suggestion is to do the Christmas shopping via the World Wide Web after Thanksgiving. This is beneficial for a couple of reasons: shoppers are getting really good deals online and avoiding that crazy shoppers traffic! Good luck with holiday shopping!
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/Black_Friday_(shopping)
Labels:
Black Friday,
Christmas shopping,
holiday shopping
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Which is Better? Coffee or Tea
During each morning, many individuals find themselves usually substituting their regular breakfast meals for either of these beverages: coffee or tea.
Most people would prefer to drink coffee over tea. As for me, I like coffee and tea. But if I had to choose, it would have to be tea. This is due to the lighter taste—in my opinion.
Did anyone know that the average person consumes more coffee than just having that glass of water, whether it is tap or bottled? Well, it is true. Throughout the world, there are massive amounts of coffee that are produced each year and it is still growing.
Almost everyone knows that each type of coffee has a certain amount of caffeine. But as with any type of beverages and food, the caffeine level varies. The typical coffee drinker may fix up a single cup of coffee of approximately seven fluid ounces. We do not realize how much caffeine our favorite breakfast drink contain. For example, instant coffee may contain anything between sixty-five and one hundred milligrams of caffeine. That is a lot of caffeine! Personally, it makes me very drowsy.
By now almost everyone knows that consuming coffee is more popular than tea. Before I get off the subject of coffee, decaffeinated coffee is also available if individuals do not care for the caffeine addiction.
Now on with the tea subject.
Everyone that I am in contact with always drink coffee and only coffee. Unlike my family and friends, I drink tea and coffee. Although there are more coffee drinkers, the average American tea consumer drinks nearly eight gallons of tea annually. I have about five boxes of tea in my cabinet—that is a lot of tea to have. No different from having five cans of coffee! With those many boxes of tea, it would take me about six months to a year to drink them because I only consume them occasionally.
When most of us think about tea, Lipton iced tea comes to mind. In the United States, that is the case—in many cases. In stores, we can purchase iced tea in a glass or plastic bottle.
We all know that coffee comes from a small, brown bean. Think about the symbol of coffee—Juan Valdez. The question is how is tea prepared? In the case of iced tea, it is made from the tea from the bags that is dehydrated. Recently, I payed a visit to the local supermarket and spotted some iced tea that was very powdery in a can. I purchased this can and tried it. It is very instant and quicker than making it from the bags.
Which is better for the health? Coffee or tea. Some studies claim that tea is supposed to be very beneficial from a healthy standpoint. These drinks both have some evidence of caffeine. There are also some that do not contain caffeine. Who knows which is healthier? My guess is that consumers should use his/her best judgment.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
Labels:
breakfast beverages,
coffee,
drinking beverages,
tea
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The Long-Lasting Trend
Everyone knows about this particular word because of its many language uses. It can be used as a preposition in terms of a simile, as a conjunction, a verb, and/or a noun.
Does the word “like” comes in mind? Maybe or maybe not. Like, hello!
This word has become so mainstream that it is not limited to teenagers and valley girls. Many of us may remember the song, “Valley Girl.” The girl was using the word “like” so many times until I stop keeping up the count. The “like” word began to become very popular in Southern California, in particular, the San Fernando Valley, which is outside of Los Angeles. During my stay in the San Fernando Valley, I remember hearing these girls using that word more times that I really want to hear. Through the years, the “valley girl” talk has diminished more than quite a bit. One reason is that we are no longer in the 1980s decade. Also, the San Fernando Valley has changed by nearly one-hundred percent. This is due to many immigrant groups residing in the valley. However, “like” is still dominant.
I am going to put my usage of this word to use. Like, this word has been around in terms of not-so-traditional English usage since around the 1950s, during the rise of jazz and beat culture.
In addition to being adopted into the mainstream culture, “like” is often referred by the very conservative people as being too lazy to form regular and typical English grammar. How dare they say that!
This is the norm for an everyday conversation. Of course, the word as non-traditional usage is used as a filler. The majority of people use the word “like” as a filler. “Like” can also be referred to as a quotative to repeat a statement that was once quoted by another individual. For example, individuals may alter his or her voice tone to imitate the person that made the statement. More likely, it is the precise statement. This is also a way to communication by body language, especially if it is a very comprehensive or unspoken idea. A very good example is if I were to express myself about a particular situation, I may say, “I was like, get out of here.” This guilt is really applying to me. This is because it is simply it is just a plan old habit as with many people. These very traditional scholars should except the fact that this is just becoming part of everyday life, at least outside of the scholar world. However, I am a strong advocate in education and using the English language correctly.
Almost everyone who are not adolescents always associate “like” with the adolescent population. As I learned, I hear individuals in their twenties and older also using this word in massive numbers.
I guess that this word as colloquial speech will live on!
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like
Does the word “like” comes in mind? Maybe or maybe not. Like, hello!
This word has become so mainstream that it is not limited to teenagers and valley girls. Many of us may remember the song, “Valley Girl.” The girl was using the word “like” so many times until I stop keeping up the count. The “like” word began to become very popular in Southern California, in particular, the San Fernando Valley, which is outside of Los Angeles. During my stay in the San Fernando Valley, I remember hearing these girls using that word more times that I really want to hear. Through the years, the “valley girl” talk has diminished more than quite a bit. One reason is that we are no longer in the 1980s decade. Also, the San Fernando Valley has changed by nearly one-hundred percent. This is due to many immigrant groups residing in the valley. However, “like” is still dominant.
I am going to put my usage of this word to use. Like, this word has been around in terms of not-so-traditional English usage since around the 1950s, during the rise of jazz and beat culture.
In addition to being adopted into the mainstream culture, “like” is often referred by the very conservative people as being too lazy to form regular and typical English grammar. How dare they say that!
This is the norm for an everyday conversation. Of course, the word as non-traditional usage is used as a filler. The majority of people use the word “like” as a filler. “Like” can also be referred to as a quotative to repeat a statement that was once quoted by another individual. For example, individuals may alter his or her voice tone to imitate the person that made the statement. More likely, it is the precise statement. This is also a way to communication by body language, especially if it is a very comprehensive or unspoken idea. A very good example is if I were to express myself about a particular situation, I may say, “I was like, get out of here.” This guilt is really applying to me. This is because it is simply it is just a plan old habit as with many people. These very traditional scholars should except the fact that this is just becoming part of everyday life, at least outside of the scholar world. However, I am a strong advocate in education and using the English language correctly.
Almost everyone who are not adolescents always associate “like” with the adolescent population. As I learned, I hear individuals in their twenties and older also using this word in massive numbers.
I guess that this word as colloquial speech will live on!
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Tanning Regulation
I know that many individuals, especially teenage girls and young women like to have that beautiful bronze skin. Unfortunately, this procedure comes with a very hefty price: tanning in indoor salons.
Many people are flocking to these tanning booths as if they were going into obscurity. But tanning in salons can increase the chances of having skin cancer.
Does anyone remember the TAN Act? Probably not. This subject matter is rarely discussed in the mass media. The purpose of the TAN Act, or Tanning Accountability and Notification is to educate consumers about the risks of indoor tanning, in a nutshell. This is due to the fact that skin cancer is on the rise.
This is the skinny on these tanning booths. These ultraviolet rays in these booths are full of concentration. This is the same type of exposure that exists when individuals are out in the outdoors sun. It can take as much as twenty minutes before the tanning effect can take place. According to one study, women who frequent these tanning booths are more likely to develop melanoma by approximately fifty-five percent. This is a very alarming number to developing skin cancer from a tanning salon.
This news should be a wake-up call for anyone who are using the tanning booth or thinking about becoming a client of a tanning salon. It is to the point where there has to be federal legislation to inform the general public about the dangers of using tanning booths.
As a result, the Food and Drug Administration have to perform some type of testing for consumers. The purpose of this type of testing is to see if these warning labels on these booths are really educating the potential clients of these tanning salons. I think that in most cases, the clients are failing to yield the warnings. In contrast, many of these professionals are not to tell their potential clients about this because they are trying to make a living.
Many of us know people who are using these tanning booths on a regular basis, sometimes up to three or four times a week. That is a lot of times to get the skin really fried and baked! I know an individual who always likes to have that tanned look to her complexion. She insists on going to the tanning salon to achieve these effects.
My suggestion to her: buy some tanning lotion! It is a bit safer than getting her skin baked. I know that it can be messy, but at least she is not risking her life. Going to these tanning salons is like playing Russian Roulette with life. This type of cosmetic procedure is not worth dying for.
Source:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/you/healthy/skin-caner/introducing-tan-act
Many people are flocking to these tanning booths as if they were going into obscurity. But tanning in salons can increase the chances of having skin cancer.
Does anyone remember the TAN Act? Probably not. This subject matter is rarely discussed in the mass media. The purpose of the TAN Act, or Tanning Accountability and Notification is to educate consumers about the risks of indoor tanning, in a nutshell. This is due to the fact that skin cancer is on the rise.
This is the skinny on these tanning booths. These ultraviolet rays in these booths are full of concentration. This is the same type of exposure that exists when individuals are out in the outdoors sun. It can take as much as twenty minutes before the tanning effect can take place. According to one study, women who frequent these tanning booths are more likely to develop melanoma by approximately fifty-five percent. This is a very alarming number to developing skin cancer from a tanning salon.
This news should be a wake-up call for anyone who are using the tanning booth or thinking about becoming a client of a tanning salon. It is to the point where there has to be federal legislation to inform the general public about the dangers of using tanning booths.
As a result, the Food and Drug Administration have to perform some type of testing for consumers. The purpose of this type of testing is to see if these warning labels on these booths are really educating the potential clients of these tanning salons. I think that in most cases, the clients are failing to yield the warnings. In contrast, many of these professionals are not to tell their potential clients about this because they are trying to make a living.
Many of us know people who are using these tanning booths on a regular basis, sometimes up to three or four times a week. That is a lot of times to get the skin really fried and baked! I know an individual who always likes to have that tanned look to her complexion. She insists on going to the tanning salon to achieve these effects.
My suggestion to her: buy some tanning lotion! It is a bit safer than getting her skin baked. I know that it can be messy, but at least she is not risking her life. Going to these tanning salons is like playing Russian Roulette with life. This type of cosmetic procedure is not worth dying for.
Source:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/you/healthy/skin-caner/introducing-tan-act
The Tanning Regulation
I know that many individuals, especially teenage girls and young women like to have that beautiful bronze skin. Unfortunately, this procedure comes with a very hefty price: tanning in indoor salons.
Many people are flocking to these tanning booths as if they were going into obscurity. But tanning in salons can increase the chances of having skin cancer.
Does anyone remember the TAN Act? Probably not. This subject matter is rarely discussed in the mass media. The purpose of the TAN Act, or Tanning Accountability and Notification is to educate consumers about the risks of indoor tanning, in a nutshell. This is due to the fact that skin cancer is on the rise.
This is the skinny on these tanning booths. These ultraviolet rays in these booths are full of concentration. This is the same type of exposure that exists when individuals are out in the outdoors sun. It can take as much as twenty minutes before the tanning effect can take place. According to one study, women who frequent these tanning booths are more likely to develop melanoma by approximately fifty-five percent. This is a very alarming number to developing skin cancer from a tanning salon.
This news should be a wake-up call for anyone who are using the tanning booth or thinking about becoming a client of a tanning salon. It is to the point where there has to be federal legislation to inform the general public about the dangers of using tanning booths.
As a result, the Food and Drug Administration have to perform some type of testing for consumers. The purpose of this type of testing is to see if these warning labels on these booths are really educating the potential clients of these tanning salons. I think that in most cases, the clients are failing to yield the warnings. In contrast, many of these professionals are not to tell their potential clients about this because they are trying to make a living.
Many of us know people who are using these tanning booths on a regular basis, sometimes up to three or four times a week. That is a lot of times to get the skin really fried and baked! I know an individual who always likes to have that tanned look to her complexion. She insists on going to the tanning salon to achieve these effects.
My suggestion to her: buy some tanning lotion! It is a bit safer than getting her skin baked. I know that it can be messy, but at least she is not risking her life. Going to these tanning salons is like playing Russian Roulette with life. This type of cosmetic procedure is not worth dying for.
Source:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/you/healthy/skin-caner/introducing-tan-act
Many people are flocking to these tanning booths as if they were going into obscurity. But tanning in salons can increase the chances of having skin cancer.
Does anyone remember the TAN Act? Probably not. This subject matter is rarely discussed in the mass media. The purpose of the TAN Act, or Tanning Accountability and Notification is to educate consumers about the risks of indoor tanning, in a nutshell. This is due to the fact that skin cancer is on the rise.
This is the skinny on these tanning booths. These ultraviolet rays in these booths are full of concentration. This is the same type of exposure that exists when individuals are out in the outdoors sun. It can take as much as twenty minutes before the tanning effect can take place. According to one study, women who frequent these tanning booths are more likely to develop melanoma by approximately fifty-five percent. This is a very alarming number to developing skin cancer from a tanning salon.
This news should be a wake-up call for anyone who are using the tanning booth or thinking about becoming a client of a tanning salon. It is to the point where there has to be federal legislation to inform the general public about the dangers of using tanning booths.
As a result, the Food and Drug Administration have to perform some type of testing for consumers. The purpose of this type of testing is to see if these warning labels on these booths are really educating the potential clients of these tanning salons. I think that in most cases, the clients are failing to yield the warnings. In contrast, many of these professionals are not to tell their potential clients about this because they are trying to make a living.
Many of us know people who are using these tanning booths on a regular basis, sometimes up to three or four times a week. That is a lot of times to get the skin really fried and baked! I know an individual who always likes to have that tanned look to her complexion. She insists on going to the tanning salon to achieve these effects.
My suggestion to her: buy some tanning lotion! It is a bit safer than getting her skin baked. I know that it can be messy, but at least she is not risking her life. Going to these tanning salons is like playing Russian Roulette with life. This type of cosmetic procedure is not worth dying for.
Source:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/you/healthy/skin-caner/introducing-tan-act
Pet Nutrition: What Every Pet Owner Ought to Know
Our pets are very dear to us in more ways than one. This includes their eating habits, such as providing them with the healthiest foods that are available.
As pet owners, we all have these guilty pleasures of giving our beloved pets table food, which is not very healthy for domesticated animals as in dogs and cats. This could be their downfall in many ways.
Anyway, here are a few things about pet nutrition that all pet owners should know:
Pet foods must have some type of nutritional supplements, such as vitamins and minerals. Like human beings, pets can also have too much or too little minerals in their diet. If pets have too much, then it may cause a problem with the minerals absorbing. In contrast, too little minerals may cause the interruption of vitamin and/or mineral usage.
Have anyone heard of by-products? Just thinking about this term is making me feel very nauseated. Many individuals may not know this but by-products are the types of dog and cat food that humans would consider as being repulsive. By-products have more than one grouping. One example is that these foods contain animal parts, as in organs, feathers, feet, tongue, and lungs, just to name a few. This is pretty gross. I do not want to feed my little pooch this junk. In my opinion, this is animal cruelty to the extreme!
Personally, I would rather feed my Pomeranian foods that are more organic. I am not alone. There are many people who would prefer to feed their pets more natural foods. But the bad news is how do pet owners really know what are the real natural pet foods? We are constantly filled with these pet foods commercials telling us about these so-called "natural" healthy foods, whether it is dry and/or semi-moist foods. They fail to tell us, the owners, which part of the food is healthy.
There are different types of pet foods in which pet owners can choose from: kibble and semi-moist foods. I am only going to mention two types.
Let's begin with the kibble foods. This is basically the dry food that many of our pets love. For those owners that are curious what is in kibble foods, it contains liquid fat carbohydrate, and/or milk product. This adds the calories. Every time when I open up a bag of Kibbles N' Bits, there is a greasy feeling inside the bag. This is because this type of food must be packaged with a barrier that contains grease, which is made from plastic-coated paper.
Next runner-up: semi-moist foods. This is the food that is wrapped up in individual bags, which resembles stringy spaghetti. The preparation consists of combinations of sugar, soybean meal, fresh meat, animal fat, preservatives and the wetting materials that keeps this food moist and not be rancid. Oh, by the way, the purpose of the food shapes is to appeal to us, the pet owners.
Last but not least, there are few chemicals that are used as enhancers in pet foods:
Propylene glycol: This is a wetting agent that is used in semi-moist foods.Food starch, gums, colors: These are very useful in gravies, as in the Gravy Train dog food.
BHA, BHT, and mold inhibitors: These chemicals are preservatives in pet foods.
For now on when I go grocery shopping for my pet, I will always read the labels on these pet foods. Reading labels will a habit will I will begin to have.
Source:
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/nutrit1.html
As pet owners, we all have these guilty pleasures of giving our beloved pets table food, which is not very healthy for domesticated animals as in dogs and cats. This could be their downfall in many ways.
Anyway, here are a few things about pet nutrition that all pet owners should know:
Pet foods must have some type of nutritional supplements, such as vitamins and minerals. Like human beings, pets can also have too much or too little minerals in their diet. If pets have too much, then it may cause a problem with the minerals absorbing. In contrast, too little minerals may cause the interruption of vitamin and/or mineral usage.
Have anyone heard of by-products? Just thinking about this term is making me feel very nauseated. Many individuals may not know this but by-products are the types of dog and cat food that humans would consider as being repulsive. By-products have more than one grouping. One example is that these foods contain animal parts, as in organs, feathers, feet, tongue, and lungs, just to name a few. This is pretty gross. I do not want to feed my little pooch this junk. In my opinion, this is animal cruelty to the extreme!
Personally, I would rather feed my Pomeranian foods that are more organic. I am not alone. There are many people who would prefer to feed their pets more natural foods. But the bad news is how do pet owners really know what are the real natural pet foods? We are constantly filled with these pet foods commercials telling us about these so-called "natural" healthy foods, whether it is dry and/or semi-moist foods. They fail to tell us, the owners, which part of the food is healthy.
There are different types of pet foods in which pet owners can choose from: kibble and semi-moist foods. I am only going to mention two types.
Let's begin with the kibble foods. This is basically the dry food that many of our pets love. For those owners that are curious what is in kibble foods, it contains liquid fat carbohydrate, and/or milk product. This adds the calories. Every time when I open up a bag of Kibbles N' Bits, there is a greasy feeling inside the bag. This is because this type of food must be packaged with a barrier that contains grease, which is made from plastic-coated paper.
Next runner-up: semi-moist foods. This is the food that is wrapped up in individual bags, which resembles stringy spaghetti. The preparation consists of combinations of sugar, soybean meal, fresh meat, animal fat, preservatives and the wetting materials that keeps this food moist and not be rancid. Oh, by the way, the purpose of the food shapes is to appeal to us, the pet owners.
Last but not least, there are few chemicals that are used as enhancers in pet foods:
Propylene glycol: This is a wetting agent that is used in semi-moist foods.Food starch, gums, colors: These are very useful in gravies, as in the Gravy Train dog food.
BHA, BHT, and mold inhibitors: These chemicals are preservatives in pet foods.
For now on when I go grocery shopping for my pet, I will always read the labels on these pet foods. Reading labels will a habit will I will begin to have.
Source:
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/nutrit1.html
Friday, November 7, 2008
Putting an End to Female Genital Mutilation
Over the years, the mass media has been reporting on the issue of women rights that sent stunning reactions from the western world, such as the United States. In this case, it is the pain and suffering that women endure in western Africa during childhood and puberty. I am referring to female genital mutilation, or FGM.
Female genital mutilation or FGM refers to the different procedures that include partial or complete removal of the female organs, such as the vaginal region. This also causes infliction to the genitalia area for purposes that are not medical-related.This is an absolutely a very cruel and inhumane act. It is a violation of human rights in more ways than one. The mutilation practice violates these women's health and security rights as well as having their self-esteem and dignity taken away. Guess what? Genital mutilation can also cause death in women.
I first heard about this horrible procedure when I saw a segment on 20/20 about this famous model from Somalia who had endure this experience. She was describing how undesirable she was feeling and she did not feel like a real woman.
The female genital mutilation process is categorized in four different types: clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation, and other very hurtful procedures that have a negative impact on the female genitalia. These procedures are very painful and graphic. As an individual born in the western world, I cannot imagine the pain and suffering that these women go through.
My question is if it does not have any beneficial factors, then why does this type of mutilation exists? There are definitely no health benefits because when this is performed, these women and girls stand a greater chance for HIV/AIDS and hurting the sexual, psychological, and reproductive health.There are also societal issues such as the culture and religion that trigger the female genital mutilation. One of the societal factors are that it is a necessity of bringing up a girl with decency and making preparations for her for adulthood and to be marriageable.
In terms of religion, it has mixed opinions. Some of these leaders condone the female genital mutilation and there are others who want this procedure to go away. But many religious leaders want to deny the fact that religion is playing a role.
FGM can have a lasting effect on these women and girls, such as infertility, cysts, and future surgeries. This procedure closes the vaginal opening, but later is re-opened for the purpose of sexual intercourse and the birth of children.
I am glad to know that the world is now aware that this type of procedure is taking place in the world, especially in western Africa. Recently, the local council leaders in Kapchorwa, which is in Uganda, cease the practice of female genital mutilation by passing the law. During the October month, this is the typical season for this act. I hope that they will really enforce this imperative law.
Sources:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en
http://allafrica.com/stories/200810150271.html
Female genital mutilation or FGM refers to the different procedures that include partial or complete removal of the female organs, such as the vaginal region. This also causes infliction to the genitalia area for purposes that are not medical-related.This is an absolutely a very cruel and inhumane act. It is a violation of human rights in more ways than one. The mutilation practice violates these women's health and security rights as well as having their self-esteem and dignity taken away. Guess what? Genital mutilation can also cause death in women.
I first heard about this horrible procedure when I saw a segment on 20/20 about this famous model from Somalia who had endure this experience. She was describing how undesirable she was feeling and she did not feel like a real woman.
The female genital mutilation process is categorized in four different types: clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation, and other very hurtful procedures that have a negative impact on the female genitalia. These procedures are very painful and graphic. As an individual born in the western world, I cannot imagine the pain and suffering that these women go through.
My question is if it does not have any beneficial factors, then why does this type of mutilation exists? There are definitely no health benefits because when this is performed, these women and girls stand a greater chance for HIV/AIDS and hurting the sexual, psychological, and reproductive health.There are also societal issues such as the culture and religion that trigger the female genital mutilation. One of the societal factors are that it is a necessity of bringing up a girl with decency and making preparations for her for adulthood and to be marriageable.
In terms of religion, it has mixed opinions. Some of these leaders condone the female genital mutilation and there are others who want this procedure to go away. But many religious leaders want to deny the fact that religion is playing a role.
FGM can have a lasting effect on these women and girls, such as infertility, cysts, and future surgeries. This procedure closes the vaginal opening, but later is re-opened for the purpose of sexual intercourse and the birth of children.
I am glad to know that the world is now aware that this type of procedure is taking place in the world, especially in western Africa. Recently, the local council leaders in Kapchorwa, which is in Uganda, cease the practice of female genital mutilation by passing the law. During the October month, this is the typical season for this act. I hope that they will really enforce this imperative law.
Sources:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en
http://allafrica.com/stories/200810150271.html
Everchanging Denim
Denim: a firm and durable cotton fabric that is woven with colored warp, generally blue threads along with white filling threads.
It is a good feeling of wearing those beautiful denim jeans because it gives that definition to the human body—at least in my opinion. I guess this is the reason that denim jeans are considered to be a fashion statement.
So, how did denim jeans become so popular?
Well, we can say this: jeans have been around since World War Two. This was due to the fact that factory workers wore very firm trousers. As a huge fan of jeans, I feel like I am in a fashion history class! This is news to me.
Denim jeans have changed over the decades, perhaps reflecting the society during each time period.
There are the jeans from the 1930s period. This is the decade of the Great Depression, where individuals were scuffling to survive. During the 1930s, there was also the desire for people to wear cowboy-type pants, especially the men. Wearing blue jeans became so popular that most of the young men and middle-aged men wanted to look stylish and cool.
The 1940s were the decade of the baby boomer generation, especially after 1945. We had the WWII soldiers serving the country. At the same time, these guys wore these denim jeans during their time not fighting in the war. As a result of wearing these jeans, the people of Europe took notice. Unfortunately, production was very limited due to restrictions on the materials.
Who can forget about the 1950s? Every time I think of the fifties, I think of the movie, "Rebel Without a Cause" and Elvis Presley. Speaking of this movie, it was the inspiration for the teenagers of this time to welcome denim jeans with open arms. Wearing blue jeans were not permitted in school; this allowed these kids, especially boys, to become rebels.
The 1960s, let’s see: the decade of many changes, including the Civil Rights Movement, LSD, Woodstock, among others. So many events took place during the 1960s. I forgot the main ingredient during this time: hippies. Denim jeans were the epitome of the anti-war and hippie movement. These jean designs consisted of the LSD-inspired designs and psychedelic colors, just to name a few. Of course, they were worn at different political and social protest and the Woodstock concert.
We all know that during the 1970s, bell-bottoms were born. The Brady family wore these trousers with pride and style. Can anyone believe that these bell-bottomed denims were stonewashed during this decade? Of all of the television shows and family movies during the 1970s, I did not see jeans that looked stonewashed. I cannot argue with history!
The 1980s were the decade that was out of this world! Denim jeans were popular with men and women. By this time, individuals were wearing them with ripped holes or even cutting holes in the jeans. That was cool! I took a pair of scissors and cut a hole in a pair of my denim jeans. I was also grounded for doing that! Also there were the stonewashed jeans. This was the only time that I remember seeing these jeans. During the 1980s, many top fashion designers began presenting their denim line. However, these jeans began to increase in prices.
The 1990s: there is only one word to sum up this decade in terms of jeans: baggy. Rappers are the ones that made these baggy jeans become the epitome of the hip-hop fashion statement. I have seen many of the city kids tucking their lower jean leg in to give it that hemmed look. This was during the early 1990s.
Denim jeans went through so many changes throughout each passing decade. Now that we are in the twenty-first century, we will continue to see denim jeans going through more changes. I hope that they are good changes!
Sources:
http://www.truejeans.com/jeans/features/designer-jeans
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeans
It is a good feeling of wearing those beautiful denim jeans because it gives that definition to the human body—at least in my opinion. I guess this is the reason that denim jeans are considered to be a fashion statement.
So, how did denim jeans become so popular?
Well, we can say this: jeans have been around since World War Two. This was due to the fact that factory workers wore very firm trousers. As a huge fan of jeans, I feel like I am in a fashion history class! This is news to me.
Denim jeans have changed over the decades, perhaps reflecting the society during each time period.
There are the jeans from the 1930s period. This is the decade of the Great Depression, where individuals were scuffling to survive. During the 1930s, there was also the desire for people to wear cowboy-type pants, especially the men. Wearing blue jeans became so popular that most of the young men and middle-aged men wanted to look stylish and cool.
The 1940s were the decade of the baby boomer generation, especially after 1945. We had the WWII soldiers serving the country. At the same time, these guys wore these denim jeans during their time not fighting in the war. As a result of wearing these jeans, the people of Europe took notice. Unfortunately, production was very limited due to restrictions on the materials.
Who can forget about the 1950s? Every time I think of the fifties, I think of the movie, "Rebel Without a Cause" and Elvis Presley. Speaking of this movie, it was the inspiration for the teenagers of this time to welcome denim jeans with open arms. Wearing blue jeans were not permitted in school; this allowed these kids, especially boys, to become rebels.
The 1960s, let’s see: the decade of many changes, including the Civil Rights Movement, LSD, Woodstock, among others. So many events took place during the 1960s. I forgot the main ingredient during this time: hippies. Denim jeans were the epitome of the anti-war and hippie movement. These jean designs consisted of the LSD-inspired designs and psychedelic colors, just to name a few. Of course, they were worn at different political and social protest and the Woodstock concert.
We all know that during the 1970s, bell-bottoms were born. The Brady family wore these trousers with pride and style. Can anyone believe that these bell-bottomed denims were stonewashed during this decade? Of all of the television shows and family movies during the 1970s, I did not see jeans that looked stonewashed. I cannot argue with history!
The 1980s were the decade that was out of this world! Denim jeans were popular with men and women. By this time, individuals were wearing them with ripped holes or even cutting holes in the jeans. That was cool! I took a pair of scissors and cut a hole in a pair of my denim jeans. I was also grounded for doing that! Also there were the stonewashed jeans. This was the only time that I remember seeing these jeans. During the 1980s, many top fashion designers began presenting their denim line. However, these jeans began to increase in prices.
The 1990s: there is only one word to sum up this decade in terms of jeans: baggy. Rappers are the ones that made these baggy jeans become the epitome of the hip-hop fashion statement. I have seen many of the city kids tucking their lower jean leg in to give it that hemmed look. This was during the early 1990s.
Denim jeans went through so many changes throughout each passing decade. Now that we are in the twenty-first century, we will continue to see denim jeans going through more changes. I hope that they are good changes!
Sources:
http://www.truejeans.com/jeans/features/designer-jeans
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeans
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Figuring Out Sudoku
Recently, I was at a local store looking for a book just to occupy myself during my work breaks. At this store, I saw this puzzle book on Sudoku. Although I heard of this game and even tried playing it. It is so confusing.
What is Sudoku? It is a very confusing game that consists of 9x9 grid that are divided into columns and rows. Basically it is a logic number game. Anyway, the goal of the game is to make sure that the 9x9 grid have the digits ranging from one to nine. These digits are to make an appearance once in each column and row.
There are several strategic procedures in solving this puzzle. Two of these strategies in figuring out Sudoku are scanning and analyzing. This puzzle is very comprehensive!
The first strategic point of the puzzle is scanning. This takes place at the outset and completely at the solution. In between these analyses, the scanning procedure should be conducted one time. In addition, these scans have two types of techniques: cross-hatching and counting.
Cross-hatching is rows that are scanned to find out which region includes a certain number that may be eligible for the elimination process. This procedure is also used for the columns.
On the other hand, counting consists of the regions, rows, and columns one through nine. The purpose of this strategic procedure is to figure out which numbers are missing.
It seemed that the more that I tried to figured out this puzzle, the more confusing it became. Although it is just a puzzle—I know puzzles are not meant to be easy; otherwise it would not earn its name and the complexity would not be as exciting.
Since Sudoku is a brain-cracking experience—at least for me, it also comes with the analysis strategy. The two main steps in the analysis procedure are the candidate elimination and what-if methods.
In dealing with the candidate elimination, the numeral candidate is completely removed with success. This allows the given cell to take this cell. The method can also be performed by looking for the blocks that all the permitted cells for a numeral candidate are based in a row or column that is single.
The what-if strategy contains two numeral candidates that are placed in a cell. In this case, these numbers are chosen and the guessing game begins. I am still very lost with this game.
Forget about trying to figure out Sudoku business. I am going to find out more about this puzzle game. Once I get the hang of this very brain-breaking game, I will become a pro!
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku
What is Sudoku? It is a very confusing game that consists of 9x9 grid that are divided into columns and rows. Basically it is a logic number game. Anyway, the goal of the game is to make sure that the 9x9 grid have the digits ranging from one to nine. These digits are to make an appearance once in each column and row.
There are several strategic procedures in solving this puzzle. Two of these strategies in figuring out Sudoku are scanning and analyzing. This puzzle is very comprehensive!
The first strategic point of the puzzle is scanning. This takes place at the outset and completely at the solution. In between these analyses, the scanning procedure should be conducted one time. In addition, these scans have two types of techniques: cross-hatching and counting.
Cross-hatching is rows that are scanned to find out which region includes a certain number that may be eligible for the elimination process. This procedure is also used for the columns.
On the other hand, counting consists of the regions, rows, and columns one through nine. The purpose of this strategic procedure is to figure out which numbers are missing.
It seemed that the more that I tried to figured out this puzzle, the more confusing it became. Although it is just a puzzle—I know puzzles are not meant to be easy; otherwise it would not earn its name and the complexity would not be as exciting.
Since Sudoku is a brain-cracking experience—at least for me, it also comes with the analysis strategy. The two main steps in the analysis procedure are the candidate elimination and what-if methods.
In dealing with the candidate elimination, the numeral candidate is completely removed with success. This allows the given cell to take this cell. The method can also be performed by looking for the blocks that all the permitted cells for a numeral candidate are based in a row or column that is single.
The what-if strategy contains two numeral candidates that are placed in a cell. In this case, these numbers are chosen and the guessing game begins. I am still very lost with this game.
Forget about trying to figure out Sudoku business. I am going to find out more about this puzzle game. Once I get the hang of this very brain-breaking game, I will become a pro!
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku
Friday, October 10, 2008
Is There A Such Thing as Healthy Junk Food?
In recent years, our society has become more health-conscious than in previous times. But what about junk food? Are there any healthy junk foods?
No one knows. The reason: the technical interpretation of most people’s favorite food is food that is loaded with the calories but have very little beneficial nutrients.
As everyone knows, junk food can also be classified as snack food and/or fast food. We all know about that very appetizing Quarter Pounder with the French fries; they taste so good but so fattening. I really disagree with the term junk food as fast food. I think of fast food as food that is prepared within a ten- to- fifteen-minute period. A few good examples are foods from McDonalds, Carls Jr., and Burger King. Most people would consider junk food as being the type of food that are high in calories, having large amounts of sugar and high fructose corn syrup, among other unhealthy ingredients.
Foods such as potato chips and cookies are made and put in a package from a commercial standpoint. There are some restaurants that serve foods as in French fries and chicken nuggets. How can these foods be healthy if they are swimming in two hundred degrees of cooking oil, mainly in vegetable oil? That would allow foods to be grease-oriented.
Recently, I went to the supermarket and was looking for junk food that was healthier than what I had been eating. My food of choice: one bar of Nature Valley Oats N’ Honey Granola Bar. These ingredients included: whole grain rolled oats, sugar, canola oil, crisp rice, soy protein, brown sugar syrup, and high fructose corn syrup. Of course, it has other ingredients in this granola bar.
In the news media, there is constant talk about American children should be eating healthy. How can the media promote these children to eat healthier when the ads are always flashing these commercials with foods that contain a high fat content, sugar, salt, and have a very unhealthy value.
This goes back to the question: is there a such thing as healthy junk food? As with most individuals, I do not think that there is no healthy junk food, but rather as snack food. Just think about it: junk food is full of junk! It includes all of those not-so-healthy ingredients.
My suggestion: if individuals are looking for anything to snack on, it is best to choose these foods with caution. Try to choose from the foods that do not contain hydrogenated oil and massive amounts of sugar. Yuck!
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/junk-food-facts?page=2
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/junk-food-facts
No one knows. The reason: the technical interpretation of most people’s favorite food is food that is loaded with the calories but have very little beneficial nutrients.
As everyone knows, junk food can also be classified as snack food and/or fast food. We all know about that very appetizing Quarter Pounder with the French fries; they taste so good but so fattening. I really disagree with the term junk food as fast food. I think of fast food as food that is prepared within a ten- to- fifteen-minute period. A few good examples are foods from McDonalds, Carls Jr., and Burger King. Most people would consider junk food as being the type of food that are high in calories, having large amounts of sugar and high fructose corn syrup, among other unhealthy ingredients.
Foods such as potato chips and cookies are made and put in a package from a commercial standpoint. There are some restaurants that serve foods as in French fries and chicken nuggets. How can these foods be healthy if they are swimming in two hundred degrees of cooking oil, mainly in vegetable oil? That would allow foods to be grease-oriented.
Recently, I went to the supermarket and was looking for junk food that was healthier than what I had been eating. My food of choice: one bar of Nature Valley Oats N’ Honey Granola Bar. These ingredients included: whole grain rolled oats, sugar, canola oil, crisp rice, soy protein, brown sugar syrup, and high fructose corn syrup. Of course, it has other ingredients in this granola bar.
In the news media, there is constant talk about American children should be eating healthy. How can the media promote these children to eat healthier when the ads are always flashing these commercials with foods that contain a high fat content, sugar, salt, and have a very unhealthy value.
This goes back to the question: is there a such thing as healthy junk food? As with most individuals, I do not think that there is no healthy junk food, but rather as snack food. Just think about it: junk food is full of junk! It includes all of those not-so-healthy ingredients.
My suggestion: if individuals are looking for anything to snack on, it is best to choose these foods with caution. Try to choose from the foods that do not contain hydrogenated oil and massive amounts of sugar. Yuck!
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/junk-food-facts?page=2
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/junk-food-facts
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Goodness of Meditation
In today’s society, individuals are often overworked on his/her job or just everyday life. As a result, there is little downtime. Generally, the mental state of mind is unbalanced.
Here is a key element in maintaining a balanced work/life: meditation.
Meditation has many benefits, if conducted at least three times a week. The following are some of the mechanisms in which meditation can improve our lives:
It gives individuals the feeling that he/she has intelligence. Often we are told by society that there is a fixed pattern to intelligence. This is very unfortunate in our society.
During the meditation process, we begin to focus on the calmness and the peacefulness that we can allow entering our minds. I know this from a personal standpoint. When I meditate, I can take away any negative thoughts that had entered in my mind. As a result, there is more knowledge in more ways than one, as in being aware of the intelligence that exists in us. The meditation will allow individuals to learn how to be his/herself instead of trying to live someone else’s life. This is a very enlightened feeling and experience.
In addition to being a good mind exercise, this practice brings out our self-awareness. The main concentration will be on focusing on the positive aspects of life rather than the negative aspect. In other words, it is time to take a stand and control of our lives, our emotional state, and minds.
Guess what? There is the most essential part of meditation: having a life makeover. Trust me, individuals’ lives will be a very pleasing experience. He/she will value the realization of life and its true meaning. Of course, there will be ups and down. That is life, right? Everyday living is filled with more happiness and those uplifting moments that we are entitled to enjoy.
When many of us were growing up, we were often told to emulate another individuals that were at a more advanced point in their lives. As a result, this produces the low-self esteem that plagues many of us. But with the meditation, this can suppress the anger, jealousy, hatred, and among other negative feelings. Individuals should accept situations as they are instead wishing for something that is impossible.
Out of all the benefits that meditation provides, concentration is the most important. Without concentration, we would not be able to function. It also boosts creativity and solving more difficult problems will increase as well.
Since meditation is this powerful, I will meditate throughout the day. It is worth a try!
Source:
http://www.meditationiseasy.com/mCorner/benefits_or_meditation
Here is a key element in maintaining a balanced work/life: meditation.
Meditation has many benefits, if conducted at least three times a week. The following are some of the mechanisms in which meditation can improve our lives:
It gives individuals the feeling that he/she has intelligence. Often we are told by society that there is a fixed pattern to intelligence. This is very unfortunate in our society.
During the meditation process, we begin to focus on the calmness and the peacefulness that we can allow entering our minds. I know this from a personal standpoint. When I meditate, I can take away any negative thoughts that had entered in my mind. As a result, there is more knowledge in more ways than one, as in being aware of the intelligence that exists in us. The meditation will allow individuals to learn how to be his/herself instead of trying to live someone else’s life. This is a very enlightened feeling and experience.
In addition to being a good mind exercise, this practice brings out our self-awareness. The main concentration will be on focusing on the positive aspects of life rather than the negative aspect. In other words, it is time to take a stand and control of our lives, our emotional state, and minds.
Guess what? There is the most essential part of meditation: having a life makeover. Trust me, individuals’ lives will be a very pleasing experience. He/she will value the realization of life and its true meaning. Of course, there will be ups and down. That is life, right? Everyday living is filled with more happiness and those uplifting moments that we are entitled to enjoy.
When many of us were growing up, we were often told to emulate another individuals that were at a more advanced point in their lives. As a result, this produces the low-self esteem that plagues many of us. But with the meditation, this can suppress the anger, jealousy, hatred, and among other negative feelings. Individuals should accept situations as they are instead wishing for something that is impossible.
Out of all the benefits that meditation provides, concentration is the most important. Without concentration, we would not be able to function. It also boosts creativity and solving more difficult problems will increase as well.
Since meditation is this powerful, I will meditate throughout the day. It is worth a try!
Source:
http://www.meditationiseasy.com/mCorner/benefits_or_meditation
Labels:
article,
meditation,
the goodness of meditation
Surfing on the Job
Many of us rely on the Internet for our jobs, whether it is creating websites or researching information. The Internet has become an integral part of our lives, including careers. However, there are those individuals who take the surfing business a bit too far, such as for personal usage. A good example: downloading music onto iPods.
The question is do these companies know that many of their employees are making the personal use of the Internet top priority? In most cases, these companies are clueless about the workers’ surfing pattern.
According to Voco, a network consultant firm, it suggests that company CEOs and CIOs are not aware of what their workers are looking for on the Internet during the working hours. This gives them the opportunity to look at everything on the Net, such as pornography. Looking at social networking websites, talking on instant messenger or IM seems to pique the interest of these employees rather than doing their assigned duties on the job.
My question is why would the employees take that chance in surfing the Internet while on the job? I think that is because he/she often gets too comfortable on the job until it is taken for granted. On my previous job, there were several employees who were accessing pornography websites. Many individuals heard about the pop-up windows that are featured on these x-rated websites. They are very contagious. Ouch! When employees use the Internet for personal pleasures, it is usually possible to become a legal issue. "If investigators were tracking who was downloading, then the company would be the one facing legal implications," stated Paul Hortop, a Voco consultant.
According to a survey on Internet surfing on the job, this is not uncommon. Survey said that at least ninety-three percent of American workers had access to their employer’s Internet for personal endeavors and work-related matters. Fifty-two percent stated they would give up everything else but the access to the Internet at work. In other words, they are totally hooked on surfing. In the Websense, it said that the Internet surfing on the job is very costly to these companies in the United States. It costs approximately two hundred billion dollars a year. That is a lot of money just to surf the Internet on the company’s computer!
Most of us love to surf on the Internet for a certain period of time, or never-ending for a few. However, downloading music and chatting on MySpace is a bit inappropriate.
Why take a chance on jeopardizing the bread-and-butter for pleasure? It is not worth it! If we are going to use the Internet on the job, then let it be work-related. That is common sense.
Source:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080926-report-workers-spend-25-of-work-time-goofing-around-online.html
The question is do these companies know that many of their employees are making the personal use of the Internet top priority? In most cases, these companies are clueless about the workers’ surfing pattern.
According to Voco, a network consultant firm, it suggests that company CEOs and CIOs are not aware of what their workers are looking for on the Internet during the working hours. This gives them the opportunity to look at everything on the Net, such as pornography. Looking at social networking websites, talking on instant messenger or IM seems to pique the interest of these employees rather than doing their assigned duties on the job.
My question is why would the employees take that chance in surfing the Internet while on the job? I think that is because he/she often gets too comfortable on the job until it is taken for granted. On my previous job, there were several employees who were accessing pornography websites. Many individuals heard about the pop-up windows that are featured on these x-rated websites. They are very contagious. Ouch! When employees use the Internet for personal pleasures, it is usually possible to become a legal issue. "If investigators were tracking who was downloading, then the company would be the one facing legal implications," stated Paul Hortop, a Voco consultant.
According to a survey on Internet surfing on the job, this is not uncommon. Survey said that at least ninety-three percent of American workers had access to their employer’s Internet for personal endeavors and work-related matters. Fifty-two percent stated they would give up everything else but the access to the Internet at work. In other words, they are totally hooked on surfing. In the Websense, it said that the Internet surfing on the job is very costly to these companies in the United States. It costs approximately two hundred billion dollars a year. That is a lot of money just to surf the Internet on the company’s computer!
Most of us love to surf on the Internet for a certain period of time, or never-ending for a few. However, downloading music and chatting on MySpace is a bit inappropriate.
Why take a chance on jeopardizing the bread-and-butter for pleasure? It is not worth it! If we are going to use the Internet on the job, then let it be work-related. That is common sense.
Source:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080926-report-workers-spend-25-of-work-time-goofing-around-online.html
Labels:
article,
surfing on the job,
surfing the internet
Friday, September 26, 2008
Traveling in the Tahitian Islands
Need a vacation? Here is a wonderful location to put on the vacation list.
There is the island of Tahiti, which is the most populous island in the country. Mountains that include streams that are clear and waterfalls surround it. Once visitors tour this locale, he/she will never forget about the beautiful coastal line and the tropical flowers and vegetation.
Planning a trip to the Tahitian Islands is one thing, but getting around there is a different thought. Since this is a big place to visit, there are many choices in terms of touring.
When tourists make their landing here, a travel agent or a hotel or cruise ship should make these arrangements. Tourists will arrive at the Faa’a International Airport.
After arriving, there is other connection points to the other islands either on Air Tahiti and/or Air Moorea from this particular airport. This also includes the ferry for passengers to leave from the surrounding waterfront to the downtown portion of Papeete, which is the capital of Tahiti.
Getting around Papeete is as convenient as it gets. There is the public transit system, which have two bus services: the Le Truck and the RTC motor coaches. The Le Truck makes many stops. This is a great opportunity to get in touch with the Tahitian public. On the other hand, the RTC motor coaches have the type of seating that is more traditional. In addition to the bus services, there are also taxi services from the hotel. It is recommended that the hotel’s concierge should make this arrangement.
Many tourists are very concerned about spending money. In order to spend money in Tahiti, the currency should be exchanged. Although the US dollar and Euros are accepted, the exchange rate is less desirable on the islands than at the banks. Visitors should know that Tahiti’s currency is the French Pacific Franc, or CFP. This currency’s value is in connection with the Euro. However, the value is uneven with the US dollar.
Banks are throughout downtown Papeete, Faa’a International Airport, and the most visited islands. Hotels will also do the exchange, but at an unpleasant rate.
On the most visited islands, credit and debit cards, such as MasterCard and Visa are accepted in the majority of restaurants, boutique shops, and hotels. However, American Express is accepted in a few.
Here are a couple of the local activities to choose from while visiting the Tahitian Islands:
Vai’ete Square: At this wonderful dinner destination, there are many roulottes (food wagons) and various island foods, such as cuisine and desserts. Vai’ete Square boardwalk has this aura that is very vibrant. A must-see!
Vaima Center shopping: This is a popular shopping locale for tourists, especially those shopping aficionados. Vaima Center has four different levels. These departments range from bookstores, boutique shops and restaurants to newspaper stands. What a variety!
Tourists will be pleased by the very colorful experience after visiting the Tahitian Islands. This is a beautiful island to visit.
Sources:
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/planner/QuickFacts/currency.asp
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/islands/tahiti/tahiti.asp
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/islands/tahiti/sites.asp
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/islands/tahiti/transportation.asp
There is the island of Tahiti, which is the most populous island in the country. Mountains that include streams that are clear and waterfalls surround it. Once visitors tour this locale, he/she will never forget about the beautiful coastal line and the tropical flowers and vegetation.
Planning a trip to the Tahitian Islands is one thing, but getting around there is a different thought. Since this is a big place to visit, there are many choices in terms of touring.
When tourists make their landing here, a travel agent or a hotel or cruise ship should make these arrangements. Tourists will arrive at the Faa’a International Airport.
After arriving, there is other connection points to the other islands either on Air Tahiti and/or Air Moorea from this particular airport. This also includes the ferry for passengers to leave from the surrounding waterfront to the downtown portion of Papeete, which is the capital of Tahiti.
Getting around Papeete is as convenient as it gets. There is the public transit system, which have two bus services: the Le Truck and the RTC motor coaches. The Le Truck makes many stops. This is a great opportunity to get in touch with the Tahitian public. On the other hand, the RTC motor coaches have the type of seating that is more traditional. In addition to the bus services, there are also taxi services from the hotel. It is recommended that the hotel’s concierge should make this arrangement.
Many tourists are very concerned about spending money. In order to spend money in Tahiti, the currency should be exchanged. Although the US dollar and Euros are accepted, the exchange rate is less desirable on the islands than at the banks. Visitors should know that Tahiti’s currency is the French Pacific Franc, or CFP. This currency’s value is in connection with the Euro. However, the value is uneven with the US dollar.
Banks are throughout downtown Papeete, Faa’a International Airport, and the most visited islands. Hotels will also do the exchange, but at an unpleasant rate.
On the most visited islands, credit and debit cards, such as MasterCard and Visa are accepted in the majority of restaurants, boutique shops, and hotels. However, American Express is accepted in a few.
Here are a couple of the local activities to choose from while visiting the Tahitian Islands:
Vai’ete Square: At this wonderful dinner destination, there are many roulottes (food wagons) and various island foods, such as cuisine and desserts. Vai’ete Square boardwalk has this aura that is very vibrant. A must-see!
Vaima Center shopping: This is a popular shopping locale for tourists, especially those shopping aficionados. Vaima Center has four different levels. These departments range from bookstores, boutique shops and restaurants to newspaper stands. What a variety!
Tourists will be pleased by the very colorful experience after visiting the Tahitian Islands. This is a beautiful island to visit.
Sources:
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/planner/QuickFacts/currency.asp
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/islands/tahiti/tahiti.asp
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/islands/tahiti/sites.asp
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/islands/tahiti/transportation.asp
Labels:
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Tahiti,
Tahitian Islands,
traveling
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Stealing the Recipe
Many individuals have recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. What do these people do with them? Of course, he/she uses them. What happens when this traditional recipe is on the verge of being stolen?
Colonel Sanders' recipe was steps away from being a stolen case from the KFC's corporate offices' safekeeping department. The recipe is handwritten and includes eleven herbs and spices. But for right now, this one of a kind recipe is residing in an undisclosed location where the security is very tight.
I must admit that I was always curious about which type of ingredients that are used in Kentucky Fried Chicken. But to this day, this is their secret and I would never ask about it. It is finger lickin' good. Of course, this is the old slogan.
Before this so-called secret leakage, this chicken batter recipe has been hiding in a cabinet which includes combination locks. It is located in the company's headquarters. How can this recipe be stolen? It is almost impossible for this to be stolen. The recipe watchers would have to open the vault and three different locks on the cabinet door must be unlocked. That sounds like a pretty tricky task just to steal Colonel Sanders' handwritten recipe that turned yellow.
"There's no way anyone could get this recipe," Bo Dietl commented. Dietl is a former New York City police detective. He has a security firm and is responsible for the recipe's beefed-up security at the headquarters.
How was this recipe become a reality? It was not an overnight success. This internationally famous batter recipe came to life in 1940 at a small southeastern Kentucky restaurant. Over a decade later, it make KFC world renowned and Sanders a very wealthy man.
Most people would never think about stealing the KFC's secret to success. Did anyone know that there are two executives that have access to this secret? I did not know that. These various suppliers mix the ingredients but know about a portion of the whole contents.
The Colonel has been gone from this earth for nearly thirty years. Since his death, there are approximately 14,982 locations globally by the end of 2007. Who would have ever thought that there are so many chicken lovers in the world? I had an idea, but never gave it a thought.
I know that Colonel Sanders is turning in his grave, knowing that someone would consider stealing the recipe that made him famous. Shame on them!
Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080909/ap_on_re_us/kfc_secret;_ylt=AniLGtfC4rlX9X4b3CXnZ8vZn414
Colonel Sanders' recipe was steps away from being a stolen case from the KFC's corporate offices' safekeeping department. The recipe is handwritten and includes eleven herbs and spices. But for right now, this one of a kind recipe is residing in an undisclosed location where the security is very tight.
I must admit that I was always curious about which type of ingredients that are used in Kentucky Fried Chicken. But to this day, this is their secret and I would never ask about it. It is finger lickin' good. Of course, this is the old slogan.
Before this so-called secret leakage, this chicken batter recipe has been hiding in a cabinet which includes combination locks. It is located in the company's headquarters. How can this recipe be stolen? It is almost impossible for this to be stolen. The recipe watchers would have to open the vault and three different locks on the cabinet door must be unlocked. That sounds like a pretty tricky task just to steal Colonel Sanders' handwritten recipe that turned yellow.
"There's no way anyone could get this recipe," Bo Dietl commented. Dietl is a former New York City police detective. He has a security firm and is responsible for the recipe's beefed-up security at the headquarters.
How was this recipe become a reality? It was not an overnight success. This internationally famous batter recipe came to life in 1940 at a small southeastern Kentucky restaurant. Over a decade later, it make KFC world renowned and Sanders a very wealthy man.
Most people would never think about stealing the KFC's secret to success. Did anyone know that there are two executives that have access to this secret? I did not know that. These various suppliers mix the ingredients but know about a portion of the whole contents.
The Colonel has been gone from this earth for nearly thirty years. Since his death, there are approximately 14,982 locations globally by the end of 2007. Who would have ever thought that there are so many chicken lovers in the world? I had an idea, but never gave it a thought.
I know that Colonel Sanders is turning in his grave, knowing that someone would consider stealing the recipe that made him famous. Shame on them!
Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080909/ap_on_re_us/kfc_secret;_ylt=AniLGtfC4rlX9X4b3CXnZ8vZn414
Friday, September 12, 2008
Goodbye to Unwanted Hair
Imagine going on a getaway tropical vacation from the chilly homestead. Sounds fun, right? But here is the catch, especially for women: putting on that favorite bikini with the unwanted hair as its company. What do we do?
Shave it? This is one solution. There is even a better solution: Brazilian waxing.
What is Brazilian waxing? For the record, it is the removal of the genital hair partially and/or completely.
Getting rid of that unwanted hair is all about taking it away from areas such as the anus and vagina. Want to know the going price to having this procedure done? Beauty parlors charge from twenty-five dollars to over one hundred dollars. Personally, this is quite a bit of money just to zap away hair! Many individuals like to have the remainder of his/her genital hair. Then there are those who desire not to have this type of hair present on the body. I just realized that there are many men who also have the Brazilian waxing procedure performed on their bodies.
The following procedures are suggested during the visit at the salon for Brazilian waxing:
The beautician will make a request that the patron lay down and raise the legs. At times, powder may be applied through the lower regions of the body, such as the rectal and vaginal regions. Then there goes the scorching hot wax, which is distributed throughout the genital regions. Afterwards, the hair is stripped with the cotton strips. Ouch!
If considering a Brazilian waxing, it is best to seek a professional through the network of friends or at a beauty salon. It is not a wise idea to thump through the yellow pages in terms of searching for a hair removal parlor.
The professionals tend to limit the amount of repeat applications on the same areas of the body. However, there are individuals that are less experienced. They are more likely to repeat the process in the same area. As a result, it may become very painful and uncomfortable.
The patrons are asked to spread their legs in different embarrassing positions. Many individuals are very ashamed of doing this task. Patrons need to remember that this is the process that is used for the removal of genital hair from the area.
Using antiseptic can relieve the reduction of pain. In addition, lotion that contains aloe vera or calamine can make post-waxing life more bearable as in limiting the itching.
This seems like a lot of trouble and pain just to look beautiful. In my opinion, waxing is too painful. I will stick to the old-fashioned razor!
Source:
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/8225/1/Brazilian-Waxing-Is-it-for-You.html
Shave it? This is one solution. There is even a better solution: Brazilian waxing.
What is Brazilian waxing? For the record, it is the removal of the genital hair partially and/or completely.
Getting rid of that unwanted hair is all about taking it away from areas such as the anus and vagina. Want to know the going price to having this procedure done? Beauty parlors charge from twenty-five dollars to over one hundred dollars. Personally, this is quite a bit of money just to zap away hair! Many individuals like to have the remainder of his/her genital hair. Then there are those who desire not to have this type of hair present on the body. I just realized that there are many men who also have the Brazilian waxing procedure performed on their bodies.
The following procedures are suggested during the visit at the salon for Brazilian waxing:
The beautician will make a request that the patron lay down and raise the legs. At times, powder may be applied through the lower regions of the body, such as the rectal and vaginal regions. Then there goes the scorching hot wax, which is distributed throughout the genital regions. Afterwards, the hair is stripped with the cotton strips. Ouch!
If considering a Brazilian waxing, it is best to seek a professional through the network of friends or at a beauty salon. It is not a wise idea to thump through the yellow pages in terms of searching for a hair removal parlor.
The professionals tend to limit the amount of repeat applications on the same areas of the body. However, there are individuals that are less experienced. They are more likely to repeat the process in the same area. As a result, it may become very painful and uncomfortable.
The patrons are asked to spread their legs in different embarrassing positions. Many individuals are very ashamed of doing this task. Patrons need to remember that this is the process that is used for the removal of genital hair from the area.
Using antiseptic can relieve the reduction of pain. In addition, lotion that contains aloe vera or calamine can make post-waxing life more bearable as in limiting the itching.
This seems like a lot of trouble and pain just to look beautiful. In my opinion, waxing is too painful. I will stick to the old-fashioned razor!
Source:
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/8225/1/Brazilian-Waxing-Is-it-for-You.html
Chocolate: A Treatment for Beauty
Chocolate satisfies many of us in different way, such as giving our taste buds a pleasing taste. There are other methods in which this sweet brown substance can be used. Has anyone thought about getting a chocolate treatment—which is in the name of beauty?
I had never thought about having my body immersed in a liquid of chocolate. Most people have not.
Those individuals that are really into beautifying themselves are taking that extra step. This is literally going for a chocolate swim.
According to Howard Kohlenberg, who is the owner of Le Petit Spa in New York City’s Manhattan district, he stated, "Chocolate is very rejuvenating for your skin. It is moisturizing and good for cell renewal." Le Petit Spa is a parlor that specializes in manicures, pedicures, and body scrubs that are strictly based with chocolate.
This spa is one of many existing spas that are spreading the word about the health and beauty benefactors of chocolate. The majority of individuals that receive a chocolate treatment say that it is very beneficial and it has a good smell. I cannot imagine strolling around town smelling like a chocolate factory.
In addition to chocolate having a very tempting scent, it also contains caffeine. Zaza Murariu, who is the aesthetician for Ajune Spa, also in Manhattan, said that "caffeine stimulates the circulatory system and firms the skin. It’s very high-quality chocolate so it does more for the skin."
Did anyone know that the cosmetics industry has many skin treatments that are made from a chocolate product? This is the truth. A couple of these products include Nuxe Phytochoc Lifting Serum, which is used on the face and Frrozen Hot Chocolate Foot Cream.
Most people would think that chocolate is a beauty treatment is new. Guess what? It is very ancient. Vice President of Scientific Affairs for Chocolate Manufacturers Associations Leah Porter said that this is not a 21st century idea. "The mid-19th century is when you first started seeing cocoa butter being used as a moisturizer as opposed to cocoa only as a food product. That seems to be when the two crossed paths."
If there are so many rave reviews about getting that special chocolate treatment, then maybe I should consider going to one of these spas to receive these treatments. At least I will not smell like a chemistry lab, but a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar. The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar would be my scent choice.
Source:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,162783,00.html
I had never thought about having my body immersed in a liquid of chocolate. Most people have not.
Those individuals that are really into beautifying themselves are taking that extra step. This is literally going for a chocolate swim.
According to Howard Kohlenberg, who is the owner of Le Petit Spa in New York City’s Manhattan district, he stated, "Chocolate is very rejuvenating for your skin. It is moisturizing and good for cell renewal." Le Petit Spa is a parlor that specializes in manicures, pedicures, and body scrubs that are strictly based with chocolate.
This spa is one of many existing spas that are spreading the word about the health and beauty benefactors of chocolate. The majority of individuals that receive a chocolate treatment say that it is very beneficial and it has a good smell. I cannot imagine strolling around town smelling like a chocolate factory.
In addition to chocolate having a very tempting scent, it also contains caffeine. Zaza Murariu, who is the aesthetician for Ajune Spa, also in Manhattan, said that "caffeine stimulates the circulatory system and firms the skin. It’s very high-quality chocolate so it does more for the skin."
Did anyone know that the cosmetics industry has many skin treatments that are made from a chocolate product? This is the truth. A couple of these products include Nuxe Phytochoc Lifting Serum, which is used on the face and Frrozen Hot Chocolate Foot Cream.
Most people would think that chocolate is a beauty treatment is new. Guess what? It is very ancient. Vice President of Scientific Affairs for Chocolate Manufacturers Associations Leah Porter said that this is not a 21st century idea. "The mid-19th century is when you first started seeing cocoa butter being used as a moisturizer as opposed to cocoa only as a food product. That seems to be when the two crossed paths."
If there are so many rave reviews about getting that special chocolate treatment, then maybe I should consider going to one of these spas to receive these treatments. At least I will not smell like a chemistry lab, but a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar. The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar would be my scent choice.
Source:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,162783,00.html
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Reminiscence of Jelly Shoes
Some of us may remember sporting these shoes on our feet. Of course women and girls wore them. I will give two hints: these were the shoes of the 1980s and early 1990s and made from plastic. Still did not get the hint?
Does jelly shoes or "jellies" ring the bell? For some individuals, it will and for others, it leaves a blank slate. It definitely rings a bell for me because I owned more than a few pair growing up. These shoes were plastic to the max!
As a kid, I used to think when many people mentioned jelly shoes that they meant that there was jelly jam inside. How wrong was I? Wrong as wrong can get! In fact, they were these hard plastic shoes that were very easy to tear up and in many cases, it made very sore feet. As an alternative to prevent sore feet, individuals installed pads in the shoes to keep comfortable and in style simultaneously.
What were these jelly shoes made from? Jelly shoes are the products from a plastic known as PVC, or polyvinyl chloride. This allows the plastic to have more flexibility. Like various plastics, this type of plastic can be molded into many different colors and designs, whether it is clear or yellowish with glitter.
Jelly shoes, for the most part, were very flat. In some instances, there were some with a very small heel. In addition to being flat and/or having a small heel, it had many beautiful designs and motifs on the shoes. Of course, they were considered as sandals. Besides having the beautiful loopy design features, glitter was the ultimate stand out feature on the jellies during the 1980s. It also included other designs such as circles and flowers.
During my days of being the owner of the "jellies," usage out of these shoes was very plentiful. (I owned an approximate total of eight jelly shoes). This is a large number for jelly shoes. The two main problems that I had with these shoes were that my end toes always managed to sneak out of them and very sweaty feet. As a result, I began wearing socks with them.
They were very beautiful shoes when they were in existence. But just to be truthful and honest, I do not think that the jelly shoes, or "jellies" should make a comeback on the fashion scene due to its fragility.
Source:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-jelly-shoes.htm
Does jelly shoes or "jellies" ring the bell? For some individuals, it will and for others, it leaves a blank slate. It definitely rings a bell for me because I owned more than a few pair growing up. These shoes were plastic to the max!
As a kid, I used to think when many people mentioned jelly shoes that they meant that there was jelly jam inside. How wrong was I? Wrong as wrong can get! In fact, they were these hard plastic shoes that were very easy to tear up and in many cases, it made very sore feet. As an alternative to prevent sore feet, individuals installed pads in the shoes to keep comfortable and in style simultaneously.
What were these jelly shoes made from? Jelly shoes are the products from a plastic known as PVC, or polyvinyl chloride. This allows the plastic to have more flexibility. Like various plastics, this type of plastic can be molded into many different colors and designs, whether it is clear or yellowish with glitter.
Jelly shoes, for the most part, were very flat. In some instances, there were some with a very small heel. In addition to being flat and/or having a small heel, it had many beautiful designs and motifs on the shoes. Of course, they were considered as sandals. Besides having the beautiful loopy design features, glitter was the ultimate stand out feature on the jellies during the 1980s. It also included other designs such as circles and flowers.
During my days of being the owner of the "jellies," usage out of these shoes was very plentiful. (I owned an approximate total of eight jelly shoes). This is a large number for jelly shoes. The two main problems that I had with these shoes were that my end toes always managed to sneak out of them and very sweaty feet. As a result, I began wearing socks with them.
They were very beautiful shoes when they were in existence. But just to be truthful and honest, I do not think that the jelly shoes, or "jellies" should make a comeback on the fashion scene due to its fragility.
Source:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-jelly-shoes.htm
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fads and trends,
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fashion trends
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