Archive for December, 2007

I Need Some Pots and Pans To Cook In - What Should I Buy?

Monday, December 31st, 2007

By Dorrie Ruplinger If youve shopped for cookware recently, you may have gotten a headache from looking at all the choices and brands available. And all of them seem to be telling you the same things Im the best; Im a great value; buy me. What should you buy? Before you start considering your cookware options consider the following five questions. 1) Do you cook for a few people or a lot of people? This will determine how many pots and pans you need and also how big you need them to be. 2) What kind of cooking do you most often do? I like to make homemade soup so a large stockpot is essential for me. On the other hand, I never steam anything on the stovetop (I use an electric steamer) so a stovetop steamer is useless to me. Think about what you cook or what you want to learn how to cook so you can determine what pieces of cookware youll need. 3) How important is ease of cleanup to you? If you hate cleanup you should probably buy non-stick cookware. If you want to be able to put your cookware in the dishwasher youll need to look at the sets youre considering to see if its advisable. For example, hard-anodized aluminum cookware is a very popular type of cookware but the outside of the pots will change color and darken if you wash them in your dishwasher. I own this type of cookware and I love it. But there are days when I dont love having to take the time to hand-wash it, but I do because I dont want it to get discolored in my dishwasher. Most professional cooks prefer stainless steel cookware. Its nice to cook with but clean-up can be fairly time-consuming. 4) What type of stove do you have? Do you have a smooth-top electric stovetop? If you do, you need flat-bottom pots and pans. I didnt think about this when I purchased my smooth-top stove. I quickly discovered my pots and pans werent flat bottomed and that they didnt work well on my new stove. As a result I had to go buy new cookware that had flat bottoms. If you have an induction cooktop you needs pots and pans with ferrite in them, which means they need to be magnetic. 5) What is your budget? I highly recommend buying the best quality cookware you can afford. The best quality is not always the most expensive cookware available, but its never the cheapest. If you buy a $49.99 set of cookware, youll be getting a bargain but you wont be getting a good set of cookware. Now that youve thought about your needs and know how much you can afford to spend, its time to go look at cookware. Youll likely be using your cookware every day so you want something that youre comfortable working with. But the number one thing to look for in cookware is weight and heft. Heavier weight cookware wont warp over time which causes you to lose the flat, even cooking surface on the bottom of your pan; and you can control the heat better in heavier weight cookware. Im not saying you have to buy cookware that you need to join the gym to be able to lift out of the cupboard but dont buy cheap flimsy pots and pans. If a pan feels like you could bend it, dont buy it. Im not suggesting you walk into a store, pick up every pot and pan and try to bend it, but look at one of the saucepans. If you push a little on the sides and that saucepan has some give to it, its not going to hold up well on your stove. To get a good quality cookware set youll probably need to spend a minimum of $200. If you dont have that much to spend consider buying only the essential pieces you need to get you started such as a 2-quart saucepan, a saut pan and a stockpot. Add pieces as you can afford them. Although youll typically get the best value for your money if you buy a cookware set versus buying the individual pieces dont buy a poor quality set just so you have an entire set of cookware. Youll end up spending more money in the long run replacing those pots and pans when they get warped and ruined (which wont take long). If you take the time to consider your needs, do some shopping around, and purchase the best quality set of cookware you can afford, youre likely to be happy with your purchase for a long time. Dorrie Ruplinger is a featured writer forhttp://www.acooksdelight.com Visit the site for more info on different types of cookware including cast iron cookware & celebrity cookware. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorrie_Ruplinger http://EzineArticles.com/?I-Need-Some-Pots-and-Pans-To-Cook-In—What-Should-I-Buy?&id=117265 generic phentermine without prescription order phentermine without prescription order phentermine diet pills where can i buy phentermine 37.5

What the Employee Needs to Know About COBRA to Protect Himself and his Family

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By Richard R L Evans The first question from one just terminated from his job is: What is COBRA and what are my rights and my options. Congress passed the landmark Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit provisions in 1986. First of all, COBRA can only be offered to employees and or their dependents if the employer has 20 or more employees. An employer can not legally keep an employee on his insurance plan if he or she is not a full time employee unless he or she qualifies for COBRA benefits. The employee and or his dependents can only stay on the past employers plan for up to 18 months unless the employee was released do to a disability. In the case of a disability the employee can stay on the plan for up to 29 months. In the case of employee death, legal separation, divorce or separation, or if the spouse becomes entitled to Medicare, the spouse and dependant children are entitled to 36 months of coverage. If a dependant child looses dependant child status he or she would also be eligible for 36 months of continued coverage. The down side to the COBRA option is that if you develop a medical condition while on the plan you may not be able to get the individual plan of your choice. The other negative is that the employer can charge up to 102% of his cost for regular COBRA and up to 150% of the last 11 months if you qualify as being disabled. I know this seems backwards, but thats the way it is. Often COBRA is more expensive than an individual plan, but on the plus side if you enroll in another group plan with no more than a 62 day lapse in coverage there is no waiting for any preexisting condition. If there is a lapse in coverage of more than 62 days, preexisting condition will have a one year wait before being covered. Remember that you must decide within 60 days of the qualifying event if you want to take the COBRA coverage. Then you have 45 days to make your first payment from the date you elect to take the coverage. Payment must be made for back to the qualifying event. This can amount to 90 days or more. Life insurance benefits are not covered by COBRA. This is just a brief summary of COBRA. For additional information contact your employer. They are required by law to furnish information to you on a timely basis or face severe penalties. What are the penalties? Although no longer as harsh as the penalties prior to TAMRA, current IRS COBRA penalties are still severe. The emplorer may pay an excise tax penalty of $100 per day for each day of noncompliance, but if a family is involved, the maximum amount of tax per day is $200 per family. How high can the penalties go? Penalties may be as high as $2500 for each beneficiary affected by the failure of the employer to comply. If the IRS finds a violation that it considers to be more than just minimal, employers may be subject to a penalty of as much as $15,000. The maximum any employer could be taxed in a given year is $500,000 or ten percent of the health plan costs in the previous year, whichever is less. Richard Evans Richard is the owner of Affordable Health, Life and Annuity Services, Richard is an independent agent with 15 years experience in the Health Insurance Industry. He is also the owner of DreamProtector Agency LLC, an investment advisor and certified college planning specialist. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_R_L_Evans http://EzineArticles.com/?What-the-Employee-Needs-to-Know-About-COBRA-to-Protect-Himself-and-his-Family&id=177217 buy phentermine ship cod pharmacy no rx phentermine buy cheap phentermine online buy phentermine fedex

Doing What I Can to Live Environmentally Consciously

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

By Cara Mirabella Its January and in New Jersey, its 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I think to myself sarcastically, And they say there is no such thing as global warming. But what can we do about it? Here are some things that Ive been doing, and, upon writing this article, Ive discovered some of the other benefits to my actions. First, the obvious I recycle everything that I can. I even rinse off aluminum foil and put it in my recycling can. Did you know that some towns will recycle Styrofoam cups? Check with your municipality. And speaking of Styrofoam cups, I use a travel mug as often as possible to cut down on waste in landfills. I only do laundry when I have a full load, and I wash everything in warm or cold water. I line dry as much as possible, which means I use my dryer less. This also helps me get more milage out of my clothes, and they retain their shape and color longer. And before putting a load in the dryer, I give it an extra spin cycle to reducing the drying time. My clothes and blankets get donated to Goodwill or the local animal shelter. This not only reduces the amount of garbage going to land fills, it also feels good knowing that someone or some pet will keep warm this winter with my castoffs. My dishwasher is only run when its full, and I dont use the drying cycle. I buy organic foods, especially milk, eggs, meat, and produce. Not only does that reduce the amount of pesticides in the environment, Im also supporting local small farmers. This is getting easier to do now since the bigger grocery stores are catching on to the organic craze and are providing us more options for organic products. My kitchen waste gets composted things like orange rinds, eggshells and coffee grinds. Please note that you should never compost meats or meal leftovers. I use a chipper shredder to make the yard waste into mulch. My garden gets better every year with homemade fertilizer and mulch. I use canvas shopping bags at the grocery store. But when I do get plastic bags, I reuse them or bring them back to the store. Most stores have a bin where you can bring back your bags. I burn only soy candles. This eliminates the potentially harmful fumes from paraffin wax candles. I also reuse the candle leftovers in a warming pot and reuse the containers for potpourri or to store little things like buttons, cotton balls, and bath salts. Cloth diapers that I purchased as burp-cloths for my infant are used for cleaning up spills and dusting in my home. I have pets and a toddler, so I cant completely eliminate paper towels, but I use as few as possible. Once the diapers get older and beat-up, they go in a box to be used for washing the cars, or for my husband to use in his workshop. Ive eliminated the harsh chemicals in my home by replacing my cleaning products with toxin-free alternatives. No bleach, ammonia or phosphates in my house so Im not polluting our water or filling the landfills with more harsh chemicals. This also eliminates some more potentially harmful fumes in my home. So you see, every day I live environmentally conscious. I may still drive a gas-guzzling SUV, but its paid for I cant just run out and buy a hybrid. So I do what I can, hoping it makes a difference. Cara Mirabella runs her own website of shops and resources for your home and business:http://www.CaraShops.com. Cara is a WAHM with a 18 month-old son. She is also veryinvolved with fundraising for the March of Dimes http://www.CaraShops.com/preemiepage.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cara_Mirabella http://EzineArticles.com/?Doing-What-I-Can-to-Live-Environmentally-Consciously&id=481841 phentermine online consultation overnight pharmacy phentermine buy phentermine cash on delivery classic pharmacy phentermine

Sony Ericssion K750i - Gadget Par Excellence

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adam_Jaylin]Adam Jaylin Off late, Sony Ericsson has managed to capture a major chunk of mobile market, not specifically in one country but worldwide. The reason that can be given for such an upsurge is their superior variety of mobile phones that beg to differ from the whole heap of mobile phones that can be commonly sighted everywhere and with everyone. One phone from the house of Sony Ericssion that created ripples in the mobile telephony market is K750i. In fact, it probably was the most anticipated gadget of 2005. And why not, the manufacturers had taken special care in designing this phone that comes with a wide range of features, and is undoubtedly a pleasure to operate. Talking of its specifications, Sony Ericsson K750i is an all inclusive mobile that comes packed with a glut of high-tech features. As far as connectivity is concerned, it runs on tri-band GSM that makes it fit to be used anywhere across the globe. When it comes to high speed data transfer, it is very well executed by its integrated technologies as Bluetooth, Infrared and USB port. Like any other high end phone, it is equipped with a powerful 2 MP camera with a flash and focus that gives great picture quality in terms of clarity and sharpness. It is equipped with video recording feature as well. Sony Ericsson K750i perfectly understands your need to stay connected while on the move so it gives you an easy and quick access to the Internet with its WAP browser. Coming to the entertainment features, this handset is equipped with a music player that supports MP3/AAC formats. Also you can view your favourite videos on its video player. And when you want to know the latest happening around the world, its integrated FM radio will gladly serve this purpose. [http://www.ukonlinemarket.co.uk/mobile/Phone_Deal.asp?Ph=Sony--Ericsson--K750i]Sony Ericsson k750i is a user friendly gadget that is clubbed with powerful technology. If you are looking for a simple yet power packed device, Sony Ericsson’s K750i is the one for you! Know more about [http://www.ukonlinemarket.co.uk/mobile/]Mobile Phones and [http://www.ukonlinemarket.co.uk/mobile/contractphones.asp]contract phones here. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Jaylin http://EzineArticles.com/?Sony-Ericssion-K750i—Gadget-Par-Excellence&id=452812 phentermine online consultation get phentermine online online prescriptions for phentermine cheap phentermine overnight delivery

Just Ask

Friday, December 28th, 2007

By Ashley Thomas If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14: 14__________________________________ Just Ask! One of the things I feel we find most difficult to do is to ask. It is one of the most basic skills in survival, one which we learn to use from early childhood. When you think about it that little children rarely have a trouble with asking for things, and the irony is that in most times they get what they ask for. Somehow, we unlearn this as we learn to exercise independence. While this teaches us how to help ourselves - there still remains areas of need. The question remains: how do we meet those needs, when we do not have the necessary tools, resources or guidance? Our Lord taught his disciples a very childlike principle when He said, “whatever you ask in my name - I will do it”. Our minds have great difficulty grasping such simplicity. Being the extreme people that we are, we have a tendency to swing from both sides. We either start asking for a lot of things to fill our lives with or we go the other way and begin to ask small because of fear. Either way, we learn that God is never manipulated into doing anything for us. Yet God wants us to ask, and if we understands His character that He is just, merciful and good - there is nothing that you and I must earn to get His help. The key for us lies with knowing His will - and that is not always obvious to our natural mind. Our natural mind asks for things in accordance with what seems best for us. However, we don’t always receive what we ask, for one of two reasons -let me explain. We ask amiss that is we are only interested in consumption. Lust is like that ever wanting to be consumed. God seeks to change that behavior because that is the exact opposite of His character and nature. When we ask based on lust, God knows that this desire is most harmful and knows the damage that it will do to us, if we got what it is that we want. Our Father gives to us what serves our best interest eventhough we think we know better. Many today, are living for consumption and the flesh always craves for more. The other reason we don’t always receive is because we are not prepared for what it is that we are asking for. The children of Israel for example being enslaved in Egypt wanted freedom from oppression. God knew that Egypt was not the only hindrance in their lives. When they were led to the wilderness, the bible speaks about their doubts and murmuring against the character of God. That has been man’s great hindrance, an evil heart of unbelief. God must therefore orchestrate circumstances in our lives where this issue must be dealt with ever so severely. Regrettably many fail during such times of adversity and they never get to see the promise. Let me say this that God never gives anything simply but the manner in which we are trained is in simplicity. Trust and obedience to God is the only confidence that we must demonstrate. If lust is what we are after, then we can find it easily and satisfy it, if we are willing to plunge into the very depths of sin. However sin, is a master and a great oppressor so that you will do that which is unspeakable and against your will. On the other hand if your asking is without this motive of consumption, God will grant your request but you must be prepared to face your giants. The pressure will be on and the temptation to question God’s character and the great sin of unbelief will be brought to the fore. Yet the one who is willing to endure such discipline only inches his way to the fulfillment of the promise. This is the kind of mindset that belongs to an overcomer. Are you asking God for something today? Can you say that my motives are pure and clean? If your answer is ‘yes’ then God says in His word that He will do it. May that be the encouragement for our souls. Remember in God’s mind it is only a little while before you see it. You just need to have patience and a willingness to trust Him all the way. Amen! Ashley Thomas http://www.ariseshine.org.au is the lead pastor of an emerging church in Brisbane Australia and is the writer of Praise The Lord It’s Friday a weekly article of life and encouragement. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Thomas http://EzineArticles.com/?Just-Ask&id=226411 phentermine online mastercard cheapest phentermine online without a prescription buy phentermine next day phentermine 37.5 tablets no prescription

Vegetable Garden Ideas

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

By Kara Kelso The first year I lived in a “real house” I was excited to get a garden started. I just couldn’t wait until spring when I could plant all kinds of veggies. While this seems like a good idea, it really wasn’t. Being a new gardner, I let my excitement get the best of me. Luckily, part of my family made sure I still had a very nice garden that year. Here are a few tips I learned: 1. Make sure you have enough room Some plants get bigger than others, and take up more space. Make sure you give certain plants more room than others, and plan enough sunlight for smaller plants. I’ve had smaller plans die in previous years because they eventually end up in the shadow. 2. Start small Don’t plant everything you can find. Ask your local gardening supply store what will work best in your area for beginners. Tomatoes work best where I live, but don’t work well in other areas. 3. Start with plants, not seeds Instead of throwing seeds in the ground, start off easy buying plants that are already started. They have been started at the right time of year by experts, and are much easier to grow. 4. Know your time limits If you can only devote 10mins per day to your garden, make sure you only have a few plants. Pulling weeds can quickly become a problem, so if you have limited time don’t make a big area that will take a long time to weed. I hope these ideas will help you this spring when you start your first garden! —————— About the Author: Kara Kelso is the mother of 2 and owner of several online businesses. For more ideas like this, visit: http://www.idea-queen.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kara_Kelso http://EzineArticles.com/?Vegetable-Garden-Ideas&id=157579 cheap phentermine free consultation phentermine diet pills without a prescription phentermine 37.5 no prescription mastercard buy prescription phentermine

Have People Notice You With These Eye Makeup Tips

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By Angie Leighsmith What can be more sexy to a warm-blooded male that a woman with big, sexy eyes? Ok, that list can actually go on and on and on. What was I thinking? The truth is, there a large number of men who do find big eyes sexy and seductive. Look at Anne Hathaway, for example. Shes made a career of having big, doe-y eyes. My eyes are kind of small but that doesnt mean I walk around all the time wearing sunglasses. I have my secrets and tricks to achieving the illusion of big eyes, and I put together this list of some of these secrets. I also asked a few other women who suffer from the same small eyes affliction like me, what they do to overcoming this small eyes syndrome. Heres what some of what they have to say:Eyeliner is much like a wizards magic wand. It has to power to create the illusion of bigger, more expressive eyes. Line the entire top lash line and extend the line slightly at the corners. You can also line the bottom of your eyes, but concentrate color only on the outer third and extend it slightly past the edge. A soft, smoky look will open your eyes more than a thin, hard line. Try to stick with dark, neutral colors with a hint of black for lining. Bright shades will only make them seem smaller and thats what we are trying to avoid. The right application on your lashes can be a big eye-opener. No pun intended! Curl them three times before applying mascara at the base, halfway up and at the tip. This creates a gentle, rounded curl. Next, fan out your lashes while applying mascara. Brush the inner third in toward your nose, the middle third straight out and the outer third toward your temples. Contrary to the popular belief you may have read in Cosmo, dark, dramatic eye shadow will not make your eyes stand out. In fact, it does the exact opposite. If you have small eyes, keep it simple by using only light-colored shadows, and never wear more than two shades at once. Brush a subtle base color from lash to brow, and then use a slightly darker shade to create subtle definition in the crease. For many people, the eye area is a real problem. Im talking about swelling around your eyes, puffiness, and all of the other nasty things that make us look older than we really are. While we were discussing eye care makeup tips so of the women also gave some helpful hints on caring for these types of eye issues:Certain moisturizers should not be applied to the eye area. They cause it to swell up worse than it already is. Separate eye creams and gels are a must if you suffer with puffy or aging eyes. Hold a metal spoon under cold running water for a few minutes and then gently press it onto the eye area to soothe, cool and reduce swelling. Thin cucumber slices are a good one for reducing puffiness and soothing tired, sore eyes. Hemorrhoid creams applied to the puffy area, are fantastic for reducing swelling. Soak used tea bags in cold water for around ten minutes and place them on the puffy area. Elevate your head when you sleep to promote fluid to drain away from your eye area. Place a slice of raw potato underneath your eyes. The potassium in them counteracts dark circles. Avoid salty foods as these can cause fluid retention. For more makeup tips such as this, be sure to visit the experts at MakeUpTip.com at http://www.makeuptip.com. When theyre done, your face will look like you just left an expensive salon. They offer beauty tips on how to achieve a velvety, natural finish and keep your makeup lasting longer. Visit them and find out how to look like million dollars on a real womans budget. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angie_Leighsmith http://EzineArticles.com/?Have-People-Notice-You-With-These-Eye-Makeup-Tips&id=525878 tramadol no prescription bupropion buy tramadol online bupropion antidepressant anti prescription medications ultram check ultram purchase

Weight Loss Survey: Why Dieters Fail To Lose Weight

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By Anne Collins Current levels of overweight and obesity, together with weight-related disease, have made weight control a major health priority throughout America. Yet statistics indicate that average weight reduction on conventional diets adds up to a mere 5-8 pounds per year. So why do we find dieting so difficult? According to a new survey(1), the answer seems to be: because we make 3 crucial mistakes. We don’t have a good enough incentive; we allow ourselves to go hungry; and we can’t cope with “bad days”. The weight loss survey conducted by annecollins.com asked dieters to select the three biggest problems they faced when dieting. The most common problems reported were: “Inadequate incentive to lose weight” (76%); “Hunger” (72%); and “Bad days” (70%). Although these results will come as no surprise to most dieters, they highlight the importance of motivation in the dieting process. We examine how these problems occur, and what steps can be taken to overcome them. Why Do We Need an Incentive? We gain weight because we take in more energy than we use. Either because we eat too many calories, or burn too few, or both. So if we want to reduce weight, we need to improve our eating and exercise habits. And this is not easy, because let’s face it - old habits are not easily discarded, especially if they involve cutting out our favorite treats. We need a powerful incentive to help us change. Specifically, we need an answer to the question: “How exactly will I benefit from losing weight?” When faced with this question, many dieters have no answer. Those who do, typically reply: “I’ll feel better” or “my health will improve”. Others explain they are trying to lose weight to please their doctor, or their partner, or simply because they are “overweight”. Unfortunately, none of these reasons are strong enough to help us succeed. So when temptation strikes, we are unable to resist. What Type of Incentive is Best? Our motivation to lose weight must be based on a selfish, specific benefit. A good example might be an upcoming beach holiday, or a family occasion, or the achievement of a specific mobility or fitness goal. It must be as specific as possible (general benefits are useless) and ideally related to a fixed date. In addition, it must be selfish. Losing weight to please others rarely works. The advice I give to my clients is very simple. Do not bother dieting unless you have a good incentive. Because no matter how good the diet, no matter how valuable the exercise plan, unless you have a powerful reason to change your habits you won’t succeed. Hunger Kills Diets Most dieters are still convinced that calories are their enemy. So the less they eat, the faster they are likely to lose weight. This is not true. In reality, the less we eat, the more hungry we get and the easier it is to fall into temptation. The human body is trained to eat when hungry and no amount of willpower will neutralize this basic urge. This is why binge eating is such a common response to low calorie diets. How to Avoid Hunger No rocket science here. Avoiding hunger simply means eating regularly throughout the day, and keeping your calorie intake above 1000-1200 per day. This prevents hunger, thus reducing the urge to overeat, and in addition helps to maintain a regular high level of calorie-burning. Eat Too Much Rather Than Too Little We all have days when we feel extra hungry, even when we are dieting. This is no problem - simply eat more! It is always better to eat a little too much than not enough. Might this delay your weight loss? Yes. But so what? Taking a few extra days to achieve your goal is not a problem. The real danger is not eating enough and ending up hungry and depressed. This is a recipe for a binge. Bad Days and The Problem of Perfection No dieter is perfect. The truth is, all dieters experience “bad days” or fall into occasional temptation. Sadly, most dieters insist on “being perfect”. They cannot tolerate these lapses. So if (say) they visit a friend and end up eating 2 containers of ice cream and a box of cookies, they go to pieces. “I’m useless!” they cry. “I’m a failure!” Overwhelmed by guilt at not being perfect, they then quit their diet in disgust. It’s the Guilt That Does the Damage In this situation, the actual binge is typically fairly harmless. I mean, we need to eat a huge quantity of food (3500+ calories) to gain even one pound of weight. The real damage is caused by the ensuing guilt. And this is what we need to address. Guilt Comes From Trying to Be Perfect All dieters make mistakes and this is perfectly normal. Having an occasional binge is no cause for alarm, far less guilt. Even my most successful clients - those who have lost 100+ pounds - had regular lapses. The difference is, they didn’t see themselves as “perfect” individuals. So they felt “entitled” to make occasional mistakes, and so should you. Once you accept this, you will find dieting a whole lot easier. We Need Support to Make These Changes In order to overcome the 3 problems described above, an essential first step is to find proper support. This is just as important as choosing the right diet plan, because no matter how good the diet, it can’t motivate you to stay on track - only people can do this. Dieting is ten times easier when you receive encouragement from others. So when choosing an online weight loss program, choose one with an active forum. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about people. When we are alone and isolated, the smallest obstacle can seem like a mountain. But when we have people behind us, anything is possible. Notes: 1. Weight Loss Survey (Oct 2005) by annecollins.com. A total of 17,403 subjects replied to the survey. They were asked to choose 3 from a list of 10 diet-problems. The results were as follows: (1) Inadequate Incentive (76%). (2) Hunger (72%). (3) Bad Days (70%). (4) Boredom (69%). (5) Stress (60%). (6) Interference From Others (51%). (7) Too Much Eating Out (32%). (8) Eating on The Run (28%). (9) Ill-health (5%). (10) Lack of Sleep (1%). Copyright Anne Collins 2005. Anne Collins, 54, is a qualified nutritionist and full time weight management consultant with over 23 years experience. Her clients range from top celebrities to ordinary people of every age and shape. Her website attracts 9 million unique visitors per annum, and her weight loss forum is one of the most active support centers on the Internet. Anne Collins Web Site Weight Loss Program Weight Loss Forum Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Collins http://EzineArticles.com/?Weight-Loss-Survey:-Why-Dieters-Fail-To-Lose-Weight&id=92956 pharmacy tramadol buy tramadol online 150 pills 100 tramadol fedx overnight no prescription buy tramadol onlines

Cross Cultural Interviews

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Neil Payne At this moment in time, the increase in cross border human traffic has meant that companies are no longer dealing with a homogenous native community from which they recruit their staff. Companies are now facing cross cultural challenges in how they recruit, manage and develop a multi-cultural staff. One area of note where HR and management are finding difficulties is in the interview room. With companies recruiting from a pool of candidates from different nationalities, cultures and faiths the cross cultural interview is an area that must be analysed properly if recruiters wish to capitalize on the potential available to them. This is necessary to ensure that candidates in cross cultural interviews are not discriminated against through misperceptions and poor judgements. Interviews could be described as being similar to a play. All actors know their lines, cues and the appropriate corresponding behaviours. Interviewers expect model answers, so questions are anticipated and revised for by interviewees. However, the play only makes sense, in terms of getting the best out of the interview, when the actors involved share a similar culture. When interviews take on a cross cultural element, differences in how to act can cause misunderstandings. Such misunderstandings will unfortunately lead to interviewers wrongly rejecting candidates. All recruiters share a common goal in wanting to hire the best. However, when cross cultural misunderstandings occur in interviews, this hinders the process of recruiting the best staff for the company. Learning to work with cross cultural differences in interviews ensures you get the best out of a candidate and do not allow cross cultural misperceptions to impede judgement. The basis of incorporating a cross cultural framework of understanding in interviews is in overcoming assumptions. Assumptions refer to several inter-related elements. Interviewers assume what should or should not happen, what is normal and abnormal, and what is correct or wrong. Assumptions also refer to what someones physical appearance says about them, what their body language says about their confidence, how people communicate and how they present themselves. For example, a cross cultural interview is taking place between an English interviewer and a German interviewee. Fairly early on in the interview the interviewer starts to make assumptions regarding the persons character, personality and suitability for the post based on misperceptions of the German candidates appearance, behaviour and communication style. Although the interviewee is rather high-brow, blunt in conversation, formal and academic in demeanour this does not mean he/she is rigid, inflexible or reserved as the interviewer assumes. Rather, this is how the play is acted out in Germany. If the interviewer had been a bit more aware of German theatre (i.e. cross culturally aware), then possibly such assumptions would not have been made. As we can see from the above example, assumptions can lead to interviewers making the wrong decision based on their culturally insensitive assumptions. In this case, they could have potentially lost a genuinely positive addition to their company. In addition to the areas mentioned in the example above, interviewers must also be aware of culturally ingrained assumptions made about areas such as eye contact, tone of voice, gestures, posture, showing emotions, the giving out of information and the use of language to name but a few. All have a cross cultural element that needs to be understood properly. Eye contact is a sign of confidence and trust in the UK and other European countries. However, if a Chinese individual is being interviewed and maintains no eye contact does this equal them hiding something or being unconfident? No, because in China it is considered rude to maintain eye contact. Similarly, to speak loudly and clearly may be construed to be a positive trait in the UK, but in many other countries such as Malaysia they believe speaking softly is a good quality. In the UK and other western nations, we communicate explicitly, meaning we divulge information beyond the topic at hand based on the premise the listener is unaware of background or correlating issues. Implicit communicators, such as the Japanese, divulge little as they believe the listener will be aware of such issues. A Japanese interviewee therefore is not being purposefully vague, but on the contrary assumes you understand what he/she means to imply. To name drop in interviews may be considered inappropriate for many recruiters in Europe, however in countries where family and community ties play a greater role such as in Mediterranean countries, to mention your relationship with someone of influence is natural. Although Latin Americans are very expressive and emotional, this does not equal them being excitable and unstable and therefore unsuitable for professional jobs. Language also plays a crucial role in cross cultural interviews. Where the interviewees English is not strong, the use of metaphors, proverbs and colloquialisms will confuse them. Similarly, technical terms are not valid across borders. Where lengthy pauses are made by interviewees rather than assume they are playing for time or do not know the answer, the interviewer should assume they are searching for a word, phrase or merely digesting the information contained within the question. The key point is that assumptions must be overcome if recruiters are to do their job effectively. All the above examples of misperceptions are based upon cultural assumptions as to what things mean. It is therefore critical that recruitment staff start to assess, analyse and overcome cultural assumptions through greater cross cultural awareness if they wish to do the best for their companies. In todays globalised reality, organisations and companies need the creative and dynamic input from a culturally diverse staff. The only way to achieve this is to ensure that such staff are not being improperly discounted for positions due to cross cultural misperceptions. Once this is taken on board and acted upon, the play will again start to make sense to all involved. Neil Payne is Managing Director of Kwintessential Ltd.Visit their website at http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cross-cultural/training.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neil_Payne http://EzineArticles.com/?Cross-Cultural-Interviews&id=11766 buy ultram online at lowest price pharmacy tramadol hcl dosing buy tramadol 0a no prescription ultram

Alternative Loan Options For Bad Credit Applicants!

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mary_Wise]Mary Wise Most of the lenders like to give their money to safe clients and take minimum risk. This benefits people with good credit since all the privileges and preferences are for those with good credit, rather than those with bad or no credit. It is easier for them to obtain a new credit card, home mortgage and other loans. That does not mean it is the end of the road for those with bad credit. Bad credit loans are a good option that can be also used to clear a bad credit history. Any Financial Problem Can Be Overcome There is good news for people with bad credit; they can avail bad credit loans even a day after they file for bankruptcy. There are several options available for those with a poor credit score such as a new credit card, or a home mortgage loan. Moreover, short loan amounts can be easily obtained even without credit checks. Yet, there is one thing that has to be realized by those with bad credit. They will not be treated at par with the ones who have a good credit rating. Lenders will be different than standard lenders and they will not be able to get similar interest rates. Actually, chances are that the interest rate charged will be considerably higher, sometimes even doubling the rates charged for traditional loans. Interest Rate The interest rates on [http://www.badcreditfinancialexperts.com/guaranteed-bad-credit-loans.html]bad credit loans are calculated on the basis of the general rate of interest that is prevailing at the time of taking a loan. The interest rate is then raised by the lender on the basis of the risk that is involved the transaction. The interest rates on all the loans in the United States are calculated on the basis of the U.S. prime rate. The same goes to the interest rates of credit cards and bad credit loans. Most of the banks and financial institutions give their very privileged customers a loan on the prime rate. By doing so, they are probably loosing money but the idea is to keep the customer and compensate with other fees and costs. The interest rates on [http://www.speedybadcreditloans.com/bad-credit-personal-loans.html]bad credit loans are high. They are higher in case they are unsecured. Sometimes, the interest rate is as high as 6 to 7 percentage points above the prime rate. The reason for high interest rates is very genuine. A lender will prefer anyone with a good credit history and give him/her a reasonable interest. But, when you are putting your money where there is no guarantee of return, the interest rate goes up. This works like an incentive for the lender. Otherwise there is no reason for lending to someone when there are more odds against timely repayment. Mary Wise, a professional consultant with twenty years in the financial field, helps people in the process of securing personal loans, mortgage, refinance or consolidation loans and preventing consumers from falling into the hands of fraudulent lenders. In her website [http://www.badcreditloanservices.com]Badcreditloanservices.com you will find more useful tips and interesting financial articles on this and many other related topics. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Wise [http://ezinearticles.com/?Alternative-Loan-Options-For-Bad-Credit-Applicants!&id=332855 ]http://EzineArticles.com/?Alternative-Loan-Options-For-Bad-Credit-Applicants!&id=332855 tramadol without prescription buy chea tramadol 1 buy cheap tramadol buy discount tramadol