For or Against Tipping - Fair Wage or Rely on Charity?

The article feed turned on from Article Marketer today, so it's been hectic with over 200 articles to review. Most of the new stuff is jobbing related (one author posted 38 articles in 30 minutes! I think he's spamming) anyway, I've picked this one out because "tipping" is often a controversial subject. It also brought back some fond memories from my boyhood.

Yep, Another Tall JackaStory Tale

Years and years ago, well 1964 to be precise, I was nominated to call on the "New Yanks" a wealthy couple from America whom had just moved into a huge house in our village (Broadway, Cotswolds, UK) they were supposed to be artists.

I had to offer them a chance to have a "Bob-a-Job".

Huh, nowadays that sort of offer has totally different connotations!

In 1964 "Bob-a-Job Week" was a means of raising funds for the local Cub Scout Troop. Each Cub was allocated a number of streets or avenues in the village to "work". Each job completed cost a "Bob", which is 5p in new money or around 15 cents in US Dollars.

It's difficult to believe now, but I was just 9 years old at the time.

Because I was a Cub Scout "Sixer" my allocated area was the Top High Street in Broadway where the most exclusive, expensive housing was situated and they probably still are.

The idea was to knock on each door two or three times and wait. If there was no answer, you were allowed by the Cub rules to knock once more. If there was still no answer, you had to move on.

If the householder did answer, we were coached to:
1. Smile
2. Say loudly, "BOB A JOB?"
3. Look the person straight in the eyes and smile again.

Most working class locals knew what Bob-a-Job was and quite cheerfully gave small jobs like sweeping leaves or weeding a little patch of their garden. They would then send you on your way with a "Bob". The Cub would then paste a sticker to their garden gate to alert other Cubs NOT to call again.

Often, people would pay a "Bob" just to get a sticker.

It was widely recognised that the "Nobs" (Nobles) living on the Top High Street were the most difficult to work for. Often, to earn a Bob would mean working all morning and then find the Nob had forgotten about you and payment was never received.

Now, the Yanks were THE hot topic of gossip in the village. They would cheerfully have a few pints with the local working class at the New Inn and then go on to have dinner with the local MP.

This was not the done thing at the time, and caused much angst.

With some trepidation I approached their door and gave the door knob (which I could only just reach) three hard raps, after a pause I knocked again. Once again there was no answer.

I turned to leave somewhat relieved when the door flew open and a female voice said, "Hi, how can we help you?"

True to my training, I turned, smiled and said "BOB A JOB" and then I looked up to get eye contact and then did my second smile.

They invited me in and gave me some milk and chocolate biscuits. They asked me a few questions about Bob-a-Job Week and seemed to think that my answers were very funny.

Eventually, I asked what job they wanted me to do. The man said, "Oh, no job, we'll GIVE you some money with pleasure". He reached into his pocket pulled out a note and gave it to me. I looked down and saw to my horror a FIVE POUND NOTE.

For those not familiar with Old Money:
One pound = 20 Shillings and the slang for a Shilling was a "BOB".

This meant that for drinking some milk and eating a few biscuits I'd earned the equivalent of 100 jobs.

When I got home and told my Mum about my good fortune, she nearly blew a gasket.

My Dads weekly wage at that time was just under £12 which included obligatory overtime.

There was never any question that ALL money collected would be given to the Cubs.

I realise now the thing that upset everyone was the "unfairness" of ME accepting such an overpayment. It was regarded as being dishonest and they were afraid I might be arrested by the village Bobby for taking advantage of the Yanks (I was NINE YEARS OLD).

Some how or another, my Mum and Dad found £4 19 shillings in change.

I was told to return the money.

When I went back to the house, the Yanks were surprised to see me return so quickly. I marched up to the man and handed him a large bag of assorted coins and said, "There's your change… It's a BOB A JOB… A FAIR JOB FOR A BOB"

They both looked astonished.

Years later I found out that the same couple had donated £500 to the local Scouts and Cubs the following day.

The article below triggered this tale in particular these statements:

In the United States, tips are used as an excuse to not pay you a living salary.

In the United States, count on a minimum wage everywhere where there isn't an exception to that law - such as so-called 'right-to-work' states where your wage will be well under minimum.
This is true precisely because of tips - in other countries tips are considered a gratuity on top of your salary, something extra.



So You Want to Be a Waitress

Well, if you're determined to pursue a waitress career, I'm certainly not going to stop you. So, just to make things easier, here's a combined assortment of tips for coming through the experience in one piece.

Some skills to survive in the waitressing game, you need many skills that will help you during your time working on the food chain. These include, but are not limited to:

Lying: You take an order from customers and spend the next half hour serving other people in your section. Then you realize - whoops, you forgot to give the order to the kitchen! What do you do? First, tell the customers there was a slip-up in the kitchen. Make vague references to the hassled chef - they're always so busy, you know! Promise it will be out soon. Give the order to the kitchen with the express direction to make the meal ASAP because it's for two heart surgeons on their lunch break. Situation averted, and you're cool.

Look busy at all times: Follow the George Costanza school of business and always look kind of annoyed and walk with a purpose. This works to put customers off-balance as you can get away with a lot more when a customer can clearly see you've run your feet off. And if you spend your free time doing menial tasks such as folding napkins and restocking the toothpick dispenser you won't get asked to carry the plates to the kitchen or do the washing up. The boss sees that you're using your initiative.

Suggest Sir or Madam tries the bread or a salad with their meal: If practiced often in a clear and ringing tone, your boss will notice that you're up-selling the product. Good for you, you might get a raise or promotion. Plus the customers will be impressed by your superior menu knowledge and great ideas and you may get a tip as a result. Nothing wrong with tips, are there?

Get the bill to the table as soon as possible: The reason being that you want a tip included. Instead of letting the customer make their way to the register before getting the bill, take it to them.

There are three things which may occur: Either they will leave an amount of money with the bill which is a little over the requested price, but they don't bother waiting for the change so you can pocket it. Or they put some money with the bill then wait for their change at the table, giving them ample time to think about telling you how much of the change is yours to keep. And some will take the bill to the counter anyway. This is the worst choice as people will often forget they're in a restaurant and think they're just in a normal shop. Oh, well, you can't win them all, and some people wouldn't tip if their life depended on it.

No matter what, be polite: This will make you look like a saint and everyone who barks at you will appear mean-hearted and crazy.

General Advice
In the United States, count on a minimum wage everywhere where there isn't an exception to that law - such as so-called 'right-to-work' states where your wage will be well under minimum.

This is true precisely because of tips - in other countries tips are considered a gratuity on top of your salary, something extra.

In the United States, tips are used as an excuse to not pay you a living salary.

Sadly, many customers don't realize the fact that when they don't tip you, you're working virtually for free. Weekends and evenings are the best times. Always try to find someplace which gets a lot of business at least at certain times - collage areas, conventions and travel destinations, in a hotel or casino, near a sports stadium, and so on.

Never skip working on a Holiday if your restaurant's open that day - Holidays are your most profitable time. Your shift is likely to consist of lingering periods of inactivity punctuated by rushed times when you can barely keep up.

The ideal schedule for a table is five visits at minimum. First you greet and perhaps seat them if there isn't a hostess. Next, immediately bring menus, and ask initially if they'd like a beverage or would perhaps order right now. If they're regular customers they may already have an idea what they want. Next return to take their order. Then of course bring their food. Check once about five to ten minutes into the meal to see if they need anything else. Then at last bring them their bill and close your interaction. Add more visits depending on whether you have to refill a beverage or check every ten minutes to see if they're ready to order.

Tailor your service to the customer.

The only way you'll get good at this is by learning body language. When you recognize a business person rushing in at lunchtime who is obviously in a hurry, cut out as many steps and be as efficient as possible. When you recognize a couple on a date, give them some time alone and intrude at the minimum; possibly suggest a single dessert to share. Stay and chat an extra minute with a lone diner who's not in a hurry if you have the time. When a lone diner arrives with a book, however, give them time to themselves; nobody who brings a book to dinner is ever in a hurry.

Jump to serve a large party or family, and be extra warm and personal; large parties tip the best since they're likely to be having a festive time with all the company.

Good luck with your job.

Whether you're waitressing to support yourself through school, just trying to work off your credit bills or you've got nowhere else to go, it's a career move which is interesting. Like cab driving, it will teach you about people, and you'll meet the most interesting varieties of them.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Freelance writer for over eleven years. Waitress Aprons Restaurant Uniforms Medical Uniforms


Language & Currency Options for International Travel, Hotel & Holiday Information
Reis, Hotel en de Informatie van de Vakantie Voyage, hôtel et information de vacances Spielraum, Hotel und Feiertag-Informationen Corsa, hotel e le informazioni di festa Recorrido, hotel e información del día de fiesta

Destination Guides > Europe & Russia > Europe > England

Germs, Viruses and Disease Makes Me Rethink Detox Regime

Just occasionally an article gets submitted to LPR that really sparks my interest. After reading the article below, I thought to myself, "Well, I didn't know that". However, even a brief search I turned up plenty of people will to support Bechamp:

Bechamp however maintained a pleomorphic theory — essentially that bacteria change form and are not the cause of, but the result of, disease, arising from tissues rather than from a germ of constant form. This has also been called the cellular disease theory, in that scavenging bacteria are supposed to arise from what he called microzymas (microorganisms) he postulated to be normally present in matter (including tissues). These bacteria then feed on dead or decaying cells. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_B%C3%A9champ

These sort of arguments fascinate me when widely accepted views are challenged.

The champions of Bechamp tend to state:

[quote] Latterly, Béchamp's name and work have been misused by multi-level marketers and anti-vaccinationists in efforts to construct plausible-sounding alternatives to current scientific theory which would allow their financial or meta-medical schemes to be effective [end quote, nobody seems to know who to attribute this quote too]

While Pasteur was not the first to propose germ theory (Girolamo Fracastoro, Agostino Bassi, Friedrich Henle and others had suggested it earlier), he developed it and conducted experiments that clearly indicated its correctness and managed to convince most of Europe it was true. Today he is often regarded as the father of germ theory and bacteriology, together with Robert Koch.

So, it's up to you, I'm going to start looking after my colon a bit more carefully in future.

Are Germs and Viruses the Real Cause of Disease?

There is a universal belief that germs and viruses are the cause of disease; but this is not true. Louis Pasteur, for whom the pasteurization process is named, first put forward the idea that germs from outside the body are the cause of disease. Living in France at the same time as Pasteur was another scientist who was also conducting research on the cause and development of disease. This man was Antoine Bechamp. Pasteur actually "borrowed" part of Bechamp's research and publicized it as his own.

Dr. Guylaine Lanctot explains it thus: Pasteur was ambitious, an opportunist. He was also a genius in the art of promoting himself, and he plagiarized, and then vulgarized, the work of Bechamp. He stole the idea of small organisms being responsible, but he only revealed a small part of Bechamp's discoveries. Pasteur proclaimed that these small organisms only came from the outside. He forgot to mention that, once exposed to air, germs and other morbid (abnormal) microzymes lose their virulence very rapidly. And this deceit has been perpetuated ever since.

It has been said that Pasteur, on his deathbed, admitted to his colleagues that an individual's natural immunity is more important than germs in the matter of disease. He had been unable to grow his germ cultures on healthy, fresh fruit, and instead had to grow them on rotting soup.

Dr. Joel Robbins teaches that two conditions must be present in order for disease germs to enter into, or develop in, living tissue: first, something besides the germ must have previously weakened the tissue; and second, there must be acidic debris present in the tissue for the germs to live on. They cannot exist in a balanced acid-alkaline environment, neither can parasites.

The conclusion is logical. If our bodies are relatively free of toxic wastes, serious disease bacteria cannot develop within us. No harmful bacteria, parasite, or virus can proliferate in a body that does not have a build-up of toxic waste.

A body that has healthy levels of cellular oxygen and a strong immune system will remain a healthy body. How the Body Deals with Germs and Viruses The body has a built-in natural intelligence. It knows how to fight germs and viruses.

When it comes to disease, there are three principles that must be understood:

1 All forms of disease are caused by accumulations of acid and toxic waste in the body's systems, the first and foremost of which is the colon. Disease starts in the colon.

2 The body initiates all acute diseases like colds, flu, fever, skin eruptions, diarrhea, scarlet fever, and measles, in attempts to reduce the accumulation of stored waste material. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, bronchitis, heart disease, and cancer, are caused by the continued build-up of waste in the system, and the suppression of acute disease cleansing attempts by wrong treatment.

3 The body has the ability to return to health provided it is given the proper nutrition and conditions to do so. We don't "catch" diseases.We cause them! We create them by the way we live.We don't "catch" a cold or flu.We actually "earn" it by fostering toxic waste conditions in our bodies, as a result of our lifestyles.

When we continue to suppress illnesses with drugs and antibiotics, the body eventually develops degenerative disease conditions because it has not been allowed adequate opportunity to detoxify and heal naturally.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Ron Garner, BEd, MSc, is the author of "Conscious Health - Choosing Natural Solutions for Optimum Health and Lifelong Vitality." Conscious Health takes the mystery out of how the body operates and how health problems can be reversed. To learn more visit: http://www.conscioushealth.ca/

If You're Visiting Paris

Pasteur won the Leeuwenhoek medal, microbiology's highest honor, in 1895.
He died in 1895, near Paris, from complications of a series of strokes that had started in 1868. He was buried in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, but his remains were soon placed in a crypt in the Institut Pasteur, Paris, and will be remembered for his life saving works.

Some really good travel options:

Destination Guides > Europe & Russia > Europe > France > Paris

Ocean City Maryland - Strewth another destination to visit, at this rate I'll be travelling all year round!

This is the last destination article for a while. I've editted around a dozen and the blog's getting a bit one sided. Travel information, especially intimate local details can often be interesting and the article below is packed with useful tips and hints about places to eat and visit. There's even a section about taking your dog. Sounds like a good place for family holidays.

Destination Guides > North America > USA > Capital Region > Maryland > Eastern shore > Ocean City

With more than ten miles of broad Atlantic beach, a boisterous boardwalk amusement park and hundreds of thousands of visitors every weekend, OCEAN CITY is Maryland's number one summer resort. No matter how you get here up or down the coastal highway or across the rural eastern shore along US-50 , its tower-block hotels may come as a shock; it is so overgrown, in fact, that its northern reaches now encroach into Delaware.

Ocean City, MD - East Coast Vacation Jem

Ocean City Maryland is a popular summer vacation destination for families looking to enjoy a beach vacation, and the Maryland shoreline is scattered with various vacation rentals to accommodate the many tourists each year. The quaint community is far more than your average beach town! Walk the infamous boardwalk, and enjoy arcade, amusement park rides, antique carousels, water attractions and miniature golf courses. If you have younger kids in tow, they won't be left out of all the excitement as they can ride the kid-sized roller coaster and sit beside you on the famous Ferris wheel.

Vacation rentals are available year round, in Ocean City Maryland. While it is much too cold to swim in the ocean anytime other than the hottest months of the summer, there are spectacular winter festivals and activities to keep tourists and locals entertained during the "off-season". The winter-fest of lights is an annual event of over one million sparkling holiday lights up for display. You can ride around inside a heated tram and enjoy the show while getting into the holiday spirit. You can enjoy the colors of fall and mild temperatures that allow you to walk the shore, or watch the waves rolling in while sitting on your vacation rentals veranda or deck overlooking the water.

Visitors to Ocean City Maryland have a nice selection of vacation rentals to choose from. Enjoy the convenience of house vacation rentals, or condos, the resort accommodations of big name hotels or the quaint bed and breakfast lodging. You can make your vacation as exciting as you want- or simply use the time for some much needed rest and relaxation.

If you enjoy eating at restaurants while vacationing, you are going to love the selection in Ocean City. There are more than 385 restaurants in the beach front community known as the "crab capitol of the east coast"! If seafood doesn't agree with your palette, you can enjoy pizza or full Italian restaurants, Mexican or Chinese food, or steak houses. If you just need a snack to hold you over, take a walk down the boardwalk and enjoy ice cream or sandwiches from one of the many delis in the area.

Do you like shopping?.

You can often find vacation rentals within walking distance to the fabulous night life, day time activities and many of the popular restaurants and shops. Tourists love the specialty and gift shops, the beach stores that sell everything from body boards to sun tan lotion, and the open-late grocery stores.

Skateboarders enjoy Ocean City Maryland and the popular Cloud Break Board Shop. Not only can you purchase any necessary items for skateboarding, but they have a skateboard park that boarders can enjoy without the local law enforcement getting on their case! Day passes available, so if you're staying in one of the nearby vacation rentals with your teenagers, send them over for a day of skateboarding while you relax on the beach!

Ocean City Maryland even remembers the beloved family pet! If you like to vacation with your dog, you'll need to keep your buddy on a leash at all times. Dogs are not permitted on the boardwalk or the main beach from May to September, but you can enjoy some doggie time at the Assateague National Park Beach all year round. Check the details on homes, condos and hotels that allow pets. Enjoy!

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Matthew Kekelis is employed by VacationMLS.com where you can find more information about Ocean City Vacation Rentals.

See Rome but DON'T Die! Enjoy the Sites.

More destination articles from my favourite author. Rome certainly sounds a good place to visit. However, be careful of street crime and pickpokets.

Despite what you hear about the Mafia, most of the crime you're likely to come across in Italy is of the small-time variety, prevalent in the major cities and the south of the country, where gangs of scippatori or "snatchers" operate. Crowded streets or markets and packed tourist sights are the places to be wary of; scippatori work on foot or on scooters, disappearing before you've had time to react. As well as handbags, they whip wallets, tear off visible jewellery and, if they're really adroit, unstrap watches.

Rome History Money Opening Hours Arrival City Transport Eating And Drinking Entertainment And Nightlife Gay And Lesbian Rome Kids' Rome Best Of Telephone Codes Introducing The City Climate Clothes Information Tours Directory Explore Rome Hotels in Rome

Pantheon
Originally the Pantheon was built around 27 BC under the consulship of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, as a temple to the Gods. The building is still in use today as a Christian church. Its spectacular domed roof is awesome - built probably to represent the arched vault of the heavens. There are many famous people buried here including Raphael.

Vatican City
No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican - the centre of Christianity. The Vatican is the smallest, richest state on the planet. At its centre is the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle over which is built the Basilica. This is the largest religious building in the world. You will be awe struck by the sheer volume of priceless art and artefacts on display. The Sistine Chapel is a must see with its famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo himself.

Coliseum
This magnificent piece of Roman architecture was built nearly two thousand years ago as a venue for entertaining the citizens of Rome. Gory, gladiatorial contests took place here attended by up to fifty thousand spectators. It must have been a glorious sight complete with its huge canopy to protect the crowds from adverse weather.

Trevi Fountain
The film 'Three Coins in a Fountain' fuelled the popularity of the beautiful baroque fountain set in the Quirinale district. Legend has it that if you turn your back and toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you will always return to Rome.The sculptures in the fountain were originally designed by Bernini and completed by Salvi in 1792. They mark the end of the aqua duct Aqua Virgo. The figure of Neptune - God of the sea - dominates the scene which represents the many moods of the sea.

The Baths of Caracalla
It was in the Bathhouses that much of Roman business and social life took place. The baths of Caracalla were huge, holding up to 1600 people. It was an extremely luxurious place needing the work of many slaves to keep it running. Here the Roman citizens would enjoy hot and cold pools, a stroll in the beautiful gardens or browsing through the extensive library. Brothels were also provided to feed the decadence of ancient Rome.The design of these baths inspired modern structures including Pennsylvania Station in New York.

Roman Forum
This is located in a valley between the hills of Rome. It was the political and economic centre of Rome during the Republic. Remains of many of the judicial buildings can be seen here, alongside major temples such as 'The Temple of Castor and Pollux'. This is a huge site worth taking the time to fully explore.

The Eternal City
Rome is an exciting, vibrant city. Experience 'la Dolce Vita' as only the Italians know how. Indulge yourself in the home of the pizza and ice-cream. Visit one of the opera houses or go to an open air performance with the coliseum as a backdrop. Enjoy sitting outside one of the many cafes and bars and just watch the world go by. Called the 'Eternal City', Rome has a timeless quality. Its ancient treasures are unsurpassed. Millions of tourists visit Rome every year making it one of the most popular destinations in the world.

Ann Coveney is a freelance writer and part time school teacher. She can be hired to write articles on a wide range of topics. The web site she uses the most for low cost travel and hotel booking is http://www.AskVicki.co.uk

I NOW want to GO to Lake Michigan!!

I get the overwhelming urge to visit the travel topic location when approving destination articles for publication. So I did much more research and found some great descriptions and photos. You know, I just might go next year...

BE THERE NOW
Hotels in Marquette

Ramada Inn
Marquette from $114.00 USD
Nordic Bay Lodge
Marquette from $99.24 USD
Travelodge Marquette
Marquette from $56.10 USD

More Hotels in Marquette >>

READ IT HERE
Forty miles west of Munising is the unofficial capital of the UP, the bustling college town of MARQUETTE , also the center of the area's massive ore industry.

Downtown, JJ's Shamrock , 113 S Front St, serves basic bar food along with occasional live music. For a more formal dining experience, locals favor the Northwoods Supper Club, just west of town off US-41, with a meat-and-potatoes menu in a rustic setting. Popular drinkspots include Remie's Bar , 111 Third St, with a rowdy local crowd and live music on Wednesdays. (Sounds like my kind of place)

Destination Guides > North America > USA > Great Lakes

Explore Great Lakes


Lake Michigan - Year Round Fun!

Outdoor recreation is the standard for vacations in the Lake Michigan area of the Great Lakes. There are endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, including biking, hunting, camping, bird watching and water activities such as boating, fishing, scuba diving and swimming. The lake itself is enough of a reason to start your search for vacation rentals- as it is the largest freshwater lake within the United States, as well as the largest lake that is completely located within a single country. It is a sight to behold- and its' 22,300 square miles makes it the fifth largest lake in all the world.

Lake Michigan vacationing is a pleasure regardless of whether you go during the summer season or the winter months- there are advantages to each of the seasons! In the fall, you can enjoy vibrant colors as the leaves change, and enjoy many festivals that celebrate the changing of seasons during the fall.

There are several options for Lake Michigan vacation rentals. For the true outdoorsmen, camping might be your perfect choice, particularly in the warmer months. If you're planning to stay in one of the many vacation rentals over the winter months, you'll enjoy snowmobiling and skiing, as well as many of the indoor activities. Museums, wineries, casinos, zoos and planetariums make up some of the many indoor opportunities for recreation in Michigan, perfect for when the weather isn't perfect or for the cold winter months.

Lake Michigan is a family destination. Enjoy an afternoon in one of the many state parks, or enjoying the water's edge. There are indoor and outdoor miniature golf centers, go-carts, water parks, amusement parks and several paintball opportunities.

Ludington: Known for being one of Lake Michigan's popular beach towns, Ludington sits along the eastern shore. The vacation rentals of Ludington consist of full homes for rent, furnished apartments and condos, and the standard hotel rooms. While staying in Ludington, be sure to visit Historic One Pine Village, for signs, artifacts and archives of the area's history.

Saugatuck: On the south eastern shore lies a small, rural community known as Saugatuck, known as the "Art Coast of Michigan". It is here that students from The Art Institute of Chicago come each year to study on a lagoon. The areas incredible natural beauty has resulting in many artists taking up residence year round. Visiting Saugatuck is a pleasure and plenty of attractions to keep tourists entertained.

Manistique: The name reminds people of "magnificent", and for a very good reason. Manistique is located on the upper peninsula and offers the community and tourists state parks, lighthouses, historical attractions, a boardwalk where hundreds of unique shops gather to sell their wares, and "Big Springs" in Palms Book State Park. Big Springs is the largest spring, and a site to behold.

Be sure your Lake Michigan vacation rentals are within traveling distance to Big Springs, so you can enjoy the 10,000 gallons per minute gushing from limestone fissures underground. The springs are forty feet deep, and two hundred feet wide!

Regardless of where you decide to visit, you can enjoy outstanding accommodations and attractions to make you want to take every vacation in the area. Rustic cabins or high class, modern resorts, bed and breakfasts or camping- whatever your preference, Lake Michigan has it.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Matthew Kekelis is employed by VacationMLS.com where you can find more information about Lake Michigan Vacation Rentals.

Expect Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers when Traveling in Ireland

Having spent many "wet holidays" in Ireland, the article below made me smile. It was a real pleasure to research some travel links and the "Brief History of Ireland" (scroll to end of page).

Some Useful Links
Ireland When To Go Getting There Visas, Customs Regulations And Tax Costs, Money And Banks Insurance And Health Getting Around Food And Drink Post And Phones
Festivals And Entertainment Travellers With Disabilities History Where To Go Best Of Information, Maps And Web Sites The Media Opening Hours Public Holidays Sports And Activities Security And The Police Sexual Harassment, Prejudice And Racism Directory
Nature Music Literature Books An Irish Glossary Explore Ireland

Ireland view all cities
Top Destinations
Belfast Dublin Galway city

How to Beat the Weather when Traveling in Ireland

I think it is fair to say that Irish weather is pretty notorious. It is known for being both weepingly wet and laughingly unpredictable. A devilish combination if ever there was one. But does it deserve this infamous reputation? Probably not, but the Irish do such a good job complaining about it, that everyone is convinced it does. Including, the Irish themselves.

Average annual rainfall in Ireland runs to 30 inches.

Quite a lot you may think.

But Seattle, Washington gets 36in, New York, 45in (ok, 28in of that is snow) and Miami gets a whopping 60in of rainfall! No snow there.

So Ireland is not that wet after all. In fact, the average Earthly rainfall is 34in, so we are begrudgingly below average. So why does everyone think Ireland is so wet when it is in fact below average?

The reason is that most *normal* climates get all or most of their rain out the way in one season, leaving the remainder of the year mostly dry. Not in Ireland. We like to spread it throughout the whole year. We have the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream to thank for that. It keeps our winters mild, our summers cool and makes both equally likely to produce a shower of rain at any time.

Which brings me to the unpredictable nature of Irish weather. OK, here I must raise my hands in surrender, or at least Irish Weather would if it had a conscience. Everything you have heard is true, no point denying it. Beautiful and sunny in the morning, grey and torrential by the afternoon. It would be great if you could set your watch by it, but you most certainly can not.

The reverse could just as easily be the case. But, most likely the reverse in various guises numerous times over before noon will be true. Hence, the favorite phrase of those brave men and women at the Irish Meteorological Office when forecasting the weather: sunny spells and scattered showers.

Spring and autumn are particularly schizophrenic, when hail and thunder may be experienced in the same day as the aforementioned sunny spells. Many people ask us: what is the weather like in Ireland in May, or September? The short, honest answer is we have not got a clue. Every year is different. Sure, we have seasons, but our seasons are generalizations at best. They are a reasonable indication of temperature and whether schools will be open, but little more. I cannot speak for my colleagues, but I usually base my answer to the above question on my memory of that month's weather the previous year, while couching my response in language supplied by our weather lawyer.

Take this summer so far.

May this year was depressingly wet. It rained almost every day. By the end of the month the entire population of Ireland was on the brink of psychological breakdown. Thankfully, the first two weeks of June were fantastic, but the following two were nondescript; overcast, but dry for the most part. July was been up and down, days of rain followed by days of intense heat and sunshine. August started well, but took a turn for the worse this week. What will it be like next week? No one knows. So what is a sane person to do? The Irish answer is to talk about it. I am not sure if we actually love talking about the weather, but it certainly makes for an easy conversation opener. Friends who have known each other 50 years will comment on the day's weather before moving to more important topics. But it works just as well for strangers on a train. It is the common burden or joy we all share, depending on the day. You will never offend anyone by commenting on the weather since no one cam claim credit and no one can be blamed.

But what can you do as a visitor to Ireland to prepare for Irish weather?

Well, I was sitting under the awning outside a coffee shop one afternoon last week. It had started raining an hour previously. Prior to that it had been sunny and warm for almost four days. It had seemed like sunshine was our right. I noticed, as I sipped my latte, that all the locals were dashing about in tee-shirts, sun dresses and sleeveless blouses getting rather drenched. On the other hand, every tourist I saw was strolling around sporting rainproof jackets, quite unperturbed by the sudden change in the weather.

The moral of this story? The answer to this question?

Forget the Irish, be like the tourists. Be prepared. Top Tips for beating Irish Weather:

1. Bring a rainproof jacket and shoes (and trousers if you intend golfing, hiking or cycling)
2. Bring layers of clothes that you can put on or take off as the weather dictates.
3. Watch the weather forecast so you know what to expect the next day. It is on after every news bulletin on tv and is often the funniest thing you will see all day. The forecasts are normally very accurate. Our weathermen and women are probably the best in the world.
4. If in doubt, ask a farmer
5. Do not let bad weather get you down. Get out there and do exactly what you planned to do. Irish weather changes fast. Thankfully, half the time it changes for the better.
6. Never, ever complain about the heat, dryness, humidity or sunshine.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- © 2007 Ivan Lynch Ivan Lynch is co-founder of Authentic Ireland Travel, an Irish based company specializing in vacations to Ireland. Find out how practical advice and expert local knowledge can make your Ireland vacation unforgettable at: http://www.authenticireland.com/

A Brief History of Ireland

Earliest Inhabitants
During the last Ice Age, when most of the country was covered by an icecap, low sea levels meant that Ireland was attached to Britain, and Britain to the European continent. As the climate warmed (from about 13,000 BC), and the ice gradually retreated,...read more

The Celts
The Celts were an Indo-European group called Keltoi by the Greeks and Galli by the Romans, who spread south from central Europe into Italy and Spain and west through France and Britain. By 500 BC, Celtic language and culture were dominant in...read more >>

The Coming of Christianity
The christianization of Ireland began as early as the fourth century AD, well before the arrival of St Patrick (whose existence is now the subject of some controversy). Vestiges did survive of the previous religion of the Celts, but after the...read more >>

Invasion: Vikings and Normans
From 795, Ireland was increasingly plagued by destructive Viking raids , in which many of the great monasteries were plundered and burned (though many more were destroyed as a result of indigenous intertribal warfare in the eighth and ninth...read more >>

The Tudors and the Stuarts
The continued isolation of Irish politics from English and Continental influence during the fifteenth century, and England's preoccupation with the Wars of the Roses, helped Ireland's most powerful Anglo-Norman family - the FitzGeralds of...read more >>

The Penal Laws to the Act of Union
In 1641, 59 percent of the land in Ireland was owned by Catholics. In 1688, the figure was 22 percent, and by 1703 it was fourteen percent. The Protestant population, about one-tenth of the total, lived in fear of an uprising by the vast majority of...read more >>

Daniel O'Connell
The quest for Catholic emancipation by peaceful constitutional means was the life's work of Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), the lawyer who became known as "The Liberator" and whom Gladstone called "the greatest popular leader the...read more >>

The Famine
The failure of the Irish potato crop from 1845 to 1849 plunged the island into appalling famine . Elsewhere in Europe, the blight was a resolvable problem but Irish subsistence farmers were utterly dependent on the crop. No disease affected...read more >>

Parnell and the Home Rule
The second half of the nineteenth century was characterized by a complex interplay of political and economic factors which contributed towards the exacerbation of religious differences. The most important of these was the struggle for land and for the...read more >>

Rebellion and Civil War
The British parliament eventually passed the Home Rule Bill of 1912, and for a while the conditions appeared to exist for Ireland to erupt into civil war. Before this could happen, however, the outbreak of World War I dramatically altered the...read more >>

The Irish Free State
With the death of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith during the civil war, the leadership of the Irish Free State fell to William T. Cosgrave, and finally in the summer of 1923 the new government began to reconstruct Ireland as an independent nation. A...read more >>

The Republic
It took the Republic (which finally came into being in 1949) twenty years to recover from the economic stagnation brought on by the war. Vast numbers of people, disproportionately drawn from among the young and talented, moved across to fill Britain's...read more >>

Northern Ireland from 1921
On June 22, 1921, the new political entity of Northern Ireland came into existence with the opening of the Northern Irish Parliament in Belfast's City Hall. In order to understand the present situation in the North it is necessary to grasp the...read more >>

Nearly Mugged, Hide the Cash!

Just editted this article, which was slightly spooky, as I nearly got mugged earlier today! Not sure I want to carry pepper spray and wear body armour just to go down to the shops or withdraw cash from an ATM. Anyway, the article is informative...

Awareness is Your First Line of Defense

Awareness of your surroundings is the key to effectively defending yourself against assault. Believe me when I tell you that the predators are looking for unsuspecting people to take advantage of by using the element of surprise.

Now I know their are people who would say, " I'm a trusting person, people are generally good, I just don't think about things like that." I understand but keep in mind, if you are alert and aware of your surroundings, there is a much better chance that the attackers will look elsewhere. Sometimes to get and understanding what we are up against you must think like a would be attacker. Put yourself in their shoes. Let's say you are looking for a victim, (sorry I know this isn't pleasant), you see someone that is looking around at their surroundings, maybe looking right at you.

Paying attention.

Now you see someone else who is talking on the phone or staring at the ground, oblivious to everything around them. Who do you think is the most likely target? Would you attack someone who looks prepared? Predators pray on the weak and unsuspecting. You can arm yourself with tools to effectively defend yourself but if you are oblivious to your surroundings you can be taken by surprise and those tools never come into play.If you are alone, at night (or in the daytime),please don't make the mistake of thinking assaults only take place at night: you should make a practice of looking around you and preparing yourself for the "what ifs"? Always be aware of your surroundings. I can't stress that enough. If you are walking to your car in a parking lot late at night or even the middle of the day, look around you. Take notice of your surroundings and anything that may not seem right. You would be surprised at how much you notice when you are aware.

Carry a small stun gun or pepper spray or a loud personal alarm and keep it in your hand until you are in a safe place where you can't be surprised. Again, you can carry these items on you, (maybe a stun gun in your purse or pepper spray on your key ring) but if someone is able to sneak up and grab you before you have a chance to prepare yourself, well, what good does it do to have a weapon if you cant get your hands on it in time. I know life can be distracting. Talking on a cell phone often gives people a false sense of security because it feels like your with someone. Thinking about your next class or what's for dinner or whatever. Do yourself a favor; be aware, be prepared, it doesn't take a lot to simply take notice of what's going on around you. Arm yourself with the tools and then be prepared to use them. Hopefully you will never have to. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Also, be suspicious of people you don't know well. I'm not saying that you should suspect everyone you happen to come in contact with of being a "bad guy" but you should be wary of people you don't know well. Looks can be deceiving.

How many times have you seen a picture of a rapist or murderer and said, "he looks like a normal guy". This is an actual tactic. They will blend in. Look normal. Also remember, most rape victims actually know their attacker. Some of these people are brazen. Just because you can identify them doesn't neccesarily mean they won't assault you and rely on fear and intimidation to get away with it. Don't ever put yourself in a position of weakness. The key is to prevent these things from happening. Most people don't think about it until they or someone they know is attacked. Please understand the purpose of this article is not to blame a victim for being unprepared but to educate people on prevention. If you are the victim of violence it is never your fault.

Don't wait, prepare yourself now. If more people did, maybe the human waste that preys on human beings would think twice before their next assault. My sincere hope is that my words or the words of others that preach prevention and preparation will help raise awareness and in turn send a message to the criminals that we will not be victims any more. If we can help to stop only one assault from happening, we have done our job and will continue to train people to do the same.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Rob Buck trains and educates individuals and groups about crime prevention and self defense. Non lethal methods of self defense and personal protection products can be found at A1DefenseProducts.com

Spyware Protection Is Needed Because This Nuisance Will Be With Us For The Long Haul By:- Carmen VJ Unfortuately, spyware will not be going anywhere anytime soon. And with that in mind,
Removing Spyware and Adware By:- Jaeden Balboa The internet is such a dangerous place nowadays especially with the hostility of spyware and adware. It is important to have protection for these threats.

Home Cooking at its Best, a Cake to Die for!

There's nothing better than a bit of home cooking. This carrot cake recipe is easy to follow and the resulting cake was fantastic. I added some ginger to give the whole thing a bit more zing!


Gluten Free Carrot Cake Recipe

Staying away from gluten is difficult for those who suffer from gluten intolerance or wheat sensitivity. Gluten is in everything and most flours traditionally used for baking. Many of the treats and cakes you eat everyday no longer are available when you are wheat intolerant.If you have a sweet tooth like myself and are intolerant to gluten, you need to have a few sweet recipes in reserve which offer you a little treat for all your hard work you put in, avoiding gluten. Carrot Cake is a delicous sweet cake, whose name is probably its worst enemy when it comes to being accepted by the masses. For those who know how good carrot cake can be , here is a version which is gluten free.

1/2 cup Gluten Free Flower( Combination of Tapioca, Rice, Potato flour)
1/2 cup of Almond meal 1 teaspoon baking powder ( gluten free)
1 teaspoon bi carb soda ( gluten free)
1 teaspoon cinnamon Pinch salt Pinch of xanthum gum ( cake thickener-Gluten free)
1/2 cup brown sugar (can use raw if not available)
1/4 cup of Extra light Olive oil
2 eggs
2 cups of grated carrots (aprox 4-6 carrots depending on size)
Optional - 1/3 cup sultanas
Lemon juice

Grate carrots and squeeze over some lemon juice to keep them from going brown. Beat eggs and sugar together then add sifted dry ingredients and everything else and mix! Greese and line a loaf tin pour in mixture and bake for 40-50 mins until golden brown on top at 180c This cake is foolproof and really delicious!! If you are not Dairy intolerant you can make up cream cheese frosting to put on Cake as well. But I like it without frosting as well. If I make frosting, I prefer to make a light sweetened cream cheese frosting. 1-8 ounce package cream cheese 1/2 cup butter softened (Can use Dairy free/lactose free substitute) 1/4 -1/2 cup sugar -To taste depending on your sweet tooth. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Its easier to soften the butter first.

There is no exact amount to use for sugar so just experiment and add to taste.Spread the frosting ontop of carrot cake. Have this carrot cake for dessert with frosting and vanilla ice cream, or for breakfast. I have baked it about 20 times and everyone raves about it! Enjoy and rememebr, just because its gluten free doesnt mean it cant taste good. Note: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley or any product made from derivitives of these grains. Gluten gives bread elasticity, however many flours are availble which are gluten free.Buck wheat, Tapioca, Rice , Besan, Quinoa, and Potato flour are Gluten free flours.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- A Growing resource for Gluten Free Living More GLuten Free Information

Related:

The Greatest Caribbean Recipes
Successfully Recreating Restaurant Dishes

Article Marketer's Feed is Still Bust. Poker is the Topic for today...

The last few days have been a "Weston-Super-{Night}Mare" but hopefully things will get back to normal once AM starts to perform as promised and paid for.

Played a few poker tourney's at Bugsy and won a bundle of points, all while waiting for various support enquiries to be answered.

So, here's today's best poker tips:

Texas Holdem Poker Tips From Pros

Like any other game, Texas Holdem has fundamental/basics that are not very flashy or readily apparent, but must be mastered (and continually mastered) before excellence can be achieved. You are not trying to win pots. You are trying to get the best of it on bets. You are trying to wager money, make bets, with a mathematically favorable expectation. This involves having as a coincidental goal the winning of pots, but that is not the main goal, and certainly not the focus of our efforts. We simply want to get our money in with the best of it.

The biggest difference between cash games and tournaments is the blinds. In a cash game the blinds always stay the same while they are constantly raised in a tournament. A players chip stack becomes smaller and smaller for every hand in a tournament, even if he is not in a single pot. If you have $1000 in chips, and the blinds are $5/$10, you are in good shape, but if the blinds are $300/$600 you are on the verge of elimination. The chip stack is always in relation to the blinds and players know that they sooner or later will push all-in and put their tournament life at risk. This does not happen in a cash-game where you do not have to fight for survival. If a player would go broke he can just buy in for new chips and continue playing. How do you play poker? Every player is dealt two cards. Based on the value of these cards, they decide whether to fold, call the bet before them (there are always bets in the middle because the two players to the left of the dealer are forced to put in blind bets), or raise. once the betting round is finished, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table.

This is called the flop.

Each player at the table combine their two cards with the three in the middle and decides what he wants to do. After the flop betting round is finished, one single card is dealt face up in the middle (the turn). Again, each player combines their cards with the ones in the middle and decides what they want to do.

The turn betting round is when the bets double if you're playing Limit poker. Once the betting round is finished, one more card is dealt face up into the middle, called the river. There is one last betting round, and then any players who are still in at the end compare the best hand they can make out of their two cards and the five in the middle. Whoever can make the best hand wins the pot. On some tables there are over aggressive players who will bet on anything and also raise to stupid levels. These players may win a lot of chips in a short period of time, however in the long run will always lose. You have to stick to your game plan and not get frustrated by these type of players. See it as an easy way to make money as eventually they will come unstuck, hopefully to you. Poker can become quite addictive, therefore only bet what you can afford to lose. Play the game as a hobby and enjoy it, you are more likely to win with this attitude.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Derek Pliers writes and plays texas holdem poker


Related Articles :
Sports Betting Secrets: Making Money From The Weather

Whip Out Yer Pumpkin and Use IT!

Happy Thanksgiving Day

I just edited and approved the pumpkin article below and though it would make a good post for Thanksgiving Day.

Pumpkin - The Superfood of the Season

The importance of good nutrition is nothing new. While ideas vary concerning what good nutrition actually is most experts agree that it is more than just calories. Good nutrition is the basis for healthy eating which is vital in achieving or maintaining good health. Because good nutrition is so important for good health, it is necessary that every adult have a basic knowledge of proper nutrition.

The importance of good nutrition is even more important to people whose health is compromised by chronic disease. Many conditions can be improved or even reversed with the proper nutritional habits. Whether you are a world-class athlete, exercise enthusiast, or simply a couch potato, one fact applies to all - nutrition is fundamental to good health. The term "superfood" has been gaining a lot of popularity in the nutrition world. In order to determine if this recent attention is valid or just a lot of hype, it is important to understand what is meant by the term.

Many believe the secret to health is in superfood nutrition. Such a method of healthy eating is said to allow those who practice it to function with more vitality and energy. But what exactly is a superfood? Superfoods provide rich, dense, high quality nutrition essential for building and maintaining a healthy resilient body. Generally speaking, superfoods give you a big bang for your calorie buck. One of the tastiest of the superfoods is the pumpkin. With virtues beyond carving, the pumpkin is a superfood indeed. Of course everyone is familiar with family traditions such as carving pumpkins for Halloween and eating pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. And, the pumpkin is a sure symbol of autumn and its beautiful colors for many. But what many don't realize is the superfood benefits the pumpkin contains.

The pumpkin boasts a low calorie and high fiber count - both great factors in weight loss. In addition, pumpkins contain significant amounts of vitamin A, calcium, potassium and iron. It is truly a nutrition stand-out. Including pumpkin in your diet doesn't need to be difficult since pumpkin can be purchased in canned form at your local supermarket. In fact, in terms of both dietary fiber and beta-carotene, the canned pumpkin nutrition profile exceeds that of fresh. Canned pumpkin is popular and widely used due to its convenience, quality, nutritional value and great taste.

There are numerous recipes available that use pumpkin as a main ingredient. Get creative by using cooked, pureed pumpkin in your favorite recipes. The wholesome taste and inviting color of pumpkin complements soups, sweets, and breads while boosting the nutrition of these dishes. If you prefer using fresh pumpkin, be sure to save the seeds.

Pumpkin seeds are loaded with nutrition, too. They can be an alternative to sweets and make a healthy snack that can be enjoyed all year long. Pumpkin seeds can be cooked and eaten with the husk on or off. For convenience, pumpkin seeds can be purchased in ready to eat form. While most of us know that good nutrition is essential to good health, many find it difficult to practice healthy eating.

Keep in mind that you really are what you eat and you deserve to live a life full of health. Including superfoods such as the pumpkin in your diet will go a long way toward reaching nutritional and weight loss goals.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- C Lynn writes a variety of articles on health and fitness topics. To learn more about superfoods, visit her website at www.Superfoods.HealthAndFitnessTools.com

Other Soup Stuff...

Cooking in the Caribbean By:- James Penn Caribbean cooking introduces all visitors to some truly distinctive flavors through the addition of spices and other ingredients like mangoes, coconut, lime, cassava, papaya, yam, guava, and peppers.

Rip-offs in Alternative Healthcare By:- Stephen Hall Basic information on the pros and cons of taking laser guided supplements for one or anpther health condition but while ignoring the whole person entirely.

Most Recent Articles
Walking through The Walled City of York and Two Thousand Years of History
Bad Press for The Queen of the Midlands, England
Visiting Windsor, England, When Her Majesty the Queen is in residence the Royal Standard is raised
How to Have an Unforgettable 48 hours in London, England
The Awe Inspiring City of Cambridge, England
The Lake District England, Visit Scafell Pike, Wordsworths House, Lake Windermere, Beatrice Potter & Hill Top Cottage
Regulatory Action to Control the Spread of Pests Inside Export Wood Packaging
Why Is Finding a Job Such a Disaster for Me?
Ramp Up Your Career Plan . . . Target Your Next Boss!
New Job Not Working Out? . . . Now What?

Dreading the Weekend Painting, No Beer, Just Turps

This long weekend has been marked down as "decorating days". Wallpaper stripping, sanding, filling and worst of all, painting. I can think of nothing more boring than glossing a door or skirting board. Still, gotta keep the other half happy. I looked up some information about house painting hoping to get some inspiration. After reading these articles, I might hire a painter... and spend some time down the pub.

A Home Painter's Color Decorating Tutorial By:- Josh Stone This is the one you were dreading, isn't it? Mention decorating with color, and you have conjured these pictures of an interior decorator flouncing around your abode waving a waif-wristed hand at the walls.

Interior House Painting Tips By:- Josh Stone Painting is the last great do-it-yourself project. Our cars may have gotten so advanced that it takes a computer hacker to fix them, our computers have simply revolted and will be taking over any day now, and various home repair jobs grow ever more complex.

Before You Paint That House By:- Josh Stone If you're a home owner looking to sell, you've doubtless been a little discouraged by the recent downturn in the real estate market.

Pussy Cat, Pussy I LOVE YOU, Yes I DO! But Do You Love Me?

Well, it seems cats are good for your health, although they're definetly hopeless at fetching sticks! Nice comment: "Social Connectedness, including the unconditional love of a pet, can protect against cancer".

Beating Depression. The Power of Pets

To be physically, mentally and emotionally healthy, we all need contact with living things. Research into the bond between humans and animals reveals that something as simple as having a cat or dog as a pet, can protect us from numerous health problems including heart disease, cancer and depression. Dr Edward T. Creagan, a cancer specialist at the Mayo Clinic deals on a daily basis with patients suffering from cancer induced stress and depression. He wrote in "Bottom Line Personal" July 2004: "Social Connectedness, including the unconditional love of a pet, can protect against cancer".

I often write a "pet prescription" for my patients. My three legged Golden Retriever gives us the best medicine of all." Before I retired, I suffered from job related stress. When I returned home after a stressful day, my Cocker Spaniel "Chloe" was waiting for me at the door, tail wagging and ready for a play and a walk. Not only was the mutual affection and exercise good for both of us, it also released "feel good" hormones or endorphins that calm the body and help release tension. Simply stroking a cat or dog, or just being with them, can reduce and undo the stress generated by a busy day.

My situation was of course not unique, as all pet owners will testify. Dr Bernie Siegel, founder of "Exceptional Cancer Patients" recently discussed the effects of pets on heart attack victims in Australia. His research revealed that after one year, 6% of patients who owned a dog had died, compared with a 25% mortality rate in those who did not own a dog. Dr Siegel has seen firsthand the extraordinary effects pets can have on our health and wellbeing. He has noted a positive change in body chemistry when pets are around. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol go down, immune function improves and serotonin levels increase.

These are the same hormones that are elevated in a woman after giving birth, promoting bonding with her new baby. But what causes these chemical changes? Dr Siegel believes it is the unconditional acceptance and connection that animals consistently provide. They can also be incredibly intuitive.

Often if a person is sick in bed, a dog will come and sit beside him/her. If that person was just taking a nap, the dog may not show the same level of concern. "Animals respond to feelings, to what is really going on with their owners." Dr Karen Allen is a research scientist at the School of Public Health, University of New York, Buffalo. Her work focuses on the therapeutic effects of pets in healing, depression and stress reduction. Her studies included the effects of having your best friend, spouse or pet present in stressful situations.

In one study, Dr Allen looked at women performing mental arithmetic problems alone, then with their best female friends present and finally, with their dogs present. With the friends present, the subjects experienced large increases in blood pressure {compared to when they worked alone}.However, when the dogs were present, insignificant increases, or none at all, occurred in blood pressure. Her studies revealed, in both active and passive coping trials, participants experienced dramatic stress responses in the presence of another person, versus only slight increases in blood pressure in the presence of a pet.

The consistent results led Dr Allen to conclude that pets clearly are a preferred source of social support. They are non judgmental, we don't have to impress them and they accept us for what we are. Dr Siegel sums up the importance of pets in our lives. "Animals have an incredible ability to be completely there and completely devoted. How many of us can say that we are totally devoted to someone else's wellbeing? Animals are, and we respond positively to that."

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Graeme Lanham is a freelance writer and health/fitness researcher. His new book "Your Life Fitness" includes current research studies on fitness and anti-aging. Discover more about the secrets to heart health and avoiding cancer and receive a FREE subscription to his regular subscribers only newsletter at: http://www.yourlifefitness.com

Another Interesting Cat Article
Power Keys For Eliminating Stress From Your Life By:- Alan Tutt Stress comes from only 2 sources. Either believing that you are not capable of performing as required, or being uncomfortable in your present surroundings.

Too Much Salt, Too Much Fat and DON't Start me on Sauces!

Being a slightly overweight, deskbound office worker, diet and excersise are top priorities to maintain my health. Just never have time though. However, after reading the following 5 articles by Kathryn, even- I, might start to follow her advice!


Don't Drown Your Food

If you are one of the generation who grew up on 70s-80s Saturday morning cartoons, you might remember a series of public service announcements that aired in between your favorite shows. Tucked in between the adventures of Batman and Robin, and even the kitschy Schoolhouse House videos were very short, very animated appeals to children about good nutrition. One that stands out in memory is Louis the Lifeguard pleading us in song not to "drown" the food we eat.

Louis was referring, of course, to condiments, as the PSA portrayed him gallantly rescuing a potato from a bowl of sour cream, and a boiled egg from an avalanche of mayonnaise. The message then is as clear as it should be now: not only can condiments can affect the taste of foods, but also affect the overall nutritional value of the meal. Just as certain diet products are designed to supplement a weight loss program by helping people maintain a healthy diet and exercise, condiments are meant to supplement the flavor of certain foods. Note the key word is supplement.

Oftentimes, however, we can get carried away with condiments, so much that they become their own food group rather than the miniscule part of a meal they were meant to be. Picture the plate of steamed broccoli smothered in melted cheddar cheese, the baked potato supporting a pool of butter, the grilled chicken coated in salsa...they make look delicious, and you might think you are enjoying a good meal with the base foods, but going overboard on the condiments can do harm.

So what is wrong with a bit here and bit there of something to complement a main or side dish? Nothing, if condiments are used in moderation. Use too much, however, and you could be adding things to your diet that you don't really need. Sugar Ever wonder why we like ketchup on our French fries? Unlike the tomatoes from which this condiment comes, ketchup has added ingredients to make it more palatable. Sugar, for one, gives ketchup its sweetness. Looking at a label of your favorite brand, you may say to yourself, "Hey, there's only four grams per serving here. That's not much." No, it isn't, but think of all the servings you've enjoyed over the week, the month, and the year. Two servings of ketchup a day over the course of one month equals 240 grams of sugar.

Fat You've heard the saying, "A sandwich just isn't a sandwich without..." Well, have you considered ending the sentence with fat? If you heard it like that, would you eat the sandwich? Yet, many people do enjoy a deli sandwich slathered with mayonnaise or another type of egg-based dressing. Mayonnaise has perhaps the highest fat content of any condiment--even in its "light" form, the dressing is almost always 50% fat. This is something to consider the next time you build a sandwich, ask yourself if you want to counteract a healthy slice of turkey with something that will cover the taste and not offer as much nutritional value.

Sodium That extra tang in your sandwich, on your main dish, in your vegetables that makes the food taste good? Salt. Check any label of your favorite condiments, and you will find salt is a main ingredient. Salt helps preserve the condiments in their packaging, and adds flavor to otherwise bland ingredients. Too much sodium, naturally, is never good for the diet, as it can lead to high blood pressure, water retention, and other problems. You might think a bit of salt here and there is not harmful, but as sodium occurs naturally in most foods you eat, you have to ask yourself if you should add more to your eating plan.

So should you stop eating condiments altogether? We don't necessarily say that, though we would advise sparing use when you do decide to enhance your foods. Also, consider taking a "condiment holiday," where you refrain from using anything on your food. Note the difference in flavor and absence of extra sugars and fat. You might find the food tastes just as good without the added help, and that it could be better for you, too.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Kathryn Lively writes for Compuslim, custom fit weight loss for everyone.
Why Should You Lose Weight? By:- Kathryn Lively Why should you lose weight? For self-esteem, or health issues? Consider all options as you make your decision.

Keeping a Food Diary for Better Weight Management By: - Kathryn Lively Did you eat something? Write it down! Keeping a food diary is a great tool in the battle against weight.

Take Control of Your Weight Loss this Holiday Season By: - Kathryn Lively Enjoy the holidays, but don't overdo. Self-control and a focus on family helps curb the holiday stuffing.

Simple Food Substitutions to Help Your Weight Loss By: - Kathryn Lively A change here and there to your nutrition plan can greatly affect your diet for the better. Find out how!

Frustrating Day Dealing with 500 Error Messages

The LPR site hit a snag yesterday when a crucial file in the admin area refused to load and returned 500 errors. LPR is hosted a Globat and company based in the USA. The seem to have made a permissons change (no notice) to the way .htaccess files can be handled on their server.

From Globat Support:
Thank you for contacting the Globat Signature Support.Upon checking on the code of the .htaccess file used, you are using the command Options. Unfortunately, this command is included on the list that are not supported on .htaccess for security reasons. Here are the list:

Action
AddCharSet
AddEncoding
AddLanguage
AddTypeBrowser
MatchBrowser
Match
NoCaseCookie
Tracking
DefaultLanguage
DefaultType
ErrorDocument
ErrorHeader
HeaderLanguage
Priority
Options
PassEnv
Redirect
RedirectMatch
RedirectPermanent
RedirectTemporary
SetEnvSetEnvIf
SetEnvIfNoCase
UnsetEnv

This is the reason the error message appears. Please try renaming the .htaccess file.


I have absolutely no idea what this means or how to fix things... so on with a list of the best articles reviewed today:

Travel to France by Car

If you would like to discover France, it is a good way to drive around the region by car. You don't need a visa to enter France for visits of less than three months. Naturally, a valid passport is required. You can use carpool services and find car going in your direction. It is cheaper and it can be fun. You can also book car rental in France from any country, there are several car hire websites to compare.

Online services are simple and fast way of car booking. If you rent a car in France, you must own a valid driver license for at least one year. Minimum age is 23 years old and 21 for credit card holders. Rates include maintenance and oil. In the case of driving overseas, you have to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP). An International Driving Permit (IDP) allows you to drive abroad when accompanied by a valid U.S. driver license. IDPs are valid for 1 year from the date of issue. These licenses are not intended to replace valid U.S. state licenses, you have to use them together. Keep driving license and all car paperwork with you all the time.

To apply for an international driving permit, you must be at least 18 years old, and you can obtain it at the American Automobile Association (AAA) or at the American Automobile Touring Alliance. U.S. citizens may notice that road conditions differ significantly from those in the United States. Like all the countries, the French have special driving habits. They typically drive faster and more aggressively than Americans (they are also faster on foot, actually they almost run). Some rules may differ from those in the United States. For example drivers entering intersections from the right have priority over those on the left (unless specifically indicated otherwise), even when entering relatively large boulevards from small side streets. Note that all distance and speed measurements are in km.

Before you start driving, study the rules deeply. Don't forget the auto insurance. Usually your U.S. auto insurance does not cover you abroad. When renting a car abroad, consider purchasing insurance coverage that is at least equivalent to that which you carry at home.

When you park in the city, it is safer to park in a hotel car park or in underground parking lots. These are indicated by a blue sign with a white background, marked "P." Pay-and-Display park meters accept only special cards which can be purchased in tobacco shops. Check the information on the machines, because parking is often free during lunchtimes and after 8 pm. Never leave anything of value on view in the car.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Attila Z Jancsina is a freelance copy writer. He occasionally writes for Europepascher

More Information About French Stuff!

Enhancing Your Scent of Smell: How Perfume Came and Stayed! By:- Thomas Salathe We think nothing of wearing perfume now, but thousands of years ago, its use was more than just cosmetic. Perfume was a main ingredient in the preparation of dead bodies for the afterlife.It was believed that perfume had the ability to enhance a human being's power and beauty and so rich or poor, they stood equal before the gods.

Shopping for Antiques in Paris By:- Gerald Robinson This article conveys the excitement of shopping for antiques in Paris and describes areas in Paris to shop for various types of antiques.

A Fashion Career Fashion Mysteries Explained By:- Josh Stone Those with a career in fashion are certainly content to ride along with the whims of their contemporaries. But, perhaps in the odd moment in the stock room or pausing over your designing template, you paused to wonder, "Why do we do this this way anyway?"

Travel DestinationsAfrica & Middle East Asia Central America & Caribbean Europe & Russia North America South America Australasia & South Pacific

Today's Topics Business & Personal Finance

Today's the day for finance, not sure why, but LPR always gets a lot of money related articles submitted over the weekend. The article below encourages the use of Excel to keep track of personal finances. I found it interesting and have republished the information in full.

Take the Anxiety Out of Domestic Finances with Microsoft Excel

Looking after domestic finances can cause much anxiety. Often you are anxious because you find it difficult to keep track of your finances and so do not feel you are in control. Using Microsoft Excel to record, monitor and control your domestic finances can go a long way to removing this anxiety. Some effort is required at the beginning to set up the systems but this is soon rewarded by providing you with a great time and labour saving device, which can also help you save money and stay in control of your finances.

Home Maintenance It can be very difficult to keep track of the maintenance requirements in the home, who can remember exactly when the boiler was last serviced for example. Microsoft Excel has the facilities to allow you to produce a home maintenance schedule to make keeping track of maintenance issues much easier. Each item that requires inspection can be listed, together with a schedule of how often they require checking. Simple functions are available in Excel to allow items that are overdue to be flagged for attention, for example by changing the colour to red if the inspection date has been missed. It is also very simple to add notes recording what the issues where the last time the item was inspected. The cost of any work done can also be recorded, which will help to highlight when it would be more economic to replace items rather than continue to repair them.

Household Budget Keeping track of the household finances can be a daunting task. As well as the basic calculation functions Microsoft Excel contains simple formulas which will automatically update the results of your calculations when values change. Revising a value once the total has been calculated is simple, just make the change and Excel updates the total for you. There are also simple functions to allow you to add values, calculate averages and find the smallest or largest values in a range of values. You can use these functions to develop spreadsheets to keep track of all your incoming and outgoing payments, putting in predicted values of bills for budgeting purposes that can then be easily updated when the actual bill arrives. This allows you to keep track of your balance and helps you identify when there is likely to be a shortfall, giving you time to put measures in place to prevent charges being incurred.

Tax Returns Filling in your tax return can be a long and drawn out business. Even if you send your return off to be completed by someone else you can make things significantly easier by keeping track of expenses during the year. Having a household budget spreadsheet at your fingertips makes it much simpler to record expenses and document the corresponding receipts, which you need to have to hand at tax return time.

Home Improvements You can also use Microsoft Excel to help in planning and monitoring any home improvements. The first, and ultimately most important point to consider when starting such a venture is how much it is going to cost you. An Excel spreadsheet is a great tool for tracking expenses. You can use the spreadsheet to help you plan the works, develop a preliminary budget, record your actual expenses and compare them to each other. In this way if things are starting to go over budget you should be able to spot it early and use the spreadsheet to review your options to get it back on track. The above points illustrate just a few of the many ways in which Microsoft Excel can be used to simplify many domestic finance tasks. By applying some or all of these measures you should feel more in control of the situation. You should also be able to save both time and money in completing your household duties, leaving you more time and money for the more enjoyable things in life!

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Author is a trainer with a Microsoft Office training company, the UK industry leader in its sector. For more information on Microsoft Excel, please visit www.MicrosoftTraining.net

Other Finance Information

The Tale of Take Out Dreams: Secured Loans By:-Derek Rogers Starting your own business without working capital can be a problem. Although not right for everyone, getting a loan secured against your home may well provide you with the money to get started with your business dreams.
Credit Help Tools: Get Out of Debt & Repair Your Credit By:-Daniel Wesley If you are struggling under crippling debt or are constantly turned down for credit, there are credit help tools that can help you turn your situation around. Find out more about these credit help tools and how they can be just what you need to get back on track.
Affiliate Your Website By:-Kathryn Lively Turn your website into a money-making venture through affiliation.
How Debt Management Saved My Marriage By:-Derek Rogers Getting married when already thousands of pounds in debt put enormous strain on our marriage. Having a debt management plan was the best thing we did and undoubtedly saved our marriage.
The Reasons for Bill Consolidation By:-Daniel Wesley There are two distinct reasons why someone may want to consider bill consolidation. Find out what these reasons are and how bill consolidation can help in both of these situations.
Take the Anxiety Out of Domestic Finances with Microsoft Excel By:-Rich Talbot Using Microsoft Excel to record, monitor and control your domestic finances can go a long way to removing anxiety.
Mortgage Questions to Ask Your Lender By:-Gerald Meyer Buying and financing a home today can be overwhelming. Here are some questions to ask your lender so that you can make informed decisions.
18 Hot PiggyBob's Debt Consolidation Tips By:-Tadas Talaikis 18 top strategies for debt consolidation.