Musical Differences

In the music world a short-lived marriage is all too common, but the brevity of some is breath taking. Perhaps the most infamous of these was Britney Spears who decided to wed Jason Alexander, one of her childhood friends. Having hot-footed it to Vegas to get married, seemingly almost on a whim, it was over just 55 hours later and was quickly annulled. Pamela Anderson seems to like musicians despite a tempestuous marriage with rocker Tommy Lee. As is so often the case, after a whirlwind romance Ms Anderson married another famous rocker, Kid Rock, but this was also doomed to failure and was over in five months. Cher tried to escape disaster and find happiness following her split from husband Sonny Bono by eloping and wedding Gregg Allman in Las Vegas. Nine days later, it was all over. Troubled singer Sinead O’Connor did not manage to find happiness with her fourth husband and they split after just 16 days.

Acting Happy?

Actors do not seem to have any more luck than musicians in the brief-marriage stakes. Dennis Hopper was obviously keen on the married state, having been married five times. When he died, he was consulting the divorce lawyers and preparing to go through the divorce process with his last wife, Victoria Duffy. One of his briefest marriages was with Michelle Phillips, a singer with the group The Mamas and Papas, which lasted just eight short days. Drew Barrymore managed to last a little longer with Jeremy Thomas, a Welsh bar owner, but the marriage was over in six weeks. No stranger to break-up, Ms Barrymore managed to last a whole 15 months of marriage with comedian Tom Green. Being a fan of her father was not a good enough reason to marry for Nicholas Cage and Lisa-Marie Presley. Having married in Hawaii, they were getting divorced after just four months. Ms Presley had no better luck with Michael Jackson, splitting from him after just 16 months.

A Model Marriage

Models and reality stars have also had their share of problems. Kim Kardashian cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for ending her marriage to Kris Humphries after just 72 hours. Playboy model Carmen Electra and basketball player Dennis Rodman had reputedly been enjoying each other’s company and drinking heavily prior to their decision to wed. When the hangovers set in, they found they had made a mistake and the marriage lasted nine days. Donna Peel was less than impressed when her husband of six months, Charlie Sheen, was exposed as an escort-agency customer and she filed for divorce to bring the marriage to a swift conclusion.

Fame and fortune, it seems, are not a recipe for happy marriage. While there are the few that buck the trend and have managed to stay grounded and focussed enough to make their marriage work, the pressures and trappings of a famous lifestyle often bring nothing but heartache.

This post has been written on behalf of Switalski family law.

Often people who are overweight simply ignore the fact that they have piled on too many pounds. However, facing up to the fact that you are overweight is the first hurdle – the rest comes with time, patience and effort. Here are eight reasons why you are overweight and what you can do about it.

Too Many Excuses

The main reason that you are fat and will continue to be so is because you are making too many excuses. Putting off doing some vital exercise until tomorrow is just no good at all because, as we all know too well, tomorrow never comes. Similarly, saying you are going to start your diet after Christmas/Easter/your birthday or whatever celebration happens to on the horizon is never going to work – there will always be another excuse.

Eating Too Much

While this may appear to be obvious, many people are actually unaware that they are simply eating too much. Managing your weight is mainly a question of restricting your calorie intake. Your body has no use for the extra calories and just converts them into fat, so keep a tab on your calorie intake and keep it in line with your basic needs.

Feeding Your Emotions

The fact remains that too many people are not just feeding their bodies, they are also feeding their emotions. In other words, they are comfort eating. Grabbing the nearest snack doesn’t make the emotional discomfort disappear. It may ease the issue temporarily but it will always come back.

You Can’t Say No

How many times have you eaten huge meals just because they are on offer? Your social life won’t necessarily evaporate if you say no every now and then.

You Don’t Plan

More often than not you may find yourself eating on a whim rather because you actually need to. Making plans with regards to your eating is essential in terms of managing your intake. You should consume just what you need to function properly and take control over your own body.

Quality of Food

Aside from the quantity of food you consume, you should also pay attention to the quality. Unfortunately, many people’s diets are dominated by low-quality foods such as burgers, chips, fizzy drinks and sugary snacks. Stick to healthy, low-calorie foods as much as possible.

You’re Lifestyle Issues

Sitting around all day is a sure way of piling on the pounds. Get yourself moving with some exercise. Take it gently at first with some simple aerobic exercise and the weight will soon start to drop off. You may have suffered from poor lifestyle advice. Any clinical negligence solicitors will tell you that lifestyle advice from so-called experts can be, on occasions, wide of the mark.

You Want To Be Fat

This may be of surprise to you but have you ever considered that you are fat because you want to be fat? This is linked to having a poor self image, in some cases to the point where self-hatred is induced. In other words, being fat gives you a reason to hate yourself. Start learning how to love yourself. This may take time but doing something positive about your weight will set you well on the way.

This post has been written on behalf of Lawyer4patients.

Picture – http://www.everydayhowto.net/?p=28298

So it’s the annual Christmas party and a chance for you to let your hair down, have a few drinks, a joke or two with the boss and generally relax and enjoy yourself freely with colleagues. Or is it? What many of us forget is that the Christmas party is still a work activity like any other and as such, the same employment legislation and guidelines apply. This can be a shock to many, so it helps to be aware of the provisions of the law before ordering that second bottle of wine and deciding it’s the right moment to tell the bosses exactly what you think of them.

Rule 1 – You’re Still at Work

If there’s ever an occasion where you need to be cautious about your behaviour, it’s the annual office party. A quick read of some employment law advice such as that provided by employmentadvicenow.co.uk will help to focus your mind and explain what’s at stake before you get too carried away by the festive atmosphere! The usual rules and guidelines that govern your working environment are still in play when you’re at the office Christmas party. Many people do get disciplined or even fired thanks to their conduct at workplace parties and the CIPD has found that one out of ten employees knows of a colleague who has either been sacked or disciplined as a result of unacceptable behaviour in this way.

Rule 2 – Go Easy on the Drink

Simply put, drinking alcohol will make you drunk and that will invariably lead to mischief. It lowers your inhibitions and encourages you to say or do things that you wouldn’t usually do when sober. Comments made while drunk do not get a ‘free pass’ – if you say something offensive, discriminatory or inappropriately sexual, for example, you will find yourself in trouble with your HR department. Likewise, if you behave in a way that you wouldn’t in the office, such as making overtures towards a colleague, getting ‘romantic’ with someone or, conversely, becoming aggressive. The same rules of conduct for the office apply at the party and being drunk is not an excuse if an employee brings a harassment charge against you.

Rule 3 – Have your Transport Home Organised

Sadly, most of the disciplinary incidents that arise at drunken office parties are a direct result of alcohol and this really is the fastest way to get into trouble. So be sure to eat before you go out – never drink on an empty stomach – and pace yourself. Also, be sure to have your transport home organised. Some employees are caught driving home drunk, either on the night or the next morning and at Christmas police cars line up strategically on the main roads to catch staff driving home over the limit. So book a taxi or a nearby hotel room. For some staff, loss of a driving licence can mean loss of their job.

Rule 4 – The Party as Work Opportunity

Rather than get sloshed and mouth off at the boss, why not impress your superiors by remaining relaxed and in control? Use the party as an opportunity to enjoy time with colleagues, have a dance or two with your team and chat ‘off-duty’ with the senior team. You’ll be surprised by how many of them are sticking to soft drinks and by adopting a similarly restrained strategy yourself; you’ll be marking yourself as one to watch – for all the right reasons!

This post has been written on behalf of Employment Advice Now.

Picture – Mojosaurus

Start by figuring out who will be cooking and serving the food. If the venue where your reception will be offers a menu, it will most likely be cheapest to use their catering services. If catering isn’t included with the venue, you’ll need to bring in your own caterer. If you have an option between doing a buffet or family style service, it will be cheaper than having table service but some couples prefer the formal feeling of having servers dole out food and keep drinks freshened. Whichever suits you and your soon-to-be spouse is the way to go; your guests won’t care either way.

Though dinner receptions are most common, that doesn’t mean you have to follow the trend. If you’re hoping to limit your budget, a breakfast or brunch reception will cost less and be a nice change of pace for guests who are used to nighttime receptions.

It’s important to know any dietary restrictions or choices of your guests. These days, it’s pretty unlikely that you wouldn’t have at least a few vegetarians among your guests so you’ll want to include a vegetarian option. Other than that, choose whichever dishes you liked best during your tasting with your caterers. As long as you offer your guests a couple options, everyone will be able to find something they like to eat. Other diet popular trends lately include those void of dairy, gluten, and grains. You may want to consider making your vegetable fully vegan, meaning no animal products at all, if you know any of your guests follow this diet. While of course you can’t offer dishes to appease every different diet out there, you can work with you caterer to ensure that everyone will be able to eat at least a few offered items, especially through appetizers and side dishes.

Nothing ruins a reception like a bad meal so if your caterer doesn’t offer the choice of a tasting before the menu is created, keep looking for one that will. You don’t want to spend money on something and then have it disappoint.

If you’re reception is small enough, you may want to check if a favorite restaurant offers catering or party rooms and specialized menus for wedding receptions. That way, you’ll know you’ll be happy with the food. Or if you’re looking to save money, consider a “potluck” type reception where you ask a few close friends and your family members to help prepare the food. You’d be surprised how many guests would be thrilled to help out in this way.

Wedding planning gets stressful when trying to please so many people but when it comes time for the celebration, keep in mind that no one will really be worried about the food. They’ll just be excited to be celebrating the special day.

Sarah Danielson is a contributing writer for 983wedding.com where you can find a large variety of wedding invitations along with planning tips and other great resources for brides.

We all know that the office can be a soul sucking place to spend your time, which is made all the worse when you realise you spend more than eight hours every day there. Before this realisation makes you curl up under your duvet and lock yourself away from society, there is a way to inject a bit of fun into your grey work place. The odd prank well executed will give you something to smirk about over the water cooler for weeks to come – I mean, who doesn’t like a joke.

Consider this your quick guide for the ten best pranks to play on your co-workers and relieve the drudgery of staring at a computer screen. They are divided into five simple jokes that do not take a lot of planning and some more in depth pranks.

Jokes

1. This one is a simple one, but a classic. While your colleague is away from their desk, simply place a small piece of tape over the connection button on their phone cradle, then sit back and giggle as they shout hello into a perpetually ringing phone.
2. Another one involving a simple ‘fix’ is to wait for your colleague to leave and quickly place a small post-it note under their mouse, which will make it completely inoperative.
3. Never underestimate the old reliable whoopee cushion, or the wind apps available on smartphones.
4. If you have the time, turn the clocks in the office back an hour.
5. During those long boring meetings you and a friend could play the lyric game and sneak in song titles to everything you say.

Pranks

1. There is no end of possibilities if you have good packaging machines. Take advantage of a coffee break and cover your colleague’s car in shrink wrap.
2. If you have time, use an anonymous microblog to catalogue your colleagues every movement and then suggest they follow it. Paranoia is a wonderful tool.
3. If you can get your whole office on board, why not fill a colleague’s cubicle with packing foam.
4. Similar to number four, you can always cover everything in your colleague’s cubicle with Christmas wrapping paper.
5. For a final coup de grace, there is absolutely no shame in stealing ideas from comedy geniuses. Who can forget the scene from The Office by Ricky Gervais, when Tim stole a stapler and then set it in jelly, only to return it to a drawer and wait for it to be used. This takes very little effort and will send knowing ripples of laughter through the office.

One word of essential advice after you have read through this list of suggestions, is remember to pull your pranks on people who will take it well. Work maybe a drudge but it is still work and you do need it. Do not get carried away and put your job at risk. The same can be said for pranking your managers. If they do not have a great sense of humour, then you may no longer have a pay cheque.

This post has been written on behalf of Ambassador Packaging.

Bixentro

First, pull out the sketch pad. If you don’t think you can draw everything to scale, you might need to contact an architect, but try to find a sketching program online first to get the job done while saving money during this phase. Draw your house and the carport you’d like to add. Remember to keep the roof of the carport in line with your house’s roof, so it looks like it fits the property as a whole, and consider using the exact same roofing materials for the best visual appeal. You’ll also need to decide whether the carport will be open on all sides, or if you’d like to enclose one to three sides. This is when you’ll also determine whether you want a carport that fits one or two cars, and the amount of materials you will need.

Next, mark off the area that will become the carport on your property. You’ll have to excavate the dirt in order to make room for the concrete floor of the carport to lay flush with your existing driveway. If you think you can handle it, rent the equipment and lay the concrete yourself. If not, this is a good time to involve professionals. Once the concrete is smooth and dry, you can start building the rest. Eventually, you can paint the concrete, or finish it with a rubberized substance if you prefer.

Now you’ll need to build the framing and support for the roof. The support posts should be certified to handle the roof load, so ask whatever questions you need at your local hardware store until you feel comfortable. For the basics of the roof and overhead framing, prefabricated wooden trusses will work best. You can measure out what you need and order everything already built. Chances are you’ll require a professional carpenter at this point, but if your budget is really tight you could study up and try to do it yourself. Remember that you’ll need a building permit either way, as well as inspections from the city at the end of each phase of the construction.

Finally, you’ll set up the support framing for all overhead trusses and beams. Bolt everything right into your home’s framework for the sturdiest results. Don’t skimp on any aspect of this step, or a bad storm may leave you regretting it later. When it comes to support for the roof, lay in adjustable metal poles to keep the framework in place as you put it all together. Once the final frame is locked, masonry will finish the job. When putting together your budget, keep in mind that this is a four-person job at the very least. The heavier pieces will need to be lifted in place with a pully system, and there’s no shortcut for having the proper manpower. If all of this sounds like too much work, you can get carports designed and installed for you. Hop on the web and search around, but take the time to speak to several contractors so you’re in a strong position to negotiate the best price for the job.

First, you’ll need to create a database in which to store all your customers’ information for easy access and organization. There’s a number of programs you can use to create your database, including Microsoft Excel, point-of-sale systems, or a number of online databases. What’s important is that you create a digital file of the information you collect. When creating your sign-up form, keep in mind that people like short and simple sign-ups so keep your required information brief. Consider collecting names, mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. If it would be applicable to your business, you could also ask for their occupations and how they heard about you.

Once you have your database created, you need to get people to sign up. There are a few different ways to go about doing this but the best way to get people to sign up is offering free incentives. If you own a restaurant, offer a free dessert or appetizer. If you run a retail shop offer a 10% discount. Do whatever you can to entice them to sign up. These free incentives will more than pay for themselves once you increase your business through finding new customers and even existing customers may start frequenting your business more often if they’re aware of what’s going on.

To get the word out, you can always start the old-fashioned way: mailing brochures or flyers that feature your incentive and a sign up form. Make the flyers bright so they stand out among the community’s mail. Make sure it’s perfectly clear that you’re offering something free and all your customer has to do to get it is sign up for your newsletter. Tell them to bring the form from the flyer into your business to receive their gift. Also be sure to have a sign-up form in your store where customers can sign up and receive the incentive.

These days you can also tap into the social media outlets you use to promote your business to gain more following. Whether you have a Facebook page, a Twitter account, or run a blog, include an email sign-up list on any and all you use. You can make these forms even simpler by asking only for their email and name. Offer an incentive for these sign-ups that you’ll email the customer once registration is completed. Then they can print out their incentive coupon and redeem it either online or in-store depending on your business. If you want to really make it convenient for your customers, use a smartphone compatible coupon or scan code.

To stay viable in today’s economy, you need to join the Internet revolution. Using mass communications to reach tons of customers with little effort through an email newsletter is a great way to adapt to the changing economy. And with social media sites becoming more and more common, there’s no reason to not utilize these valuable resources.

It’s always a commendable move when an entrepreneur decides it’s time to begin investing in property. With values always growing over longer periods of time, real estate and property are some of the best investments any financial savvy person can make. Whether you’re buying to let, or simply turning over properties, you can make tens of thousands of dollars with a single investment. But if you don’t know where to start, investing in property becomes a much more daunting task. You’ll need to be walked through how to invest in property, and this article is certainly a good starting point for your new endeavors.

Step 1: Find a Lender

Hopefully by now, you’ve at least established some credit. With a housing market that’s still in a sagging state, it’s easier than ever to get a mortgage for your next property. Don’t commit yourself to any single lender. Like looking for the highest bidder, you want to find the bank that’s willing to give you the lowest rate on your first or next mortgage. Shop around and find the investment that’s going to help get you the biggest return on your investment.

Step 2: Shop. A lot.

Consider a series of properties like a bunch of cell phones lined up at your mobile service provider. You want the property that’s going to give you the most benefits for the least amount of cost. Inspect each property with great detail, and take the time to seriously lay out what the potential is for each piece of land to make you money on your investment. If something doesn’t feel right, walk away. There will always be more property available to you at a moment’s notice. It can take days, even weeks, to find the right property for your needs and beliefs, so don’t put any rush on buying the first property you see.

Step 3: Take the Sleep Test

The sleep test is a strategy that’s sworn by for more property investors than any other strategy in the market today. When looking at properties, you’ll often find yourself tempted to make a spur of the moment decision. No matter how much pressure you face, and no matter how hard a seller may push you, never buy a property on the same day. Take 24 hours to go home and sleep on your decision. While you may feel good about your possible purchase because of the temptations that are fed to you, a good night’s rest will help you make a wise move. If the decision still feels good the next day, you can go back with much more confidence in making your purchase. If something bugs you about your initial thoughts, you know that the purchase may not be a good move. While you may lose out on an investment here and there, you’ll find that this leads to much better decisions overall, making it one of the most valuable strategies when learning how to invest in property.

Picture – D Gallagher

Start by visiting their website and searching for your novel’s title or looking through the alphabetized list in the “Literature” section. Once you’ve found the novel you need, you’ll see that Cliffs Notes offers many different sections on the book: a section for the summary, for the context and time during which the novel was written, a character list, and summaries and analyses of each chapter. Depending on your understanding from reading the novel itself (which, yes, you still need to do even if you use Cliffs Notes), you’ll know where you need to brush up on to write your book report. You can look through the critical essay section if you wish but since you’re not writing a critical paper, that section won’t have much to offer you.

Reading each chapter’s analysis can help you recall specific events and will help you contextualize the important characters’ roles within the story. It’s a good idea to read all of them and not just the overall book summary as you could miss important parts that will help you prove your thesis in the analysis section of your report.

In your introduction, you’ll discuss the basics about the novel like genre, publication information and brief couple of sentences of what you’ll discuss in the rest of your report. The first section in the body of your report will summarize the plot, discuss major characters, and talk about themes, setting, and some of the literary devices used such as foreshadowing. In this section, you won’t infuse any of your personal views or feeling about the novel. Stick to the basics and discuss the novel objectively.

In the second section of the body of your report you’ll talk about your interaction with the novel and how successful, or unsuccessful, you think the author was in achieving his or her goal. You’ll want to talk about your feelings about the book overall and your feelings about specific parts of the book. Also consider discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the book and whether or not you’d recommend it to others. Use this section to prove the point you make in your thesis using specific examples out of the book.

Use your conclusion to wrap up your thoughts on the novel and be sure to not introduce any new ideas. This is also the place to reiterate what you want your audience to understand most about the novel and your feelings on the novel.

There are plenty of other free and useful resources that do just what Cliffs Notes does, like freebooknotes.com. Again, you should only use these resources in addition to reading the novel itself. They aren’t a way to get out of that, only to supplement your understanding of a work without having to reread the entire novel over again.

However, they don’t call it “therapy” for nothing and so, like any forms of treatment, people wouldn’t be in it if there were not some unhealthy issues that they were dealing with. Sometimes, group therapy can “hit a nerve” so-to-speak; one that can bring about certain levels of resentment and resistance. When that happens, it can be challenging for you to get them to participate in class. And if they’re not participating, it can be just that much more difficult for them to get the breakthroughs that they need in order to move forward.

If that has been your dilemma, here are three ways to handle resistance in group therapy.

Don’t Take it Personally

Remember that when you’re sitting in a room full of people, you’re also sitting in a room full of different viewpoints and emotions. The fact of the matter is, even in the “healthiest” of settings, there will be times of conflict and people who use resistance often do so as their defense mechanism. In group therapy, people may be resistant to share because they are new to the class and they need time to feel comfortable, or they are upset or angry with something that was said and they use resistance as a shield. In either case, the tension will ease quicker if others do not join into that kind of energy. One way that this can effectively happen is by you, the facilitator, remembering to remain calm and pleasant. If you don’t take personally what’s going on with those in the session, there’s a far greater chance that they’ll be open to letting their walls come down…or to let you climb them.

Don’t Push or Pull

Some group therapy topics are extremely uncomfortable for people to deal with. One psychiatry definition of resistance says that it’s when someone opposes their repressed feelings or memories being pulled into the forefront of their minds (or out of their mouths). Some people have been using resistance as a band-aid for years and so it will probably require more than a few hours of a group session to get them to break away from that habit. Especially if you are dealing with abuse survivors (of any kind), be very cautious about trying to force them to do anything before they are ready. Being pushed or pulled can cause them to retreat even further. Simply ask a question, and then follow it up by asking them also if they would like to answer it. If they decline, let them know that it’s OK and you’ll be open to hearing from them whenever they are ready. The safer they feel, the more willing they will be to become vulnerable. If not now, eventually.

Don’t Use Peer Pressure

One of the worst things that you can do with a resistant person in a group therapy class is say, “See! Jim is answering questions!” Remember, that the whole point in group therapy is that it’s to provide peer support, not peer pressure. If you allow people to sit and observe, you’ll be surprised by how many will come to their own conclusions that since others are sharing their deepest emotions and issues, then it must be OK for them to follow suit. A facilitator helps to navigate the group, but try not to control it. If you just let the “power of the peer” take its course and you remain hopeful in the meantime, one day you might look up to see the “resistant one” finally opening up. And if progress is made in therapy, no matter how big or small, then therapy is doing its job.

And then there are those of us who are somewhere in the middle: We know that we want to start something of our own (although we may not be totally sure just what that is yet) and that we need more expertise in various areas to be able to pull it off. So, while we may not be “all college in”, we’re definitely interested in taking some classes.

If graphic design happens to be a field of study that you’re interested in learning more about and you have the time but you’re not really sure how to come up with the money, there’s great news. There are actually ways that you can learn about graphic design…for free. If it sounds too good to be true, keep reading.

Check Out Free Online Classes

When it comes to the amount of free online graphic design classes that are available, it will probably blow your mind. Sessions.edu offers graphic design tutorials. Adobe.com offers from Adobe training in the field. TutorialMan.com does Photoshop tutorials and W3Schools.com provides full web building tutorials. And honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg. From Color 101 to business card and logo design, if there’s something graphic design-related that you want to learn, just put the topic in the search engine, along with “free” and you’ll probably be able to find it. Yep, again, for free.

Network With Other Graphic Designers

If you travel to a foreign country, what’s the best way to learn the language? Surround yourself with native speakers, right? It’s a similar theory when it comes to applying just about any new skill to your life, including graphic design. Say you want to learn more about how to be a mobile website builder. Well, another great thing about the Internet is that it gives you access to all kinds of professionals via social media and more specifically, online forums. Some include GraphicDesignForum.com, HOWDesign.com and Estetica.com. All of these are places where you can ask questions, read answers and gain knowledge from both the novice and expert alike.

Take a Tutorial

A favorite website for many is one by the name of TutsPlus.com. It’s a website that offers tutorials on web design and web development, from both the creative and technical sides of learning. The website also has over 30 e-books on various aspects of graphic design, a multi-week course library, a blog filled with regularly updated content and a tab that has well over 800 different kinds of video tutorials. Like a lot of websites, there is a premium option that is $15-19 per month (depending on the package that you get), but the basic set up is free and no matter which route you take, you’re getting a pretty good deal to acquire a new skill…to get you to the next level.

Your first move will be to evaluate the area around your home. To understand which security system is a fit for you, you need to nail down the primary issues and concerns in your neighborhood. What sorts of crimes occur in your area, and with what amount of frequency? Is there a big issue with break-ins and thefts, or is it generally safe except for occasional instances of vandalism? Check with the police department. They keep track of all crime statistics, and can provide you a breakdown of the biggest issues in the area. Once you understand what your real risks are, you’ll be able to choose a security system that directly addresses those concerns.

Next, turn your attention to your property. Walk the grounds and make a note of every single possible entry point to your house. Remember that even small access windows could be vulnerable, so draw a map that includes each and every window, door, power line and air vent that offers a way inside. A security professional will know best how to address these spots, whether with locks, motion sensors or surveillance cameras, but you should take the time to understand what problem areas exist.

Now you’ll want to take a look at all of your existing light sources. Remember that any dimly-lit space is more easily accessible to burglars and appealing to vandals. You’re going to want proper lighting around any entranceways, so note the problem areas for possible installation of flood lights or motion-sensing lighting systems. The easiest approach is taking photos around the house at night and during the day, which will clarify things for your security professional later. If there are areas where it’s impractical to add lighting, you could solve the problem with security cameras equipped with night vision.

Head inside and take a look at the security situation there. Are there any vulnerable areas inside that need additional security? If you have valuables that you don’t use regularly, consider simple fixes like a safe or a storage cabinet with a combination lock. If there are additional entryways or roof access, note where cameras may need to be installed.

Finally, talk to a home security professional about all the potential solutions. There are a ton of websites that will get you started, many of which include real-time customer service access, with ‘click here to visit a chat’ or quick question submission options. But make sure whichever service you choose doesn’t ask for longer than a one-year contract. You need to reassess their performance and have the option to go elsewhere if it’s insufficient or too expensive.

In a 4-year university, the majority of the first two years are usually spent taking core classes like composition, public speaking, and intro-level courses in math, science, and language arts. Depending on which university it is and whether or not you have in-state tuition costs, each of those classes could cost you anywhere from $500 to $2,000. Getting these classes done at a community college will easily cost you half of that and you’ll learn the exact same information. Then those class credits will transfer with you when you move to a 4-year school to study your area of interest. If you know which 4-year school you’d like to attend, you can work with both schools to ensure that all classes will transfer to avoid having to retake any. Even if you don’t know which university you’ll transfer to, your counselor can help you take classes that easily transfer.

Another way a 2-year school can help you save money is that they don’t offer on-campus living options. While an important part of the experience for a lot of college students, dorms are expensive and generally more expensive than off campus options because of everything included when living in a dorm. If you really want to save money, consider living with your parents while attending a school nearby so you don’t have to pay rent. And if you want to experience dorm life, when you transfer to the 4-year school, you can opt for dorm life. It will help you make friends if you don’t have any already at the school and will help you integrate into the social scene of a big university. Many schools even have dorm floors or halls that are geared for older, transfer students so you won’t necessarily be inundated with freshmen by choosing to live in the dorms.

Your time in community college can also help you build up your grades and extracurricular activities to help you qualify for scholarships and grants. Those are both forms of payment for school that you don’t have to pay back. The less money you need to borrow to attend school the better. If you can collect as much as possible outside of loans, you’ll save yourself thousands in interest of the loans.

You may also want to consider getting some of your core classes out of the way using online classes. They’re a great and much cheaper option for students who are self-motivated and self-disciplined. If you pursue an online degree accounting for the majority of your core curriculum, you would save even more than you would by attending a community college. This could be your best bet if funds are really tight for you and your family.

College is important and worth the money when it comes to finding jobs after graduation. There is no rush to get to and graduate from a 4-year school though so if money is a concern, take your time. Start with classes through a 2-year school or online or take semesters off to earn extra cash and once it’s all said and done, you’ll be just as qualified as those who only attend a 4-year school.

As time marches on towards summer, the weather will be warming up and the natural world springing into life. At such a time of year, what could be better than getting out of the house to explore the environment around you? With so many varied activities on offer, the British countryside promises real adventure.

Go Camping

Leave creature comforts behind and delve into the wilderness by spending a night or two under the stars! More than just pitching a tent, camping encompasses the entire outdoors scene, from trekking to open-fire cooking. It is a real break from daily routine and a great way to bond with those travelling with you and with nature as a whole.

Go Wild Swimming

Rather than sticking to pools or the seaside, get adventurous with a bit of ‘wild swimming’ in the country’s natural freshwater swimming holes. There are countless wild swimming locations to be found, from streams and springs to rivers. The UK’s ample rainfall has provided the country with many ideal locations for outdoor swimming and it has more natural waterways and lakes than anywhere else in Europe. It is a liberating experience, refreshing and invigorating, to plunge into untamed flowing waters.

Go Geocaching

A newcomer to the world outdoor activities, geocaching involves the use of navigational aids such as a mobile device or GPS to track hidden ‘caches’ all over the world. Typically the cache is a tagged waterproof container holding a logbook. The geocacher can enter their name and the date and occasionally invaluable trinkets are found within that can be taken in return for similar items. It is essentially a high-tech treasure hunting game and has inspired the imaginations of millions. Across the globe there are over a million geocaches hidden away waiting for discovery.

Visit an Island

When thinking of the UK, don’t forget that beyond the mainland (in itself an island) is home to thousands of islands, varying in size, location and terrain. From large established communities such as the Isle of Wight and the Shetlands to tiny uninhabited rocks just off the coast, there is so much to discover by exploring the country’s islands. Island-hopping is just as interesting in Britain as in exotic destinations like Greece or the Caribbean and most are easily accessible with boat hire and even ferry services. Visitors will find a different pace of life on the islands; sandy beaches, quiet bays and tranquil towns.

Track the Animals of the Wild

The mention of wild animals may conjure up images of African plains and South American rainforests, but you may be surprised to discover that the UK has wild animal populations beyond its zoos. Indigenous wildlife can be found in many rural locations and even in specially set up reserves to allow better access. In addition, there are several safari parks in England that allow glimpses of exotic animals, from lions to buffalo. A wild adventure if there ever was one!

With so much to do outdoors, why would anyone choose to spend their time inside? Use the month of May to explore your wild side, whether it’s jumping into lakes or searching for wild animals. There can only be benefits to come from exploring the environment around you!

This post has been written on behalf of Knowsley Safari Park. View their site for further information for having exciting educational trips.

The key to your pizza is the dough, and all of that starts with yeast. The first thing you have to do is ‘proof’ your yeast. Pull out a small bowl and fill it half way with warm water. Then drop in a quarter of a teaspoon of sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Stir the mixture until the yeast dissolves, and then let it sit. When the contents of the bowl begin to bubble, the yeast is proofed and ready to go. If you don’t see bubbles, your yeast may no longer be active and you’ll have to start over. If the expiration date is right and you don’t know why it didn’t bubble up, you may have used water that was too hot. Keep it warm and not steaming, or you’ll kill off the yeast’s active cultures.

Hunt down your favorite pizza and dough recipe to get all the right measurements and cooking times. Dough is pretty standard, so most of the variations will lean towards toppings and added elements for the crust. But now that you’ve got your yeast, get a second bowl out. Add your salt and flour to this new, medium-sized bowl then mix in the yeast and one tablespoon of oil. Keep stirring until the mixture firms into the dough. It should look smooth and be relatively soft, but definitely sticking together. Lightly flour a countertop or cutting board and place the ball of dough down.

Kneading is where all the magic happens, as it will lead to proper cooking and taste. So to successfully knead out your dough, start by folding it in half in your direction, and then press it down the opposite direction with the heel of your hands. Turn the dough in a quarter circle and repeat the process. Fold it, push it, and turn it until the texture has stiffened up and the dough is elastic in your hands. Return the dough to a new bowl and shape it into a nice oval. Make sure you grease the bowl so you can easily retrieve the dough. Cover the bowl with a towel and set the dough aside to rise. You’ll need it to double its size, which should take around forty minutes or so. You’ll know it’s good to go if you press two fingers a half-inch into the top and the finger marks stay after your move your hand away.

Once it’s ready, you’ll knead the dough again, give it five minutes to relax, and then roll it out. Lightly flour a flat surface again, and roll it with a pin, starting in the center of the dough and rolling out to each edge. Once it’s the right shape, set it on a greased pizza pan or pizza stone and let it sit for fifteen minutes.

The rest is the creative part. You can buy your favorite bottled sauce or make your own, shred a block of fresh cheese or use a pre-shredded package. But always use fresh toppings. Fast pizza delivery is great, but it’s the fresh toppings you choose and lay out by hand on the pizza that make it really special.

Still, it would be nice to know how to identify rare coins for sure. You know, just in case there is a thousand dollar coin in your midst. Therefore, here are a few things that you need to be aware of when it comes to finding “gold” at the end of the rainbow (or wherever your coin search leads!).

Gather a lot of coins at once

It can actually be more time-consuming to go through, say, one coin a day than to actually dump a jar’s worth onto a table, separate them by denominations and then devote a few hours to go through them all. The benefit in going through “all of the pennies” and then “all of the quarters” is that you will subconsciously train your eye to looking at one type of coin at a kind at a time. That will make it easier to notice differences in each one. (Also be sure to thoroughly clean them too!)

Use a strong magnifier

When it comes to coin collecting, there’s probably nothing more disappointing than thinking that you saw a rare coin with your eyes, only to have a coin collecting expert tell you something different. One way to prevent this from happening is by purchasing a magnifier that is at least a 10X loupe (Bausch & Lomb and Amazon both carry them).

Look for inscriptions, dates and mintmarks

Now you’re ready to search for the detailing on your various coins. Although a lot of people naturally gravitate towards searching for coins that are simply old, these are not the only ones that are of value. Be sure to look out for any kind of lettering that may be unique (including if there are letters that may actually be missing). Also be on the hunt for any signs of repunched or overpunched dates or mintmarks, or even ones that have doubled numbers.

Check the coins die rotation, edges and portrait

If you’re not familiar with the term “die rotation”, it just basically means the positioning of the images on the coin from front-to-back. If you notice that the picture of Abraham Lincoln’s head is right-side up, but when you flip the coin over, the building is upside-down, that could be an error that’s worth a nice amount of change. Also, be sure to run each coin along the palm of your hand to check for any inconsistencies with seams or lines. Don’t forget to look at the portraits on the coins as well. Look at everything from the eyes and chin to the outfit to see if there are any odd variations.

Don’t forget to do your homework (research)

If you’re going through your coins and you’re not finding anything, you might think, “I’ll just buy gold coins and call it a day.” But remember, a part of the fun is the search. Identifying rare coins takes a lot of patience and attention to detail, but it also requires doing a bit of additional research. Another thing that can help you with your hunt is to purchase a couple of books on coin errors and die variation. Alan Herbert, Ken Potter and Brian Allen are all authors that have expertise in this field.

There are four points you must organize before getting deep into the structure of your persuasive essay. The first thing you need to do is nail down the point of view or key idea you will be putting forth. Remember that your goal will be persuading your readers to accept the validity of that idea, so make sure it is one that you feel strongly about, and can express well in words. Next, you have to identify your core audience. If you keep the people who will be reading the piece in mind, you will be more effective overall. You don’t necessarily have to pick a main idea that your audience already agrees with, but you should understand how the majority of those readers currently feel about it. Are they indifferent? Or are they actively hostile? What they bring to the table when reading will be a key factor in your success. Additionally, you should take the time to understand what support points or information will most strongly back up your persuasive argument. Keep that audience you’ve identified in mind, and pick supporting points that will make sense to them. Finally, take the time to recognize the strongest opposing viewpoint to your main idea. In order to convince anyone you will need to show that you fully understand the opposite argument and can refute it. That is the key to a credible persuasive essay.

Now that you’ve done the groundwork it’s time to address the essay’s structure. Every persuasive essay will start with an introductory paragraph or paragraphs (depending on the overall length of the essay). This is where you will introduce your argument and draw the reader’s interest and attention. You can use this spot to offer any background information to create context for your argument. The introduction should end with a clear expression of the point of view of the essay.

After the introduction come the body paragraphs. This is where you will provide the reader with all of the points that back up your core point of view, in as compelling a manner as possible. Keep each paragraph of the body focused on one point, tied into evidence that backs up that point. You will probably have three or more of these paragraphs, which will give you enough time to compel the reader towards your viewpoint. Following the body, you must now write the opposing viewpoint. Keep it shorter than your support paragraphs, but take the time to completely explain the most comprehensive opposing viewpoint, and then refute it. The success of your persuasive essay will hinge on how well you handle this section.

Finally, you’ll wrap the essay up with a conclusion paragraph. Here you’ll basically reiterate your main argument and supporting statements. Try to find a way to bring it all together here, in a way that really connects with your audience. If you need examples of how to do this effectively, check out PaperStarter.com.

Though it may come as a surprise, schedule is very important when it comes to reading. Your concentration is always best in the morning, so try to organize your day so that the reading you need to comprehend the best takes place first thing. You may find you’ll actually double your reading speed with this strategy. Prioritizing what you read and in what order can also help you speed through the work. Organize your reading assignments into three piles, based on importance. Tackle it starting with the most important work, and read your way through to the least important. You’ll better your speed and comprehension by starting with the key assignments when your brain is at its sharpest.

Comprehension can also be aided by how you approach the reading material. One good method is to skim the work before reading in depth to glean the key ideas. It’s a great strategy for educational, how-to or nonfiction works. You can scan through the table of contents, and then read over the beginning and end of each paragraph. Once you have the book’s structure in mind, you can decide which sections you must read in their entirety and which you can continue skimming over. You’ll increase your comprehension of all the topics, without wasting time or energy reading it word for word. An additional strategy you can use is turning statements into questions. Simply write down the headings of your textbook as questions, and then hunt through the body text to find the answers. You’ll focus in on what you need to take away in the material, and skip the fluff.

How you approach your reading time is also a key to increased reading speed. Make sure you set up the optimal environment for reading. Simply laying the book on a bookstand that props it up at a 45-degree angle will help combat eyestrain and speed up the process. And don’t take that book to bed with you. You’ll relax in that comfortable environment, and retention will disappear. In addition, avoid highlighting passages of a book. People think that highlighting or underlining certain sections aids in comprehension, but that’s not the case. It actually tells your brain that it doesn’t need to learn the material right now. In the end, you’ll have to go over it twice or more, and may not even pick it up then. Finally, understand that your approach should vary based on the material. Documents such as poetry, math equations or legal contracts you should read carefully, as every word is important and many may be brand new to you. On the other hand, novels, magazines or passages pulled off of wiseoldsayings.com you can breeze through much more swiftly. Shift your speed to the material, and you’ll get through everything efficiently and with ease.

First and foremost, you must do whatever is necessary to mitigate your risk. For most people, the first step is keeping the money you invest well within your means. Make sure that you don’t put yourself in a position where you could lose everything if these stocks go south, and keep aside enough cash to float you for at least three months if it all takes a severe turn downwards. Remember that most experts consider penny stocks an investment that brings some danger. They can be volatile, are often manipulated, and may be offered by a company with no real track record of financial stability or performance. Make sure any single penny stock represents no greater than 5% of your total portfolio.

If you are new to penny stocks, or to trading in general, it is incredibly important that you educate yourself. To be successful, you should have a basic understanding of accounting and the history of the stock market. If you’ve received an undergraduate education in accounting or finance that’s a great start. But regardless, take the time to read about current trends. Find books and magazines to lay a foundation of knowledge in corporate finance, taxation, personal finance, investment theories and economics, and consider specializing in one or two industries you can keep your investments within. Additionally, you may be best served by a year or two of experience on mid- and large-cap stocks prior to getting into penny stocks. Once you can read and comprehend a cash flow statement, balance sheet and income statement with ease, you’re ready to go.

Finally, keep some basic rules in mind. You must research the company you are investing in prior to getting involved. Keep an eye out for any red flags that make you think a particular penny stock could be a scam or stock dilution scheme. Avoid companies carrying a high load of debt, and keep your money with the companies that consistently generate cash. If you’re not sure, there are certain stocks you should always avoid. Keep away from anything that isn’t traded on a major American stock exchange, from any companies that show under $10 million in annual revenue, from any recommendations in random email newsletters, and from any industry you don’t particular understand or like. Follow those rules and keep education and careful planning at the forefront of your work, and you could end up with a track record as strong as Timothy Skyes.

In most cases, pets can be taught from the get-go that certain areas are off limits. With a variety of training techniques at your disposal you should be able to curb any unwanted behavior right off the bat, including a penchant for perching on furniture. Most dogs respond well to command words, so voicing a forceful “No!” when a dog jumps on your chair or sofa, accompanied by moving him back to the floor, should do the trick. Just keep in mind that you need to do this all the time. If you let him up on the furniture for any reason it will confuse him. This method may also work with kittens, but older cats will likely ignore the tactic.

For this reason you may need to employ some teaching tools. Most cats hate water, so keep a spray bottle handy and when you see your cat hop up on the furniture, give him a spritz immediately to let him know that this area is off limits. And to reinforce the rule when you’re not at home to catch him in the act, simply place motion-activated air cans on the furniture he frequents to blast him with a short burst of air each time he jumps up. Another option is to place plastic or foil on furnishings since most animals are averse to the rustling sound. Permanent plastic slipcovers will serve double duty by protecting your furnishings from hair and scratching.

Of course, your lessons are more likely to take if you also provide pets with an area that they can use in lieu of your couch. Pet beds will likely appeal to dogs, cats, and any other animals in your home, and since cats prefer to be above the action most of the time, consider populating your space with pet furniture like carpeted cat trees or even shelving that they can lounge on. When they have their own dedicated spaces they are far less likely to invade yours.

As a last resort, you may opt to keep pets out of certain rooms. It’s not like you’re going to place an invisible dog fence around your bed or sofa, so you may simply have to resign yourself to the fact that having animals in the house means finding pet hair on every surface. If you can’t live with this in your bedroom or office, though, simply keep the door closed and don’t let your pets inside.