Saturday, November 28, 2009

Top-10 Arguments That Can’t Be Won



Since the time of fire, man has had arguments – rare or well done? Of course, arguments depend on your point of view, or in the case of husbands and wives, what the wife thinks. Some arguments are never-ending. Over the centuries, there have been some doozies that have kept philosophy students and teachers debating.

To be included on this list of Arguments That Can’t Be Won, the argument must have no clear answer that cannot be countered with another opposing view.

Euthanasia
Dr. Kevorkian helped many people commit suicide due to their health conditions and their desires. His motives were questioned because all life is supposedly precious, but his patients wanted to move on from their frail existence. What if those patients didn’t have a say and we had the opportunity to choose whether they live in agony or die in peace by not giving them medication or a procedure? What is the better option?

Abortion or Pro-Life?
Does a woman have the right to control her body by ending a life inside her? When is a fetus truly alive? Is all life truly precious? What happens when a woman is raped and becomes pregnant – is that life still precious? There may never be answers to these questions; however, the government has helped us out many times by entering its own opinion whether the pro-lifers like it or not.

Continue to the rest of the list..

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Prior Private Sector Experience

Do Click to enlarge

Hmmm..

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Friday, November 27, 2009

Wait a Minute!


Isn't this chic 17? Yes.

And I remember this particular picture being pasted all over the Internets several months ago.

Just sayin'...

How To Get Free Software, Games, Music, & Movies LEGALLY


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Math FAIL


I snapped a picture of this sign at a local convenience store today. It's something I've wanted to do for many weeks now. See, I've been taking advantage of this sale as much as possible. Although it's not a route I travel every day, I try to stop and buy a couple packs when I can.

Why? Because you save $2 when you buy two packs, which are each discounted a dollar. Granted you have to buy two. But it's not like you can save $1 by buying just one. The only sale is $2 for every two packs. This is nearly the opposite of false advertising. Instead of advertising something better than it is, the sale they're advertising is better than it looks based upon a quick read.

Priorities

So the first thing you do is grab your phone, and log on to Facebook??

Source

15 Ways to Stop Obsessing

Tips for how to reel in your ruminations and keep your peace in the present moment.



For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with obsessive thoughts, with severe ruminations that can interfere with daily life. My thoughts get stuck on something and, like a broken record, repeat a certain fear over and over and over again until I scream out loud, “STOP IT!” The French call Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) “folie de doute,” or “the doubting disease.” And that’s what obsessions are—a single doubt caught in an endless loop of thoughts.

But even those not diagnosed with OCD can struggle with obsessions. In fact, I have yet to meet a depressive who doesn’t ruminate, especially in our age of anxiety. Every day gives sensitive types like myself plenty of material to obsess about. So I’m constantly pulling out the tools that I’ve acquired over time to win against my thoughts, to develop confidence--the antidote for doubt--to take charge of my brain, and to STOP OBSESSING. I hope they work for you too.

Name the Beast
My first step in tackling any obsession: Identify the thought. What is my fear? What is my doubt? I make myself describe it in one sentence, or, if I can, in a few words. For example, when I was released from the hospital’s psych ward the first time, I was paranoid that my co-workers would find out that I’d been there. I obsessed about it and obsessed about it and obsessed some more. Finally, I named the fear: I am afraid that if my co-workers find out that I was hospitalized with severe depression that they won’t respect me anymore, and they won’t assign me any projects. There it is. There’s the beast. Phew. I named it, and by doing so, I can rob it of some of its power over me.

Find the Distortion
Once I have named the fear or doubt, I try to see if I can file it under any of the forms of distorted thinking that Dr. David Burns describes in his bestseller “Feeling Good,” like all-or-nothing thinking, jumping to conclusions, magnification (exaggeration), or discounting the positive (ie “None of my accomplishments count”). My obsession almost always involves at least three forms of distorted thoughts. So I then consider Burns’ ten ways of untwisting distorted thinking to help me to undermine my obsession.

For example, using his “cost-benefit analysis” method, I examine how my fear of my co-workers finding out abound my depression is benefitting me and what it is costing me. In the end, I decided to tell my colleagues the information because I realized that I wanted to write about my experience (benefit), and that was worth the risk (cost) of having them reject me based on my diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Continue to the rest of the list..

Her Office Party: A Survival Guide



It’s that time of year again: Time for the company holiday party. It’s bad enough that you have to dress up and schmooze all night at your own party (at least there’s an open bar, that’s some consolation), but now she wants you to attend hers too.

After-hours work functions (especially when it’s not even your work), can be a little daunting to those newly venturing into the corporate realm. And conversely, the nuances of the company holiday party are old-hat to the corporate journeyman. Pretty much all the same rules/tips apply to any corporate function, but this time there’s just a little twist: It’s her company party. That means there’s a little more to it than guys might think.

What You Need to Know and Do:

1. Dress appropriately for the occasion
Be sure to check what the dress code is for her company party. Luckily for work holiday parties, the dress code is typically pretty clear: formal, cocktail, etc. Don’t worry if your wardrobe isn’t too extensive. Deriving different looks from your basic dark suit can easily be done with your tie, cuff links, shirt color, etc.

Continue reading..

Your Source For Watching NFL Network's Football Games

(... and a LOT of other things)



If it bothers you as much as it bothers me that the NFL won't allow most cable companies to broadcast certain games, which they have scheduled to air ONLY on their own network, without a hefty fee that most don't want to pay, then this is the link you need. Sure, you can purchase the NFL Network. It's readily available through most satellite companies, and a few cable companies, but not mine. So if it's available to you, feel free to purchase rights to view these games. The extra fee is usually not cheap.

Or you can click on the NFL logo above, and bookmark this site which shows lots of different TV programs online... including these NFL games, NBA games, movies, etc.

Thanks Chris!

10 College Campuses That Are More Like Country Clubs


Rice University, Houston, TX

Perhaps one of the most important factors in choosing a school is how much you enjoy being there. How are the people? Professors? What is the closest metropolis like? And, of course, is the campus nice? Fortunately, universities around the country recognize this and do their best to beautify their college grounds. And with today’s ease of access to information, college websites host plenty of facts, pictures, and virtual tours of their domain. When it comes to gorgeous, these colleges win the contest. Some of them are antique gems located in historical New England, while others are modern and situated on oceanside cliffs. From west to east and everywhere in between, these 10 college campuses will blow you away.

See the list..

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The Psychology of Mass Shootings


The view from one of the bullet holes resulting from Charles Whitman's mass killing of 14 people, leaving 31 others injured, from the University of Texas tower in 1966. The tower where Whitman was perched is framed in the bullet hole.

The shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, in October 2009 were brutal and shocking. But they are hardly an anomaly: two days after the killings, two other mass shootings occurred: one in Tampa, Fla., and one in Portland, Ore. Mass killings have had a long and painful history in the United States. Normally perpetrated by male aggressors, the motivations for these occurrences vary, ranging from acts of revenge, twisted showings of compassion, fervent ideology, and, most often, a person who for one reason or another, snaps.

What causes someone to commit mass homicide? Newsweek asked experts about the various motivations that can lead to these tragedies.

Click the banner pic to see the full article..

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Nothing

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Four Times The Productivity


In case you've ever felt the need to have Google loaded 4 times into one browser at once, all you have to do is type: "Googlegooglegooglegoogle.com" into your browser's window.

Have fun!

Thanks Leah!

Toys for Tots Lap Dances

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Best Anti-Aging Foods



These six food groups hold the "power" to help you lose weight and turn back the clock. Don't miss our easy seven-day meal plan and delicious anti-aging snacks!

1. Produce
Piling your plate with fruits and vegetables is a no-brainer when it comes to weight loss — they're low in calories, high in nutrients, and filling — but the latest studies show that certain ones can provide surprising anti-aging benefits.

There's buzz about blueberries, for instance, for their memory-boosting potential. But berries of all hues are antioxidant-rich, reports Navindra P. Seeram, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy in Kingston. That means they combat free radicals, molecules that can cause widespread cell damage and are linked to chronic inflammation. Unlike the inflammation that occurs when you sprain an ankle or strain a muscle, the type that contributes to aging is persistent, and thought to be at the root of most chronic diseases, from cancer, heart disease, and diabetes to Alzheimer's, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Berries' beauty bonus: They're chock-full of vitamin C, another potent antioxidant that may help keep your complexion looking smooth by fighting those pesky (skin-damaging) free radicals.

To keep your vision sharp, set your sights on spinach and other dark leafy greens. These veggies are prime sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, plant pigments that protect your eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Leafy greens are also rich in vitamin K, a nutrient that plays a role in reducing bone loss and preventing fractures.

2. Protein
This key dietary component becomes even more critical starting in the 40s, when muscle mass begins to decline by up to 1 percent a year. That drop slows metabolism, which makes the pounds pile on more easily. The double whammy consequence: Added weight puts your health at risk, and down the road, diminished muscle mass can throw off your balance (upping chances of a fall), sap your strength, and even threaten your ability to recover from an illness or accident.

Continue reading..

Outrageous!

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Monday, November 23, 2009

Nine Great Moments in False Advertising


When the pitch really is too good to be true.

Low fat. No money down. Mission accomplished. Occasionally, the folks behind a product feel the need to paint a picture that isn't necessarily true to lure in the unsuspecting masses.

Be it a purported discount price or a lab coat-clad actor in the commercial giving his "professional" opinion, false advertising comes in a multitude of flavors and ostensibly dates back to the Stone Age when a Neanderthal hyped a spear for its "state-of-the-art grip" and "35%-improved accuracy."

Barely a week goes by without another company being accused or another class action settlement being doled out. In May, Minyanville took a look at eight notable instances of false advertising, and here's nine more for you to enjoy.

Powerade

The Cola Wars hit another fever pitch in 2009 when Coke and Pepsi had their sports drinks pitted against one another in a lawsuit filed by Pepsi.

Coke was taken to task for claims made in its Powerade campaign which alleged that it was a superior drink because of two electrolytes missing in Pepsi's Gatorade: calcium and magnesium -- albeit in 0.5% daily recommended values.

In the end, Powerade won the suit when the judge ruled Pepsi "[had] not shown either a likelihood of irreparable injury or a likelihood of success on the merits" and found the "failure to present any concrete evidence of harm" striking.

Nike

The Greek God of Victory wouldn't be Mark Kasky's first symbol choice for the company accused of turning a blind eye to sweatshops.

After Nike vehemently denied news accusations that it tolerated sweatshop conditions in Asian countries via press releases, advertisements, and direct letters, Kasky filed a lawsuit claiming the company lied in its response -- which constituted false advertising.

Since several investigations determined Nike does contract foreign factories with inadequate regulation, the California Supreme Court ruled against the company.

The parties subsequently settled out of court after appeal.

Click the banner pic to see the rest..

A True Patriot

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Speling Fael

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Birthdaygun

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Growing Gains - 6 Jobs With High-Rising Numbers



In a competitive job market, maximizing the potential of your education could hinge on a question of numbers: How many workers might be hired in a given field?

Since crystal balls aren't exactly what one might call reliable, the U.S. Department of Labor has done some projecting of its own when it comes to employment outlook.

Here's a closer look at six of the fastest growing occupations, in terms of numbers hired, through 2016.

1. Network systems and data communications analysts perform a number of tasks in relation to data communications systems, like the Internet, including designing, analyzing, testing, and assessing systems and their performance. Analysts might also supervise computer programmers and work as specialists who handle the interfacing of computers and communications equipment.

How Fast Is It Growing? This is considered the leading occupation in terms of the percentage of growth in jobs. In large part, this is due to the increasing use of computers and information technology. The rise from 262,000 employees in 2006 to 402,000 in 2016 represents a 53.4 percent increase over that span - that's 140,000 new jobs.

How Do I Get Started? Many jobs require a bachelor's degree, although some might only require a two-year degree in computer science or an information technology-related field.

Salary: $73,800 a year

See the rest..

Black Friday: Best Day to Buy a Car



When people think of Black Friday shopping, they usually think of things like flat screen TVs, toys and sweaters. Now you can add cars, trucks and SUVs.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the best day to buy a car, according to car pricing researchers at the Web site Truecar.com.

Analysts looked at day-by-day car pricing for the last several years. That data revealed that discounts on Black Friday are, on average, the biggest of the year. "The discounts from dealerships, as well as manufacturers' incentives, generate the highest discounts of the year on Black Friday," said Jesse Toprak, an analyst for Truecar.com.

Unlike typical Black Friday sales where customers know exactly what they'll pay for an item, car prices are individually negotiated the day of the sale, so it's difficult for customers to know ahead of time they'll be getting a deal. But there's been a clear trend, Toprak said.

Continue reading..

(Note: No, the article says nothing about the new Toyota Tundra, I'm just partial to Tundras as I've owned 2.)

Finger Fashion

Almost looks real.. Well, except for the inch-long hair on the quads, and the extra shin joint!

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