Click here to visit Mesiab Labs website!
RAW, REAL AND REVEALED!!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
GOD IS GREAT AND SO AWESOME AND HE DESERVE MY PRAISE!
AS TO MANY OF THOSE WHO REALLY DON'T KNOW ME I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING THAT IS VERY DEAR AND NEAR TO MY HEART. AS I WRITE THIS BLOG THE TEARS WELL UP IN MY EYES FOR PURE JOY!! MY OLDEST NEPHEW WENT TO JAIL FOR SOMETHING CRAZY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HAVING A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST HERE IN HOUSTON! I AM STILL FUZZY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE BUT.... I WAS AT CHURCH SUNDAY AND THE APOSTLE ASKED THAT ON WEDNESDAY THE 22, OF APRIL WE FAST!
GOD IS AWESOME! I DID FAST AND WHILE NOT REALLY THINING ABOUT I WAS FASTING FOR MY NEPHEW..SEE GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART! HE SO GREAT AND WORTHY!! I JUST CAN'T STOP THANKING HIM AND PRAISING HIM!! MY NEPHEW CALLED ME TONIGHT TO TELL ME HE WAS HOME!! DO YOU HERE ME HOME, HOUSTON HAD 10 DAYS TO GO AND GET HIM OR HE WOULD BE RELEASED!! NOW I WAS CONVINCED THAT HOUSTON WOULD BE THERE TO PICK HIM UP! AFTER ALL HOUSTON DOES NOT HAVE THE REPUTATION OF LETTING A BLACK MAN GO FREE EVEN FOR THE SMALLEST THING!! BUT MY GOD, MY GREAT WONDERFUL GOD HEARD OUR PRAYERS AND ANSWERED THEM!!
GOD IS AWESOME! I KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY HE WILL HAVE TO FACE THE MUSIC BUT I KNOW GOD AND HE WILL ERASE, LOSE.. OR DESTROY HIS WARRANT!!
SO WHAT EVER YOU ARE BELIEVING IN GOD FOR WHOLE HEARTEDLY AND FREELY HE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU! I DIDN'T LOSE FAITH AND GOD SPOKE TO ME DAYS AGO TELLING ME HE IS ALREADY TAKING CARE OF IT!!
OH MY GOD IS AN AWESOME, LOVING, CARING AND KIND GOD!!
I JUST LOVE HIM SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS PRAYING WITH ME AND FOR HIM!!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Get Next Year's Refund Now
Get Next Year's Refund Now
by Kevin McCormally
Looking for extra cash? You can boost your paycheck by adjusting your withholding.
Most American workers can give themselves a tax cut much larger than the one being delivered by the Making Work Pay tax credit okayed by Congress earlier that year. That credit, a key part of President Obama’s economic stimulus plan, is worth $400 for individual workers and $800 for married couples. The potential do-it-yourself tax cut averages $2,700.
More from Kiplinger.com:
• See How Much You Can Add to Your Paycheck
• Where's My Refund?
• What the Stimulus Means for You
The new credit won’t show up on tax returns until next spring, but workers are enjoying the benefit right now in the form of reduced tax withholding from their paychecks. Most single workers saw withholding drop -- and paychecks rise -- by about $45 a month starting in March or April. For married employees, the boost is about $65 a month.
This story shows you how to get more!
Here's a happy little secret: Most taxpayers have the power to boost their paychecks ... without working a minute of overtime or getting a promotion. You’re in the lucky group if you're one of the 75% of Americans who get a tax refund year after year. In 2008, the IRS issued nearly 107 million refunds averaging $2,400. So far this year, the average refund is even more: $2,700.
If you're just "average," then, you deserve an extra $225 a month in your paychecks -- far more than is being delivered by the stimulus plan. Habitual refund receivers have every right -- and some might say a patriotic duty to help stimulate the economy -- to order the IRS to take less out of their paychecks.
More from Yahoo! Finance:
• 10 Things the IRS Won't Tell You
• Top 10 Tax-Friendly Cities
• 10 Tips for Taxpayers Hit by the Recession
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Tax Center
All you have to do is file a new W-4 form, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, with your employer to adjust the number of "allowances" you claim. You get one allowance for yourself, your spouse and each of your dependents, for example, and maybe extra ones if you itemize or claim certain tax credits.
Each allowance for 2009 basically makes $3,650 of your annual income off-limits for income-tax withholding. Claiming extra allowances on your W-4 will automatically decrease withholding and increase your take-home pay. You'll enjoy instant gratification from a do-it-yourself pay raise.
Full disclosure: Reducing or eliminating over-withholding will reduce or eliminate the tax refund you’ll get next spring. But, face it: It makes a lot more sense to get your money when you earn it, particularly in these tough economic times. And, if President Obama and the Congress think reduced withholding is a key to the national economic recovery, the least you can do is give them a hand.
Of course you can't just make up a number for your W-4. The IRS has a dense 19-page booklet with seven intimidating worksheets to guide you toward the right number of allowances to claim. The agency even offers a Web calculator to help. But it requires nearly 30 entries.
To make things less painful -- and to encourage taxpayers to set their withholding situation straight -- we've developed a simple, user-friendly calculator. Answer just three questions (you'll find the answers are on your 2008 tax return), and we'll give you a solid idea of how many more withholding allowances you should be claiming. It's based on the premise that your financial life in 2009 is going to be pretty much the same as last year.
Several things can affect the amount that should be withheld from your check: a new job, a new marriage, a new child, or a new house, to name a few.
But, if your financial life is shaping up to be pretty much the same this year as last, our calculator will instantly figure how many extra allowances you deserve. And, to give you the incentive to fill out that new W-4 and hand it to your boss, we'll show you how much extra money you'll add to your paycheck by claiming the appropriate number of allowances.
Avoid Costly Mind Games
Most experts who rail against over-withholding and the flood of refunds it unleashes complain about giving the government an interest-free loan. And there's no doubt that you're better off steering that cash into savings or investments that make you money. But there's something of more importance at work here.
Habitual refunds can play costly games with your mind and short-circuit meaningful tax planning. You've surely heard this joyous springtime comment: "Oh, I didn't owe any tax this year. I'm getting money back."
Of course, the gratified taxpayer probably paid thousands -- maybe tens of thousands -- of dollars in tax and simply recouped funds that had been overpaid. This delusion can inflict financial pain if it leads you to lower your guard to the tax consequences involved when you enter into financial transactions during the year, whether that's deciding which stocks to sell, whether to buy a rental property or whether to transform a hobby into a business.
The prospect of getting money back also can lead to laziness when you work on your return. There's a good chance you'll work harder to shave the amount of extra tax you owe than to pump up an already fat refund.
Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.ADVERTISEMENT
by Kevin McCormally
Looking for extra cash? You can boost your paycheck by adjusting your withholding.
Most American workers can give themselves a tax cut much larger than the one being delivered by the Making Work Pay tax credit okayed by Congress earlier that year. That credit, a key part of President Obama’s economic stimulus plan, is worth $400 for individual workers and $800 for married couples. The potential do-it-yourself tax cut averages $2,700.
More from Kiplinger.com:
• See How Much You Can Add to Your Paycheck
• Where's My Refund?
• What the Stimulus Means for You
The new credit won’t show up on tax returns until next spring, but workers are enjoying the benefit right now in the form of reduced tax withholding from their paychecks. Most single workers saw withholding drop -- and paychecks rise -- by about $45 a month starting in March or April. For married employees, the boost is about $65 a month.
This story shows you how to get more!
Here's a happy little secret: Most taxpayers have the power to boost their paychecks ... without working a minute of overtime or getting a promotion. You’re in the lucky group if you're one of the 75% of Americans who get a tax refund year after year. In 2008, the IRS issued nearly 107 million refunds averaging $2,400. So far this year, the average refund is even more: $2,700.
If you're just "average," then, you deserve an extra $225 a month in your paychecks -- far more than is being delivered by the stimulus plan. Habitual refund receivers have every right -- and some might say a patriotic duty to help stimulate the economy -- to order the IRS to take less out of their paychecks.
More from Yahoo! Finance:
• 10 Things the IRS Won't Tell You
• Top 10 Tax-Friendly Cities
• 10 Tips for Taxpayers Hit by the Recession
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Tax Center
All you have to do is file a new W-4 form, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, with your employer to adjust the number of "allowances" you claim. You get one allowance for yourself, your spouse and each of your dependents, for example, and maybe extra ones if you itemize or claim certain tax credits.
Each allowance for 2009 basically makes $3,650 of your annual income off-limits for income-tax withholding. Claiming extra allowances on your W-4 will automatically decrease withholding and increase your take-home pay. You'll enjoy instant gratification from a do-it-yourself pay raise.
Full disclosure: Reducing or eliminating over-withholding will reduce or eliminate the tax refund you’ll get next spring. But, face it: It makes a lot more sense to get your money when you earn it, particularly in these tough economic times. And, if President Obama and the Congress think reduced withholding is a key to the national economic recovery, the least you can do is give them a hand.
Of course you can't just make up a number for your W-4. The IRS has a dense 19-page booklet with seven intimidating worksheets to guide you toward the right number of allowances to claim. The agency even offers a Web calculator to help. But it requires nearly 30 entries.
To make things less painful -- and to encourage taxpayers to set their withholding situation straight -- we've developed a simple, user-friendly calculator. Answer just three questions (you'll find the answers are on your 2008 tax return), and we'll give you a solid idea of how many more withholding allowances you should be claiming. It's based on the premise that your financial life in 2009 is going to be pretty much the same as last year.
Several things can affect the amount that should be withheld from your check: a new job, a new marriage, a new child, or a new house, to name a few.
But, if your financial life is shaping up to be pretty much the same this year as last, our calculator will instantly figure how many extra allowances you deserve. And, to give you the incentive to fill out that new W-4 and hand it to your boss, we'll show you how much extra money you'll add to your paycheck by claiming the appropriate number of allowances.
Avoid Costly Mind Games
Most experts who rail against over-withholding and the flood of refunds it unleashes complain about giving the government an interest-free loan. And there's no doubt that you're better off steering that cash into savings or investments that make you money. But there's something of more importance at work here.
Habitual refunds can play costly games with your mind and short-circuit meaningful tax planning. You've surely heard this joyous springtime comment: "Oh, I didn't owe any tax this year. I'm getting money back."
Of course, the gratified taxpayer probably paid thousands -- maybe tens of thousands -- of dollars in tax and simply recouped funds that had been overpaid. This delusion can inflict financial pain if it leads you to lower your guard to the tax consequences involved when you enter into financial transactions during the year, whether that's deciding which stocks to sell, whether to buy a rental property or whether to transform a hobby into a business.
The prospect of getting money back also can lead to laziness when you work on your return. There's a good chance you'll work harder to shave the amount of extra tax you owe than to pump up an already fat refund.
Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.ADVERTISEMENT
Friday, April 17, 2009
Hmmmm...When Love goes Wrong ..Part 6!
NOW I AM AWARE OF THE OLD SAYING THAT NOTHING IN LIFE COMES EASY..WELL I DIDN'T WANT EASY BUT WAS A LITTLE CONSISTENCY TOO MUCH TO ASK? I MEAN COME ON A LITTLE FAITHFULNESS, TRUST , ADORATION, SOMEONE WHO YOU COULD VIBE WITH? I ADMIT I AM SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED BUT THIS WAS 2009 AND I DIDN'T KNOW TOO MEANY WOMEN WHO WEREN'T UNLESS THEY WERE WEAK SUBMISSIVE WOMEN.
SEE I WALKED LIKE A DIVA, TALKED LIKE A DIVA AND LIVED LIKE A DIVA WHEN MONEY PERMITTED ME TO..LOL
LIFE WAS MEANT TO BE LIVED TO THE FULLEST, I HAD NO PROBLEM DOING THAT AND NOW THAT I WAS SINGLE, A SINGLE LESBIAN WHOEVER HEARD OF SUCH! ME IN THE FLESH...
I CONVINCED MYSELF THAT I WAS HAPPY AND DIDN'T NEED ANYONE TRUTH IS THE VIBRATOR AND THE BATTERIES WERE PRETTY OLD! EVERY TIME I PUT MYSELF OUT TO ACTUALLY ALLOW ANOTHER FEMALE IN MY SPACE I WAS DISAPPOINTED. THEY OFTEN REPRESENTED THEMSELVES TO BE ONE WAY WHILE ALL ALONG THEY WERE THE EXACT OPPOSITE!
NOW HAD I MET THEM WHEN I WAS YOUNGER , THEY MIGHT HAVE STOOD A CHANCE WITH AN EXCITED NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN WHO FELT THATNO ONE WOULD DO HER WRONG, BECAUSE SHE STRIVED TO BE THE ULTIMATE LOVER. YOUNG , HOT, SEXY AND FAITHFUL...
IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW THERE WAS SO MANY THINGS THAT I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY, MORE CAUTIOUSLY. BUT YOU LIVE AND LEARN!
LIKE A FRIEND OF MINE ONCE SAID " LIFE'S A BITCH, THEN YOU HOOK UP WITH ONE!"
Thursday, April 16, 2009
WHEN IT RAINS ..IT POURS!!
I HAVE TO KEEP GROUNDED AND STAY IN THE MIND SET THAT GOD HAS MY FAMILY BACK THROUGH IT ALL, AND THOUGH I AM BEING CALLED AND LOOKED TO FOR OPTIONS,ADVISE AND SUPPORT. I REALIZED A LONG TIME AGO THAT I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OR ANSWERS TO EVERYONE'S QUESTIONS.
AS YOU KNOW I SHARED WITHYOU A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT MY 14 YEAR OLD NIECE WHO WAS LOCKED UP IN JAIL FOR SOMETHING THAT I COULD NOT PHANTOM AND NOW I GET A PHONE CALL SAYING THAT MY 23 YEAR OLD NEPHEW WHO IS AS HUMBLE AND SWEET AS THEY COME IS IN JAIL IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA AND SET TO BE SHIPPED HERE FOR A CHARGE THAT CAME ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO..
I SIT AND THOUGH I MAY SEEM COLD TO SOME , I AM PLACING ALL OF MY CARES AND WORRIES IN THE HAND OF GOD, THE SOONER WE LEARN HOW TO LET GO AND LET GOD THE BETTER!! I AM ASKING FOR PRAYERS FROM ALL THE PRAYER WARRIORS FOR MY FAMILY...
MUCH LOVE
ANGELA WILSON
SELF-PUBLISHING...
During these bad economic times, do you still think it’s a good time to self publish a book?
Normally I wouldn’t write on the same subject twice within a year but a lot has changed since I first wrote about this in the October issue. If you pay too much attention to the fear mongering coming out of Washington these days, you’re probably hiding under a rock right now waiting for someone to come take the last few dollars you have left in your pocket.(My rock is full, or you’d be more than happy to join me)
CAROLYN MADISON -
Write to Sell: Non-fiction Writing Fundamentals
Successful book marketing requires that you first write a book that others want to read. To help create that potential for success with your non-fiction book, focus on the following writing fundamentals:
Objective: What is your reason for writing the book? What do you want readers to experience while reading it, and what do you want them to do or feel as a result?
PATRICIA L. FRY-
Editing is a Process - All authors and freelance writers do it.
Some people get paid to do it. And without it, you are risking the big R—Rejection. What is it? Editing. I’ve found over the years that editing is a process. When I edit my own work, especially a book manuscript, I go over it many, many times with different things in mind. And I attempt to teach my students and clients my techniques. For example, there’s the editing work that occurs once the book is completed. Now, you’re going to re-read the entire manuscript several times over and probably make many changes and additions along the way.
BRIAN JUD -
Selling Books Successfully to the Armed Forces - Selling to exchanges
The largest buyers of books of all types for the military market are the exchange services — Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Coast Guard Exchange, Navy Exchange and Marine Corps Exchange. An exchange is a discount retail store run by the military services. They are located on military bases and installations (the Army operates on posts or installations while the other branches operate on bases) in the United States and overseas. Exchanges provide quality goods and services at low prices to active duty military, their families, retirees and reservists.
CAROL LEONARD, NHC - Why I Chose to Self-publish (and How RJ Communications Probably Saved the Day)
I was this close to publishing with a “subsidy” publishing house, but by Divine Intervention, I was saved. I was noodling around on the Internet when I saw a site that said, “Warning: Your book will be registered in the name of the vanity publisher and the ISBN number is not transferable. It is not owned by you and is not registered in your name. If you do not own your own ISBN, you will not have the rights to your book.” Oh my god. This stopped me dead in my tracks.
C.F. JACKSON -
Do you know the key element when it comes to booking marketing online and selling books on the internet? Keywords.
Search engines are the vehicles that drive potential customers to your websites. But in order for visitors to reach their destination, your website, you need to provide them with specific and effective signs that will direct them right to your site. You do this by creating carefully chosen keywords. » Click here to read full article.
WALT F.J. GOODRIDGE -
#1: The Case for Self-Publishing, Walt's way!
PREAMBLE: The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest-in other words, your passion!
GREGORY VICTOR BABIC -
Following your Personal Vision for Publishing Success!
The Top 10 Secrets of Becoming a Winning Self-Publisher - I first self-published a book in 2001, whilst I was still teaching high school English and History in NSW state secondary schools (before my medical retirement), when my guide for secondary and tertiary students, Study Success Know-How, was assembled at the local Kinko's copy center in a saddle-stitched format. After a wonderful review in Reading Time: The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia (Vol. 45, No. 4, November 2001, p. 37), that suggested that "for students experiencing study problems, a copy of this guide could be used by teachers and student counselors to show them and to encourage them to apply for their own personal copies", I suddenly found myself courted by traditional educational publishers, and the book was reissued in a 2nd edition in 2002 by Five Senses Education Pty Ltd.
Normally I wouldn’t write on the same subject twice within a year but a lot has changed since I first wrote about this in the October issue. If you pay too much attention to the fear mongering coming out of Washington these days, you’re probably hiding under a rock right now waiting for someone to come take the last few dollars you have left in your pocket.(My rock is full, or you’d be more than happy to join me)
CAROLYN MADISON -
Write to Sell: Non-fiction Writing Fundamentals
Successful book marketing requires that you first write a book that others want to read. To help create that potential for success with your non-fiction book, focus on the following writing fundamentals:
Objective: What is your reason for writing the book? What do you want readers to experience while reading it, and what do you want them to do or feel as a result?
PATRICIA L. FRY-
Editing is a Process - All authors and freelance writers do it.
Some people get paid to do it. And without it, you are risking the big R—Rejection. What is it? Editing. I’ve found over the years that editing is a process. When I edit my own work, especially a book manuscript, I go over it many, many times with different things in mind. And I attempt to teach my students and clients my techniques. For example, there’s the editing work that occurs once the book is completed. Now, you’re going to re-read the entire manuscript several times over and probably make many changes and additions along the way.
BRIAN JUD -
Selling Books Successfully to the Armed Forces - Selling to exchanges
The largest buyers of books of all types for the military market are the exchange services — Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Coast Guard Exchange, Navy Exchange and Marine Corps Exchange. An exchange is a discount retail store run by the military services. They are located on military bases and installations (the Army operates on posts or installations while the other branches operate on bases) in the United States and overseas. Exchanges provide quality goods and services at low prices to active duty military, their families, retirees and reservists.
CAROL LEONARD, NHC - Why I Chose to Self-publish (and How RJ Communications Probably Saved the Day)
I was this close to publishing with a “subsidy” publishing house, but by Divine Intervention, I was saved. I was noodling around on the Internet when I saw a site that said, “Warning: Your book will be registered in the name of the vanity publisher and the ISBN number is not transferable. It is not owned by you and is not registered in your name. If you do not own your own ISBN, you will not have the rights to your book.” Oh my god. This stopped me dead in my tracks.
C.F. JACKSON -
Do you know the key element when it comes to booking marketing online and selling books on the internet? Keywords.
Search engines are the vehicles that drive potential customers to your websites. But in order for visitors to reach their destination, your website, you need to provide them with specific and effective signs that will direct them right to your site. You do this by creating carefully chosen keywords. » Click here to read full article.
WALT F.J. GOODRIDGE -
#1: The Case for Self-Publishing, Walt's way!
PREAMBLE: The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest-in other words, your passion!
GREGORY VICTOR BABIC -
Following your Personal Vision for Publishing Success!
The Top 10 Secrets of Becoming a Winning Self-Publisher - I first self-published a book in 2001, whilst I was still teaching high school English and History in NSW state secondary schools (before my medical retirement), when my guide for secondary and tertiary students, Study Success Know-How, was assembled at the local Kinko's copy center in a saddle-stitched format. After a wonderful review in Reading Time: The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia (Vol. 45, No. 4, November 2001, p. 37), that suggested that "for students experiencing study problems, a copy of this guide could be used by teachers and student counselors to show them and to encourage them to apply for their own personal copies", I suddenly found myself courted by traditional educational publishers, and the book was reissued in a 2nd edition in 2002 by Five Senses Education Pty Ltd.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
THE RESSURECTION OF JESUS CHRIST! I REMEMBER..
I AM REMINDED OF MANY EASTER SUNDAYS WHEN WE WOULD RISE UP EARLY FOR SUNDAY SERVICE WHICH WAS KNOWN AS SUNRISE SERVICE! WE WERE EXCITED AS KIDS TO WEAR OUR NEW CLOTHES AND SHOES.THERE WAS ALWAYS A CONTEST TO SEE WHO WOULD HAVE THE PRETTIEST DRESS THAT SUNDAY! OH I REMEMBER... WAKING UP TO A HOT BREAKFAST AND ALL THE EASTER EGGS AND BASKET FULL OF CANDY AND THAT CHOCOLATE BUNNY!! MY FAVORITE WAS THE GOLD BRICKS!! I ALSO RECAL GOING TO CHURCH THE WEEK BEFORE AND ON THAT GOOD FRIDAY WE WOULD HAVE 12:00 NOON SERVICE WHERE WE WERE REMINDED OF THE SACRIFICE THAT JESUS HAD MADE FOR ALL OF US ON CALVARY MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO!! WE WOULD GO TO EACH PICTURE THAT LED UP TO HIS DEATH AND LEARN THE MEANING BEHIND ALL THE STAGES THAT LED UP TO JESUS HANGING AND DYING ON THE CROSS..
THEN WE WENT INTO THE BIBLE WHERE WE READ AND DISCUSSED THE DAY THAT HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD..KNOWN TO US TODAY AS THE RESSURECTION. I THINK BACK TO THE MOVIE" PASSION OF CHRIST" THOUGH IT WAS CRITICIZED AND VIEWED AS GRUESOME I WOULD SAY THAT IT DEPICTED A REAL PICTURE FROM WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE..
SO REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS PUNISHED AND SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR OUR SINS!!
OH I REMEMBER!! DO YOU?
LOW STRESS JOBS....
How to Find a Low-Stress Job
by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs
Chronic job stress, which the World Health Organization has called a "worldwide epidemic," is not the occasional aggravation of a dysfunctional copier or an annoying coworker. It's the energy-draining, psyche-straining, day-to-day mental grind that results in accidents, insomnia, irritability, fatigue, and overall lower quality of life.
But work doesn't have to stress you out. There are dozens of low-stress jobs available across a wide variety of fields, according to Laurence Shatkin, career information expert and author of "150 Best Low-Stress Jobs." And the vast majority of those jobs have good growth potential and good wages as well, Shatkin tells Yahoo! HotJobs.
Best Low-Stress Job for You?
Reaction to stressors is idiosyncratic. Some find the pressure of exactitude debilitating, others thrive on it. Some can't handle conflict, while others take arguments in stride.
Hate time pressure? Archivists, who plan and oversee the arrangement of exhibitions, have a more leisurely pace of work than many other professions. Average annual earnings of archivists were nearly $41,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Prefer a short workweek? Massage therapists and fitness trainers work fewer hours per week than any other professionals. These fields are growing fast as well, although the pay is less than many other fields; and many positions are contract, without benefits (which some people could find stressful).
Don't want to look over your shoulder? Environmental scientists enjoy lower competition than many other fields. The career also offers an enviable 25% job growth rate and an average salary of $56,000, according to the most recent BLS data.
Want freedom from the bottom line? Mathematicians and sociologists -- average salaries, $87,000 and $60,000, respectively -- have to worry less about the impact their decisions have on company results.
Run from unpleasant people? You may be more comfortable working with plans (marine engineers, average earnings $73,000) or theories (physicists, average earnings $94,000).
To choose a low-stress job or career, it's important to consider what you can and can't abide, according to Andrea Moselle, senior manager of work/life at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. "Any job can be stressful or not, depending on how you view it."
De-Stress Your Current Job
Not everyone can find a great low-stress job quickly. If you're at wits end now, there are several ways to take the edge off your work situation:
Look at your own attitudes. While it might seem like the job itself is the culprit, experts suggest changing your attitudes and the way you adapt, or don't adapt, to job stressors. "If you're confident in yourself and positive about the world and open to new solutions, you'll find it easier to be resilient to stressful situations," Moselle says.
Gain control. Psychologists agree that when people experience less stress, they have some degree of over their environment. Even if it's something as simple as organizing your messy desk at the end of the day, or making a list of tasks, you'll not only clear up the mental clutter, but gain a sense of mastery and control over your job.
Get physical. Physical occupations such as massage therapist are considered low stress, Shatkin says, largely because it's harder to build up stress-generated adrenalin when you're moving around.
What if you have a sedentary job? After a contentious meeting, make time to walk around the block or around the building. Go beyond the stress ball and move your whole body, even if it's for a minute or two. Not only will you experience a decrease in stress-releasing chemicals like cortisol, you may get a fitness boost as well.
Track your accomplishments. A common denominator of many low-stress jobs is tangible results. Construction is considered a lower stress job in many ways because workers clearly see the fruits of their labors. If, like many, you have a job without a clear tangible output, Shatkin suggests keeping a tally that indicates what you've accomplished, or positive testimonial letters or emails from colleagues and customers.
"Besides adding to a sense of accomplishment, all of these documents can be useful at performance-appraisal time or for assembling a portfolio when job-seeking," he says.
Join an employee network. Groups that help employees who care for children or elderly parents, for example, are thriving in many companies. "These networks are a great way to find support and networking and mentoring help, as well as finding the tools to take some of the stress away on the job and off the job," Moselle says.
Make your needs known. Most companies have some feedback mechanisms for letting employees vent constructively. Whether you need child care services, flex time, fewer interruptions in your schedule, or a change in workflow patterns, Moselle suggests taking advantage of all opportunities to share ways of reducing your stress.
by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs
Chronic job stress, which the World Health Organization has called a "worldwide epidemic," is not the occasional aggravation of a dysfunctional copier or an annoying coworker. It's the energy-draining, psyche-straining, day-to-day mental grind that results in accidents, insomnia, irritability, fatigue, and overall lower quality of life.
But work doesn't have to stress you out. There are dozens of low-stress jobs available across a wide variety of fields, according to Laurence Shatkin, career information expert and author of "150 Best Low-Stress Jobs." And the vast majority of those jobs have good growth potential and good wages as well, Shatkin tells Yahoo! HotJobs.
Best Low-Stress Job for You?
Reaction to stressors is idiosyncratic. Some find the pressure of exactitude debilitating, others thrive on it. Some can't handle conflict, while others take arguments in stride.
Hate time pressure? Archivists, who plan and oversee the arrangement of exhibitions, have a more leisurely pace of work than many other professions. Average annual earnings of archivists were nearly $41,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Prefer a short workweek? Massage therapists and fitness trainers work fewer hours per week than any other professionals. These fields are growing fast as well, although the pay is less than many other fields; and many positions are contract, without benefits (which some people could find stressful).
Don't want to look over your shoulder? Environmental scientists enjoy lower competition than many other fields. The career also offers an enviable 25% job growth rate and an average salary of $56,000, according to the most recent BLS data.
Want freedom from the bottom line? Mathematicians and sociologists -- average salaries, $87,000 and $60,000, respectively -- have to worry less about the impact their decisions have on company results.
Run from unpleasant people? You may be more comfortable working with plans (marine engineers, average earnings $73,000) or theories (physicists, average earnings $94,000).
To choose a low-stress job or career, it's important to consider what you can and can't abide, according to Andrea Moselle, senior manager of work/life at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. "Any job can be stressful or not, depending on how you view it."
De-Stress Your Current Job
Not everyone can find a great low-stress job quickly. If you're at wits end now, there are several ways to take the edge off your work situation:
Look at your own attitudes. While it might seem like the job itself is the culprit, experts suggest changing your attitudes and the way you adapt, or don't adapt, to job stressors. "If you're confident in yourself and positive about the world and open to new solutions, you'll find it easier to be resilient to stressful situations," Moselle says.
Gain control. Psychologists agree that when people experience less stress, they have some degree of over their environment. Even if it's something as simple as organizing your messy desk at the end of the day, or making a list of tasks, you'll not only clear up the mental clutter, but gain a sense of mastery and control over your job.
Get physical. Physical occupations such as massage therapist are considered low stress, Shatkin says, largely because it's harder to build up stress-generated adrenalin when you're moving around.
What if you have a sedentary job? After a contentious meeting, make time to walk around the block or around the building. Go beyond the stress ball and move your whole body, even if it's for a minute or two. Not only will you experience a decrease in stress-releasing chemicals like cortisol, you may get a fitness boost as well.
Track your accomplishments. A common denominator of many low-stress jobs is tangible results. Construction is considered a lower stress job in many ways because workers clearly see the fruits of their labors. If, like many, you have a job without a clear tangible output, Shatkin suggests keeping a tally that indicates what you've accomplished, or positive testimonial letters or emails from colleagues and customers.
"Besides adding to a sense of accomplishment, all of these documents can be useful at performance-appraisal time or for assembling a portfolio when job-seeking," he says.
Join an employee network. Groups that help employees who care for children or elderly parents, for example, are thriving in many companies. "These networks are a great way to find support and networking and mentoring help, as well as finding the tools to take some of the stress away on the job and off the job," Moselle says.
Make your needs known. Most companies have some feedback mechanisms for letting employees vent constructively. Whether you need child care services, flex time, fewer interruptions in your schedule, or a change in workflow patterns, Moselle suggests taking advantage of all opportunities to share ways of reducing your stress.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Fed sees no economic recovery until next year!!
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The Federal Reserve has lowered its outlook on the recession-mired US economy, seeing no glint of recovery until next year, according to minutes of a central bank meeting released Wednesday.
Despite massive interventions by the Fed and other government bodies to jump-start the moribund economy and unblock tight credit, policymakers at a March meeting viewed grimmer projections than those made two months earlier.
"Real GDP (is) expected to flatten out gradually over the second half of this year and then to expand slowly next year as the stresses in financial markets ease, the effects of fiscal stimulus take hold, inventory adjustments are worked through, and the correction in housing activity comes to an end," the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) said.
FOMC chairman Ben Bernanke and his policymakers at the March 17-18 meeting stared down grim staff-prepared forecasts that were sharply lower than the outlook prepared for the previous January FOMC meeting.
In January, the economy was expected to recover "gradually" during the second half of 2009 albeit it would shrink between 0.5 percent and 1.3 percent for the full year.
The central bank had also predicted growth would accelerate to between 2.5 percent and 3.3 percent for 2010. Critics at the time had said the forecasts were overly optimistic.
"Nearly all meeting participants said that conditions had deteriorated relative to their expectations at the time of the January meeting," the latest FOMC minutes said.
The slowdown was broad, across sectors, and included large declines in equity prices, a further drop in house prices, mounting job losses that threatened to further depress consumer spending, and weakening business capital spending.
Policymakers noted "the apparent sharp fall" in foreign economies that was hitting US exports, reducing their supporting role for the US economy in the near term.
They also in particular highlighted significant uncertainty about the prospects for the economy, which slid into recession in December 2007.
Most participants at the meeting saw "predominating" downside risks in the near term, mainly due to potential "adverse feedback effects" from rising unemployment weighing on consumer spending and mounting losses at financial institutions further tightening credit conditions.
At the meeting, policymakers voted to unanimously hold the Fed's base interest rate at a historically low range of zero to 0.25 percent, where it has been since mid-December.
They also announced a 1.15-trillion-dollar initiative to unblock frozen credit, including ramped-up purchases of mortgage-backed securities and the launch of program to buy long-term Treasury bonds.
The latest FOMC minutes signal the Fed may need to do more to boost the economy, analysts said.
"The minutes served as a reminder to investors that economic conditions remain weak and that downside risks predominate the near term," Briefing.com analysts said in a note to clients.
Brian Bethune, chief US financial economist at IHS Global Insight, suggested the Fed should work on raising demand for its new Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), intended to unlock credit flows for auto loans and credit cards.
"The Fed needs to work with Congress to iron out some of the wrinkles that are impeding a more rapid uptake of investors and borrowers within this program. This clearly needs to be a short-term priority," Bethune said
Despite massive interventions by the Fed and other government bodies to jump-start the moribund economy and unblock tight credit, policymakers at a March meeting viewed grimmer projections than those made two months earlier.
"Real GDP (is) expected to flatten out gradually over the second half of this year and then to expand slowly next year as the stresses in financial markets ease, the effects of fiscal stimulus take hold, inventory adjustments are worked through, and the correction in housing activity comes to an end," the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) said.
FOMC chairman Ben Bernanke and his policymakers at the March 17-18 meeting stared down grim staff-prepared forecasts that were sharply lower than the outlook prepared for the previous January FOMC meeting.
In January, the economy was expected to recover "gradually" during the second half of 2009 albeit it would shrink between 0.5 percent and 1.3 percent for the full year.
The central bank had also predicted growth would accelerate to between 2.5 percent and 3.3 percent for 2010. Critics at the time had said the forecasts were overly optimistic.
"Nearly all meeting participants said that conditions had deteriorated relative to their expectations at the time of the January meeting," the latest FOMC minutes said.
The slowdown was broad, across sectors, and included large declines in equity prices, a further drop in house prices, mounting job losses that threatened to further depress consumer spending, and weakening business capital spending.
Policymakers noted "the apparent sharp fall" in foreign economies that was hitting US exports, reducing their supporting role for the US economy in the near term.
They also in particular highlighted significant uncertainty about the prospects for the economy, which slid into recession in December 2007.
Most participants at the meeting saw "predominating" downside risks in the near term, mainly due to potential "adverse feedback effects" from rising unemployment weighing on consumer spending and mounting losses at financial institutions further tightening credit conditions.
At the meeting, policymakers voted to unanimously hold the Fed's base interest rate at a historically low range of zero to 0.25 percent, where it has been since mid-December.
They also announced a 1.15-trillion-dollar initiative to unblock frozen credit, including ramped-up purchases of mortgage-backed securities and the launch of program to buy long-term Treasury bonds.
The latest FOMC minutes signal the Fed may need to do more to boost the economy, analysts said.
"The minutes served as a reminder to investors that economic conditions remain weak and that downside risks predominate the near term," Briefing.com analysts said in a note to clients.
Brian Bethune, chief US financial economist at IHS Global Insight, suggested the Fed should work on raising demand for its new Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), intended to unlock credit flows for auto loans and credit cards.
"The Fed needs to work with Congress to iron out some of the wrinkles that are impeding a more rapid uptake of investors and borrowers within this program. This clearly needs to be a short-term priority," Bethune said
The Best Part-Time Jobs With Full-Time Paychecks
by Patricia Cecil-Reed
When most of us hear the term "part-time job," we think of teenagers working at fast-food chains for minimum wage. However, perceptions like this are quickly changing as more Americans seek out part-time work and find real benefits, financially and otherwise.
Part-time is defined as anywhere between one and thirty-four hours per week. The average is twenty-one hours per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While many people work at the following careers full-time, it is not uncommon for part-time employees to enter these fields, too.
Your part-time job can offer full-time rewards. Continuing education can be helpful for employment in some sectors, especially if you don't have previous experience. Online education can make it even easier to earn an associate's or bachelor's degree, certificate, or extra training needed to jump into one of these careers.
Dental hygienist
This is one of the fastest-growing occupations today, according to the BLS, with thirty percent growth expected between now and 2016. Part-time work is very common for dental hygienists, and flexible hours are another attractive feature of the job.
Career Training: An associate's degree in dental hygiene plus state licensure is often enough to seek employment in a private dental practice.
Mean Hourly Wage: $31.12
Paralegal
Paralegal employment is on the rise as companies and law firms try to curb spending by delegating legal tasks to paralegals. While they aren't permitted to set legal fees, give legal advice, or present cases in court, paralegals are able to perform most other legal tasks.
Career Training: An associate's degree in paralegal studies is the most common route to becoming a paralegal. If you already have a college degree, you may be able to join an intensive program to get your degree and certification more quickly. Some programs take just a few months to complete.
Mean Hourly Wage: $22.88
Computer Support Specialist
Use your tech savvy to earn some extra income. Computer support specialists, including help-desk technicians and technical support, help people troubleshoot their technology foibles by phone, e-mail, or in person.
Career Training: While there are many different ways to train for a job as a computer support specialist, most employers prefer some computer-related training or a bachelor's or associate's degree in a computer-related field such as information technology.
Mean Hourly Wage: $21.78
Pharmacy Technician
This can be an ideal part-time job for those who have an interest in medicine and enjoy working with people. Many pharmacy technicians work nights and weekends, which is a good arrangement for those who need hours outside of the nine to five work day.
Career Training: Pharmacy technician certification offers an added advantage, especially for those without prior experience.
Mean Hourly Wage: $13.25
Bank Teller
One out of four tellers work part-time, reports the BLS. Because many tellers use the job as temporary employment, there are frequent job openings. This is a great choice for detail-oriented job seekers looking for more traditional daytime hours.
Career Training: Although there are no formal requirements for becoming a bank teller, it may be helpful to have an associate's or bachelor's degree or coursework in accounting, business, or finance.
Mean Hourly Wage: $11.36
Massage Therapist
The BLS cites massage therapist as a particularly good job for those seeking part-time work. As more people learn about the advantages of massage therapy, employment opportunities are on the rise, with 20 percent growth anticipated between now and 2016.
Career Training: Most states require massage therapy certification in addition to a formal training program. You can earn certification in massage therapy in anywhere from several weeks to two years, and can even do part of your studies through online education.
Mean Hourly Wage: $19.39
Tax Preparer
Tax preparers must have a detailed and up-to-date knowledge of tax codes and regulations, but they don't have the same educational requirements as a certified public accountant or an auditor. This is a great part-time career, especially around tax season.
Career Training: Tax preparers can often pursue an associate's in accounting in order to train for this career.
Mean Hourly Wage: $16.78
There are many reasons why people today seek a part-time career. For some, childcare or continuing education requirements may make a forty-hour-per-week job unfeasible. Others may want extra income to supplement their full-time job, or may be returning to the work force after retirement. You don't have to deliver pizza or make lattes to have a part-time job that fits in with your life--get the training you need to land a rewarding part-time job that pays the bills.
When most of us hear the term "part-time job," we think of teenagers working at fast-food chains for minimum wage. However, perceptions like this are quickly changing as more Americans seek out part-time work and find real benefits, financially and otherwise.
Part-time is defined as anywhere between one and thirty-four hours per week. The average is twenty-one hours per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While many people work at the following careers full-time, it is not uncommon for part-time employees to enter these fields, too.
Your part-time job can offer full-time rewards. Continuing education can be helpful for employment in some sectors, especially if you don't have previous experience. Online education can make it even easier to earn an associate's or bachelor's degree, certificate, or extra training needed to jump into one of these careers.
Dental hygienist
This is one of the fastest-growing occupations today, according to the BLS, with thirty percent growth expected between now and 2016. Part-time work is very common for dental hygienists, and flexible hours are another attractive feature of the job.
Career Training: An associate's degree in dental hygiene plus state licensure is often enough to seek employment in a private dental practice.
Mean Hourly Wage: $31.12
Paralegal
Paralegal employment is on the rise as companies and law firms try to curb spending by delegating legal tasks to paralegals. While they aren't permitted to set legal fees, give legal advice, or present cases in court, paralegals are able to perform most other legal tasks.
Career Training: An associate's degree in paralegal studies is the most common route to becoming a paralegal. If you already have a college degree, you may be able to join an intensive program to get your degree and certification more quickly. Some programs take just a few months to complete.
Mean Hourly Wage: $22.88
Computer Support Specialist
Use your tech savvy to earn some extra income. Computer support specialists, including help-desk technicians and technical support, help people troubleshoot their technology foibles by phone, e-mail, or in person.
Career Training: While there are many different ways to train for a job as a computer support specialist, most employers prefer some computer-related training or a bachelor's or associate's degree in a computer-related field such as information technology.
Mean Hourly Wage: $21.78
Pharmacy Technician
This can be an ideal part-time job for those who have an interest in medicine and enjoy working with people. Many pharmacy technicians work nights and weekends, which is a good arrangement for those who need hours outside of the nine to five work day.
Career Training: Pharmacy technician certification offers an added advantage, especially for those without prior experience.
Mean Hourly Wage: $13.25
Bank Teller
One out of four tellers work part-time, reports the BLS. Because many tellers use the job as temporary employment, there are frequent job openings. This is a great choice for detail-oriented job seekers looking for more traditional daytime hours.
Career Training: Although there are no formal requirements for becoming a bank teller, it may be helpful to have an associate's or bachelor's degree or coursework in accounting, business, or finance.
Mean Hourly Wage: $11.36
Massage Therapist
The BLS cites massage therapist as a particularly good job for those seeking part-time work. As more people learn about the advantages of massage therapy, employment opportunities are on the rise, with 20 percent growth anticipated between now and 2016.
Career Training: Most states require massage therapy certification in addition to a formal training program. You can earn certification in massage therapy in anywhere from several weeks to two years, and can even do part of your studies through online education.
Mean Hourly Wage: $19.39
Tax Preparer
Tax preparers must have a detailed and up-to-date knowledge of tax codes and regulations, but they don't have the same educational requirements as a certified public accountant or an auditor. This is a great part-time career, especially around tax season.
Career Training: Tax preparers can often pursue an associate's in accounting in order to train for this career.
Mean Hourly Wage: $16.78
There are many reasons why people today seek a part-time career. For some, childcare or continuing education requirements may make a forty-hour-per-week job unfeasible. Others may want extra income to supplement their full-time job, or may be returning to the work force after retirement. You don't have to deliver pizza or make lattes to have a part-time job that fits in with your life--get the training you need to land a rewarding part-time job that pays the bills.
6 Natural Tips for Deep Sleep
By Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Tue, Apr 07, 2009, 2:36 pm PDT
Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity
by Dr. Maoshing Ni a Yahoo! Health Expert for Alternative Medicine
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Would you like to sleep like a baby without taking drugs? Americans spend upwards of 3 billion dollars a year on sleep medications, but to avoid the side effects, there are a number of natural remedies you can try first. Read on to learn some of the ways to get a good quality night's sleep.
1. Relaxing Rituals to Rest Easy
In Chinese Medicine, nighttime is yin time—or, simply, when the body takes care of itself instead of your desires. Proper sleep is required for your body to repair itself and regenerate. To reach deep, restful sleep, your spirit and heart must be calm. Excessive worry, anxiety, and depression can all disturb the spirit and activate the mind—making it near impossible to fall asleep and stay asleep. Rituals to sooth your spirit and induce a sleep response before bed include soaking your feet in Epson salts for 15 minutes, writing all of your thoughts in a journal to get them out of your head, and practicing relaxation before bed, like the Stress Release meditation below.
2. When Food Disturbs Sleep
When you eat late, you wake up tired. Your body will be busy digesting your dinner while you are trying to sleep, so you won't feel rested in the morning. Do not eat anything for at least three hours before bedtime. Also, cut back on eating bacon, cheese, chocolate, ham, potatoes, tomatoes, and sausage, especially before bed. These foods contain tyramine, which inhibits neurochemicals like norepinephrine and can cause insomnia. And, of course if you have sleep problems, caffeine should be cut out.
Eat for sleep! Try eating more grains at dinner; carbohydrates tend to make people sleepy. Another snooze snack is a warm cup of milk; because milk is rich in the amino acid tryptophan, it can sometimes aid in deep sleep. Mix in natural vanilla flavoring for a soothing snack. Or if you prefer, eat 1 cup of natural yogurt an hour before bedtime.
3. A Peaceful Place for Sleep
Your sleeping environment makes a huge difference to the quality of your sleep. Do everything you can to create a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Ideally, your bedroom should be located in the quietest area of your home. Keep the décor minimal. Lighting should be dim and any music that is played should be soothing. Research has found that lavender, vanilla, and green apple are among the best scents to help lower anxiety and induce sleep, making these smells a good choice for a scented candle or heated essential oil. Try to limit your pets to outside of the bedroom because their movements will keep with your body from fully relaxing into deep R. E. M. sleep. As much as possible, your bedroom should be only for sleep.
4. Exercise Enables Sleep
People with regular exercise routines often sleep better and have fewer incidents of insomnia than those don't get regular physical activity. Exercise promotes sleep and improves sleep quality by altering brain chemistry. Exercising moderately for 20 to 30 minutes three times a day, combined with meditation or tai chi in the evening, will not only help you fall and stay asleep, but will also increase the amount of time you spend in R.E.M. sleep. In fact, for some people, exercise alone is enough to overcome sleep problems. Exercise in the morning or afternoon, but do not exercise for at least two hours before bed.
5. Herbs to Sleep Tight
A calming tea before bedtime can ensure a good night's sleep. Drink valerian or passionflower (or passiflora) tea before bedtime every night for one month. Simply steep 1 to 2 tablespoons of the dried herbs in one cup of hot water and drink just before bed. Or look for one with the traditional Chinese herbs zizyphus or jujube seed, bamboo shavings, and oyster shell, which soothe the mind and spirit.
You might also try Calm-Fort/Sleep formula with useful herbs like lily bulbs, polygala and turmeric that help manage stress and calm the spirit while relieving restlessness and insomnia.
6. A Sleep-Friendly Meditation
I had one patient with insomnia who also felt anxious and even a little depressed. In addition to acupuncture and herbal therapies, I decided to teach her a stress release meditation that she could do before bedtime to help with her anxiety. I am happy to report that she is now sleeping like a baby.
Try this Stress Release meditation, which works for the majority of my patients who have sleeping problems:
Sit comfortably or lie down on your back. Slow your respiration to deep, abdominal breathing. Utter the word "calm" in your mind with every exhalation. Focus on relaxing each area of your body in sequence, from the top of your head to your toes. Starting with the top of your head, inhale and then exhale while visualizing your scalp muscles relaxing. Say "calm" in your mind. Repeat this with each body part as you move down through all body parts, front, back, and sides, in succession: your face, throat, chest, arms, stomach, abdomen, thighs, knees, legs, ankles, until finally you reach your feet. When you've relaxed your feet, visualize all the tension in your body leaving through your toes as dark smoke. Practice this for at least 15 minutes before bedtime.
It will have you sleeping in no time. If you do better with meditative visualizations that are narrated, try my Stress Release CD.
I hope you find the ways to resting easy and waking up refreshed!
May you stay healthy, live long, and live happy!
-Dr. Mao
- - - - - - - - - -
Transform your health and bring quality to your years with Dr. Mao's natural health products from the Tao of Wellness.
Discover a high-quality water filtration system that will provide you with pure, healthy water.
Order Dr. Mao's new book Second Spring: Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age.
Learn hundreds of ways for living a long and happy life with Dr. Mao's book Secrets of Longevity.
Find out amazing ways you can naturally increase your energy and heal common ailments in Secrets of Self-Healing, Dr. Mao's landmark book on natural healing.
Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity
by Dr. Maoshing Ni a Yahoo! Health Expert for Alternative Medicine
Visit Alternative Medicine Home »
More By This Expert
6 Natural Tips for Deep Sleep5 Warmer Weather Workout TipsBest 6 Ways to Balance Emotions
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Rate this blog entry:
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94% of users found this article helpful.
Would you like to sleep like a baby without taking drugs? Americans spend upwards of 3 billion dollars a year on sleep medications, but to avoid the side effects, there are a number of natural remedies you can try first. Read on to learn some of the ways to get a good quality night's sleep.
1. Relaxing Rituals to Rest Easy
In Chinese Medicine, nighttime is yin time—or, simply, when the body takes care of itself instead of your desires. Proper sleep is required for your body to repair itself and regenerate. To reach deep, restful sleep, your spirit and heart must be calm. Excessive worry, anxiety, and depression can all disturb the spirit and activate the mind—making it near impossible to fall asleep and stay asleep. Rituals to sooth your spirit and induce a sleep response before bed include soaking your feet in Epson salts for 15 minutes, writing all of your thoughts in a journal to get them out of your head, and practicing relaxation before bed, like the Stress Release meditation below.
2. When Food Disturbs Sleep
When you eat late, you wake up tired. Your body will be busy digesting your dinner while you are trying to sleep, so you won't feel rested in the morning. Do not eat anything for at least three hours before bedtime. Also, cut back on eating bacon, cheese, chocolate, ham, potatoes, tomatoes, and sausage, especially before bed. These foods contain tyramine, which inhibits neurochemicals like norepinephrine and can cause insomnia. And, of course if you have sleep problems, caffeine should be cut out.
Eat for sleep! Try eating more grains at dinner; carbohydrates tend to make people sleepy. Another snooze snack is a warm cup of milk; because milk is rich in the amino acid tryptophan, it can sometimes aid in deep sleep. Mix in natural vanilla flavoring for a soothing snack. Or if you prefer, eat 1 cup of natural yogurt an hour before bedtime.
3. A Peaceful Place for Sleep
Your sleeping environment makes a huge difference to the quality of your sleep. Do everything you can to create a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Ideally, your bedroom should be located in the quietest area of your home. Keep the décor minimal. Lighting should be dim and any music that is played should be soothing. Research has found that lavender, vanilla, and green apple are among the best scents to help lower anxiety and induce sleep, making these smells a good choice for a scented candle or heated essential oil. Try to limit your pets to outside of the bedroom because their movements will keep with your body from fully relaxing into deep R. E. M. sleep. As much as possible, your bedroom should be only for sleep.
4. Exercise Enables Sleep
People with regular exercise routines often sleep better and have fewer incidents of insomnia than those don't get regular physical activity. Exercise promotes sleep and improves sleep quality by altering brain chemistry. Exercising moderately for 20 to 30 minutes three times a day, combined with meditation or tai chi in the evening, will not only help you fall and stay asleep, but will also increase the amount of time you spend in R.E.M. sleep. In fact, for some people, exercise alone is enough to overcome sleep problems. Exercise in the morning or afternoon, but do not exercise for at least two hours before bed.
5. Herbs to Sleep Tight
A calming tea before bedtime can ensure a good night's sleep. Drink valerian or passionflower (or passiflora) tea before bedtime every night for one month. Simply steep 1 to 2 tablespoons of the dried herbs in one cup of hot water and drink just before bed. Or look for one with the traditional Chinese herbs zizyphus or jujube seed, bamboo shavings, and oyster shell, which soothe the mind and spirit.
You might also try Calm-Fort/Sleep formula with useful herbs like lily bulbs, polygala and turmeric that help manage stress and calm the spirit while relieving restlessness and insomnia.
6. A Sleep-Friendly Meditation
I had one patient with insomnia who also felt anxious and even a little depressed. In addition to acupuncture and herbal therapies, I decided to teach her a stress release meditation that she could do before bedtime to help with her anxiety. I am happy to report that she is now sleeping like a baby.
Try this Stress Release meditation, which works for the majority of my patients who have sleeping problems:
Sit comfortably or lie down on your back. Slow your respiration to deep, abdominal breathing. Utter the word "calm" in your mind with every exhalation. Focus on relaxing each area of your body in sequence, from the top of your head to your toes. Starting with the top of your head, inhale and then exhale while visualizing your scalp muscles relaxing. Say "calm" in your mind. Repeat this with each body part as you move down through all body parts, front, back, and sides, in succession: your face, throat, chest, arms, stomach, abdomen, thighs, knees, legs, ankles, until finally you reach your feet. When you've relaxed your feet, visualize all the tension in your body leaving through your toes as dark smoke. Practice this for at least 15 minutes before bedtime.
It will have you sleeping in no time. If you do better with meditative visualizations that are narrated, try my Stress Release CD.
I hope you find the ways to resting easy and waking up refreshed!
May you stay healthy, live long, and live happy!
-Dr. Mao
- - - - - - - - - -
Transform your health and bring quality to your years with Dr. Mao's natural health products from the Tao of Wellness.
Discover a high-quality water filtration system that will provide you with pure, healthy water.
Order Dr. Mao's new book Second Spring: Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age.
Learn hundreds of ways for living a long and happy life with Dr. Mao's book Secrets of Longevity.
Find out amazing ways you can naturally increase your energy and heal common ailments in Secrets of Self-Healing, Dr. Mao's landmark book on natural healing.
When Love Goes Wrong...PART 5
I SAW HER IF ONLY FROM A GLANCE, WEARING THE SEXIEST DRESS OR MAYBE IT WAS THE BODY INSIDE THE DRESS. WHAT EVER IT WAS IT COMMANDED MY ATTENTION. NOT ABLE TO STARE AS MUCH AS I WANTED BECAUSE I HAD MY LADY WITH ME AT THIS ELABORATE EVENT! WE DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY AND AS I INTRODUCED HER TO MY SOCIAL CIRCLE WE WERE NOW OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS THE "COUPLE". SHE TRIED TO PLAY IT COOL BUT I KNEW IN THE BACK OF MY MIND THAT SHE WAS INSECURE AND I ALSO KNEW THAT SHE DIDN'T TRUST ME AS FAR AS SHE COULD SEE ME. I RESPECTED WHAT WE HAD AS COUPLE AND WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HURT HER OR OUR RELATIONSHIP! WE RETURNED HOME AFTER THE EVENT WHERE WE MADE MAD PASSIONATE LOVE AND THEN FELL ASLEEP IN EACH OTHER'S ARM.
THE MORNING SUN FOUND US IN A DEEP AND PEACEFUL SLEEP BEFROE FORCING US TO RISE WHERE WE THEN WENT INT O THE SHOWER TOGETHER AS WE DID SO MANY TIMES BEFORE FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. WASHING EACH OTHER'S BACKS AS WE LET THE WATER RUN DOWN OUR BODY. AND AS WE ALSO DID BEFORE WE FOUND OURSELVES MAKING LOVE YET AGAIN!! THEN AFTERWARDS WE BOTH HEADED OUT IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TO OUR JOBS!
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE MYSTERY WOMAN AND THAT SEXY AS DRESS SHE WORE! I HAD HER WHOLE BODY FACE AND ALL EMBEDDED DEEP IN MY MIND. I ALSO VISUALIZED MAKING LOVE TO HER WHILE WITH KALITA. IF SHE KNEW AND I AM SURE SHE WOULD REPLAY THAT NIGHT OF MAKING LOVE LATER THAT DAY! I WOULD PORBABLY HAVE A MILLION QUESTIONS LATER ON THIS EVENING BUT AS FOR NOW I WAS GOING TO ENJOY MY DAY DREAMING!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Lose 2 pounds in 1 week!!
Drop 2 Pounds This Week
By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief - Posted on Fri, Apr 03, 2009, 12:52 pm PDT
Happier, Healthier You
by Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief a Yahoo! Health Expert for Women's Health
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What to Eat For Gorgeous SkinDrop 2 Pounds This WeekBest Foods for a Flat Belly
53% of users found this article helpful.
Want to shed some weight without the headache of calorie counting, measuring portions or giving up your fun foods? I did! And now it's your turn, by trying what has been working for more than a million other women: the SELF Challenge. As part of our 13th annual Challenge, we've created quick, fun ways to peel off pounds without getting woozy from starving yourself or spending your life at the gym. The key is to get your heart pounding so you lose the poundage.
Here’s the deal: Decide whether you want to lose 2 pounds a week or less (that may sound slow, but you can drop a size in a month this way and keep it off). Follow our free, easy eating plan and try to burn 500 calories per day for a total of 3,500 a week. Those shooting to lose a pound a week should aim to sizzle 250 calories per day (and 1,750 a week). To maintain your weight, focus on daily sweat sessions that burn 100 calories a day (or 700 calories off per week).
Whatever your goal, choose from the following workouts. (Pay attention to the effort level, using a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is watching TV and 10 is installing a 100-pound plasma screen on the wall.) The smartest, most effective route to lasting weight loss is through exercise, so no matter which mix of workouts you choose, expect to see results within two weeks.
Activities to burn 500 calories:
• Walk 40 minutes at a level 8 on a hilly course (or crank up the incline on the treadmill).
• Do 36 minutes of running intervals: Jog for 1 minute at a level 5, sprint 1 minute at a level 9. Repeat 18 times.
• Take a 45-minute Spinning class.
• Dance to a good beat for 72 minutes at a level 7.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 60 minutes, doing intervals. Do 2 minutes at a level 8, then 1 minute at a level 5. Repeat 20 times.
• Swim freestyle for 50 minutes at a level 8.
• Use the rowing machine for 40 minutes, doing intervals: Go 8 minutes at a level 8, then 2 minutes at a level 4. Repeat 4 times.
Activities to burn 250 calories:
• Walk for 35 minutes at a level 7.
• Run for 20 minutes at a level 7.
• Bike for 30 minutes at a level 5.
• Dance for 50 minutes at a level 4.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 30 minutes at a level 8.
• Swim freestyle for 25 minutes at a level 8.
• Use the rowing machine for 28 minutes at a level 8.
Activities to burn 100 calories:
• Walk for 25 minutes at a level 4.
• Run for 12 minutes at a level 4.
• Bike for 17 minutes at a level 4.
• Dance for 20 minutes at a level 4.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 15 minutes at a level 5.
• Swim freestyle for 15 minutes at a level 5.
• Use the rowing machine for 25 minutes at a level 5.
Want to firm up while you're slimming down? Add in this toning routine, developed by our fitness director, certified trainer Meaghan B. Murphy, twice a week. Or try this flat-belly bonus video.
Good luck!
By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief - Posted on Fri, Apr 03, 2009, 12:52 pm PDT
Happier, Healthier You
by Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief a Yahoo! Health Expert for Women's Health
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53% of users found this article helpful.
Want to shed some weight without the headache of calorie counting, measuring portions or giving up your fun foods? I did! And now it's your turn, by trying what has been working for more than a million other women: the SELF Challenge. As part of our 13th annual Challenge, we've created quick, fun ways to peel off pounds without getting woozy from starving yourself or spending your life at the gym. The key is to get your heart pounding so you lose the poundage.
Here’s the deal: Decide whether you want to lose 2 pounds a week or less (that may sound slow, but you can drop a size in a month this way and keep it off). Follow our free, easy eating plan and try to burn 500 calories per day for a total of 3,500 a week. Those shooting to lose a pound a week should aim to sizzle 250 calories per day (and 1,750 a week). To maintain your weight, focus on daily sweat sessions that burn 100 calories a day (or 700 calories off per week).
Whatever your goal, choose from the following workouts. (Pay attention to the effort level, using a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is watching TV and 10 is installing a 100-pound plasma screen on the wall.) The smartest, most effective route to lasting weight loss is through exercise, so no matter which mix of workouts you choose, expect to see results within two weeks.
Activities to burn 500 calories:
• Walk 40 minutes at a level 8 on a hilly course (or crank up the incline on the treadmill).
• Do 36 minutes of running intervals: Jog for 1 minute at a level 5, sprint 1 minute at a level 9. Repeat 18 times.
• Take a 45-minute Spinning class.
• Dance to a good beat for 72 minutes at a level 7.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 60 minutes, doing intervals. Do 2 minutes at a level 8, then 1 minute at a level 5. Repeat 20 times.
• Swim freestyle for 50 minutes at a level 8.
• Use the rowing machine for 40 minutes, doing intervals: Go 8 minutes at a level 8, then 2 minutes at a level 4. Repeat 4 times.
Activities to burn 250 calories:
• Walk for 35 minutes at a level 7.
• Run for 20 minutes at a level 7.
• Bike for 30 minutes at a level 5.
• Dance for 50 minutes at a level 4.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 30 minutes at a level 8.
• Swim freestyle for 25 minutes at a level 8.
• Use the rowing machine for 28 minutes at a level 8.
Activities to burn 100 calories:
• Walk for 25 minutes at a level 4.
• Run for 12 minutes at a level 4.
• Bike for 17 minutes at a level 4.
• Dance for 20 minutes at a level 4.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 15 minutes at a level 5.
• Swim freestyle for 15 minutes at a level 5.
• Use the rowing machine for 25 minutes at a level 5.
Want to firm up while you're slimming down? Add in this toning routine, developed by our fitness director, certified trainer Meaghan B. Murphy, twice a week. Or try this flat-belly bonus video.
Good luck!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
OK I AM BACK ! AND IN FULL EFFECT ..YES THE LESBIAN EROTICA DIVA IS HERE!!
OK I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I POSTED TO MY BLOG BUT THIS DIVA HAS A 9-5 AND I TELL YOU THEY ARE WORKING THE SHIT OUT OF A GIRL!WOOOOOSAAAAAAAAAAAAA...LOL
ANYWHO AS I WAIT TO MOVE INTO A NEW APARTMENT I HAVE PLACED MY THIRD BOOK ON HOLD AS FAR AS THE WRITING GOES AND WITH THIS ECONOMY GOING THE WAY IT IS, I MAY JUST HAVE TO TAKE ON A SECOND JOB. UNLESS MY BOOKS SELLS GOES THROUGH THE ROOF!! WHICH I AM PRAYING ON AS WE SPEAK, GOD IS GOOD !!
NOW SOME RANTING......WHY IS IT THAT AFRICAN- AMERICANS FIND IT SO HARD TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER/ ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PERSON IS DOING SOMETHING THAT IS BOTH ENTERTAINING AND POSITIVE!! MAN I TELL YOU IT IS SO HARD FOR A WOMAN OUT HERE TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HERSELF!! BUT... I FIND THAT OTHER RACES ARE SO FOR SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW AND THE FUNNY PART IS THAT THEY THROW FUNDRAISERS AND ALL TO ASSIST THAT PERSON TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO!!
NOW AIN'T MY PRESIDENT COOL...
I WAS SENT THESE PICTURES OF NOW PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA FROM WAY BACK IN THE DAYS!!LOOK AT HIM BEING AS COOL AS EVER!!
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