Archive for September, 2012

What Are the Best Paying Careers for People without College Degrees?

September 28th, 2012 |

Which Jobs Pay Best with No College Degree?

There are well-paying careers that people do not need college degrees to enter. Most of these careers are found in fields that are either highly competitive or that include responsibility with many lives on the line or a lot of money on the line.

You’ll also notice that these positions tend to require someone to receive a hefty amount of on-the-job training and possibly a license of some sort. But you won’t have to sit in a classroom for four years to hold these jobs.

Air Traffic Controller

An air traffic controller does not need a college degree. The air traffic controller does need four years of college and three years of on-the-job training. That’s because air traffic controllers direct airplanes on their takeoffs and landings and make certain they don’t crash into one another waiting to land or flying across the country. That’s a high pressure job with lots of training required, but the job pays on average nearly $93,000 a year for people with 10+ years experience.

Commercial Pilot

The commercial pilot will need to complete a pilot’s license and maintain certification. Becoming a commercial pilot usually requires 250 hours of flight for smaller companies, 1,000 for regional commercial airlines and 2,000-3,000 hours for a national commercial airline. Getting hours to get to that 250 hour plateau often comes with a local flying club or through classes at the local airport.

Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent doesn’t need to have a college degree, since their job is sales related. Salesmen seldom do, but often make good money. A real estate agent will need between 60-90 hours of training and generally needs between 1-3 years of training as a real estate sales agent (different than a real estate broker) to attain a real estate broker license. Once you get this, you’ll buy and sell houses on the real estate market. A real estate broker might become a commercial property broker, instead.

Keep in mind that real estate is a highly competitive field. The turnover rate is incredible, because of how easy it is to enter the real estate broker field. Most decide the job isn’t for them or they can’t make a go at it. Those who remain in the real estate business for 5 years can make upwards of $75,000 to $80,000 per year on average, at least in the bigger cities.

Sales Representative

Sales job aren’t likely to require a college degree. These individuals require a certain charisma to make sales that isn’t taught in schools. Sales reps tend to be personable, talkative, charming and gregarious. Typically, the sales representative sells a company’s merchandise to a store owner, who in turns sales them in retail to public customers. This position is generally not an entry-level position, but is attained after a time of service to the company. Some college might be preferred, but is not required.

Transportation Manager

Trucking companies inevitably need someone to organize and direct their transportation and trucking activities. That’s what a transportation manager does. The entry position is generally a truck driver himself (or herself). Many transportation managers have some college hours, but it’s not a necessity.

Immigration and Customs Officer

An immigration officer or customs inspector is charged with keeping illegal people and items out of the country. Because of the high level of responsibility required for this career, the salary for a customs officer tends to be pretty high. Once again, this job requires a keen eye and honesty, but does not require a college degree.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

No, you don’t have to have a college degree to be put in charge of whether a nuclear reactor has a meltdown or not. You do have to get a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and pass a yearly examination. Nuclear power reactor operators make a median income of just over $80,000 a year.

Casino Floor Manager

The casino floor manager is a highly important position in a casino, because he oversees the pit bosses and dealers: in effect overseeing huge amounts of money every day. The casino floor manager not only has to have a keen eye for gamblers and casino patrons involved in shady activities, but he has to keep an eye on a huge room full of employees, too. Most of all, the casino floor manager has to be honest.

You don’t walk into a casino and get a job as a casino floor manager. You’ll probably start as a card dealer. If you are successful and impress the casino management, you’ll get a job as a “pit boss”, who settle disputes, watch out for cheating and give comps to customers in one aspect of the casino: the blackjack pit or the craps tables, for instance.

If you’re successful at this intermediate step and stand out from the other pit bosses, you’ll get a shot at the casino gaming manager, who is likely to make over $75,000 a year. The casino wants to make sure you make a comfortable living, to avoid tempations to cheat the casino.

With all that in mind, you don’t need a college degree to become a casino gaming manager.

Police Detective

Once again, to become a police detective, you’ll need to work your way through the ranks of the police force, most likely starting out as a patrol officer. The police detective, like the air traffic controller and the nuclear reactor operator, has a lot of lives in his or her hands.

Not only are you solving crimes that might involve getting justice for a murdered someone and their family, but you are also saving lives by taking dangerous people off the streets. A bad detective can cost the wrongly accused years of jail time, while costing the taxpayers thousands of dollars in court costs. So the police detective has major responsibilities.

Fire Fighting Supervisor

The fire fighting supervisor has not only the lives of the public in their hands, but also the lives of the firefighters working under him. This individual generally comes from the ranks of the firefighters themselves.

What Is the College Cost Reduction and Access Act?

September 27th, 2012 |

What is the College Cost Reduction and Access Act?

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act was passed in 2007 — the bill, signed into law by then President George W. Bush, was a sweeping reform of laws related to finances for college students. Though most of the bill’s legislation has already been phased in, a crucial portion of the bill for those of us who are dealing with college loans goes into effect on July 1, 2009.

A quick summary of what parts of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act have already taken effect:

1. Doing away with “tuition sensitivity”

Students at some “lower cost” institutions, such as state schools or junior colleges, were once limited in the amount of Pell Grant money they could receive. These “tuition sensitivity” clauses were wiped out, allowing students at colleges across the nation to receive the maximum Pell Grant available. The bill also allowed for extra money to pay out these larger grants, and gave many students the ability to afford college.

2. Pell Grant increases

The size of Pell Grants went up as well — by 2012, students receiving Pell Grant awards would earn as much as $1,100 more per award year.

3. Increased funding for “Upward Bound” programs

4. TEACH Grants

Students in teacher certification programs could receive an additional grant from the Federal government to earn their teaching certificate. In order to receive this award, students earning a TEACH grant are required to serve a minimum of four years as a certified teacher in specific schools teaching specific subjects, mostly math and the hard sciences.

5. Interest Rate Reductions

Over the next four years, interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans for students will continue to drop — as low as 3.4% by award year 2012.

6. Student Loan Deferment for members of the armed forces

These changes in college finances have already helped countless students on their way to a college education, but a major part of the bill’s platform will take effect next week — income based repayment of student loans.

Loan re payments will be limited to just fifteen percent of a borrower’s discretionary income. If a borrower is married, that number means 15 percent of the amount of the borrower’s family’s adjusted gross income. Unpaid interest and principal is forgiven after 25 years of repayment — meaning if your loan amount is so huge compared to your relative income, and you are in good standing for twenty-five years, the balance of your loan will be forgiven.

Many online calculators exist that could help potential borrowers to determine if they will qualify for the income based repayment option.

Most students who do qualify will have their student loan payments set at less than 10% of their annual income. However, it is important to remember that this option wouldn’t make sense for a graduate who plans to take a job paying upwards of $100,000 — like landing on the Income Tax space in Monopoly, you have to calculate your income and determine if that 10% option makes sense for you.

Realistically, most college graduates won’t immediately land a high paying job and earn the kind of salary that would keep them from enjoying the income based repayment option. Debt loads are climbing for recent graduates, and according to most sources, a high percentage of college graduates are exiting school with debt near $100,000 or more, especially if they earned any kidn of post graduate degree. If you were planning on stretchong out your debt payment, this new income based repayment plan is a good option.

Although the new law will make student loan repayment more affordable for most graduates, the legislation comes with complicated qualifications and rules that may baffle many potential aid recipients. In other words, borrowers may not get the information they need to make the right decision about the income based repayment plan.

Besides the income based repayment plan, there is a new “public service loan forgiveness” prgram that aims to entice students into certain public service fields. Borrowers can take advantage of the federal government’s public service loan forgiveness if they land right type of job (among many catgeories), take out the right type of loans (usually subsidized Stafford or TEACH loans) and continue to make prompt and full payments.

If you are confused about how the new legislation may affect you, or believe you might qualify for some of the new repayment options, check with your loan provider, financial aid counselor, or visit the government’s web site about the changes at http://www.ibrinfo.org/.

How to Use a Foundation Brush

September 26th, 2012 |

How to Use a Foundation Brush

Learning how to use a foundation brush is the difference between perfectly flawless face makeup and a dirty, unpolished look. Foundation brushes keep your from applying blotchy ugly makeup, and help you perfect your even finish. This handy little tool is seriously misunderstood by most women who wear makeup.

Do you really need a foundation brush? Ask the experts. Having a good set of makeup brushes is important. Makeup artists depend on their makeup brushes as their main tools. Good makeup brushes aren’t cheap by any means, but if they’re properly taken care of, they should last you a long time.

A decent set of makeup brushes, containing all your essential brushes and a few extras for special occasions, is a perfect investment for a younger woman. They don’t have to be the priciest brushes in the store, but most kits that come cheap aren’t going to get the job done either. The only way to find a good set of makeup brushes that won’t break your checking account’s back is to shop around.

Why Do I Need a Foundation Brush?

You know that brushes are a necessity for perfect makeup application, right? Brushes help you blend, glide, cover, and add blush all with perfect even strokes. Brushes can also be used to make the drudgery of applying foundation a lot more easier.

Foundation application is tough, even for people with tons of practice at applying makeup. Foundation must be blended into dry spots, you have to deal with oily skin problems, and attempting to properly apply foundation in the nooks and crannies of the face is just plain difficult. Luckily, makeup brushes exist to help us with out makeup troubles. There are plenty of tools to help you apply foundation properly. Foundation application tools include everything from disposable sponges to wedges all the way up to expensive brushes — how do you know when to use which tools?

How to Use a Foundation Brush

Sponges are useful tools for some makeup applications — some sponges are designed to “stipple” makeup effects, mostly for stage and screen acting. Some sponges and wedges are silky textured and light, still others are built of harder materials others and they’re meant to not “soak up” the foundation. Even though there’s a wide variety of sponges, makeup brushes are far more versatile and useful in all makeup situations and should replace the sponges and wedges in your current makeup collection.

Foundation brushes are useful for many reasons:

Foundation brushes work well with all types of foundation, including liquids, creams, and even solids.
Foundation brushes create a flawless finished product by allowing the makeup to cover the face evenly.
Foundation brushes make putting on makeup and using it to cover your face easy — they are uniquely shaped and tapered to get the job done more efficiently.
Foundation brushes, while expensive, are easy to keep clean and should last you for years.

Foundation Brush Basics

So you’ve never used a foundation brush or sponge before — you need to learn the basics before you rush out and buy an expensive brush set.

Pour some foundation (assuming you are using a liquid foundation) onto the back of your hand.

Use the brush to pick up some foundation. Do you prefer light or heavy coverage? If light, rub only one side of the brush in the foundation. For fuller coverage, use both sides of the brush to soak up the makeup.

Apply foundation using broad, downward strokes. The idea is to “sweep and blend” the makeup onto the nose, forehead, cheeks and chin.

Now switch to the tapered edges of the brush to start blending your foundation into hard-to-reach areas like the corners of the nose, near hairline, and around the eyes or mouth.

If you use a foundation that isn’t liquid, such as a cream or powder foundation, just rub your brush over that product in its container. Many foundation brushes are designed for specific foundation types, but you don’t really need a foundation brush for every type of foundation.

Foundation Brush Care

So you’re now a master of the foundation brush — how can you take care of it to make it last longer? Cleaning makeup brushes is important in making them last longer, but also to keep them free of bacteria. Makeup brushes are notorious for harboring lingering bacteria, which can cause acne breakouts and other health problems. This happens when there is excess makeup buildup on the brush.

There are plenty of high-end brands of foundation brush cleaners, but you can avoid the high cost of these products by using baby shampoo. That’s right — plain old baby shampoo can keep your foundation brush clean for years. Just swirl your foundations brush’s head through a little puddle of shampoo and rinse. Pat the brush dry and you’re ready to go.

Makeup application should be fun and simple, not difficult and stressful. If you have the right tools, including a foundation brush and a proper way of cleaning that brush,then you’ll have all the tools you need to apply good makeup. Now that you’ve learned to use a foundation brush, you have taken the important first step towards applying perfect makeup.

See Also:

Who Is Harley Davidson?

September 23rd, 2012 |

We’ve all heard of Harley-Davidson. The name has become so iconic that even people that know nothing of motorcycles associate it with top-of-the-line bikes. Over the years, the myth behind this brand of motorcycles has grown to supernatural proportions. So who is Harley-Davidson?

The Early Years

To be honest, a better question would be, “Who are Harley-Davidson?” Despite what some may think, “Harley Davidson” is not the name of a person, but rather two people. You see, in the early 1900s William S. Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson began putting engines on bicycles in a backyard shed. As the years went by, Harley and Davidson’s designs got more complex and evolved into motorcycles, which they began to sell in limited numbers. In 1906, they opened their first factory and moved production out of the backyard shed.

Who Is Harley Davidson? The location of their first factory on Chestnut Street (which later became Juneau Avenue) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is still the corporate headquarters of Harley-Davidson to this day. Harley-Davidson motorcycles became more and more popular and production increased to compensate. By 1913, they were producing over 16,000 motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson had already been producing motorcycles for police departments, so it came as no surprise that during World War I the military came calling. The military ordered 15,000 combat-ready motorcycles for the battlefield and Harley-Davidson was only too happy to oblige.

By 1920, Harley-Davidson had gone from producing 50 motorcycles in a backyard shed to the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. When the Great Depression struck a few years later, however, their sales plummeted. They sold 21,000 motorcycles in 1929, and only 3,703 motorcycles in 1933. To compensate, Harley-Davidson began making industrial powerplants based on the design of their engines and also made the three-wheeled Servi-Car towing vehicle.

After surviving the Great Depression, Harley-Davidson began producing great numbers of motorcycles for the military during World War II. They also resumed production of civilian motorcycles soon after. Just like most other companies during the war, Harley-Davidson focused production on the war effort, producing over 90,000 motorcycles for the military. Though most of these were used by the American military, many of them were shipped overseas to American allies.

Modern Times

After the war, Harley-Davidson began incorporating some foreign design features into their motorcycles, some of which were gained via war reparations. In 1952, however, they were hit with two things that impacted their reputation negatively.

First, they were charged with restrictive practices by the government.

Second, the outlaw biker gang movies debuted and created the association with Harley-Davidson that continues to this day.

This was a dark period for Harley-Davidson. They were bought out in 1969 by American Machinery and Foundry, who completely mishandled the company and quality and sales suffered. Thankfully, in 1981 a group of investors led by Willie G. Davidson reacquired the company and brought it back from the brink. Though they were by now competing with a plethora of Japanese motorcycles, Harley-Davidson managed to gain ground by embracing the look and feel of earlier models along with the customization aesthetic that had long been apart of Harley-Davidosn’s customer base.

This was a period of Renaissance for Harley-Davidson. Sales climbed on a yearly basis and still do to this day. These days, Harley gear is more popular than ever and its sales make up a good portion of Harley-Davidson’s total sales base. Though they’ve had their ups and downs, Harley-Davidson is a company that to this day embodies American ingenuity and attitude.

About The Author: Mick Ellero lives in Peterborough, UK with his beautiful wife Val and their son Matthew. His favorite hobby is restoring old motorcycles, which is what got him started on his website. Mick’s goal is to highlight what things to watch for, particularly with respect to safety, when purchasing motorcycle leathers, heated motorcycle clothes, and motorcycle luggage. You will also find advice on choosing between leather and textile motorcycle clothing, and how to keep your leathers in tip-top condition.

What Is Car Insurance?

September 22nd, 2012 |

Is there anything more confusing than shopping for car insurance? How can all those claims on TV that go “At ABC insurance our insureds save $400 over insurance with XYZ company” when XYZ company is making the same claim about ABC. Who’s fudging who?

Car insurance can be really complex and that’s how those commercials get away with their claims. The fact of the matter is each company will have a class of insured who has elected specific coverages that will be cheaper than another company. Nobody is comparing apples to apples and that’s not doing the consumer any favors.

The best thing a consumer can do to get the best deal on car insurance is to understand just what it is and what drives the cost. Armed with this information you can go shopping and compare apples and apples to find out who actually does have the best deal.

With that thought in mind consider the following:

For starters find out what your state requires for minimum coverage. This will vary from state to state as will the penalties for driving without insurance. In fact if you are an uninsured driver in California and you are hit by another vehicle, because you are uninsured you can not file a claim or sue for other than actual economic loss. That means no claim can be made for pain and suffering.

Liability coverage. This is the element of car insurance that most states require you to have. This insurance pays third parties for damage you cause to either property r persons. This coverage comes in a wide range of coverage levels each with a different cost.

Collision insurance. If you are involved in an accident and you are at fault, your collision coverage can be used to repair your car. Collision will come with a deductable. If you are a good driver you can choose the deductable yourself. If you are a high risk, the insurance may only offer you a higher deductable. Generally speaking, the higher the deductable (the amount you pay for the repairs) the lower the premium for the coverage.

Medical payments. This coverage pays out medical expenses for anyone inside your vehicle (including yourself) if they are injured as a result of an accident regardless whose fault it is.

Comprehensive coverage. Companies will package this differently but basically it is a fire and theft coverage. Depending on how the policy is written it will cover not only the theft of your car but items stolen out of the interior and the trunk.

What to do next

Now you know the basics of car insurance and you can start doing some informed comparison shopping. But just where do you start? Do you call up every company’s agent and ask for a quote? Even if you go to an insurance broker he or she is only going to represent a few different companies. So where can you go.

Actually the medical insurance industry was the first to revolutionize the way people shop for insurance when they created online health insurance quotes. The auto insurance people weren’t far behind and now there are massive brokers that offer free car insurance quotes online. Without question shopping for car insurance online gives you access to the most companies and of course saves an incredible amount of time.

Secure internet insurance sites

The insurance sites are secure and can get you quotes for comparison based on your exact specifications…no TV ads here. The most time consuming part of this process is entering the coverages that you want and submitting your driving experience. But you only have to do this once rather than doing it for each company.

What’s more is you can adjust the coverage levels after you have received you firs quotes for cost comparison to see how it impacts your cost. Shopping for car insurance is not fun but it has become faster and more effective thanks to the internet.

Author Bio

Laura Penekamp is a stay at home mom who loves to freelance articles. When she’s not busy with her three children Laura spends her time writing about all the ways a family can save money online.

What Is Diabetes?

September 20th, 2012 |

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes (fancy name: diabetes mellitus) is a common metabolism disorder. The word “metabolism” refers to the way the human body uses the food you eat to produce energy and cause cellular growth. During metabolism, most of the food you eat is broken down into a chemical called “glucose”. Glucose is essentially the type of sugar that is found in our bloodstream–glucose sugars are the main source of fuel in the human body.

As our food is digested, glucose is supposed to make its way into the bloodstream. Cells use this glucose sugar for energy, but glucose cannot enter the cells without the presence of a hormone called insulin. Insulin makes it possible for the body’s cells to take in glucose for energy.

What Is Insulin?

Insulin is a hormone produced naturally in the pancreas. After you eat, your pancreas starts creating insulin in order to move glucose from the blood into our cells. This is how insulin is tied directly to our “blood sugar” level–insulin sends glucose into our cells and gets it out of the blood. Insulin lowers blood sugar.

Insulin and Diabetes

A person diagnosed with diabetes has too much glucose in their blood. This is known as hyperglycemia.

There are two reasons for hyperglycemia–either a person’s body doesn’t produce enough insulin (or produces no insulin) or a person’s body cells do not respond to the presence of insulin that the pancreas produces. Either condition will result in a glucose level in the blood that is much too high. Excess blood glucose (blood sugar) will eventually pass through a person’s body in their urine rather than feeding the cells.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

You’ve probably heard people talk about “type one” and “type two” diabetes–what does this mean?

In type one diabetes, the body produces no insulin at all. In type two diabetes, you simply don’t produce enough insulin, or your body doesn’t recognize the insulin you do produce.

Both of these types of diabetes are “chronic”, meaning persistent and perpetual. Most people with diabetes will deal with it for their entire life, though some patients with diabetes caused by their lifestyle have been able to make small changes and eventually find they no longer have diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms and Treatment – Diabetes Diet

All forms of diabetes are treatable, but for the most part, a diagnosis of either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes will last a lifetime. Medical insulin became available in 1921, and has been used in treatment of diabetes ever since. Patients who need insulin have regular doses of it for their entire life. Patients with Type 1 diabetes are treated with injectable insulin, dietary restrictions, and exercise.

Patients with Type 2 diabetes require medication treatment in the form of tablets, an exercise regimen, and a special diet. In some cases of Type 2 diabetes, injectible insulin is also a requirement.

Diabetes Complications

When diabetes is not controlled properly with medication or lifestyle changes, diabetes patients have a high risk of developing serious complications. Hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, and nonketotic hypersosmolar coma are three very serious consequences of diabetes that can result in injury and even death. The long-term complications of untreated diabetes (or simply mismanaged diabetes) are heart disease, damage to the eyes, kidney damange and failure, nerve damage, gangrene on the feet, and other problems, like psychological issues and even erectile dysfunction.

Diabetes in America – Statistics

According to the American Diabetes Association, the following statistics apply to American sufferers of diabetes.

Almost 18 million Americans suffer from diagnosed diabetes
There are probably 6 million people whose diabetes is undiagnosed
There are 57 million “pre-diabetic” people in America
There are 186,300 cases of undiagnosed juvenile diabetes
2 million adolescents are “pre-diabetic”
Ten percent of American adults have diabetes
More men than women have diabetes

Symptoms of Diabetes

So how do you know if you have diabetes? Look for the following symptoms.

Frequent urination

When there is too much glucose in the blood, you urinate much more often. A person with diabetes is experiencing increased urination because their kidneys are taking water from the blood to dilute the high amount of glucose they are siphoning off.

Extreme Thirst

This happens as a way to replace the liquid lost during frequent urination.

Extreme Hunger

Since your cells are not getting the glucose fuel they need, your body will feel extreme hunger. This is your body’s way of finding more fuel.

Weight Gain

Fatigue

Irritability and Mood Changes

This probably happens because of a lack of energy.

Blurred Vision or Change in Vision

Itchy Skin

Numbness or Tingling In Extremities

This is caused by nerve damage due to too much sugar in your body. This is because tiny blood vessels that feed your nerves are damaged by the presence of large sugar molecules.

If you feel like you may be suffering from symptoms of diabetes, there are simple tests that your doctor can perform. Treating your diabetes with the correct course of medication and lifestyle changes can make your diabetes little more than a nuisance. Catching diabetes before it becomes too extreme is crucial to avoiding the more serious symptoms that diabetes can cause.

See also:

Who Is Ray Kurzweil?

September 19th, 2012 |

Who is Ray Kurzweil?

My first exposure to Raymond Kurzweil, better known as Ray, came while reading Rolling Stone magazine earlier this year. In the January 2009 issue, Kurzweil appeared in David Kushner’s article “When Man and Machine Merge”. Kurzweil’s words in that article stuck with me. Ray Kurzweil said in Rolling Stone that he wanted to clone his dead father via an exact genetic copy obtained from DNA in the father’s grave. That’s right — Kurzweil expressed an honest desire to build a copy of his dead dad by inventing special nanorobots that could enter his father’s grave and bring DNA samples back. The idea behind this clone? To assist Ray in calling up memories of his father.

Ray Kurzweil could be described as an author, an inventor, a “futurist”, and a kind of scientific maven, attempting to predict and analyze the behaviors of the technological future. If I make Kurzweil sound like a cartoon character or a mad scientist then I’m getting the job done.

Ray Kurzweil earned two degrees from MIT — one in Computer Science and another in Literature. Forbes magazine called Kurzweil “the ultimate thinking machine” — the Montreal Gazette called him “the modern Thomas Edison”. Kurzweil is a friend of Stevie Wonder, the author of the popular “10% Solution for a Healthy Life”, and a man that has earned honorary degrees in 14 of the last 30 years. In short, he’s an intellectual stud.

Kurzweil was born into a family that reads like a dream team for creating a brilliant child. Born in Queens to Jewish parents who barely escaped Austria before the onset of World War Two, Kurzweil started life in the Unitarian church, a denomination that puts great emphasis on exposing children to many different faiths and belief systems. Kurzweil’s mother was an artist, his father a musician and composer, and his uncle (a very close friend) worked as an engineer at Bell Labs, often teaching young Ray Kurzweil about computers years before most people would be exposed to computing. In fact, Kurzweil wrote his first computer program in 1963 at the age of fifteen. If you’re keeping score, that’s six years before humans landed on the moon.

One of Kurzweil’s first big breakthroughs in programming came at an equally young age. At just 17 year sold, Kurzweil won the International Science Fair, and was congratulated by President Lyndon Johnson at the White House. Kurzweil wrote a program that composed music, an early foray into the kind of work he would do as an adult.

Among Kurzweil’s major inventions are the Select College Consulting Program designed to match high school students with the right college, the Kurzweil Reading Machine (which allows blind people to have text read to them), and Kurzweil electronic keyboards — the first high quality user friendly synthesizer / keyboards.

But Ray Kurzweil didn’t stop with inventions. His writing career rivals his career as an inventor, at least in 2009. His six published books cover a variety of topics from the history of computers to diet and nutrition advice. Often, reading Kurzweil’s “Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever” seems like a dip into speculative fiction more than a lecture on health. It combines his ideas about the future (for instance, the notion that medical science is only 20 years or so from slowing down or stopping the aging process) with otherwise sound health advice such as limiting sugar intake. His book “The Singularity is Near” is similar, combining hard science fiction themes with sincere advice to his readers. In fact, “The Singularity is Near” lays out a timeline for the advancement of technology toward a time when the “singularity” exists — the moment at which artificial intelligence exceeds human intelligence. Yeah, this is heavy stuff, but it is fascinating reading, and some of Kurzweil’s past “predictions” have turned out stunningly accurate. For example, in his book The Age of Intelligent Machines, Kurzweil predicted the impact of cellular, digital, and other technologies on governments and revolutions. The recent conflict in Iran, digitally broadcast and endlessly Tweeted, is proof of his concept.

Ray Kurzweil holds honorary degrees from sixteen universities, among them Hofstra, DePaul, Michigan State, Queens College, and the Berklee College of Music. Currently, he’s attempting to bring what he calls “humanity’s great challenges”, working with NASA to gather brilliant minds to discuss the possibilities of the Singularity and other future events. He sits on the Army Science Advisory Board and is a vocal proponent of nanotechnology and microtechnologies. His newest book (Transcend: Nine Steps to Living Well Forever) is another tome on healthy living and hard science, and a followup to his classic Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever is available at bookstores now. He can also be seen working with Google CEOs attempting to promote the use of wind power to end our energy crisis.

Wherever he goes, whatever he says, Ray Kurzweil leaves an impression. For more information on Kurzweil’s ideas and his work, check out KurzweilAI.net, where the works of writers who follow Kurzweil’s theories (and other related themes) is gathered, from fiction to essays, or singularity.com for a site specifically related to the theory of the singularity.

Papa Johns Coupons

September 17th, 2012 |

Papa Johns Coupons

When you have to order pizza from a chain, why not order from the chain that’s won the most national awards? Picked time and again as “best pizza” by organizations like the Restaurants & Institutions Consumers’ Choice awards, Papa Johns has always taken pride in the fact that they use better ingredients than their competition. It’s right there in their slogan: “Better ingredients, better pizza.”

There are more than 2,600 Papa Johns restaurants in America and another 1,000 or so in countries around the world. What started as a single pizza joint in Kentucky in the 80s has become the third-largest pizza delivery chain in the world. They may be only the third-largest, but they’re the fastest growing chain, and people who take pizza seriously tend to prefer Papa Johns more authentic flavor. Papa Johns is famous for using fresh ingredients and for giving every customer a garlic Papa Johns Coupons and oil dipping sauce as well as a real pepperoncini pepper with every pie.

Online Papa Johns Coupons 2011

Who orders pizza without a coupon these days? There’s no reason to pay full price for your next Papa Johns pizza experience. There are more places to find Papa Johns coupons than you can shake a breadstick at.

Start your search for online Papa Johns coupons at the company’s website. The best coupons and the latest deals are always displayed prominently on the front page. Special offers change regularly, but usually include things like “any large pizza for $10″ or “wings for $6″. Very rarely you’ll find a “buy one get one” type of offer, but most of the coupons and deals you find on the Papa Johns website are more like “percent off” or “dollars off” coupons.

If you don’t find what you want at the website, search your favorite third-party coupon hunting site. RetailMeNot has a Papa Johns page–there are three “active coupons” posted there right now, including one for two medium two-topping pizzas for under $15.

Other third-party coupon sites are pushing other deals. 8coupons.com is a great coupon gathering site because it uses your local address to find deals specific to your area. Search that site for Papa Johns deals at your local store.

Other Papa Johns Deals

If you sign up for Papa John’s email updates, you can have coupons and promo deals emailed directly to your inbox. You sign up for free at the website, and you’ll get monthly emails with store opening news, new promos, and occasionally a printable coupon.

For more Papa Johns interaction, follow their Facebook page. They’re constantly updating with new promos and deals, and even offering exclusive coupons for their Facebook fans.

The last place to dig around for Papa Johns coupons is your mailbox and newspaper. Since Papa Johns is a huge international chain of restaurants, they have a coupon policy intended to draw in business. They place these ads in your newspaper’s ad circular and in direct mail campaigns. These are traditional “pizza delivery coupons”, offering everything from free food to special large-order discounts.

Papa Johns is one of the most popular pizza joints in the country, and while it doesn’t always stack up against your local hole-in-the-wall pizzeria, it is considered the “best” chain pizza in the country by people who know best.

What Is the Harvard Racist Test?

September 16th, 2012 |

What is the Harvard racist test?

Apparently, I’m a little bit racist. That’s right — up until today, I thought I was a fairly even keeled guy with very little in the way of racial preference. Turns out, I’m just another George Wallace in sheep’s clothing. Thanks a lot, Harvard.

A little backstory — I’m a white male in my late 20s. I grew up as a minority — in fact, in the high school I graduated from there were maybe a half dozen other white graduates. I had no problem with this. I’ve never thought of myself as having any racial preference whatsoever. I think Beyonce is just as hot as “13″ from House.

But, according to the Harvard racist test, I show “a slight automatic preference for European American compared to African American.”

The Harvard racist test is just one of the “Implicit Association Tests” developed by Harvard scientists working on something called Project Implicit. Check it out yourself at http://www.projectimplicit.net/. The “IAT”s are composed of both standard demographic questions and “hyperquizzes” where the user must use hand eye coordination to respond to a series of visual stimuli. In the most interesting part of the Racist test, users must use their left and right index fingers to press a button and respond to images on the screen. The test constantly urges you to “make quick decisions”, which I suppose is the scientists way of ensuring that users don’t “cheat’ the results. If you answer with your first response, you’re more likely to be honest in your responses.

You have to take the test to really understand how it works. Basically, the questions are designed to test how quickly you can identify a race by a small picture, and how quickly you can associate a certain word with a its connotation as “bad” or “good”. My first qualm with the test was the thought that perhaps my results were skewed by the fact that I am right-hand dominant, until I realized that the scientists who built the hyper test switched the questions and answers between hands, I suppose in an attempt to counter act the impact of hand dominance.

This is not the only “Implicit Association Test” availble from Project Implicit. Using their technology, you can find out things as diverse as your political leanings (Obama or McCain?), religious preference, skin tone preference (different from racial preference, as all races and ethnicities have variations in tones of skin), and sexuality. Though the absolute science of these tests is easy to dispute, the results were shocking, for me.

It is possible that I have ‘a slight preference’ for European American faces — after all, they were the faces that raised me as a child, and the faces of most of the women I’ve ever dated. However, jumping to conclusions based on a four minute test is dangerous. What if, for instance, employers were allowed to use this test as a hiring mechanism? The Harvard IATs are not yet ready to be swallowed without a pinch of salt.

Who Is Winsome Wood?

September 15th, 2012 |

If you’ve done any amount of shopping for furniture for your home, there’s a good chance you have probably heard of Winsome Wood but really, who are they? Are they different than any other home decor and furniture company? What exactly makes them stand out above the rest? In today’s economy it’s important to know your hard-earned money is being spent on a high quality product that will last.

Winsome Wood History

Although Winsome Wood has not been around as long as some other manufacturers have. Everything they’ve done so far has been right! Since 1977, Winsome Wood has been at the top of their game as a manufacturer and distributor for brilliant pieces for the home.

The specialty of the company is wood, hence the name Winsome Wood and many reviews even compare their stools to the quality you would expect from a Hillsdale stool. They certainly have proven that they offer not only innovative designs but that their products are an exceptional value as well.

In fact, their furniture has become so well accepted in the market that the Target Corporation awarded then with the Partner Award of Excellence in 2008. Target is a corporation known for being quite selective when choosing a vender worthy of this recognition. This award suggests that Winsome Wood offers superior business practices that compliment value, reliability and differentiation, the three hallmark characteristics of Target Corporation.

Finding Winsome Wood

Winsome Wood is a wholesaler so they do not sell directly to consumers but rather through their extensive list of retail partners. Their warehouse, assembly facility and main office are in Woodinville, Washington however, beautiful Delta, British Columbia is home to their branch office and warehouse. Top retailers that carry Winsome Wood products are Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bellacor, Bi-Mart, BizChair, Cost U Less, CSN Stores, Curtain and Bath Outlet, Fred Meyer, Hayneedle, Home Furniture Showroom, Kitchen Source, Living Direct, Meijer, One Way Furniture, Organize-It, Stacks and Stacks, Stands and Mounts and Target.

Product Line

Winsome Wood carries everything from wine storage options to kitchen bar stools. Some of the hottest products are:

Accent Tables – Although the Angolo night table with drawer is a popular choice, Winsome Wood offers a three-piece nesting table, an Ella plant or phone stand, curved nightstand with a drawer, end table with cabinet, Genoa accent table, Kami table and more.

Dining – Contemporary bistro tables, swivel faux leather chairs, island sets with saddle stools, pub tables and buffets with doors are available.

Home Office – Winsome Woods adjustable laptop table is top on every wish list but they also have other computer desk options available as well.

Seating – Benches with storage solutions and Windsor chairs look great in any home.

Wine Storage – Whether you are just looking for a 24-bottle wine rack or more of a cabinet style, Winsome Wood has an impressive collection.

Media and Entertainment – From traditional to contemporary, straight to corner, if you are in need of a wood entertainment unit, this is a manufacturer that makes a few exceptional pieces that will compliment the decor in any home.

Winsome Wood also manufacturers bed trays, TV trays, kitchen carts, space-saver leaf-drop tables, shelving and plenty of storage solutions including fabric baskets, coat trees, magazine racks, luggage racks, shoe racks and valet stands. Pretty much any type of wood furniture or accent piece you are looking for, Winsome Wood will have something to compliment your home.

About the Author

David Dawson lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife, three kids and a Pomeranian. He is an organic chemist who loves gardening and reading. David created AllBarStoolsSeating.com to assist consumers in picking out the perfect stool sets for their home.

See also:

Gerber Coupons

September 14th, 2012 |

Gerber Baby Food Coupons

Founded by Daniel and Dorothy Gerber in 1927 after businessman Daniel saw a market for his wife’s homemade strained baby foods, Gerber is now a multinational company with sales in 180 countries worldwide. Gerber was once owned by Novartis, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, and as such it expanded and developed nearly 100 different baby-related products. Now owned by the equally massive Nestle company, Gerber controls almost 90% of the baby food market in America.

But Gerber is much more than just baby food. Gerber produces a full line of baby products, from clothing and toys to an infant life insurance plan, the popular Gerber Grow Up plan. Since Gerber controls so much of the infant market, it is no surprise that coupons for Gerber products are easy to find, some released by the manufacturer and others available through private retailers. To save money on any purchase of Gerber goods, use the following methods. Gerber Coupons

Visit the Gerber Website for Free, Printable, Online Gerber Coupons in 2011

The most obvious source for Gerber coupons is from Gerber itself. Visit their website to join the Gerber Generation a program that provides support and help with babies, advice from other mothers, and most importantly coupons and special offers for Gerber Goods. You sign up just by entering your email address and a few other details at the website. Not only will you get coupons for Gerber products, but products produced by Gerber’s partner companies, meaning you can find deals for thousands of good through Gerber Generation.

Another online coupon offer from Gerber is the Nestle Start Healthy Stay Healthy Program. This is another “club” that you join by entering a few personal details at the Gerber website. You’ll get coupons as well as online parenting support and information.

Other Ideas for Gerber Coupons

Third-party coupon hunting websites and blogs are great places to find baby coupons of all varieties. Sites like Momsview.com and RetailMeNot have sections of their sites dedicated to Gerber and other baby coupons–baby coupons are a hot search item, and so are Gerber coupons, so you’re in luck when searching for Gerber deals.

One source of Gerber coupons that some parents don’t think about is the pediatrician’s office. Ask a nurse or a member of the staff at your pediatrician’s office if they have any special coupons or offers from Gerber or other baby suppliers. Gerber often sends pediatricians special offers to stock their offices with Gerber products, and doctors are usually happy to pass on some of the savings to parents.

Gerber products have been on the market for nearly a hundred years–people trust the Gerber name, and their baby-face logo is a good sign of a quality baby product. Just because Gerber is a name brand doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. Use one of the ideas above to find coupons for Gerber and start saving on your baby stuff.

See also:

What is Spy Gear?

September 13th, 2012 |

What Is Spy Gear?

Spy gear is a generic term for surveillance, security, and all-out spy equipment. People don’t always use so called spy gear to spy on people — other applications for things like hidden cameras include home security, some practical purpose like hunting, or just for fun. Spy gear includes just about anything a spy in the movie uses. Spy gear enthusiasts use things like bug detectors, noise generators, and covert recorders to “spy” on people or as commercial security systems.

Where to Find Spy Gear

Most people wouldn’t think twice about setting up a security system to protect their investments, whether you’re talking about a home jewelry collection or the assets of a small business. Hidden cameras and audio recorders are the easiest to recognize pieces of spy gear. You can buy these type of recording devices from hardware stores and other retail settings, but your choice will be limited to what few pieces of spy gear that store carries. That’s why buying spy gear online is the best way to go.

SpyAssociates.com has hundreds of hidden camera options for you to choose from. Cameras (black and white or color, with audio or without) hidden in items like dolls, ties, and DVD players may seem expensive until you realize the value of the information you can gain from a surveillance system like this.

What Is Spy Gear? But the world of spy gear is much more than cameras and direct surveillance. This real-time GPS vehicle surveillance kit from SpyAssociates.com may be the best way to keep track of a vehicle without the driver knowing. This is great for company cars, teenagers with a new driver’s license, or any reason you need to keep steady watch on the location and movements of a car.

Cheap Spy Gear and Equipment

In most cases you get what you pay for when buying spy gear. Since spy gear is used in sensitive times or areas it just needs to look right. Anyone can duct-tape a camera to an alarm clock and try to pass it off as proper spy gear. Cheap spy gear and equipment is usually not worth the shipping costs. If it doesn’t aid you in conducting surveillance or other spy activities, what good is it?

Spy gear like micocameras and voice changer devices are expensive to manufacture. This “slap and track” GPS tracking system lets you do that cool trick that James Bond does when he just sticks a device to a car and tracks it remotely. Of course you’re going to pay as much as $700 for the privelege — this is authentic spy gear and it doesn’t often come cheap.

The only case when you might find a piece of spy gear cheap is if you’re looking for a simple device with a single application, such as a cell phone spying SIM card reader that can read deleted text messages. Since it has a single purpose and is not that complex or bulky of an item, you can pick this spy equipment up for well uner $150.

Surveillance Equipment

Most people will only want to find spy gear that also acts as surveillance equipment. Unless you are a private investigator or are doing some serious digging, some basic surveillance equipment is the only spy stuff you’ll ever need to own. If you’re looking for a complete surveillance system or the most basic closed circuit TV camera setups, surveillance equipment from spy gear sources is some of the best around.

If you’re concerned about a child’s use of the Internet (or maybe even a cheating spouse) spy equipment like remote computer monitoring that lets you watch another computer’s activity live on your monitor could keep your mind at ease. A camera hidden in a tissue box (that can record in full color and transmit images on a wireless connection) could keep your valuables safe undercover style.

Not all surveillance equipment is so high tech. Drug test kits can be considered one kind of surveillance — if you want to monitor a child’s drug use you can pick up basic 5-panel disposable drug test kits from spy equipment stores. Some surveillance tactics require nothing more than a piece of software, like email and Internet monitoring. You’ll have a wider variety of products to choose from if you shop for products like this at places that sell spy gear.

James Bond Gadgets

There are those who are into spy gear because of a life-long obsession with all things 007. James Bond style gadgets are available at online retailers — stuff like stun guns that use blinding LED light to stop attackers instead of electricity or chemical irritants, wire tap and GPS detector sticks, and “bionic ear” listening devices. Unfortunately, you can’t pick up Bond’s classic cars fit with machine guns and ejector seats just yet. But if you want to surround yourself with cool James Bond spy gear there are dozens of online spy equipment sources.

A tiny digital video recorder built into an attractively knotted tie is the perfect companion to a dry martini and tuxedo. Find yourself needing to cover up your distinctive accent? Install a voice changing device on your phone to keep your foes from recognizing you. Just because you can’t have James Bond’s airplane doesn’t mean you can’t spy like Bond. Fancy a spy watch with built-in recording software and GPS device detection? Add it to your spy gear box.

Is Spy Gear Legal?

When it is used in the right circumstances, spy gear is perfectly legal. Spy equipment stores sell their items with a strong disclaimer saying it is not legal to use these devices to invade another person’s privacy, and they suggest that you check your local surveillance laws to find out if the item you’re buying is legal where you live.

In most states, as long as at least one person knows that surveillance is taking place (such as you, the spy) you can record anything you want as long as it isn’t recorded in a location with an “expectation of privacy”. This means no recording in bathrooms, bedrooms, or any place that people tend to stress privacy.

Though the law is difficult to understand, the appeal of spy gear is a no brainer. People need surveillance equipment for all kinds of reasons, from protecting their family to monitoring a cash register at their business. Spy gear can help you determine if your spouse is cheating, your kids are doing drugs, or if your neighbor is stealing tools from your garage. Look into the varied world of spy gear today.

For more information related to what is spy gear, see some of the following pages:

What Is the Average Cost of a College Education?

September 12th, 2012 |

What Is the Average Cost of a College Education?

The cost of higher education is on the rise. The scariest part of this trend is that costs are going up a noticeable amount from year to year rather than increasing a little bit at a time. According to the College Board (that’s the folks who administer the SAT exam) college students will pay an average of $400 more for room and board this year compared to last year. That number will be different from college to college, but seeing big increases in college costs over just twelve months should be enough to convince you — college costs are going up.

Average Cost of Four Year Colleges

Because colleges regularly report their costs it is easy to come up with an average cost for a college education. In 2010, a year of tuition and room and board at a private college is up to $26,273. That’s an increase of almost 5 percent from last year’s cost. The price at public institutions is up too — room and board and tuition will run you $7,000 and that number is up 6.5 percent from the last academic year.

When students want to attend a school outside of their home state the cost is even higher. This year, out of state room and board and tuition and fees will run students an average of $11,500.

Average Cost of Two Year Colleges

College doesn’t have to be this expensive — two-year colleges (which aren’t included in the above averages) are affordable and you can often finish a large portion of your course load at a two-year college before transferring to a larger school for graduation. The College Board says that 31% of college students attend one of these two-year schools, so not everyone is getting squeezed at the bursar’s office.

The average cost at a public two-year college is around $4,000 depending on what part of the country you are in. Costs at these colleges vary widely, so check at two-year colleges in your area before you decide to go to a two-year school to save money.

College Cost Statistics

There are some interesting figures related to college cost reported by the College Board. College students have found lots of ways to reduce cost (grants and scholarships) and it appears there are plenty of colleges still offering a great value. For instance, 19 percent of students who attend a private four-year college pay tuition and fees below $18,000. Sure that’s a low number, but it means that you can get a private school education somewhat closer to a public school cost. With costs at public schools rising even more rapidly than those at private school, you may as well choose a cheap private college.

Having said that, there are some great deals on public four-year schools. The College Board reports that 32 percent of full-time public college students pay less than $6,000.

The opposite end of that spectrum is the group of students who pay outlandishly high costs — apparently, only one fifth of all private school students pay anything higher than $36,000.

College costs aren’t going to start a downward trend anytime soon. The issue of cost adds one more wrinkle to the already difficult college decision process. Consider cost differences between public and private universities as well as the differences between two-year and four-year programs before committing to any college.

This article answers the question “what is the average cost of a college education?” Other articles in this series include:

See also:

Online Cosmetology School

Who Is Glenn Beck?

September 11th, 2012 |

Why Is Everybody Talking About Glenn Beck?

Glenn Beck is a conservative talk radio show host, author and tv commentator on FoxNews.

While Glenn Beck had been for years a solid second-tier radio personality in the tradition of Rush Limbaugh, with a show on CNN and Headline News and his nationally syndicated Glenn Beck Program on the radio waves, it was the move to Fox News and the airing of the Glenn Beck Show that made Beck a household name.

On a cable channel known for outrageous characters and wild-eyed opinions, Glenn Beck soon stood out from the crowd with his blend of sarcasm, social commentary and over-the-top antics.

In a short time, Glenn Beck has become the most talked-about Fox News analyst and commentator. Beck has pushed aside Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity and made the two of them seem reasonable by comparison. In fact, Glenn Beck has been so outside the box of conservative comment that many Republican leaders have felt the need to denounce Beck or distance from his comments.

That being said, Glenn Beck has edged his way into the political discussion and his comments can’t be ignored. Like my aunt said, “CNN is a dirty word in our house. I listen to Glenn Beck, because he always speaks the truth.” (Let me give an explanation: I live in Texas.)

Glenn Beck Profile

Glenn Beck was born in the state of Washington in 1964, where he was raised Roman Catholic and attended Catholic school. When he was 13, Glenn Beck won a contest that allowed him to appear on the radio as a disc-jockey. Beck would work his entire life in the radio business, though this job would take him around the country.

During that time, Glenn Beck knew his share of tragedy.

When he was 15, Glenn Beck’s mother died in a drowning incident. There was speculation by the Coast Guard that the drowning might have been a suicide, but authorities on the scene stated that it was a classic drowning case.

After Glenn Beck married his first wife, their oldest daughter was born with cerebral palsy. That marriage ended after 9 years due to Glenn Beck’s troubles with substance abuse (alcohol, weed).

Meanwhile, Beck had been slowly working his way through the radio industry. Glenn Beck left Washington at the age of 18 to work at a radio station in Provo, Utah, but left after a year, because he felt out of place. From there, he moved to Washington D.C., where he met his first wife, who was also in radio.

By 1996, Glenn Beck was working at a station in New Haven, Connecticut, and taking classes at nearby Yale University, partly on the recommendation of Senator Joe Lieberman. Glenn Beck too one theology course, but dropped out almost immediately.

When Glenn Beck remarried in 1999, he took his wife’s faith and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Beck family continues to reside in Connecticut (New Canaan) to this day. By 2002, Glenn Beck had founded his own media production company, Mercury Radio Arts, which produces his radio show, publishes his online content and his books, and manages the schedule for his speaking appearances.

It was around that time when Glenn Beck became known to a much wider audience, first through his syndicated radio show, then through his appearances on television. These days, Glenn Beck makes an estimated $23 million a year on his various endeavours.

Glenn Beck on CNN

Glenn Beck worked on CNN from the spring of 2006 until the fall of 2008 and his show was a success, despite being a lonely conservative voice on a left-of-center network. Beck had the 2nd highest rated show on CNN Headline News and posted his best-ever audience the month he signed to join FoxNews. His CNN producer had left for Fox a year earlier, so it was probably only a matter of time before the move happened.

While at CNN, Glenn Beck significantly toned down his performance. Though he was known to occasionally voice outrageous opinions that were likely to alienate the progressives, moderates and independents prone to watch CNN, one could watch the Glenn Beck show and come away thinking he was a fairly mainstream conservative commentator. That all changed when the television personality left CNN for FoxNews.

Glenn Beck on FoxNews

Since Glenn Beck moved to Fox to take over the 5pm slot from John Gibson, he has positioned himself as FoxNews’s most outspoken contributor. These days, Beck is the favorite target of The Daily Show, liberal bloggers and administration officials trying to tie the conservative talk show hosts to the mainstream Republican Party.

With the G.O.P. suffering an identity crisis after controlling all three branches of government for the first time since the 1920′s, with similar results, the conservative movement seems void of too many serious leaders in office. Men like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck have become the voices of Conservative America, and the Democrats seem happy to point out how crazy the G.O.P. sounds these days. This makes Glenn Beck a lightning rod for liberal commentators.

At the same time, Glenn Beck’s new higher profile on the “Fair and Balanced” station has made him fabulously wealthy, as he raked in $23 million last year from his tv and radio contracts, his books and speaking tours. So you might ask yourself, “Who is Glenn Beck, that he’s become such a notable figure in American politics?”

That’s hard to answer.

Glenn Beck might be a voice of American liberty as the Obama Administration tries to bring a new era of regulation and taxation (generally called “socialism”) to the United States. Or Glenn Beck might be a flamboyant entertainer who uses rhetoric and publicity stunts to sell books and gain listeners or viewers.

Or Glenn Beck might be a right-wing radical with a desire to incite those who will listen to him to undermine the U.S. government, justifying this behavior by the assumption that only conservatives love their country. Or maybe Glenn Beck is a religious fanatic who somehow conflates Christianity with American nationalism and justifies hate by assuming anyone against him is against God and country.

Or maybe Glenn Beck is some combination of the interpretations above. We report, you decide. We include facts below to let you decide for yourself.

Glenn Beck Beliefs

Is a Mormon
Believes in the Right To Bear Arms
Pushes for Increased Border Security
Pro-Life
Pro Death Penalty
Against Euthanasia
Believes in Free Speech
Believes in a Libertarian View of Free Market Capitalism

Glenn Beck Books

Since 2007, Glenn Beck has became a prolific author, producing 8 books in that time. The Christmas Sweater is meant to be a modern Christmas story with a message and, these days, Glenn Beck is touring the country telling the story himself, like a modern day Mark Twain or Charles Dickens (which is kind of cool).

The story itself is a great deal darker and less uplifting that I would have hoped, so fair warning, for those wanting to read an uplifting Christmas tale. Glenn Beck claims the book is 90% autobiographical. Though little that happens in The Christmas Sweater appears to have happened to Glenn Beck in real life, he may be telling the truth, assuming Glenn Beck had a dream where the Christmas sweater story happened.

Read The Christmas Sweater yourself to form your own opinion.

The Real America: Messages from the Heart and Heartland (2007)
An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World’s Biggest Problems (2007)
The Christmas Sweater (2008)
An Unlikely Mormon: The Conversion Story of Glenn Beck (2008)
The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book (2009)
America’s March to Socialism: Why We’re One Step Closer to Giant Missile Parades (2009)
Glenn Beck’s Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government (2009)
Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government (2009)

Glenn Beck Quotes

Following are some of the more infamous Glenn Beck quotes and comments, though it’s hard to compile anything close to a complete list, given that Beck is daily commenting on America and his act gets more outrageous all the time. While reading these, keep in mind this is a man who professes to have a deep Christian faith (of the Mormon persuasion).

“When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I’m just like, ‘Oh shut up’ I’m so sick of them because they’re always complaining.”

“The only [Katrina victims] we’re seeing on television are the scumbags.”

“I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today.”

“The most used phrase in my administration if I were to be President would be “‘What the hell you mean we’re out of missiles?’”

“I’m thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I’m wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. … No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out. Is this wrong? I stopped wearing my What Would Jesus — band — Do, and I’ve lost all sense of right and wrong now. I used to be able to say, ‘Yeah, I’d kill Michael Moore,’ and then I’d see the little band: What Would Jesus Do? And then I’d realize, ‘Oh, you wouldn’t kill Michael Moore. Or at least you wouldn’t choke him to death.’ And you know, well, I’m not sure.” –responding to the question “What would people do for $50 million?”

Glenn Beck Quotes Accusing Americans of Fascism

Glenn Beck also has a series of quotations about his political opponents, denouncing them as Fascists or Nazis.

Keep in mind that the definition of a traditional Fascist is an extreme nationalist who wants an aggressive foreign policy to bring civilization to the less cultured nations, who wants to outlaw the trade unions and other workers’ causes at home and who wants an alliance between the business elite and the government (“syndicates”, as they were called) to control the various industries of the nation, to better control the economy by limiting competition between firms and limiting the bargaining power of individual citizens or workers groups to the detriment of the working classes of that nation, in order to unite towards one goal: the national will (usually war potential).

Many Fascist governments, from Hitler to Mussolini to the Spanish Falange, sought legitimacy through alliances with religious figures (generally the Pope). Fascists also tended to confuse the differences between socialism and communism, assuming one was the same as the other.

When you’re reading these accusations, ask yourself whether Glenn Beck’s politics or the liberals’ politics are more in line with Fascist beliefs.

“So here you have Barack Obama going in and spending the money on embryonic stem cell research. … Eugenics. In case you don’t know what Eugenics led us to: the Final Solution. A master race! A perfect person. … The stuff that we are facing is absolutely frightening.”

“Al Gore’s not going to be rounding up Jews and exterminating them. It is the same tactic, however. The goal is different. The goal is globalization…And you must silence all dissenting voices. That’s what Hitler did. That’s what Al Gore, the U.N., and everybody on the global warming bandwagon [are doing].”

“Everyone is Hitler, except for me!”

Glenn Beck Quotes – Maybe It’s an Act

But you know, maybe Glenn Beck is just an entertainer who uses politics to entertain, like John Stewart or Steven Colbert. If you want evidence that’s the truth, read a few of the Glenn Beck quotes below.

“You can get rich making fun of me. I know. I’ve made lots of money making fun of me.”

“Life is what you make of it. There’s always fun and laughs right under your nose if you’re willing to open your eyes to see it.”

Or maybe Glenn Beck is a man of his word and he’s practicing the right to free speech in the greatest sense of the tradition. Free speech isn’t about protecting the thing we all agree with; free speech is about protecting all speech, including the speech we find offensive or crazy. To show Glenn Beck isn’t a hypocrite when it comes to this issue, here’s a quote you might find interesting.

“The thing I can say about Ted Kennedy is, at least he never flinched on what he believed in, and that’s the way America…the thing you need to take away from Ted Kennedy is, he stood up, and never flinched. Americans need to stand up and, without flinching, without fear, be a lion, and stand up for what they believe in. I didn’t agree with anything he believed him, but I admired [him]. Absolutely. That’s what this country is all about. Stand up for what you believe in.”

“All men are created equal. It is what you do from there that makes the difference. We are all free agents in life. We make our own decisions. We control our own destiny.”

Glenn Beck Opinion

Here’s my opinion about Glenn Beck.

Glenn Beck is a conservative with heavy libertarian ideas, like many conservatives from the Western half of America, and he believes he’s exercising his right to free speech. A large part of Glenn Beck’s act is to get enough attention to sell books and make a lot of money, and if he can affect the political discourse, that’s a big bonus, too. Believing in America as the Land of Opportunity and believing in his right to free speech, Glenn Beck likely assumes there’s no harm in what he does, and he probably assumes he’s doing some good.

I disagree, of course.

Glenn Beck’s theories about race, socialism and the motives of the progressives in this country are half-baked, and he has the platform to influence millions of Americans who, like my aunt, think Glenn Beck speaks “only the truth”.

Given that many people refuse to listen to two sides of a debate, that kind of cloistered thinking, where one only listens to Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, and only reads their books, leads to a form of self-inflicted brainwashing.

After a while, listening to Glenn Beck try to convince you that Barack Obama wants to turn America into a fascist state doesn’t sound so crazy after all.

So when you ask “Who is Glenn Beck,” I would say that Glenn Beck is a lot of things: some bad and some not-so-bad. One thing the two of us agree on is that he has every right to speak his mind on the state of American society and politics. At the same time, I have every right to say Glenn Beck is full of it and that his presence does more harm than good to America.

Where Are the Best Places to Elope?

September 10th, 2012 |

Where are the best places to elope?

The best places to elope are places with lax marriage laws and beautiful scenery.

Eloping is a lost art. There was a time in our history when sneaking away with your lover to get married was downright honorable.

People elope to sneak out of a bad situation or to get married without parental approval. These days, some people elope just for the heck of it — they see it as a unique alternative to a traditional wedding.

Certain parts of the country are better destinations to head for if you’re planning on eloping; the marriage license laws in some places are more conducive to eloping. Combine lax marriage laws with beautiful surroundings and you’ve got the perfect eloping destination.

Here are my votes for the best places to elope:

Napa Valley, California

Elope and spend your honeymoon in California’s wine country. The state of California has no residency requirements and no waiting period for marriage. Escape into the night and drive to Napa Valley, and you can be married before the next morning. Spend your honeymoon touring wineries, eating some of the country’s best food, and enjoying the scenic drives through Napa Valley.

Maui, Hawaii

Where Are the Best Places to Elope?

If you can make it across the water to Hawaii, you’ll be in an eloper’s paradise. This island state has no residency requirements to get a marriage license. You don’t even have to be a US citizen to get married in Hawaii. There’s also no waiting period before your marriage license is issued. If you’re an American citizen and your spouse-to-be is not, jetting off to Hawaii for a quick elopement is practical and pleasurable. Get out to Paradise and get hitched.

Miami, Florida

Forget what you learned on sitcoms about retirement communities. Miami is an active city with vibrant night life and plenty of young people looking to have fun. The state of Florida requires nothing in the way of residency, and there’s no waiting period in Florida if you live in another state. Elopers in Georgia would be smart to scoot down to Florida and get a no-waiting-period marriage license.

New Orleans

Long known as an eloper’s haven, New Orleans earns that title by requiring no proof of residency and by issuing marriage licenses with no waiting period. The state of Louisiana is notoriously lax when it comes to marriage law, and you and your new bride can take advantage of that in a beautiful setting. From the French Quarter to the mighty Mississippi, New Orleans is one elopement destination you won’t soon forget.

Austin, Texas

Texas has a 48 hour waiting period for a marriage license, but no residency requirement. You can spend that your 48 hour waiting period in the state capital — everything from fine dining and haute couture to Texas-style barbecue and country line dancing takes place in the Texas hill country.

Alaska

Looking for a memorable location for your elopement? The state of Alaska has no residency requirement, but in many places you will have to wait out a 72 hour waiting period before you get your hands on your marriage license. The state of Alaska is the most exotic state in the United States of America, featuring a landscape and plenty of flora and fauna found nowhere else in the US. If you and your new spouse can’t keep each other occupied for 72 hours among this kind of beauty, then you’re doing it wrong.

You can more ideas from this cool book available at Amazon: Let’s Elope: The Definitive Guide to Eloping, Destination Weddings, and Other Creative Wedding Options. (Buy it via our link here, and we’ll make a little bit of money for recommending it.)

This article is part of a “where are the best places to…” series of articles, more of which can be found below:

Buffalo Wild Wings Coupons

September 9th, 2012 |

Buffalo Wild Wings Coupons 2011

Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the fastest growing fast food chains in America. It seems like you can’t put up a strip mall without a Buffalo Wild Wings storefront. Though the first BW2 (as it is sometimes known) opened in the early 80s, the restaurant chain has only recently exploded in popularity, with franchises in 40 states.

Don’t let the name fool you–Buffalo Wild Wings serves a full menu of food, not just chicken wings and sauce. If you’re a fan of wraps, burgers, salads, and other American restaurant staples, there’s something to fill your belly. If you like the sauce as much as BW2 thinks you will, you can pick up a bottle right there in the restaurant.

Buffalo Wild Wings isn’t exactly cheap–6 wings go for about $6, and other menu items are more expensive. If you pick up a couple of Buffalo Wild Wings coupons before your next trip, you’ll save some scratch or be able to pack in a few more wings for your dollar.

Buffalo Wild Wings Printable Coupons 2011

Buffalo Wild Wings Coupons

The easiest way to get Buffalo Wild Wings coupons is to follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Just for being a fan of BW2 on their social media sites, you get easy access to promotions and coupon offers. You’re already using Facebook constantly–why not use it to save cash on your wing habit?

Occasionally, a third-party coupon host like 8coupons.com or MySavings.com will offer a deal for Buffalo Wild Wings food and sauces, but this depends heavily on your local Buffalo Wild Wings’ franchise’s policy on coupons.

You will also find individual Buffalo Wild Wings franchises offering coupons and special promotional offers in their area newspapers. These coupons don’t work at any Buffalo Wild Wings location, so check the coupon’s fine print before you try to use it.

More Online Buffalo Wild Wings Deals

The official Buffalo Wild Wings website features all of their current promotions and specials. There’s a neat feature that lets you plug in your local BW2 location and spits out the current promotion–for example in my area right now there’s a 50-cent wings deal. Since their promotions fluctuate, checking out the website is a good way to stay on top of the deals you can get without even printing out a coupon.

You don’t have to find a special coupon to eat cheap wings at BW2–Wing Tuesdays and Boneless Thursdays are promotions designed to draw customers in for lower-priced menu items. To find out about your local Buffalo Wild Wings weekly promotions, check the BW2 website for your local franchise’s current promotions.

Buffalo Wild Wings is a popular spot for family dining, having a few beers and wings during the game, and for study groups. Chicken wings are an American original, and when you’re craving wings and sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings is a reliable source. Printing out coupons and taking advantage of their everyday promotional offers means more cash left in your wallet.

See also:

Where Are the Best Places to Travel?

September 8th, 2012 |

Where are the best places to travel?

Figuring out the best place for you to travel is a matter of deciding what kind of trip you want to have and picking a spot. Simple as that — just decide if you want a budget vacation, an exotic destination, or a family-themed getaway.

Best Budget Travel Spots

If you’re trying to make your money stretch a little further, you’re going to have to vacation to places where the US Dollar is strong against the local currency. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the financial section of your local paper you know that there’s not many places like this left. Here are some spots you can travel to to keep a little extra dough in your wallet.

Vietnam

Most people don’t think of Vietnam as a tourist destination — but that’s changing. The cost effectiveness of a vacation in Vietnam is driving more and more people there every year. A “luxury” budget for a trip in Vietnam would be about $30 US a day, all inclusive.

Eastern Europe

The best way to visit Europe without losing your shirt is to travel further and further east. Cities like Prague or Sofia are perfect vacation spots (featuring plenty of culture and great food, etc.) that are as easy on the budget as they are on the eyes.

Costa Rica

Sure, Costa Rica is one of the more expensive travel spots in Central America, BUT the American Dollar is well-valued there. One dollar will get you 500 of the local currency, up from about 300 ten years ago. So live it up — visit Costa Rica and have a tropical vacation you’ll never forget.

Central America

Since Central America is so cheap and the USD is so valuable there, why not schedule a budget vacation touring all the countries of Central America? From ancient wonders and beautiful beaches to surfing and fine dining, Central America could be the perfect (slightly exotic) cheap vacation idea.

Cambodia

This country is ridiculously cheap — travellers report spending as little as $4 a night for top-notch hotel rooms. You may not have thought of this little Southeast Asian country as a vacation spot, but the low cost combined with their use of the US Dollar means Cambodia is the best cheap travel spot on this list.

Exotic Destinations

The Sahara

Sure — it is a desert. But for exotic locales and stunning beauty there is little to argue against the beautiful Sahara of Africa. Stop off in Morrocco and enjoy the Rif mountains and beach resort-style coastal towns.

Turkey

Many people don’t think of Turkey when they consider what vacation destination to pick, but the fact is this country (nestled between the Aegean and the Mediterranean sea) can be considered the cradle of civilization. Arts, culture, museums, beautiful scenery . . . Turkey has it all.

Nepal / Tibet

There’s nothing like a difficult-to-reach mostly-Buddhist Southeast Asian country to get your exotic vacationer’s blood boiling. Looking for a spirital journey? Nepal is perfect. If you’re a fan of extreme outdoor adventure, either of these countries can provide outstanding mountain sports.

Madagascar

An island nation off the coast of Africa, Madagascar is largely untouched by civilization. The wildlife here is second to none.

Tunisia

Tunisia is another country that has avoided too much of the outside world’s spoiling, though the Mediterranean-style resort villages might fool you into thinking otherwise.

Family-Friendly Vacation Ideas

Disneyworld

Everyone should go to Disneyworld at some point in their life. Get your family down to Orlando to see the the park as it evolves into the 21st century, but don’t limit yourself to Disney. Orlando has plenty of outdoor activity, and a drive through Florida or even down to Miami can be a real eye opener for your family.

Grand Canyon

Pile the family in the car and take a road trip to the Grand Canyon, one of the most beautiful natural spots in all of America. On the way into Arizona, there are plenty of places to stop and soak up the local flavor, like Albuquerque, NM to the east or Salt Lake City to the north. Seeing the Canyon itself is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Lake Tahoe

Where California and Nevada come together there is Lake Tahoe. The South Shore of the lake is lively and active, while the North Shore is designed more for fans of the quiet life. Got a family that likes outdoor activities as well as hiking and natural beauty? Lake Tahoe’s perfect for you.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Between Busch Gardens and the Water Country USA theme park, there’s lots of fun for the whole family besides well-known Colonial Williamsburg. You and your family will enjoy an educational as well as recreational vacation near the birthplace of our country.

Oahu, Hawaii

Though Oahu is small (taking up only just under 600 square miles) there is plenty of activity packed into this family friendly vacation destination. Boating, dolphin spotting, surfing, the Pearl Harbor memorial — there’s plenty to do and see in Oahu besides just the beach.

This post is part of a series of posts focusing on the questions related to “where are the best places to…”. Other posts include:

What Are the Top 10 Women’s Clothing Websites?

September 7th, 2012 |

What Are the Top 10 Women’s Clothing Websites?

The Internet is stuffed to the gills with websites dedicated to women’s clothing. From vintage shops and online resale boutiques to huge retailers like Target, if you’re looking for an item of women’s clothing you’ll have no shortage of venues to browse through.

Here are the top ten women’s clothing websites listed by their popularity.

1. Amazon.com

You wouldn’t immediately think of Amazon when you think of women’s clothing, but you should. Amazon has such a massive customer base (Amazon is the 15th most popular website in the world) you shouldn’t be surprised that they’d enter the world of women’s clothing.

2. eBay.com

Another surprise at the top — the popular auction site may not be the first name that comes to mind in women’s clothes, but as the 21st most popular website in the world, eBay’s potential women’s clothing customer base is huge. It isn’t traditional clothes shopping, because of eBay’s auction format, but you can often find really cool vintage stuff here as well as new clothes.

3. Gap.com

What Are the Top 10 Women's Clothing Websites?

Gap.com has the honor of being the most popular single-retailer clothing website, and with near constant online sales distinct from their in-store deals, Gap.com gives women plenty of reason to shop online rather than in the store. Another trick to Gap.com’s success is the fact that you can shop multiple retailers at once through their partnership with Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, and Athleta. More options means more traffic

4. Zappos.com

With a massive collection of clothes, shoes, accessories, and pretty much anything you want in the world of clothing, Zappos.com is the most popular “one stop shopping” site for women’s clothing. Thousands of brands are available at Zappos.com, and their one-year return policy means you can shop without fear.

5. HM.com

This is the web presence of retail clothing giant H&M — what’s surprising about H&M’s presence online is that you can’t actually buy clothes from their website. HM.com is a flashy content-less website offering “fashion previews” and other “fashion tools” combined with a store locator. How the H&M website became so popular is a mystery.

6. VictoriasSecret.com

It’s not all bras and panties at Victoria’s Secret — their fashion section is as popular as their underwear selection. Are push-up bras and sexy panties still on display? Of course they are — along with sweaters, tee-shirts, dresses, and accessories.

7. Forever21.com

Popular women’s clothing retailer Forever 21 borrowed a page from Gap’s playbook and created a website that contains five different brands in one, from Forever 21 to 21 for Men, Heritage 1981, and Twelve by Twelve. Something Forever 21 does well is attract customers, with a year-round free shipping policy that rivals anyone else in the business — spend $50 or more and you don’t pay for shipping.

8. JCrew.com

JCrew’s website fits their image perfectly. It looks more like a high fashion blog than a clothing retailer. The expensive look of the site is matched only by the high prices of the clothes. Still, even with tops going for well over $150, JCrew’s popularity in the women’s clothing world can not be denied.

9. BlueFly.com

Calling itself “the ultimate hook-up for the fashion obsessed”, BlueFly.com offers deals on high-dollar clothing items, for women and men alike. Some selections from their women’s catalog are dresses by Marc Jacobs that range from $200 up to $500, and a $1200 pair of Jimmy Choo boots. For women who want high fashion at a reasonable price, BlueFly is a great place to start hunting.

10. Yoox.com

Another “high fashion” discount retailer, Yoox.com is not quite as popular as BlueFly — then again, BlueFly does a lot more advertising. All the big name designers are here, from Prada to Dolce & Gabbana.

Not every great women’s clothing website is a retail store. Blogs and websites about fashion, deal-hunting, and all sorts of other topics are also invaluable resources on women’s clothing.

Here are our top ten informational sites about women’s clothing.

1. The Sartorialist

We wanted to start this list off with a “little blog that could” story, but we just can’t ignore the greatness that is The Sartorialist. The Sartorialist has attracted a ton of attention, including being named to Time’s list of Top 100 Design Influencers, so calling the story of this regularly updated, minimalist fashion blog a “Cinderella” would be way off base. You’ve just got to read the Sartorialist, full of beautiful photos and very little editorializing.

2. Fashion Indie

Fashion Indie is a collection of all things related to fashion, from news and notes on models and designers to a section called “random cool shit” that highlights, well, pictures of random stuff that’s awesome. Fashion Indie has a unique aesthetic that is part Tumblr and part haute couture, like a fashionable 4chan with less porn.

3. Fashion Industry Network

Offering everything from news and editorials to blogs and member forums, Fashion Industry Network is literally a “network” for people in the fashion industry. This is like Variety for fashion, all balled up in one neat little online location. Want to learn about what’s hot in fashion or design? You’ve got multiple ways to do that here.

4. The Cut

New York Magazine’s fashion section online is called The Cut — updated multiple times a day with news and notes on fashion, high fashion shows, and shopping and clothing news around the world. You get the great journalism associated with New York Magazine and the fashion news you want to read.

5. Shoe Blog

Alright, everyone knows women love shoes. And while some of the fashion blogs and networks cover shoes and shoe fashion, there are very few dedicated to woman’s best friend, the shoe. I don’t know who’s running the Shoe Blog, but they update the site all the time. The beautiful photos of shoes here are enough to make a shopping addict go into full relapse.

6. Style Bubble

A stylish blog about style — as much about accessories and the fashion media as it is about clothing — Style Bubble is full of beautiful photos, links to fashion news of interest, and enough about the personal life of the blogger to make this blog about fashion stand out in the crowd.

7. SheFinds

I have more fun reading this blog than any other — there’s always some kind of intrigue in the posts at SheFinds, from picking apart style mistakes by celebrities (and offering better alternatives) to games like picking the more expensive item out of a fashion lineup. SheFinds has lots of costume ideas too, and suggestions for mimicking celebrities’ best outfits.

8. Fashionising

Updates on hot trends in fashion and where to find them. The black background gives this blog a very “indie rock” / Myspace kind of feel and it isn’t the easiest font to read in the world, but the updates are near constant and the fashion is excellent.

9. Shopping Blog

This blog’s simple self-description works perfectly — “commentary on fashion, beauty, shopping and popular culture.” Though the blog itself is a little disorganized (I have trouble navigating through the multiple menus, and the colors are ugly) the information is solid and right now they’re in the business of outing bedbug infestations at fashion locations around the country, which is kind of like watching a train wreck.

10. Cafe Fashionista

Tightwad Tuesday is by far my favorite part of this wonderful little blog by an unassuming (and super smart) fashionista. On Tuesdays, the blogger shows a photo of an over-the-top expensive piece of high fashion, then offers a lower priced alternative. It is consistently some of the best fashipon writing on the web — who cares if the blog itself looks like something out of a Valentine’s Day card?

What Is Plastic Jungle? Is Plastic Jungle Legit or a Scam?

September 6th, 2012 |

Plastic Jungle Question

Plastic Jungle is a website which offers big discounts on gift cards. When people have unused gift cards they don’t plan on using or can’t use, they sell these unused cards at a discount. Plastic Jungle lets you bid on gift cards for most of the major retail chains, such as Target Gift Cards, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, and Marshalls gift cards.

Plastic Jungle Scam?

The question so many people have when seeing the great discounts you can get at Plastic Jungle is whether Plastic Jungle is legit or a scam. There are similar
websites, which don’t guarantee transactions and stick by their claims, which are not legit. With potential savings up to 35% of the value of the card, it’s important
to know whether Plastic Jungle is too good to be true.

Plastic Jungle Legit?

The short answer is that Plastic Jungle is legit. This site, unlike so many others, offers a 100% guarantee on transactions and comprehensive consumer protections.

This is a legitimate website for auctioning off gift cards you aren’t going to use.

Imagine you get a gift card to Barnes & Noble for Christmas or your birthday from an aunt who hardly knows you. Imagine you don’t read books very often, or you don’t have a Barnes & Noble store in your local town. If this is a card you have no interest in using or little opportunity to use, then it makes sense to get whatever cash you can online from people willing to pay hard money in exchange for a significant discount.

Think about some of the other websites I’ve mentioned. While everyone tends to be able to find Wal-Marts and Targets nearby, and everyone can find something they need to buy there, that’s not always the case with other retail stores. Maybe you live in an apartment and never make home repairs, so having a gift card from a home repair store like Lowes or Home Depot might not appeal to you at all. There are people who might not like Marshalls merchandise. Even in the case of Target or Wal-Mart, you might decide you just don’t want to shop at one of those stores.

In those cases, it makes sense to get whatever cash you can at Plastic Jungle.

Plastic Jungle Review – How Plastic Jungle Works

People can list their unwanted gift cards for free at Plastic Jungle. When these gift cards sell, Plastic Jungle takes a 10% commission from the transaction. That’s a steep commission, but in exchange, you get assurances that the transaction is safe on either end, whether you’re a buyer or seller. All transactions are guaranteed, you get gift card protection, and you’ll be able to learn how to use Plastic Jungle at their learning center.

Some of the popular categories which you can find deals on gift cards at Plastic Jungle are clothing chains, electronics outlets, jewelry stores, sports & sporting goods stores, home decor & furnishings, handbags, shoes & accessories, and a whole list of other retail outlets.

Plastic Jungle Gift Card Examples

Best Buy Gift Cards
Kohl’s Gift Cards
Macy’s Gift Cards
Kmart Gift Cards
Land’s End Gift Cards
Sears Gift Cards

Plastic Jungle Coupon

Remember to go to Plastic Jungle to get your discount cards, though. You’ll find websites that rank for “Plastic Jungle” which aren’t the real auction site. Many of these are legitimate web addresses which lets you know when new Plastic Jungle auctions that you might be interested in are listed.

Others might be offering you a Plastic Jungle coupon that claims to give you even bigger savings. Watch out what you’re getting into with these sites.

Plastic Jungle Coupon Code

Don’t get me wrong, there are legitimate sites which give heads-up on Plastic Jungle coupon codes, too. For instance, Plastic Jungle does offer $50 Plastic Jungle gift cards where you choose the store they are redeemed at. You buy the card and use the coupon code to redeem the purchase. My rule of thumb is to make sure you’re on the Plastic Jungle site when you finally make a purchase or exchange money in any form, since that’s where you are assured of getting real deals and have protections that keep you from being scammed.

Plastic Jungle Complaints

If you do have a negative experience at PJ, you can make Plastic Jungle complaints online at the Better Business Bureau or BBB. I’ve seen a list of complaints at the
BBB site about Plastic Jungle (like most other businesses). In this one example, I found list of options like “Making a full refund, as the consumer requested” (4),
“Making a partial refund” (0), “Agreeing to perform according to their contract” (7), “Refusing to make an adjustment” (0), “Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement” (0), and “Unassigned” (1).

As you can see, the one unresolved case appears to be a new complaint which hasn’t been assigned yet. In all other cases, a refund was issued or Plastic Jungle agreed to live by the terms of the original agreement. The fact is, you’ll find few people complaining online about Plastic Jungle’s services, unless they believe that the 10% fee is too high. In a case like that, you know up front the price of doing business at Plastic Jungle, and can make your decision accordingly.

What Is Plastic Jungle?

So if you ask “What is Plastic Jungle“, the answer is that the Plastic Jungle is the #1 gift card rebate company on the Internet. It’s a place you can find cheap deals and safe bargains. Most important for you, Plastic Jungle is legitimate, secure, and safe to do business at.

Visit Plastic Jungle Now.

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What Causes Constipation?

September 6th, 2012 |

What Causes Constipation?

Constipation means irregular or infrequent movement of the bowels. People don’t like to talk about constipation, so sometimes it is hard to find information about this gastrointestinal problem.

Constipation is completely normal, as long as it isn’t chronic, or happening all the time. Everyone will get constipated at some point in their life, and as much as 2% of the US population deals with chronic (or constant) constipation.

Constipation is the most common digestive problem in the United States, more common than diarrhea or vomiting. Constipation makes a person feel bloated, have terrible headaches, act irritable, and all the other symptoms, but it is also time-consuming and expensive to correct. The CDC reported this year that chronic constipation leads to over 2.5 million doctor’s office visits a year, representing tens of millions of dollars in medication and treatment.

Constipation Symptoms

Constipation Symptoms and Remedies

Constipation symptoms happen when bowel movements are few and far between. The acceptable length of time between bowel movements is different from person to person, but generally three days is the longest a person should go without having a bowel movement. After three days, the stool becomes harder and nearly impossible to pass and can cause health problems.

The definition of constipation is really pretty scientific–you are labeled “constipated” if you have two or more of the following constipation symptoms for at least 3 months:

Straining hard during a bowel movement more than 25% of the time.
Hard stools more than 25% of the time.
Incomplete bowel movement more than 25% of the time.
Two or fewer bowel movements in a week.

What Causes Constipation?

Constipation is usually caused by a minor bowel function problem rather than something structurally broken inside the body. There are many causes of constipation–the most common causes are:

Not drinking enough water
Not eating enough fiber
A disruption of routine, diet, or sleep; this is sometimes called “Traveling constipation”
Not being active enough, being immobile, lack of exercise
Eating too many dairy products
Stress
Pain from hemorrhoids
Overuse of laxatives or stool softeners which weakens the bowel muscle over time
Hypothyroidism
Neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis
Overuse of antacid medicines that contain calcium or aluminum
Medication, especially strong pain medication, narcotics, iron pills, and pre-natal vitamins
Depression
Anorexia/bulimia/anxiety disorders
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Pregnancy
Certain types of cancers

With a range of causes as wide as this (and including many hundreds of more possible causes), it’s no wonder people visit their doctors millions of times a year for concerns about constipation.

What Are the Symptoms of Constipation?

The most common symptoms of constipation are: infrequent bowel movements, difficulty having bowel movements, swollen abdomen and abdominal pain, and vomiting. If you have two or more of these symptoms, you’re probably constipated.

Treatment for Constipation

Most constipation cases will respond quickly to the most conservative of treatment plans–simple changes in the diet or lifestyle of the patient.

Some simple dietary changes to keep you from being constipated are to eat the recommended daily amount of fiber (20 to 35 grams), drinking as much water or sugar-free juice that you can every day, and avoiding foods that don’t have fiber, junk foods like ice cream, candy, and processed foods.

Some lifestyle changes that can affect constipation are adding an exercise regimen, taking your time to have bowel movements, and even quitting smoking.

If lifestyle changes and changing your diet don’t help, your doctor may prescribe laxatives.

What Are Laxatives?

There are four basic types of laxatives used by doctors–bulk-forming, stimulant, lubricant and saline.

Bulk-forming laxatives do just what their name describes. These laxatives, like Metamucil and Citrucel, simply increase the volume of feces, making them softer and easier to move through the body.

So called Stimulant laxatives, like Ex-Lax, Dulcolax, etc, stimulate the intestinal wall to contract, helping a person have a bowel movement.

Lubricant laxatives, like using mineral oil orally, softens the stool so it is easier to pass.

The final category, Saline laxatives, including Milk of Magnesia, increase the concentration of salts within the feces, leading to easier bowel movements.

There are other constipation treatments besides laxatives. Some doctors recommend a program of “bowel retraining” for patients who have trouble going to the bathroom regularly. Still other doctors prefer to use rectal suppositories to help lubricate the intestinal walls.

If you believe you have chronic constipation, talk to your doctor about which treatment plan is best for your situation.

See also:

What Is a Pay as You Go Cell Phone?

September 5th, 2012 |

What Is a Pay as You Go Cell Phone?

A “Pay as You Go” cell phone is pretty much the opposite of a standard cell phone plan.

Jitterbug Offers Plans Starting at $14.99 a Month with No Contract

Most cell phone plans require long-term contracts (at least a year, normally two years) that must be secured using a credit card or bank card — don’t forget about the monthly fees and expensive phones.

The cheapest standard cell phone contracts offer somewhere around 300 minutes of talk time per month, and since most people will use more than this, minimum fees don’t really apply. If you want unlimited talk time as well as a few bells and whistles, you’re looking at somewhere around $80 to $100 a month — after you pay for the phone and setup the service. What happens if you go over your minutes with a standard cell phone plan? You’ll be charged a hefty overage fee for each minute you go over — and if you have unused minutes at the end of the month good luck “rolling them over” into the next month. Standard cell phone plans are rigid, expensive, and not always the best option, especially for people on a limited budget.

How Do Pay As You Go Cell Phones Work?

The average ‘pay as you go’ cell phone plan is perfect for people without a ton of money to throw at their phone bill. For starters, pay as you go cell phones don’t come with monthly fees or long-term contracts — this means you won’t need a credit card to start service. Instead, you buy a phone card from any number of stores (gas stations, grocery stores, big box stores, cell phone stores, etc) and the purchase of that phone card counts as your payment to the cell phone company. For most pay as you go cell phones, you only have to add about $20 credit to your phone every three months to keep your phone active.

Pay as You Go Cell Phones Using a ‘pay as you go’ plan means you have to buy a cell phone that is intended for use with pay as you go plans. Not every phone is compatible with this kind of cell phone plan. You can buy these phones from big box stores like Target or Wal-Mart, but make sure the phone you buy is made for the carrier you want to use.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Pay as You Go Cell Phones?

One big downside of pay as you go plans is the cost of minutes — they end up costing about $0.25 each, a much higher rate than a standard cellular plan. Sure, you buy the minutes ahead of time (usually in units of $20) but at a quarter a minute, that $20 card will only buy you 80 minutes.

Another downside — it is hard to find pay as you go phone plans that offer their members “perks” such as free phones or gifts to loyal customers.

One positive aspect of the pay as you go cell phone — if you have a credit card, you can tell your pay as you go carrier to keep that card on file and automatically debit it every 90 days. This saves you the hassle of running down to the store and loading another prepaid card.

The big advantages of a pay as you go cell phone plan are the lack of a contract, no requirement that you have a credit card, and the complete lack of those pesky monthly fees. Yes, your minutes are more expensive than with a standard cellular contract, but the straightforward billing and adaptability of a pay as you go plan mean they are more convenient and easier to use than traditional cell phones.

Jitterbug Offers Plans Starting at $14.99 a Month with No Contract

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What Is OnStar?

September 2nd, 2012 |

If you’ve missed one of the thousands of OnStar commercials then you probably don’t know that OnStar is General Motors in-car safety and security system which could just be the next big thing in automotive safety. It relies on telemetric technology to communicate both voice and data from the vehicle to OnStar centers. In other words it’s like an iPhone on steroids.

First introduced in 1996 at the Chicago Automotive Show, OnStar is now on its ninth version of its software package and it makes the first version look like an old Admiral Computer program. Today there is a new emphasis on driver safety that could have a bigger impact on improving driver safety than seat belts have had.

Currently only available on GM and Saab vehicles, OnStar represents an important competitive advantage over the competition. And that advantage isn’t limited to just the United States. OnStar operates control centers in Canada and China as well.

Here’s a quick list of some OnStar features and how they work

Onboard 411 and 911. Thanks to the hands free communication feature a driver, or a passenger can instantly call an OnStar response center with the touch of a button to request emergency service or simply to ask directions. Pushing a second button transmits the car’s exact location. With OnStar you are always in touch with outside assistance.
Advanced Automatic Crash Response (AACR). This is the next big thing in driver safety. If the car is involved in any kind of collision, not just ones that cause the air bags to deploy, an OnStar response center will be notified. The center will call the car and confirm there was a crash and ask if medical assistance is required. If the OnStar center calls and the driver is nonresponsive, OnStar will automatically dispatch emergency vehicles.
Vehicle diagnostics. Backing up the driver safety programs is a new service that automatically runs a diagnostic on the vehicle to spot potential system failures. The results of the diagnostic check are emailed to the owner each month.
Stolen Vehicle Services. If you report your car stolen to the police OnStar will work with them to locate the vehicle and if requested by the police, slow it down. That’s right, OnStar can remotely slow the vehicle down which reduces the risk of high speed chases and increase the odds that your car will be recovered intact.

Other benefits of OnStar

The system comes with other “convenience” services for car owners like remotely unlocking doors, flashing headlights when you can’t find your car in a parking lot and providing emergency roadside service as well.

Subscription rates for OnStar are very affordable. It’s the cell phone minutes that you have to buy that can drive the price up. Remember this system works much like an iPhone in terms of voice and data transmission.

There is a way to cut the overall price and that’s by shopping for the right car insurance. If you compare car insurance quotes you might find that you get a discount on comprehensive coverage because of the stolen car features. And don’t be to surprised that free health insurance quotes start offering discounts as well once the benefits of the driver safety features have been validated.

Author Bio

With three kids Laura Penekamp is a pretty busy stay at home mom. However her love of saving money for the family wherever she can has launched a part time freelance career offering tips on how to stretch family budgets.

How to Become a Farmer

September 1st, 2012 |

How to Become a Farmer

It seems like people are turning their eyes toward the farmstead once again. Environmentalism, the economic downturn, and a desire for “the simple life” are converging, leading more and more people to wonder if they could “make it” on the farm. The American dream may one day be to move back to the country and grow your own food. We think of farming life as peaceful, slow, simple, even meditative.

But what does it take to be a farmer? The rise of “farm simulation” games on social media sites and on video game platforms may have given people a false sense of the simplicity of a farmer’s life–being a farmer is much more than shoving some seeds in the ground.

Being a Farmer

How to Become a Farmer Farmers do much more than dig in the ground twice a year. Farmers must care for different crops and farm animals, acting as botanists and biologists. Farmers deal with difficult planting seasons and weather concerns, maintaining farm tools and the homestead, falling value of crops versus rising crop prices, and any number of other farming headaches.

What does it take to be a farmer?

1. Physical Fitness

Farmers are active and they need physical strength, endurance, and fitness to make it through their day. A farmer’s work is never really done, so they sleep little, get up with the sun, and don’t sleep until well after it is dark outside. Farm work is physical labor, after all, even though many things are done by machine. Farmers need to be able to lift heavy things, like bags of feed, stand out in the sun for hours at a time fixing the fence, do household chores and maintenance, walk long distances, and deal with the occasional cut and scrape you get from working outside. Farmers should be healthy and fit.

2. A Head for Business

Farming isn’t all crops and horses. The business of agriculture is tough going, and it is easy to have one poor season that (combined with poor financial moves) sinks your entire farm. If you’re new to the farm business, you lack the built-in knowledge of agribusiness that family farms pass down from generation to generation. Your farming business knowledge will have to come out of a book.

3. A Farming Education

While you can get degrees in agriculture, it isn’t a requirement for starting a farm. Still, what you get from that four-year degree is a “catch-all” education for all things farm-related. Basic mechanics, dairy production business, crop yields and proper crop handling, general farm management, and business courses are taught, arming a future farmer with a general education in everything they’ll need to know to be successful farmers. A four year bachelor’s degree in agriculture qualifies a person to run a farm or to manage a family farm.

But college is far from the only way to get an education in farming. There are workshops for beginning farmers and amateur gardeners that teach the basics of farming–these are perfect for people starting a smaller farm or who want to grow more of their own food. There are even agricultural conferences open to the general public where you can learn from professional and family farmers.

The public library has all sorts of agriculture textbooks and materials, and government-funded departments in your state or county that help your community with agricultural issues, including ag education.

4. Good Relations With the Community

Even if you got a four-year degree in agriculture before you started your mission to become a farmer, you’d still need to develop friendships and business partnerships with other farm entities in your area. In other words–you’ll need to learn farming from the locals. Your new farm is probably in a part of the country that is populated with other farmers and people in the agriculture business, so making friends in your new community can increase your farm education and be an investment in your farm’s future.

5. Land

Land is often the most expensive part of a new farm. Even if you’re just leasing your land, agricultural real estate is not cheap. Land prices are on the increase year after year, so buying new property outright is not an option for most small farmers. That’s why most farms operate on a lease.

The best leases on farm land are contracts that “lock in” a price for several years. This way you don’t have to worry about your rent increasing as the value of the land goes up naturally. Buying land means having less cash to spend on your farm, a bank mortgage, and financial problems in the immediate future, while leasing is a gamble that your lease contract is good enough for your farming output.

6. Cash

Beneath concerns about land and farm equipment costs is the bare fact that farmers need cold hard cash in order to be successful.

Even if you’re opening a smallish farm, the cost of new or even used equipment is high. Farm labor is expensive, and crop prices and government subsidies change from year to year.

This heavy dependence on cash is the reason why many farms stay in the family. If your family farm has been in the area for generations, you’ve developed a way to succeed in that area, friendships and business partnerships with your neighbors, and your land and equipment are probably owned by your family already. If you’re trying to open a new farm, you may find that lacking these basic farm connections makes your attempt to run a new farm an uphill battle.

Farming is a classic American pursuit. So many of our ancestors got by farming and working the land, and as our society gets more fast-paced, there will be people who want to return to a simpler time. If you’re interested in starting a farm, make sure you’ve got all the above areas covered, otherwise it’ll be back to the old grind before you know it.

See also:

How to Become a Private Investigator
How to Become a Talent Agent
How to Become a Speechwriter
How to Become a Boxer
How to Become a Chiropractor
How to Become a Chef
How to Become an Event Planner

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