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Sunday, April 26, 2009
The ultimate guide to hiring today's best employees: The new rules of recruiting | poweredByProfit |
Monday, April 20, 2009
Home office tips
good self improvement jogs from Diamond traders
Work From Home
Whether by choice or by default many of us are working from home these days. Many people however encounter difficulties as productivity and work often suffer; they get distracted by daily life or other people who believe they’re not doing anything important (otherwise you would be somewhere else…not home). If you are one of these people here are a few things you need to know to get your tasks done effectively and efficiently so you can get on with your life.
Create a home office: by doing this you are physically and mentally establishing an environment where you can get some real work done. One location where the activity that you carry out is work; you can reach your phone work on the computer find your stationary and supplies nothing will get in the way of your progress faster than rolling out of bed with your laptop to go and find the stapler in the kitchen to staple the files that are printing presently in your dining room.
Time Management: decide what time you are going to allot to work and work during those hours. While working at home allows you the freedom to work on your own time to much free reign might have you procrastinating and then struggling to get things done at the last minute. Make your self a schedule that works for you whether it’s a 4 day or 4 hour work week and stick to it. Minimize Distractions: TV’s, Video games, to loud music or other people can distract you from your work. If necessary work with out these distractions in or near your work space.
Get a second line: while this may be an additional cost initially it far out ways the costs of missing an important call because your teenager was in the midst of some juicy gossip. A phone line established for your business alone can keep your work separate from home life.
Dress for the office: while the allure of working in your pajamas might be all too tempting, dressing for work can you put you in a productive state of mind. Suit and tie is probably not necessary but business casual dress attire might put you in a working frame of mind.
Get out of the house: working at home and living at home can become tedious and de-motivating if you do not take time to get some fresh air and perspective. Do something out of the house daily in order the keep your mental health in check; take a garden lunch break or go for a walk around the neighborhood, it will revitalize your mind and get you ready to work some more.
Keep in contact: once in your house do not become a home body and loose contact with your social network, some face time with friends, family or colleagues will keep you healthy and probably help you live longer. Set boundaries: if you are working from home make sure people know that this is important and that your do not disturb sign or quiet time restrictions need to be respected. Also make boundaries for your self just because you work at home does not mean you have to take work home with you.
Make time for you and your family!
Work From Home
Whether by choice or by default many of us are working from home these days. Many people however encounter difficulties as productivity and work often suffer; they get distracted by daily life or other people who believe they’re not doing anything important (otherwise you would be somewhere else…not home). If you are one of these people here are a few things you need to know to get your tasks done effectively and efficiently so you can get on with your life.
Create a home office: by doing this you are physically and mentally establishing an environment where you can get some real work done. One location where the activity that you carry out is work; you can reach your phone work on the computer find your stationary and supplies nothing will get in the way of your progress faster than rolling out of bed with your laptop to go and find the stapler in the kitchen to staple the files that are printing presently in your dining room.
Time Management: decide what time you are going to allot to work and work during those hours. While working at home allows you the freedom to work on your own time to much free reign might have you procrastinating and then struggling to get things done at the last minute. Make your self a schedule that works for you whether it’s a 4 day or 4 hour work week and stick to it. Minimize Distractions: TV’s, Video games, to loud music or other people can distract you from your work. If necessary work with out these distractions in or near your work space.
Get a second line: while this may be an additional cost initially it far out ways the costs of missing an important call because your teenager was in the midst of some juicy gossip. A phone line established for your business alone can keep your work separate from home life.
Dress for the office: while the allure of working in your pajamas might be all too tempting, dressing for work can you put you in a productive state of mind. Suit and tie is probably not necessary but business casual dress attire might put you in a working frame of mind.
Get out of the house: working at home and living at home can become tedious and de-motivating if you do not take time to get some fresh air and perspective. Do something out of the house daily in order the keep your mental health in check; take a garden lunch break or go for a walk around the neighborhood, it will revitalize your mind and get you ready to work some more.
Keep in contact: once in your house do not become a home body and loose contact with your social network, some face time with friends, family or colleagues will keep you healthy and probably help you live longer. Set boundaries: if you are working from home make sure people know that this is important and that your do not disturb sign or quiet time restrictions need to be respected. Also make boundaries for your self just because you work at home does not mean you have to take work home with you.
Make time for you and your family!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Use Your Mood to Improve the World
Use Your Mood to Improve the World
Good health can be both the cause and consequence of being happy. That's why two pioneering scientists wanted to see if they could actually measure how happiness works in groups. What they discovered took everyone by happy surprise -- the happiness of others, even those you don't know, has a direct influence on your happiness.
The coauthor of this novel study on happiness, James Fowler, PhD, told me how the research was done. First his team combed through the records of 5,000 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, many of whom had identified one another as spouses, friends or neighbors. His team established a happiness baseline for these participants by checking their periodic answers to questions regarding their happiness over the past 20 years (1983 to 2003). Then they used a sophisticated statistical analysis tool to create a map of social connections among the initial 5,000 and other participants within the Framingham study. It showed how one person's happiness rippled like a network, creating a cascade of happiness that increased the likelihood of others being happy too.
They discovered that there were various degrees of influence depending on the degree of social connection and that it was quite predictable. For example, within your social network, the happiness of someone with whom you have frequent and regular personal contact, called an immediate social contact (for instance, your spouse or closest nearby friend), increases the likelihood of your happiness by an average of 15%. The happiness of a second-degree contact (for instance, your closest friend's spouse) increases your chances for happiness by 10%, while the happiness of a third-degree contact (your closest friend's friend's friend) increases it by 6%. In other words, your happiness is directly influenced by strangers.
MORE SPECIFIC LEARNINGS FROM THE HAPPINESS STUDY
- Proximity is key. The closer your happy friends and family live to you, the greater the probability that their happiness will affect you. For example, the happiness of your next door neighbor is more influential than the happiness of a neighbor who lives down the street.
- More social connections adds to your happiness. The bigger your social network of nearby happy friends and family, the greater the likelihood of your happiness.
- Unhappy people cluster together in unhappy networks. As the saying goes, misery loves company.
- Whether or not you were happy in the past and whether your social contacts are happy are more important predictors of happiness than your income, gender or education.
- Happiness is more powerful than unhappiness. The happiness of a friend increases the probability of your happiness by 9%... while his unhappiness decreases the chances of your happiness by only 7%.
- It's not fleeting. The impact of another's happiness on your happiness lasts about a year, on average, before fading.
HAPPINESS 2.0: ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS
Dr. Fowler and his coauthor Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD, MPH, are now looking at the question of whether happiness spreads the same way via the Internet, specifically using the Facebook network. They assumed that those who posted smiling pictures of themselves with smiling friends were happy. Since Facebook automatically tags or uploads your photos to those registered as your "friends," they were able to trace the paths of these happy pictures. They found that smiling friends had photos of other smiling friends and so on and so on. (People who didn't smile in their photos, didn't have photos with friends who smiled, who in turn also didn't have photos of smiling friends.) Again -- happiness begets happiness and the same goes for unhappiness. Next they'll study how contagious online happiness turns out to be.REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE
Dr. Fowler himself has been moved by his findings. "I think our study shows that the best thing we can do for ourselves is to connect to friends and family," says Dr. Fowler. "I have been personally affected by the study --Have a good day, be well and take care
" a simple natural lifestyle and a chuckle a day keeps the doctor away'
- additional interactive resources are at our Back to Eden 
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
professional visiblity-useful advice
Five ways to increase your professional visibility
Jason Hiner: Being recognized in your field can make you more valuable in your current job and more marketable when you're looking for a new job. So, what are best tactics for raising your professional profile and maximizing your visibility and exposure?
I'm Jason Hiner, and today on Sanity Savers for Executives, I'll share several practical strategies that can help you increase your professional profile as an leader.
1. Speak to outside groups
Speaking engagements can give you credibility and increase your professional contacts. They can also build your own knowledge of your topic, because in researching and creating your talk, you will inevitably learn more about it.
Look for a topic you're familiar with and that will interest your audience. Avoid simply repeating facts. Focus on how your information can benefit the audience and what the takeaway will be.
When looking for groups you can speak to, consider industry and professional associations, local chambers of commerce, and service organizations. Your initial talks will probably need to be given free of charge. But as your reputation grows, you might be able to charge a fee.
One variant of speaking is to teach, perhaps at a local community college. However, keep in mind that those gigs usually involve a lot of preparation time and little pay.
2. Write for professional publications
Nothing beats seeing your name in the byline of a professional publication. As with speaking to groups, you should pick a topic you know well that will appeal to your peers, the readers. That means, of course, that you have to know the types of readers that a publication has.
Most publications will ask for a query letter or e-mail first. In it, you outline your proposed article and submit samples of your previous work to prove that you can write.
3. Serve as a source for news media
Reporters are always looking for subject matter experts to quote when writing a story. If they quote you in print or on the air, your reputation is enhanced. Once you identify a reporter, introduce yourself by phone or e-mail. If you call, start by asking whether the person is on deadline. If so, offer to call back. Such a question indicates that you re sensitive to the reporter s time.
If you're sending e-mail, include a biographical statement or resume if possible and stress why YOUR knowledge is important to the reporter s readers, viewers, or listeners. One caveat: Be careful about mentioning your company by name. Your employer might be upset if you appear to be speaking for the company rather than for yourself.
4. Moderate a panel discussion
Even if you aren't able to give a presentation at a conference, you still might be able to participate by moderating a panel discussion. The responsibilities will vary depending on the conference and the conference organizer. However, most moderators are responsible for making sure the discussion starts and ends on time and that all participants have a chance to speak. You'll also need to prepare some good questions beforehand. One quick tip: When taking questions from the audience, the moderator should always repeat the question so that the entire room (panelists and audience) can hear it.
5. Serve as board member or officer of a professional association
It's pretty easy to serve in one of these capacities because generally, no one wants to do it. The other officer and board positions are generally concerned with maintaining and increasing membership, for planning and finding speakers for meetings, and for handling various administrative tasks. Some positions require a little extra commitment. For example, if you're the treasurer, you'll be responsible for keeping track of money for the association, such as registration fees received for any conferences and expenses incurred for speakers and facilities. However, if you're willing to put in the time, this can be pretty rewarding, and it looks very good on your resume.
Developing your professional image can make you more successful in your current role and help advance your career. These tips we discussed today can open the door to more professional opportunities by enabling you to build a positive -- and more prominent -- reputation. For additional tips, see Calvin Sun's article that this episode was based on: "10 tips for increasing your professional visibility and exposure."
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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
2009-04-13 helping yourself Tips from
| Financial fitness Back to financial basics Article By: Money you don't really need to spend: 10 ways to simplify your life. Simplify your life by cutting out those needless extra expenses. Here are 10 ways to cut back on the money you don't need to spend. | Yes or no |
| Number Ten: Pay in cash – this means you will always know exactly how much money you have. With credit cards, debt can add up quickly and you may not pay them off as fast as you would like to. When you pay in cash, it's also a great feeling because you know it's done and paid for and you won't have any bills piling up. | |
| Number Nine: Don't get someone else to do it for you – stop paying extra to get things done for you when you can do them yourself. Instead of automatically taking your shirts to the dry cleaners, wash them by hand and hang them to dry. | |
| Number Eight: Eat out less – Visit your local supermarket and pick up fresh ingredients to make homemade meals. You can also take your leftovers to work or have them the next day for dinner. | |
| Number Seven: Shop with a purpose – Whether you're grocery shopping or attending to other errands, it's best to shop with a list. A list reminds you of your reason for shopping and to resist impulse items. It is also a good idea to plan your meals in advance, so that when you get to the store you know exactly what you need to make meals throughout the week. Try to avoid shopping when you're hungry. | |
| Number Six: Get some fresh air – Walking is good for you, and it's cheaper than driving. If it's possible for you to hike or bike to your destination, do it. | |
| Number Five: Keep your car longer- do you really need that brand new car? Maybe your old one will operate just fine for a few more years. If you maintain the car you have now, you may be able to put off buying a new one for quite awhile. | |
| Number Four: Give up your car altogether - if you live in a city with well-equipped public transportation, chances are you might not even need a car. When you add up the expenses of car ownership including insurance, maintenance and parking, the costs may outweigh the benefits. Make a detailed list of what you actually need your car for. Try renting a car if you need it for a weekend away, or for the monthly trip to Costco you could take advantage of a car-sharing service such as a href="http://www.autoshare.com/" target="_blank">AutoShare or Zipcar. | |
| Number Three: Find cheaper ways to entertain yourself - instead of going to the movie theatre, rent a movie, relax and make some popcorn. Movies in the comfort of your own home can be a great way to spend an evening. You can go even further and rent movies from your local library. All you need is a library card and you will have plenty of movies, books and CD's at your disposal. | |
| Number Two: Limit the luxuries – do you really need over 500 channels? Most of the time when you order satellite or digital cable, you are paying for a lot of channels that you don't actually watch. You also pay more depending on the speed of internet you have. If you only use the computer to send emails and read online, you probably don't need the fastest service available. | |
| Number One: Skip the little things – make your own coffee in the morning. Instead of spending $5 a day on gourmet coffee, take it with you from home. Make it a special treat to buy a coffee once a week from your favourite coffee shop. | |
| bill tracking tools Billster – This is also a free, online budgeting tool. Billster is geared towards helping you organize your personal, as well as your shared expenses. Let's say that you decide to buy a joint gift for a co-worker or family member. This online program keeps track of who owes what and when. You can even keep track of reoccurring bills that you have each month, and set a reminder for yourself, so that you will not forget to pay them. With the bill tagging system you can categorize and group your bills to help keep track of where your money is going, and where it has gone. http://www.billster.net/ PearBudget – This very straightforward, easy to use budget program is downloaded directly to your computer through excel. It allows you to keep track of your expenses through the different categories, which allow you to keep track of exactly what you spend. When you have downloaded the program, it will automatically open and take you through how to fill it in correctly. It will take about 20 minutes to fill out all the necessary information, but will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. http://pearbudget.com/ | |
Monday, April 13, 2009
Men are not pigs from the good doctor
Love at first sight… depending on how long he looks
How do I love thee? Let me count … how many seconds I look at you. Well, it may lack the romance of the original line, but a new study shows that this may be a lot closer to the truth. And as you may have expected, it's a guy thing.
The study showed that while women will look at men for about four seconds regardless of whether or not they find them attractive, men spent only half as much time looking at women they did not find attractive. In fact, guys stared at women they were attracted to an average of 8.2 seconds, while people that they weren't so hot for only rated a glance of about four seconds.
To arrive at these new findings published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, researchers tracked more than 100 students with hidden camera, monitoring their eye movements in a room filled with actors and actresses. The unknowing test subjects then rated the attractiveness of their partners.
The results don't mean that men are pigs (well, not necessarily). They merely reinforce the idea that men rely on visual cues to when seeking mates – just as they have for thousands of years. It's built into our DNA.
Here's looking at you for a good, long time, William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.
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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Happy Easter - remember it is important to have the right attitude-christ's weakness (death) became his greatest strength
. The Power of Attitude
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might."1
I have read how William Wilberforce (who became an evangelical Christian) was a diminutive man and never enjoyed good health. For twenty years he was under doctor's orders and had to take drugs to keep body and soul together. Yet he stopped the British slave trade. Boswell once went to hear him speak and said afterward: "I saw what seemed a mere shrimp mounted upon the platform, but as I listened, he grew and grew till the shrimp became a whale."
The interesting thing is that so many successes in history have been achieved by people who have either been limited by some kind of handicap or have suffered a major setback or failure of one kind or another.
It's one's attitude in life that makes the difference. No matter what happens to us, with a positive attitude we can rise above our difficulties and achieve notable things with our life.
By having a positive attitude I don't mean the denial of reality, but rather to be a positive realist. For instance, if I have been hit by a truck, all the positive thinking in the world won't take away the pain. To be a positive realist means that I admit that I have been hit and hurt real bad—but with God's help, and that of the medical profession and the support of loving friends, I will recover to the fullest possible extent and turn this experience into another blessing.
As another has said, "Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst … a spark that creates extraordinary results."
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Happy Easter everyone
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
job tip
How to Get Your Online Resume Noticed
ob openings posted on major employment Web sites can attract thousands of responses. Many firms have turned to résumé analysis software and other high-tech tricks to cut candidate pools down to manageable numbers. Here's how to help your résumé survive the culling process...
Example: If an employer asks for "management experience," somewhere in your résumé should appear the exact phrase "management experience."
Anticipate other keywords and phrases that employers might stress by checking which terms appear repeatedly in job listings in your field.
Example: If job listings for your profession often request "problem-solving skills" or "project management experience," find a permanent place for these phrases in your résumé.
Use a familiar font -- either Arial or Times New Roman -- and select a conventional résumé layout.
Example: The work-experience portion of your résumé should be arranged with your most recent job first.
Or search for jobs in your region through local newspaper Web sites, chamber of commerce Web sites or state job boards (go to www.jobboardinfo.com, click the "State Job Boards" link, then select your state).
Many employers also list job openings on their corporate Web sites. To submit a résumé via e-mail...
Messenger has tons of new features that make chatting more fun. Click here to learn more.
Margaret Dikel
ob openings posted on major employment Web sites can attract thousands of responses. Many firms have turned to résumé analysis software and other high-tech tricks to cut candidate pools down to manageable numbers. Here's how to help your résumé survive the culling process... INCLUDE KEY PHRASES
Make sure that each job requirement is addressed in your résumé.Example: If an employer asks for "management experience," somewhere in your résumé should appear the exact phrase "management experience."
Anticipate other keywords and phrases that employers might stress by checking which terms appear repeatedly in job listings in your field.
Example: If job listings for your profession often request "problem-solving skills" or "project management experience," find a permanent place for these phrases in your résumé.
SELECT A SMART FORMAT
Format your résumé as a text-only (also called "plain text") document before you submit it online. (Go to my Web site, rileyguide.com, or look in the help section of your word-processing program for instructions.) This reduces the odds that the résumé will become garbled in transmission.Use a familiar font -- either Arial or Times New Roman -- and select a conventional résumé layout.
Example: The work-experience portion of your résumé should be arranged with your most recent job first.
TRY THE SMALLER JOB SITES
The biggest employment Web sites are Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com. Jobs posted to these popular sites generally receive the largest number of responses. Devote more of your online job-search time to smaller sites. The Web sites of professional associations, trade journals and recruiters specializing in your industry or profession typically list job openings.Or search for jobs in your region through local newspaper Web sites, chamber of commerce Web sites or state job boards (go to www.jobboardinfo.com, click the "State Job Boards" link, then select your state).
Many employers also list job openings on their corporate Web sites. To submit a résumé via e-mail...
Have a good day, be well and take care
" a simple natural lifestyle and a chuckle a day keeps the doctor away'
- additional interactive resources are at our Back to Eden
Messenger has tons of new features that make chatting more fun. Click here to learn more.
falls are avoidable
10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Dangerous Falls
A friend told me recently about a neighbor who had broken her arm twice in just two years. Because this woman was in her late 60s, she was checked for osteoporosis, but it turned out her problem wasn't weak bones -- rather, it was staying upright. The doctor referred her to a physical therapist, where she learned balancing exercises specifically to help her resist falls. This proactive approach is gaining popularity around the country in the hope of preventing or at least reducing the myriad serious health-related problems that may be triggered when an aging person falls. In 2005 alone, about 1.8 million Americans over age 65 were injured in falls resulting in an emergency room visit and nearly 500,000 of them were hospitalized for treatment.
As we age, our ability to remain upright may be compromised by numerous factors. According to Marilyn Moffat, PT, DPT, PhD, professor of physical therapy at New York University and author of Age-Defying Fitness, a person's ability to avoid falling depends, among other things, upon balance -- both while stationary and when moving. Maintaining balance, in turn, requires the ability to adjust to changes (particularly sudden and unexpected) in body positions... adequate flexibility in one's joints, muscles and ligaments... and appropriate muscle strength, especially in those muscles that support the ankles and the knees, says Dr. Moffat. (While most of us don't give much thought to our ankles, she says that about 50% of balance problems that occur in aging result from weakness in the muscles controlling ankle movement and stability.) The inner ear, brain and joint receptors are also involved in balance, since they are responsible for "proprioception," the ability to sense correctly where your head and body are in space, both with your eyes open or closed.
AGING AND BALANCE
With all of these systems contributing to the ability to stay upright, problems in just one area can make people vulnerable to falls, says Dr. Moffat. For instance, loss of vision with age makes people fearful of falling -- that anxiety itself actually increases the likelihood they'll fall. In addition, the brain and nervous system decline in function with age, which can lead to problems with depth perception and coordination and timing of movement. As a consequence of these and other changes, aging adults may move tentatively and slowly, taking smaller, shuffling steps and often keeping their eyes focused on the ground -- all of which set them up for a fall.However, the news is not all bad. Dr. Moffat says that with commitment, practice and time, fall-resistance training can absolutely turn the situation around. For people who are unfit or have serious problems maintaining their balance, like my friend's neighbor, Dr. Moffat strongly advises having a physical therapist do an initial examination to determine where weaknesses lie and how extensive the problem is, in order to develop an individualized exercise program to do at home or at a fitness club.
AT-HOME TECHNIQUES
If you are reasonably fit, though, you can start your balance fitness training right now in your own home. Here are some ideas on how to get going...Walk on tip-toes. How long has it been since you walked on your tip-toes? Probably years, but this childhood diversion is excellent for strengthening your ankle and calf muscles and for improving balance. Dr. Moffat suggests going up and down on your toes as often as possible, including as you brush your teeth each day and while you walk around the house.
Walk in all directions and different ways. Since staying upright requires adapting to different types of movements, a good workout should include movement in different directions and ways. Try walking backward, both on your feet and your toes. Also try walking on your heels... tandem walking (one foot directly in front of the other)... side-stepping... and doing grapevines (walking sideways alternating front and back with the feet).
Look around. Switch your gaze around, from side to side as well as up and down as you stroll. Be careful to avoid tripping -- for instance, keep one hand on a hallway wall.
Balance yourself. Soon you should be able to multitask while practicing balancing -- several classic techniques are to cross your arms, then stand on one foot, then the other... another is to stand on one foot while holding onto a counter, then close your eyes. (For more on basic balance exercises, see Daily Health News, July 3, 2008.)
Vary your gait. Change it up, from long strides to short steps, suggests Dr. Moffat, who considers methodical gait training a very important motor skill.
Speed up, slow down. Walk at a normal pace, accelerate, slow down, speed up... and do it again and again.
Exaggerate. Deliberately exaggerate your typical heel-to-toe pattern... then try it with a high-step gait.
Vary your footwear. Go barefoot, wear a variety of shoes.
Change the surface. Switch from stable to unstable surfaces -- walk on tile floors, carpeted floors, the beach, gravel... these are good ways to reinforce your ability to sense where your foot is on the ground.
Heads up. It's crucial to break the habit of gazing at the ground while you walk. Dr. Moffat points out that looking down throws off your postural alignment, which makes correct body responses more difficult. After a short time, you will find that walking with your head held high feels good, and it is not at all scary. Extra benefit: It may help you avoid neck/back problems.
Dr. Moffat advocates practicing balance activities every day of the week, incorporating a variety of techniques into your usual routine. This should require no more than 10 to 15 minutes of your day and in about eight weeks' time, she says you should see a big difference in your balance, your gait and your confidence.
Source(s):
Marilyn Moffat, PT, DPT, PhD, professor of physical therapy at New York University, author of Age-Defying Fitness (Peachtree).
Have a good day, be well and take care
" a simple natural lifestyle and a chuckle a day keeps the doctor away'
- additional interactive resources are at our Back to Eden
Internet Explorer 8 makes surfing easier. Get it now!
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Fwd: Your Health for Saturday April 4, 2009
interesting - you are what you eat
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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
leadership
Lessons in Great Leadership: Leading People Through Change
Chris Lytle,
Japan's prime minister from 1998 to 2000, Keizo Obuchi, wrote an article in the International Herald Tribune that provides us with three quick leadership lessons. He writes:
"The systems and processes that made us so successful in the past no longer work. They have become heavy shackles that hold us down. It is not easy to abandon the formula for previous success. Yet we realize the world has changed."
These could have been the words of a group head explaining the latest earning report to the analysts or the words of a GM whose "heritage" format was under attack.
Leadership Lesson #1: Acknowledge that things are going to be different and not necessarily pleasant for a while.
Obuchi continues, "Painful structural changes are under way. Our country, which once prided itself on its "lifetime employment" practices -- once hired, a graduate was guaranteed work at the same company until retirement -- today has an unemployment rate higher than that of the United States. Japanese companies can no longer afford to make social stability a priority and keep workers on the payroll regardless of earnings. So unemployment is not just an indicator of our immediate economic problems, it is a byproduct of our transition to a new economy."
Leadership Lesson #2: Followers already know change is painful. They need to know why it's worth it.
Great leaders take the time to explain what is happening and why. They use the word "because" a lot. Workers are more willing to put up with change when they feel someone is in charge and there is light at the end of the tunnel. People who are used to one way of doing business will go through predictable passages when change occurs.
1. Denial. This is when you must provide as much information as possible.
2. Resistance. Allow people to talk about their concerns, and listen more than you talk.
3. Exploration. Once people go through the first two stages, they start to look for ways to deal with their new situation.
4. Re-commitment. If you've done a good job of leading people through change, you will have new bursts of creativity and loyalty from workers who have made it through the storm.
Leadership Lesson #3: Paint a picture of the future.
That's the "vision thing."
Obuchi concludes, "When Japan overcomes its current economic difficulties, it will emerge a more vibrant and flexible society. We will be in an even stronger position to support the values that we share so deeply with the United States--freedom, democracy and respect for human rights."
Peter Drucker (and there is only one other Higher Authority) put it like this. "What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that's another matter."
What leaders have to do today is lead people through change. It's as simple as 1-2-3. Acknowledge, explain why, and paint a picture of the future.
Chris Lytle,
Japan's prime minister from 1998 to 2000, Keizo Obuchi, wrote an article in the International Herald Tribune that provides us with three quick leadership lessons. He writes:
"The systems and processes that made us so successful in the past no longer work. They have become heavy shackles that hold us down. It is not easy to abandon the formula for previous success. Yet we realize the world has changed."
These could have been the words of a group head explaining the latest earning report to the analysts or the words of a GM whose "heritage" format was under attack.
Leadership Lesson #1: Acknowledge that things are going to be different and not necessarily pleasant for a while.
Obuchi continues, "Painful structural changes are under way. Our country, which once prided itself on its "lifetime employment" practices -- once hired, a graduate was guaranteed work at the same company until retirement -- today has an unemployment rate higher than that of the United States. Japanese companies can no longer afford to make social stability a priority and keep workers on the payroll regardless of earnings. So unemployment is not just an indicator of our immediate economic problems, it is a byproduct of our transition to a new economy."
Leadership Lesson #2: Followers already know change is painful. They need to know why it's worth it.
Great leaders take the time to explain what is happening and why. They use the word "because" a lot. Workers are more willing to put up with change when they feel someone is in charge and there is light at the end of the tunnel. People who are used to one way of doing business will go through predictable passages when change occurs.
1. Denial. This is when you must provide as much information as possible.
2. Resistance. Allow people to talk about their concerns, and listen more than you talk.
3. Exploration. Once people go through the first two stages, they start to look for ways to deal with their new situation.
4. Re-commitment. If you've done a good job of leading people through change, you will have new bursts of creativity and loyalty from workers who have made it through the storm.
Leadership Lesson #3: Paint a picture of the future.
That's the "vision thing."
Obuchi concludes, "When Japan overcomes its current economic difficulties, it will emerge a more vibrant and flexible society. We will be in an even stronger position to support the values that we share so deeply with the United States--freedom, democracy and respect for human rights."
Peter Drucker (and there is only one other Higher Authority) put it like this. "What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that's another matter."
What leaders have to do today is lead people through change. It's as simple as 1-2-3. Acknowledge, explain why, and paint a picture of the future.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Thinking of Selling an Older House?
Hello b!
s has sent you this link to the following article
which appears on the Bottom Line Secrets Web site:
Thinking of Selling an Older House? http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/article.html?article_id=42415
_____________________________________________________
Spring project
_____________________________________________________
Insider's tip: This article is one of many on the
Bottom Line Secrets Web site. Sign up for Jessica
Kent's FREE Weekly Secrets E-mail -- with useful
information that you can use to live a happier,
healthier and wealthier life.
http://www.BottomLineSecrets.com/email
____________________________________________________
Copyright 2009 by Boardroom Inc.
Zander: Forgive Others... for Your Own Sake
Hello B!
sieg has sent you this link to the following article
which appears on the Bottom Line Secrets Web site:
Zander: Forgive Others... for Your Own Sake http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/article.html?article_id=48026
_____________________________________________________
Time to be forgiven
_____________________________________________________
Insider's tip: This article is one of many on the
Bottom Line Secrets Web site. Sign up for Jessica
Kent's FREE Weekly Secrets E-mail -- with useful
information that you can use to live a happier,
healthier and wealthier life.
http://www.BottomLineSecrets.com/email
____________________________________________________
Copyright 2009 by Boardroom Inc.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Skimaire High Tech] Flying cars to solve congestion - Yahoo! Autos Canada
[http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/p/594/flying-cars-to-solve-congestion]
Flying cars to solve congestion - Yahoo! Autos Canada: "Flying cars to solve congestion
- Alisdair Suttie
A plane-car hybrid could be on sale within 20 years according to aircraft industry leaders.
Scientists at the 2008 Electric Aircraft Symposium in California believe a flying car could be a production reality.
Boeing, famous for its 747 jumbo jet, is working on a flying car that would have a range of 300 miles (482 kilometres) in the air, on the ground, or a mix of the two.
Richard Jones is leading the project at Boeing and said: 'I'm talking about making aviation available to everyone as a daily means of transport.'
Jones says a compact car-plane hybrid would be easier to fly than current small planes as technology will allow the plane to do much of the hard work."
Great idea hope it get done sooner then 20 years SHT
--
Posted By Q-jumpers to Skimaire High Tech at 3/18/2009 05:46:00 AM
Flying cars to solve congestion - Yahoo! Autos Canada: "Flying cars to solve congestion
- Alisdair Suttie
A plane-car hybrid could be on sale within 20 years according to aircraft industry leaders.
Scientists at the 2008 Electric Aircraft Symposium in California believe a flying car could be a production reality.
Boeing, famous for its 747 jumbo jet, is working on a flying car that would have a range of 300 miles (482 kilometres) in the air, on the ground, or a mix of the two.
Richard Jones is leading the project at Boeing and said: 'I'm talking about making aviation available to everyone as a daily means of transport.'
Jones says a compact car-plane hybrid would be easier to fly than current small planes as technology will allow the plane to do much of the hard work."
Great idea hope it get done sooner then 20 years SHT
--
Posted By Q-jumpers to Skimaire High Tech at 3/18/2009 05:46:00 AM
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Council costs $400K
Your bucks stop here
Here's the 2008 pay, benefits and expenses for the 10 councillors:
WARD 1
Mark Littell: $27,362 in pay and benefits and $3,703 in expenses; total $31,064.
Jennifer Kinneman: $27,362 in pay and benefits, $3,584 in council expenses and $2,487 in AMO board expenses; total $33,442.
WARD 2
Vince Bucci: $25,822 in remuneration and benefits and $1,393 in expenses; total $27,215
John Sless: $27,362 in pay and benefits and $2,360 in expenses; total $29,722.
WARD 3
Greg Martin: $23,795 in pay and benefits and $1,531; total $25,327.
Dan McCreary: $27,362 in pay and benefits and $1,553 in expenses; total $28,914.
WARD 4
James Calnan: $26,389 in pay and benefits and $1,648 in expenses; total $28,037.
Richard Carpenter: $23,795 in pay and benefit and charged expenses of $3,877; total $27,672.
WARD 5
John Bradford: $23,001 in pay and benefits and $5,773; total $28,774.
Marguerite Ceschi-Smith: $27,362 in pay and benefits, and charged $5,140 in council expenses and $3,381 in FCM board expenses; total$35,882.
Low cost relative to the 100K club at over $6 million - the council takes the heat, gets paid the least - now if we could rool back the admin costs we would be going in the right direction PR
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
http://www.backtoeden.bravehost.com/
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Friday, March 13, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Are you in the valentine love lottery?
XXXXXX - I like the pairing idea as started by the Romans XXX Be my valentine -sweetheart -chuckle
Be My Valentine History by Martin Avis
Before there was a Saint Valentine to bring romance into the equation, mid-February was an important date for lovers. From 400 years BC, the Romans held an annual lottery in the name of their god Lupercus. The names of teenage women were put into a box and drawn at random by adolescent men. The 'winners' were legally paired for a year.
Meanwhile, the mad emperor Claudius banned marriage for young men - he believed that single men made better soldiers.
A Christian bishop, Valentine, disagreed with his Emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies until Claudius found out and first imprisoned him, and finally had him clubbed, stoned and beheaded on February 24th, 270.
While he was imprisoned, Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and when he was taken to be executed, he left her a note signed, 'From your Valentine.'
Taking Valentine's name in vain, the Church, in AD 496, decided to finally abolish the annual pairing off lottery held in honor of the god Lupercus and so decreed a small change in the rules:
From then on, both the young men and the young women would pick a name out of the hat, but instead of getting a year of companionship (and often lust), they drew the name of a Saint whose life they had to spend the next year emulating.
Must have been quite a disappointment for the hot- bloodied young Romans!
They named the day after Saint Valentine whose involvement, 226 years after his death, was more to usurp the pagan god than to signify love.
Thankfully, public memory was more powerful that political will and Saint Valentine remained associated with lovers. Young Roman men, deprived of their lottery, took instead to handing hand-written notes to the women they admired on February 14th.
The tradition of the Valentine card was thus started over 1500 years ago!
The earliest known card that still exists is currently in the British Museum. It was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. He was a prisoner in the Tower of London at the time and so his feelings of love were probably more acute than most!
In the sixteenth century the Bishop of Geneva tried to reinstate the annual Saint's name lottery, but his efforts were short-lived. February 14th was by then too firmly associated with lovers for the Church to successfully interfere.
In 1797 a British publisher, who would have done very well in modern Internet times, published 'The Young Man's Valentine Writer' which offered scores of suggestions of sentimental verses for the creatively challenged.
The practice of sending cards anonymously began with the Victorians, who secretly loved anything of a racy nature, but publicly needed to maintain a show of respectful purity. Hence, the verses in the cards became more and more obscene, but the authors remained hidden behind a respectful anonymity.
The first publisher of Valentine's cards in America, Esther Holland charged up to $35 for each card. And this was in 1870!
Finally, kisses are written as 'x' because in days of illiteracy, your signature was a cross. To convey the effect of an oath, people would draw their cross and kiss it - in the same way that they would kiss the Bible. So the x and the kiss became one and the same.
Have a lovely Valentine's day! X
Be My Valentine History by Martin Avis
Before there was a Saint Valentine to bring romance into the equation, mid-February was an important date for lovers. From 400 years BC, the Romans held an annual lottery in the name of their god Lupercus. The names of teenage women were put into a box and drawn at random by adolescent men. The 'winners' were legally paired for a year.
Meanwhile, the mad emperor Claudius banned marriage for young men - he believed that single men made better soldiers.
A Christian bishop, Valentine, disagreed with his Emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies until Claudius found out and first imprisoned him, and finally had him clubbed, stoned and beheaded on February 24th, 270.
While he was imprisoned, Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and when he was taken to be executed, he left her a note signed, 'From your Valentine.'
Taking Valentine's name in vain, the Church, in AD 496, decided to finally abolish the annual pairing off lottery held in honor of the god Lupercus and so decreed a small change in the rules:
From then on, both the young men and the young women would pick a name out of the hat, but instead of getting a year of companionship (and often lust), they drew the name of a Saint whose life they had to spend the next year emulating.
Must have been quite a disappointment for the hot- bloodied young Romans!
They named the day after Saint Valentine whose involvement, 226 years after his death, was more to usurp the pagan god than to signify love.
Thankfully, public memory was more powerful that political will and Saint Valentine remained associated with lovers. Young Roman men, deprived of their lottery, took instead to handing hand-written notes to the women they admired on February 14th.
The tradition of the Valentine card was thus started over 1500 years ago!
The earliest known card that still exists is currently in the British Museum. It was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. He was a prisoner in the Tower of London at the time and so his feelings of love were probably more acute than most!
In the sixteenth century the Bishop of Geneva tried to reinstate the annual Saint's name lottery, but his efforts were short-lived. February 14th was by then too firmly associated with lovers for the Church to successfully interfere.
In 1797 a British publisher, who would have done very well in modern Internet times, published 'The Young Man's Valentine Writer' which offered scores of suggestions of sentimental verses for the creatively challenged.
The practice of sending cards anonymously began with the Victorians, who secretly loved anything of a racy nature, but publicly needed to maintain a show of respectful purity. Hence, the verses in the cards became more and more obscene, but the authors remained hidden behind a respectful anonymity.
The first publisher of Valentine's cards in America, Esther Holland charged up to $35 for each card. And this was in 1870!
Finally, kisses are written as 'x' because in days of illiteracy, your signature was a cross. To convey the effect of an oath, people would draw their cross and kiss it - in the same way that they would kiss the Bible. So the x and the kiss became one and the same.
Have a lovely Valentine's day! X
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Winter driving tips
More snow anyone? Here is a useful article QJ
How to drive like a pro this winter By Marc Lachapelle and Gerry Malloy
Experts agree that there are three key factors to keep in mind when you must adapt to driving in winter: visibility, traction and driving style.
Reduced visibility and traction are the primary factors that often make winter driving more difficult and challenging. But it is the driving style you adopt in dealing with those factors that will determine how well you cope with the hazards of winter, and those provoked by other drivers.
The many facets of visibility
Coping with winter's visibility problems must begin before you even get behind the wheel. It includes allowing enough time to clear any snow, ice, or frost from the windows - all the windows - inside and outside.
You need 360-degree visibility, and don't forget the mirrors and wipers, front and rear if your vehicle is so equipped. Break off any accumulated ice on the blades and wipe them clean. Be sure the wiper nozzles are clean, too. A long pin works well for that purpose.
Metal-edged ice-scrapers work best, if you can find them. If not, a paint-scraper with a short, strong blade can make an acceptable substitute. Credit-card-size pocket scrapers, or credit cards themselves, do an admirable job on interior frost.
Be sure to remove snow from all the lights and from the hood and heater air inlet slits (usually at the base of the windshield). Otherwise you might find your initially-clear windshield fully frosted over two or three minutes after you drive away.
That phenomenon occurs because snow from the hood vaporizes as it passes through the then-warming heater core, saturating the air, and reforming as frost when that air hits the still-cold windshield.
To help get through that critical period, idle the vehicle with the heater on 'Floor' mode while you are cleaning off the exterior, thus keeping snow-laden air off the windshield. (Idling for more than a few minutes can be harmful to the engine, particularly when it is very cold. It warms up most quickly when being driven, moderately until it is fully warm, of course.)
Do not drive with the heater in Recirculation mode. Doing so recirculates interior air that keeps increasing in humidity - from melting snow you have brought in and from your own breath. That moisture-rich air creates frost on the inside of the windows, often faster than the defroster can clear it.
Finding traction and keeping it
All the control you exercise over the vehicle - whether input through the steering wheel, accelerator, or brake - is delivered through four palm-sized patches of rubber where the tires meet the road- (or off-road-) surface. Consequently, all the control you exercise over the vehicle is dependent on the traction generated at those contact patches.
If traction were rated on a 0-to-10 scale, with 10 representing the traction generated by a high-performance tire on dry pavement, the traction from a typical street tire would be in the 7-to-8 range in the dry.
On snow or ice, the traction generated by the same tire would be rated from 3-to-4, at best, to less than 1 on wet ice. That means your available traction is only from one-half to one-tenth as great as you are accustomed on dry pavement.
On pavement, most of us seldom use more than 30 to 40 percent of that available traction, so we rarely get in trouble in those conditions. There remains a substantial safety margin. But if we continue to drive the same way in winter conditions, that safety margin will not only be diminished but in many circumstances exceeded. The result: either wheelspin, or a skid -- or both. That's where driving style comes in.
Finding traction
The key to maximizing vehicle control on slippery surfaces can be summed up in one word: smoothness.
Traction is just another word for friction and, as you may recall from high-school physics class, friction is greatest when there is no motion between the mating surfaces - static friction. It is reduced when one of those surfaces is moving with respect to the other (sliding, or dynamic friction).
In the case of a tire, that means traction is greatest when it is rolling or stopped, not spinning or sliding. A fullylocked, sliding tire typically loses 20 to 25 per cent of its maximum rolling traction.
For maximum traction, therefore, it is imperative to avoid wheelspin or sliding. In deep snow, premium winter tires can generate near-maximum traction with some spinning, but that is an exceptional situation.
With the reduced traction available on snow and ice, any quick force input at the tires -- through a harsh movement of the steering wheel, or quick application of the accelerator or brake pedals -- can push the tires from a state of static to dynamic friction. In other words, it can cause the tire to slip or slide. That's why smoothness is so important.
When steering on slippery surfaces, as with the accelerator, it is the initial movement of the steering wheel that is critically important. Begin turning the wheel gently, then accelerate the rate of motion once the turn is initiated, if necessary.
Be aware that most people steer not only too quickly but too much. Steer just enough to follow the path you intend. There is nothing to be gained and vital traction to be lost by over-rotating the wheel, then having to turn it back.
Keeping your vision high -- as far ahead as you can see, in most cases -- and looking where you want to go, will help smooth out your steering. So will holding the wheel at 9-o-clock and 3-o-clock, without removing your hands unless it is necessary to cross-over.
Easy with the pedals
When accelerating, don't kick the accelerator pedal: always tip into it gently instead, as if there were an egg between your foot and the pedal. The first few millimetres of pedal travel are critical, in some vehicles even more so than others. Once the vehicle is rolling, you can increase pressure on the pedal -- and thus your rate of acceleration -- more quickly. Just keep it below the wheelspin threshold.
If you do sense wheelspin -- usually detectable audibly, from the movement of the vehicle, or through a lack of response to accelerator pedal movement or engine speed -- ease back on the pedal immediately until you feel the wheels grip again.
The suggestion that you accelerate as if there were an egg between your foot and the pedal also applies to braking - except, of course, in emergency situations. Allow plenty of space to slow down or stop. And begin early. You should apply the brake gently at first, then increase pedal pressure progressively as you begin to slow down. You can brake quite hard as long as the initial application is smooth.
In low-traction conditions, it is good practice to separate your control inputs - accelerating, braking, steering - so you do only one at a time. If you are braking or accelerating, don't steer, and vice versa. This way, all the available traction can be used for one purpose and the chances of inadvertently exceeding the tires' ultimate traction limit are reduced.
Brake before you turn into a corner, steer through the corner at a safe speed, and then accelerate again when you straighten out of it. It's that simple.
Conscientiously apply those smoothness techniques and you will substantially reduce your winter driving risks. And always keep in mind that the most effective winter driving aid is a well-trained and responsible driver. Be one, or become one!
How to drive like a pro this winter By Marc Lachapelle and Gerry Malloy
Experts agree that there are three key factors to keep in mind when you must adapt to driving in winter: visibility, traction and driving style.
Reduced visibility and traction are the primary factors that often make winter driving more difficult and challenging. But it is the driving style you adopt in dealing with those factors that will determine how well you cope with the hazards of winter, and those provoked by other drivers.
The many facets of visibility
Coping with winter's visibility problems must begin before you even get behind the wheel. It includes allowing enough time to clear any snow, ice, or frost from the windows - all the windows - inside and outside.
You need 360-degree visibility, and don't forget the mirrors and wipers, front and rear if your vehicle is so equipped. Break off any accumulated ice on the blades and wipe them clean. Be sure the wiper nozzles are clean, too. A long pin works well for that purpose.
Metal-edged ice-scrapers work best, if you can find them. If not, a paint-scraper with a short, strong blade can make an acceptable substitute. Credit-card-size pocket scrapers, or credit cards themselves, do an admirable job on interior frost.
Be sure to remove snow from all the lights and from the hood and heater air inlet slits (usually at the base of the windshield). Otherwise you might find your initially-clear windshield fully frosted over two or three minutes after you drive away.
That phenomenon occurs because snow from the hood vaporizes as it passes through the then-warming heater core, saturating the air, and reforming as frost when that air hits the still-cold windshield.
To help get through that critical period, idle the vehicle with the heater on 'Floor' mode while you are cleaning off the exterior, thus keeping snow-laden air off the windshield. (Idling for more than a few minutes can be harmful to the engine, particularly when it is very cold. It warms up most quickly when being driven, moderately until it is fully warm, of course.)
Do not drive with the heater in Recirculation mode. Doing so recirculates interior air that keeps increasing in humidity - from melting snow you have brought in and from your own breath. That moisture-rich air creates frost on the inside of the windows, often faster than the defroster can clear it.
Finding traction and keeping it
All the control you exercise over the vehicle - whether input through the steering wheel, accelerator, or brake - is delivered through four palm-sized patches of rubber where the tires meet the road- (or off-road-) surface. Consequently, all the control you exercise over the vehicle is dependent on the traction generated at those contact patches.
If traction were rated on a 0-to-10 scale, with 10 representing the traction generated by a high-performance tire on dry pavement, the traction from a typical street tire would be in the 7-to-8 range in the dry.
On snow or ice, the traction generated by the same tire would be rated from 3-to-4, at best, to less than 1 on wet ice. That means your available traction is only from one-half to one-tenth as great as you are accustomed on dry pavement.
On pavement, most of us seldom use more than 30 to 40 percent of that available traction, so we rarely get in trouble in those conditions. There remains a substantial safety margin. But if we continue to drive the same way in winter conditions, that safety margin will not only be diminished but in many circumstances exceeded. The result: either wheelspin, or a skid -- or both. That's where driving style comes in.
Finding traction
The key to maximizing vehicle control on slippery surfaces can be summed up in one word: smoothness.
Traction is just another word for friction and, as you may recall from high-school physics class, friction is greatest when there is no motion between the mating surfaces - static friction. It is reduced when one of those surfaces is moving with respect to the other (sliding, or dynamic friction).
In the case of a tire, that means traction is greatest when it is rolling or stopped, not spinning or sliding. A fullylocked, sliding tire typically loses 20 to 25 per cent of its maximum rolling traction.
For maximum traction, therefore, it is imperative to avoid wheelspin or sliding. In deep snow, premium winter tires can generate near-maximum traction with some spinning, but that is an exceptional situation.
With the reduced traction available on snow and ice, any quick force input at the tires -- through a harsh movement of the steering wheel, or quick application of the accelerator or brake pedals -- can push the tires from a state of static to dynamic friction. In other words, it can cause the tire to slip or slide. That's why smoothness is so important.
When steering on slippery surfaces, as with the accelerator, it is the initial movement of the steering wheel that is critically important. Begin turning the wheel gently, then accelerate the rate of motion once the turn is initiated, if necessary.
Be aware that most people steer not only too quickly but too much. Steer just enough to follow the path you intend. There is nothing to be gained and vital traction to be lost by over-rotating the wheel, then having to turn it back.
Keeping your vision high -- as far ahead as you can see, in most cases -- and looking where you want to go, will help smooth out your steering. So will holding the wheel at 9-o-clock and 3-o-clock, without removing your hands unless it is necessary to cross-over.
Easy with the pedals
When accelerating, don't kick the accelerator pedal: always tip into it gently instead, as if there were an egg between your foot and the pedal. The first few millimetres of pedal travel are critical, in some vehicles even more so than others. Once the vehicle is rolling, you can increase pressure on the pedal -- and thus your rate of acceleration -- more quickly. Just keep it below the wheelspin threshold.
If you do sense wheelspin -- usually detectable audibly, from the movement of the vehicle, or through a lack of response to accelerator pedal movement or engine speed -- ease back on the pedal immediately until you feel the wheels grip again.
The suggestion that you accelerate as if there were an egg between your foot and the pedal also applies to braking - except, of course, in emergency situations. Allow plenty of space to slow down or stop. And begin early. You should apply the brake gently at first, then increase pedal pressure progressively as you begin to slow down. You can brake quite hard as long as the initial application is smooth.
In low-traction conditions, it is good practice to separate your control inputs - accelerating, braking, steering - so you do only one at a time. If you are braking or accelerating, don't steer, and vice versa. This way, all the available traction can be used for one purpose and the chances of inadvertently exceeding the tires' ultimate traction limit are reduced.
Brake before you turn into a corner, steer through the corner at a safe speed, and then accelerate again when you straighten out of it. It's that simple.
Conscientiously apply those smoothness techniques and you will substantially reduce your winter driving risks. And always keep in mind that the most effective winter driving aid is a well-trained and responsible driver. Be one, or become one!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
enjoy thesmall stuff
Relax! Enjoy spa treatments at home
Pamper yourself in your own private sanctuary
By Heather Camlot
What better way to wind down after the busy day than with a spa treatment?
“A spa provides a change in routine, in structure, that almost forces one to relax,” explains Annette Foglino, author of Spa Journeys (powerHouse Books, 2004).
Relax in any room
It can be costly and time-consuming to visit a spa regularly. But you can easily incorporate some treatments and indulgences into a daily or weekly routine right at home, and at a fraction of the cost. Even adding 10 to 15 minutes a day can help, says Foglino.
Find out how you can turn your home into a retreat by taking a tour through the following rooms to create the ultimate spa experience.
First stop: The bathroom
Second stop: The vanity
Third stop: The kitchen
Fourth stop: The living room
Fifth stop: The bedroom
First stop: the bathroom
With working long hours at the office, taking care of the kids, looking after the house and trying to fit in exercise, finding time to relax is hard work. “It may sound strange that we need to learn to relax, but we do, especially in today’s ‘asap’ society,” says Foglino.
For a blissful break, try a nice hot bath. Warm water lowers blood pressure and promotes peace and tranquility, says Jo Glanville-Blackburn in her book Home Spa: Relax (Ryland Peters & Small, 2003).
Add a few drops of essential oils. Frankincense, lavender, neroli and sandalwood help to calm and balance emotions. Read the Essential Oil Profiles and find out what oils work best and which ones to avoid. For instance, pregnant women should consult with their doctor before using aromatherapy oils.
Use bath-specific beauty products. Try Lush’s Serenity or Blissful Bathing packs, or pick individual items such as the Fever massage bar. Aveeno has a Stress Relief line, with foaming bath, body wash and moisturizing lotion made with oatmeal, lavender, chamomile and ylang-ylang oils.
Get comfy. Don’t forget a bath pillow, some scented candles and soothing music — Foglino suggests The Scottish Lute by Ronn McFarlane and Felix Mendelssohn’s Works for Cello & Piano by Steven Isserlis and Melvyn Tan — to transform your bath into an at-home floating meditation station.
Second stop: The vanity
A facial can not only give your beauty routine a lift but your mood as well. Follow these five steps to rejuvenation.
Cleanse: Remove eye makeup, wash your face with a cleanser, and then apply an alcohol-free toner.
Exfoliate: Gently massage an exfoliant into your wet face and neck to remove dead skin cells and smooth out skin.
Steam: Fill a bowl with hot water, place a towel over your head, and lean over for about five minutes to soften skin.
Mask: Apply a thin layer of a product specially designed for your skin type. Wash off after about 15 minutes.
Moisturize: While skin is still damp, apply moisturizer.
Visit Honey.com or the W Network for recipes to make your treatments with ingredients you might have in your kitchen. Concoct a facial scrub from cornmeal and yogourt as well as a body glow from coconut and turmeric powder.
Third stop: The kitchen
Eat your veggies. For those who aren’t eating 5 to 10 servings of fruits and veggies a day, Glanville-Blackburn offers a few incentives: foods high in potassium, such as bananas, kiwi and avocado, help relieve stress and anxiety; papaya cleanses the digestive system; celery combats anxiety and depression. Other foods to indulge in include sunflower seeds to help balance blood sugar and fight tiredness and irritability, and oats to calm nerves.
Prepare delectable dishes. For meal ideas, visit Spa Magazine for nutritious recipes such as grilled apple salad, honey pecan crusted chicken and orange-lime cheesecake. Assemble your favourite spa recipes together in a program such as Microsoft Word or Excel, or collect them in our recipe template, and keep them available when you want to indulge in a spa day.
If you prefer working from a cookbook, pick up Healthy Spa Cuisine: 400 Signature Recipes from the World’s Top Spas (Adams Media Corporation, 2003) or The Rancho La Puerta Cookbook (Broadway Books, 1998).
Fourth stop: The living room
Take a mind-body break by placing your yoga mat in a quiet room and spending 15 minutes practising deep breathing or yoga moves. Try meditating to the American Massage Therapy Association’s Massage Room with its calming images and music.
Keep a record of all the relaxation techniques (such as sipping herbal tea before bed and getting a massage) that have worked for you. “Learn how to take more time for yourself by creating a few rituals,” says Glanville-Blackburn. “If you can make 10 of these happen in your week, then I certainly believe that you will boost your own sense of self and find new paths to well-being that work for you.”
Fifth stop: The bedroom
One of the most relaxing things you can do for yourself is get a massage, either from a partner or by your own hands. For a little practice, check out these books: The Book of Massage (Simon & Shuster, 2001) and Kindtouch Massage: Self-Massage for Health and Well-Being (Sterling Publications, 2002).
“I’ve learned to give myself a foot and hand reflexology massage using essential oils. I even do this while watching TV — perhaps not very spa-like, but it’s still relaxing,” says Foglino, who also recommends rubbing lavender, jasmine and almond oils into your shoulders and neck. About Massage.com is a great resource for different techniques.
Pamper yourself in your own private sanctuary
By Heather Camlot
What better way to wind down after the busy day than with a spa treatment?
“A spa provides a change in routine, in structure, that almost forces one to relax,” explains Annette Foglino, author of Spa Journeys (powerHouse Books, 2004).
Relax in any room
It can be costly and time-consuming to visit a spa regularly. But you can easily incorporate some treatments and indulgences into a daily or weekly routine right at home, and at a fraction of the cost. Even adding 10 to 15 minutes a day can help, says Foglino.
Find out how you can turn your home into a retreat by taking a tour through the following rooms to create the ultimate spa experience.
First stop: The bathroom
Second stop: The vanity
Third stop: The kitchen
Fourth stop: The living room
Fifth stop: The bedroom
First stop: the bathroom
With working long hours at the office, taking care of the kids, looking after the house and trying to fit in exercise, finding time to relax is hard work. “It may sound strange that we need to learn to relax, but we do, especially in today’s ‘asap’ society,” says Foglino.
For a blissful break, try a nice hot bath. Warm water lowers blood pressure and promotes peace and tranquility, says Jo Glanville-Blackburn in her book Home Spa: Relax (Ryland Peters & Small, 2003).
Add a few drops of essential oils. Frankincense, lavender, neroli and sandalwood help to calm and balance emotions. Read the Essential Oil Profiles and find out what oils work best and which ones to avoid. For instance, pregnant women should consult with their doctor before using aromatherapy oils.
Use bath-specific beauty products. Try Lush’s Serenity or Blissful Bathing packs, or pick individual items such as the Fever massage bar. Aveeno has a Stress Relief line, with foaming bath, body wash and moisturizing lotion made with oatmeal, lavender, chamomile and ylang-ylang oils.
Get comfy. Don’t forget a bath pillow, some scented candles and soothing music — Foglino suggests The Scottish Lute by Ronn McFarlane and Felix Mendelssohn’s Works for Cello & Piano by Steven Isserlis and Melvyn Tan — to transform your bath into an at-home floating meditation station.
Second stop: The vanity
A facial can not only give your beauty routine a lift but your mood as well. Follow these five steps to rejuvenation.
Cleanse: Remove eye makeup, wash your face with a cleanser, and then apply an alcohol-free toner.
Exfoliate: Gently massage an exfoliant into your wet face and neck to remove dead skin cells and smooth out skin.
Steam: Fill a bowl with hot water, place a towel over your head, and lean over for about five minutes to soften skin.
Mask: Apply a thin layer of a product specially designed for your skin type. Wash off after about 15 minutes.
Moisturize: While skin is still damp, apply moisturizer.
Visit Honey.com or the W Network for recipes to make your treatments with ingredients you might have in your kitchen. Concoct a facial scrub from cornmeal and yogourt as well as a body glow from coconut and turmeric powder.
Third stop: The kitchen
Eat your veggies. For those who aren’t eating 5 to 10 servings of fruits and veggies a day, Glanville-Blackburn offers a few incentives: foods high in potassium, such as bananas, kiwi and avocado, help relieve stress and anxiety; papaya cleanses the digestive system; celery combats anxiety and depression. Other foods to indulge in include sunflower seeds to help balance blood sugar and fight tiredness and irritability, and oats to calm nerves.
Prepare delectable dishes. For meal ideas, visit Spa Magazine for nutritious recipes such as grilled apple salad, honey pecan crusted chicken and orange-lime cheesecake. Assemble your favourite spa recipes together in a program such as Microsoft Word or Excel, or collect them in our recipe template, and keep them available when you want to indulge in a spa day.
If you prefer working from a cookbook, pick up Healthy Spa Cuisine: 400 Signature Recipes from the World’s Top Spas (Adams Media Corporation, 2003) or The Rancho La Puerta Cookbook (Broadway Books, 1998).
Fourth stop: The living room
Take a mind-body break by placing your yoga mat in a quiet room and spending 15 minutes practising deep breathing or yoga moves. Try meditating to the American Massage Therapy Association’s Massage Room with its calming images and music.
Keep a record of all the relaxation techniques (such as sipping herbal tea before bed and getting a massage) that have worked for you. “Learn how to take more time for yourself by creating a few rituals,” says Glanville-Blackburn. “If you can make 10 of these happen in your week, then I certainly believe that you will boost your own sense of self and find new paths to well-being that work for you.”
Fifth stop: The bedroom
One of the most relaxing things you can do for yourself is get a massage, either from a partner or by your own hands. For a little practice, check out these books: The Book of Massage (Simon & Shuster, 2001) and Kindtouch Massage: Self-Massage for Health and Well-Being (Sterling Publications, 2002).
“I’ve learned to give myself a foot and hand reflexology massage using essential oils. I even do this while watching TV — perhaps not very spa-like, but it’s still relaxing,” says Foglino, who also recommends rubbing lavender, jasmine and almond oils into your shoulders and neck. About Massage.com is a great resource for different techniques.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Resolutions to keep friendships warm
Don't seat the small stuff
Resolutions to keep friendships warm: "Resolutions to keep friendships warm
Article By: Jennifer Gruden
5 tips to keep friendships strong - even when life is hectic.
Let's hear it for friends – whether short term acquaintances or life-long companions, they make life much more abundant. They're even good for your health. Studies have found that strong social networks can improve your immune system and even your cardiovascular health, as well as help with depression and anxiety. Here are five resolutions you can make to keep friendships strong."
Resolutions to keep friendships warm: "Resolutions to keep friendships warm
Article By: Jennifer Gruden
5 tips to keep friendships strong - even when life is hectic.
Let's hear it for friends – whether short term acquaintances or life-long companions, they make life much more abundant. They're even good for your health. Studies have found that strong social networks can improve your immune system and even your cardiovascular health, as well as help with depression and anxiety. Here are five resolutions you can make to keep friendships strong."
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