Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Alternative Energi Solutions

Living off of the grid means that a person can survive in an autonomous household where it provides at least one public utility without help. This can either be gas, sewer, water, electricity, all of the above, or a combination. A person often questions whether or not a home can be totally independent of the grid for energy. In 2006, almost 180,000 families were living successfully off of the grid, which was a 33% increase from the past ten years. Approximately 1.7 billion people are living off of the grid around the world, including those off the grid from the beginning, like Amish communities and other places where power is not utilized. Ed Begley, Jr., and Daryl Hannah are well-known celebrities who speak well for off-grid lifestyles. There are entire cities that live in tents and use off-grid energy systems.
There are three steps to living totally off of the grid through green alternative energy. First, a household must discover an energy source that lets them produce energy without relying on the grid. Next, they must lessen their energy use, so that the energy that is produced will be enough. Lastly, the person must be able to store the energy to be used at a later time. This is like allowing a solar garden light to remain in the sun all day, so it gets activated and will stay luminous all night.
If a person wants to make enough energy to operate independently off of the grid, they must buy some kind of conventional energy source or find some form of electrical renewable energy. Examples of this are solar panels or wind turbines. Sun and wind are not always readily available, so it is essential to place them in areas that will create the maximum amount of energy.
It is important to be conscientious about the energy that is produced, just as a person does not waste food. Consider how much electricity is absolutely needed and how much can be saved. Switching to energy-efficient devices is a simple first step. Think about using thermal water heaters or a wood burning stove. A watt meter can be used to identify what devices in the home use the most energy and uncover an alternative solution. Photovoltaic panels are the best way to collect solar energy that can be utilized as a power source for many different types of gadgets. Keep in mind that saving energy is equal in importance to making and storing energy for times of day that need more energy or on days when it is cloudy or calm outside.
Living on an off the grid energy system takes planning and time to get used to, but it is able to be done. For beginners, it may be smart to combine electrical renewable energy with a grid system and work toward living off of the grid in smaller steps. Urban environments fare well by utilizing a mixture of the two while environments in rural communities may thrive in an off of the grid setup.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

About Cocaine

Cocaine isn't just one of the most commonly abused illicit substances in the world - it's also one of the oldest substances of abuse. Cocaine is derived from the young leaves of the coca plant, which have powerful central nervous system stimulant effects. Native to the Andean Mountain Range in South America, people have been using the drug for surgical, recreational, spiritual and other purposes. But while some of these uses may be benign in the hands of indigenous people, when people use cocaine in most of the developed world it can quickly lead to dependence and active addiction. Understanding the history of cocaine is essential to create lasting education, intervention and treatment programs to help those who become addicted to this powerful drug.
The coca plant has been held in a revered status by indigenous South American peoples for centuries. Thousands of years ago the ancient Incan Empire was flourishing in the Andes and the coca plant plated a central role in their lives. Archaeologists have unearthed evidence that suggests the coca plant was used as an analgesic compound by early battlefield surgeons and as a source of spiritual ecstasy by powerful spiritual leaders.
When the Spanish arrived in South America in the 15th century they recorded their observations of the daily lives of the Incan and other native peoples. One of the most striking observations was the constant use of the coca plant. Not only did people use it for medical and spiritual purposes, but many seemed to chew on the leaves of the plant constantly throughout the day, reporting that it kept them alert and in a heightened state of awareness. However, the Catholic Church at the time frowned on the practice and set about assimilating the native peoples of South America.
In 1855 cocaine was synthesized from the coca plant and quickly became one of the most commonly used therapeutic substances ever known. In addition to uses in psychotherapy, surgery, pain management and other uses, cocaine also became popularized by the early Hollywood industry. Thomas Edison is said to have advocated the use of cocaine, and Sigmund Freud wrote about his daily use of the drug to manage depression and simple aches and pains. However, few people at the time realized how addictive the substance really was, and in many cases cocaine could be found in everything from cough elixirs to beverages.
In 1915 the Harrison Tax Act was passed and placed the control of cocaine in the hands of the U.S. government. However, this did little to stop the supply and illicit use of cocaine, and more than a half century later further action was needed. In 1970 cocaine use and addiction was becoming enough of a public health concern that the federal government again stepped in and passed the CDAPC Act, which outlawed the use, possession, transfer, sale or manufacture of the drug.
Despite significant efforts in the War on Drugs to eradicate the coca plant and intercept shipments of the drug from South America to the US and other parts of the world, cocaine remain the second most widely used substance on the planet - second only to marijuana. If you or someone you love is suffering from a cocaine addiction, use one of the links below to get help right now:

Saturday, September 24, 2011

The Clasical Education Model

Touted to be the return to a proven method of past centuries, the Classical Educational Model is gaining in popularity among homeschooling parents. The model is characterized by exposure to history, art, culture, languages, philosophy, and literature of Western Civilization. With a Christian emphasis (it also concentrates on the development of a biblical view of the world and Theology is considered to be the queen of sciences), the core of this model is the Trivium, which tailors curriculum subject matter to a child's cognitive development.
The Trivium is based on three levels, or stages of teaching and learning based on the age and ability of the child. The goals of the Trivium are Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric.
Grammar Level
This stage is the based on concrete learning. In Bloom's taxonomy, this is considered to be the base of the learning pyramid. In this stage, rote memorization is the emphasis. Many public school systems call this "kill and drill." The idea is for kids to learn the vocabulary, rules, and basics first. This level is recommended for the elementary ages of children.
During this stage, children are taught Art, Bible, Geography, History, Literature, Math, Music, Oratory, Science, and Writing.
Dialectic Level
Also considered to be the analytical thinking and understanding stage, this is recommended for the middle school age kids.
The student learns to reason and to string isolated ideas together.
During this stage, students are taught more in-depth concepts in Art, Bible, History, Literature, Math, Music, Oratory, Science, and Writing. Language, Logic, and Government are introduced at this time.
Rhetoric Level
This is where abstract thinking and self-expression come in. It is recommended for the high school years.
During this stage, students take all that they have learned and develop the ability to apply that knowledge to abstract ideas. Rhetoric and Philosophy are added to the studies while Government and Logic receive less concentration.
On a side note, history is taught throughout all stages in four year cycles. Repeating the cycle allows for further understanding as the child's cognitive development advances.
This model can be explained in layman's terms by likening it to the process in which a baby learns to speak. A child first learns sounds, vocabulary, and simple sentences. He then learns how to apply the rules of grammar in order to express more complete thoughts. Finally, the child learns to express opinions and more complex ideas.
The supporters of the Classical Education Model argue that the modern education system expects kids to master subjects before mastering the skill of learning. A bit like putting the cart before the horse?

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Groom For Business

There is hardly a point in dressing up for a business meeting if you haven't taken a shower or if your nails are dirty. You need to take a bath or a shower at least once every day and use a good deodorant or antiperspirant. Whether you are a man or a woman, you should follow some simple guidelines concerning taking care of your hands, hair, face, and the scents you use.
Your hands are like your business card. They often show what kind of a person you are. You need to keep your fingernails perfectly clean at all times and should take good care of them. Never bite your nails or cuticles - it takes them days or even weeks to get back to an acceptable shape. Every time you get out of the shower, use a special wooden stick to push back your cuticles while they are soft from the hot water. This will prevent the cuticles from growing all over the surface of your nails. It is a good idea to get a professional manicure once in a while, even if you are a man.
If you are a woman, remember this: clear nail polish is your best bet for business. It is easy to maintain and you don't get into the embarrassing trouble of damaging the polish right before a meeting with a key client. If you feel that you need a colored polish, stick to pink or red. In this case you should get a professional manicure at least weekly, otherwise your nails will not look good enough. I would also advise you to keep the bottle of your polish on you at all times, just in case of those occasional accidents which always happen when you need to look your best.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your nails should never be longer than half an inch beyond the end of your fingers. Do a quick test - your nails are way too long if you can't pick up a coin from the floor.
Your hair should be trimmed, combed, and always - always - clean. Unless you are a caveman. Then you don't need to care so much. But I am guessing you would not be reading this article if you were one. Any signs of dandruff must be eliminated. There is a huge selection of shampoos at your favorite store for helping you out effectively on this matter. Dandruff is not an option these days.
If you have long hair, for business situations you should keep it out of your eyes. You can be an emo rock star on the weekends. Consider pulling your hair back for work. Which does not mean that you should look like a schoolgirl. Anything you put in your hair needs to be as simple as possible. And only Paris Hilton wears a tiara these days.
In some companies men are allowed to have long hair, in some others it is frowned upon. You should observe or ask what the policy is. Avoid looking like Ashton Kutcher in Two And A Half Men - unless you are a surfing instructor. If you have any facial hair - keep it trimmed and clean - crumbs on you beard are just disgusting. So is hair sticking out of our nose and ears. If you consider yourself a grown man - do shave every day. A quick shave before an evening meeting is probably a good idea too.
As far as scents are concerned - any aftershave or perfume should be used very sparingly. It should nor precede you nor follow you. There is nothing less pleasant than sitting in a conference room with a cloud of your perfume, no matter how expensive it was.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Minimizing Taxes

When it comes to investing in real estate, you should have one goal in mind. You want to gain more out of it than you put in and this includes any tax accounting that you need to do. While this sounds like the simplest thing in the world, the truth is that it really is not. There are a number of factors that you need to take into consideration and you need to know what is best for the current market. Since the economic downfall, you may be best renting rather than selling. However, once the economy goes back up, selling may be your better option.
There are some investor types that will only buy at certain times and will only buy certain types of houses. From then, they will do very little work to the home and sell when the market is on a boom. This process is known as "flipping properties." This takes a lot of skill and there is a lot of luck involved. It is definitely not for everybody.
However, there are other property investors that will look into doing more to a home and will usually buy a house that needs the work doing. Sometimes, this will involve decorating work and small jobs but there are others who will build extensions or convert whole rooms. This takes a lot of money to start the business and can sometimes run the risk of not making all of the money back when it comes to selling it.
Whichever type of investor you choose to be, you need to understand the real estate market and the current state of affairs. You need to know that you are going to get at least the amount of money that you put into the house back.
The best way, but sometimes the hardest, is to stay on track and never go over your budget. You will also need to wait for the best time to sell a house along with knowing that there are people out there that want what you have. Getting all three at the same time can be a daunting task.
One of the best ways to keep the initial costs down is by finding a bargain. If you find a home that has been up for sale for at least 90 days, there are high chances that the owners are more willing to do a deal just so they can get rid of the property. This will also take some research into the property and others around the area so you know a good deal when it is offered to you.
Do not just jump straight into a deal because you believe it is a good one. You will need to look at all options for the home as well. You could check the multiple listing service to find out what other real estate agencies think about the property to find out whether it is worth investing into.
When it comes to the real estate basics, you need to know that you have the accounting side of things set up correctly. You need to also look into the income taxes that you may need to pay and ensure that you are accounting for taxes that you will need to pay when selling the property. Sometimes, it may be worth starting a landlord business to be able to gain some of the tax breaks before selling the property. Before you sell, you also need to make sure that you are getting the return for your money that you want.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Financial Wisdom

Our economy is struggling right now and you don't have to be the Chairman of the Federal Reserve to notice. We've got all the symptoms and we face them every day. They are: high gas prices, increased foreclosures, higher pricing on basic goods and services, and increased airfare costs. Elected officials bicker and fight over who to blame for all of this and while they do, we are left to attempt to pick up the pieces. What can we do about the economy? Can we really do anything to have a positive impact on our economy?
You can write federal and state lawmakers to encourage them to make smart financial choices for the country, but then we've got to worry about if they read or listen to what people have to say. Besides writing lawmakers, you could reshape the economy by understanding and implementing what I call, Financial Wisdom. Financial wisdom is essentially making wise financial decisions. If America was making wise financial decisions ten years ago then our economy would be much stronger. This should teach us all to make wiser financial decisions on an individual basis by seeing the mistakes of past generations. Each day brings another chance to make wise or unwise financial decisions.
Here are some examples of bad or unwise financial decisions:
• You are struggling to pay off $20,000 worth of credit card debt. Good news is, your job just gave you a 15% raise. So, you decide to celebrate your raise by purchasing a $1500 computer.
• There are creditors calling everyday. You play the lottery and win $15000 dollars. You've had your eye on a new boat so you decide to "grab it" while it is still on sale.
• You get a coupon for $100.00 off a big screen TV purchase at Rent to Own. You go buy the big screen TV and it ends up costing you 50% more over the life of the contract.
As you can see, life's situations and events can sometimes prompt us to make unwise financial decisions. When making ANY decision that could potentially affect your finances in a negative manner, STOP-THINK-REACT. This process used to make financial decisions is going to make it very much unlikely that a bad financial decision will be made. By stopping, you eliminate the chance to make a financial decision in haste. Thinking about the situation will enable you to make a wise financial decision. By incorporating this simple Stop, Think, and React financial decision making approach, the same situations presented earlier will result in a different outcome.
• You are struggling to pay off $20,000 worth of credit card debt. Good news is, your job just gave you a 15% raise. So, you take 10% of the raise and dedicate it towards paying that debt.
• There are creditors calling everyday. You play the lottery and win $15000 dollars. You call your creditors and pay them off. If you have any money leftover you consider paying an extra months rent.
• It is a nice day, and you decide to take your hot rod out for a ride. You feel like testing its horsepower so but you realize that a speeding ticket could cost you money and make you take time off work to go court, so you just cruise at the speed limit.
As presented, using financial wisdom can keep you from making unwise financial decisions that can cost you a lot of money and/or cause more stress and anxiety in your life. Making wise financial decisions ensure that you don't go bankrupt or lose your house; which are things that continue to hurt the economy. The increased number of bankruptcies and foreclosures only sinks our economy further into decline. I encourage you to do your part in improving our struggling economy - use financial wisdom from now on in your everyday life.
Jeremy G. Preston is a financial coach who loves to help his clients reach financial success and runs a Financial providing tips on saving money and wealth management. Jeremy is also the author of E.I. = $ "10 Steps to Become Economically Intelligent and Live a Financially Successful life". A book that describes how to effectively eliminate debt and accumulate money savings in 10 Easy Steps. Get on track to a better future and checkout this book today.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Credit Bureau

In the modern world, people have become very accustomed to all things related to finances, such as credit bureaus, credit scores, credit history, different kinds of loans and interest rates, just to name a few. Namely, there comes a time in everyone's life when they simply have to learn something about these financial terms, as we all need some kind of financial help from time to time. Well, one of these financial terms is a credit bureau. The reason why you should familiarize yourself with this term is the fact that absolutely everyone has to be interested in what a credit bureau has to say about them, as this is of great importance for everyone's financial future.

What Exactly Is a Credit Bureau?

A credit bureau is basically an agency that is in charge of collecting credit information about both individuals and businesses. In a nutshell, this agency takes all the information related to your credit history, your financial data, the public records and all other relevant information and creates something known as a credit report. Now, even though many people wrongly believe that a credit bureau simply has to be their enemy in the financial world, this couldn't be further from the truth. What an agency like this does is they create a report on how a person or a business pays their debts, how often they get or do not get into financial trouble, and all the other information related to the financial aspect of one's life or of a business. All of this is done in a strictly professional and unbiased manner, which implies that a credit bureau really has nothing to do with you receiving a bad credit report.

Why Are There Credit Bureaus?

To start off, let's just say that these agencies are there to help lenders determine who is eligible for a loan of any kind. What this means is that lenders or can easily determine whether you will get a loan or not, as well as how high your interest rates will be, by requesting your credit report from a credit bureau. Now, this really helps your creditors, but it can also help you if you understand the whole concept of credit reports, and if you do your best to make your credit report as good as it can be possible. The best way to do this is to be on time with all of your monthly payments.

How Many Credit Bureaus Are There?

Due to the fact that these financial agencies have to keep track of the financial information of more than 170 million people, there are over a thousand smaller and bigger credit bureaus all over the USA. However, all of these agencies are owned by the only three major US reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This means that all of these agencies will provide you with your free annual credit report, and this report is something that you should always take very seriously.

Why Is Reviewing Your Annual Credit Report so Important?

As it has already been mentioned, the three major credit bureaus are responsible for creating credit reports for more than 170 million people, which is a lot of reports. Owing to this fact, there is always a possibility that your report will contain some false information. However, even though this should be seen as something normal, you should always make sure to correct this mistake, as it can result in you not getting an important loan. Therefore, if and when you notice that some information in your annual credit report is not valid, you should contact the credit reporting agency immediately. In order to rectify this error, you will have to provide the agency with relevant proof to support your claim, which will result in the agency in question removing the false information from your credit report

Monday, August 15, 2011

Things to Do With Your Personal Loan

Life happens to everyone. There will probably never come a time in everyone's life when they will have to think about getting a personal loan. You get loans for your house and cars, why not your life? With the negative connotation surrounding it, many people feel getting a loan for personal use is bad and do not understand the benefits. We have put together a list of a few times in which obtaining a loan may come in handy. In the end it is completely up to you to decide what you do with the loan but we suggest if you borrow more money then you should spend it wisely.
You went out of your budget and bought your dream house. That is fine, but it takes up a lot more money than you were planning to allocate to a mortgage every month. Now because of this your money is tight every month and does not allow a lot of wiggle room for surprises. Well surprise, your AC is out. Your repair man says that he will have to update the whole system as well as all of your insulation. You can finance with their company but the interest rate is astronomical. What are you to do? You could use a personal loan. A personal loan is great for life's little surprises. It will help you fix that AC unit and not have you waste more money in high interest.
You were in the corporate world for years and after all of the economic burdens our economy is facing you get laid off. In your new found spare time you have developed a fail proof business plan that you want to get started but don't have all of the capital to back it up. Instead of getting a loan for a small business, you can also look at personal loan rates and use that money instead. Check out the rates and you can decide which option is best for you.
After you got your degree, your dream job didn't pan out the way you thought it would. Now you are looking at student loan payments, car loans, credit card bills, and you are still expected to keep a roof over your head. First things first, make sure that you are living on a budget that strives to accomplish paying off all of your debt. If you need a little extra help a personal loans will help. How will taking out another loan help your debt? Well instead of paying interest to 5 different places you can use your personal loan and pay off those bills. Now you only have to focus on one bill, one interest rate.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Taxes In Home

Taxes are so annoying. How awful is it that you have to save all of your documents for seven years? There almost always seems to be no point in doing taxes ever because you are always going to have to pay out and not give back no matter how hard you try to make it work. That's why you should hire a tax planning and return preparation service. They will help you budget out your year and be able to save for your taxes at the same time. They really work to make you save the most you can and pay out the least that you can so you can keep the money you worked hard to earn and should rightfully be able to keep.
You will be able to do your taxes and pay out less. They will find so many ways for you to make tax write-offs so you will not have to pay the government extra money they don't deserve of yours. You can always do a little bit of planning ahead to make sure everything runs smoothly. Having a professional there with you to watch over you and guide you really helps too. They will let you know exactly how much you have to spend, what you need to save, and what you can write off.
They will teach you things such as writing off your tithing at church. Did you know that every penny you give away is eligible as a tax write-off? Did you also know that gas mileage, lunch meetings and even some vacations are considered worthy? How about if you have your roof redone on your house? Part of that is a tax deductible too. These people will explain everything to you so you have a fair chance.
There are things that are questionable if they are a write-off or not. If you make donations in cash and there is no record of this, you won't get money back, but if you lend a small amount of cash to a friend it is considered eligible for consideration.
Tax planning services are everywhere but not everyone knows they are there to help. They really try to write for you what you deserve to be written off fairly and quickly. The purpose of these services is to save you money and save you from going to jail or getting in trouble with the law. Finding one is easy enough if you look in your local listing.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Treating Bipolar Disoder

Bipolar Disorder, also called manic-depression, is one of the major mental illnesses described in the DSM-IV-TR. It is characterized by episodes of depression and mania. The first article in this series, Understanding Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, defined these episodes and discussed the different types of Bipolar Disorders. This article will inform you of some of the treatment options.
Typically, a person with Bipolar Disorder will need a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Many people see a practitioner for medication and think that it will be enough to cope with the symptoms of the disorder. In order to really understand the disorder, therapy is pertinent. Medication can help manage, but not cure, the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. Most people are left experiencing continued symptoms, even when taking medication. It is for that reason that I strongly advocate that a person attend therapy.
A trained therapist can help you identify behavioral methods to manage symptoms of depression and mania. A common type of therapy used with Bipolar Disorder is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of therapy that teaches a person to understand the thinking that is behind some irrational emotions and behaviors. It can also teach a person to change behaviors in order to positively affect thoughts and feelings.
Another important technique for managing Bipolar Disorder is relaxation exercises. A therapist will teach you to relax in order to manage some of the anxiety and physical discomfort that can accompany the disorder. Breathing exercises, visualizations, and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) are common relaxation exercises that will improve your ability to manage symptoms.
Mindfulness is another way to manage some of the negative emotions you may experience. Mindfulness is a technique that teaches you to recognize and be present with your emotions without over/under reacting to them. It is very useful to those experiencing depression or hypomania.
Supportive therapy is often needed as well, particularly when the diagnosis is first made. My motto is, "smart people have therapists." It is wise to have an objective, knowledgeable person to talk to as you learn how Bipolar Disorder affects your life. A therapist can help you process the emotions you are experiencing and come to accept the diagnosis. Supportive therapy can also help with important things such as establishing a healthy routine to help manage symptoms.
Having a healthy daily routine is very important to both managing and recognizing symptoms. The better able you are to maintain a daily routine the easier it will be to notice if an episode of depression or mania begins. Also, a routine will help you keep yourself in balance.
Keeping a daily mood chart is one way to notice if your mood begins to change and if there is any trigger or pattern to your mood changes. A therapist can help you identify the important aspects to include in your daily chart. Seeing your mood begin to change is one way to help yourself manage the symptoms and keeps you from being 'blindsided' by an episode.
Diet and exercise can also help to treat Bipolar Disorder. Exercising daily can help decrease the number of depressive episodes you experience. Likewise, a low carb, high Omega 3 diet can help stabilize mood swings. You can speak to a physician, dietician, or therapist to learn more about dietary options.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is another fairly common way to treat Bipolar Disorders that are not responding to medication. ECT involves electrical shocks to the brain done in a controlled environment by a trained doctor.
It is not expected that you know how to manage the symptoms of this disorder just because you have been diagnosed with it. Never be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help from friends, family, physicians or therapists. People with Bipolar Disorder can live healthy, productive lives when treated with the right medication and taught behavioral skills to manage symptoms.