« June 2008 | Main | August 2008 »
July 30, 2008
acne treatment
I am twenty two years old and have not had a girl friend in almost a year, well really only about eight and a half months but feels longer. The trouble started about ten months ago when my acne started getting really bad. I did not think much about it, but now it is even worse. I am so self conscious about it and think people only see my for that. I thought these things only happened during teenage years and thought it would clear itself up. My mom keeps telling me to go see a Dermatologist, but with no insurance and little money I do not see that happening. My Mom really can not afford to give me the money because she has three children to support. Yes I do work at the local hardware store and catch a bus back and forth most days. My Dad left over ten years ago and has really taken its toll on the whole family. My mom has a big wrinkle right above her eyes and My friend said it is a worry line. I do know about proactive and although not very expensive, all most all of my money goes into helping at home. I have about forty dollars put aside, but am considering getting my Mom a wrinkle cream instead of my acne treatment. Her Birthday is about six weeks away and I really do not think this is a good Birthday gift, But it is so noticeable and have even been embarrassed to bring home new friends. I know I should not talk, After all I am covered in zits! I do not find it fair that I have had to pick up the responsibilities that my Dad threw away, and feel selfish when thinking about taking care of my acne problem when Mom needs help. Trouble is she always needs help! Maybe that sounds horrible to say, she has done so much for us and looks about ten years older than she actually is. I work about thirty eight hours a week and do hang out on weekends and drink with friends, so I know I can either pick up more hours where I am at or get a second job. I really just do not want to work this hard when all of my friends are having some fun. They all say I should do it, take care of Mom, maybe even a full makeover and then take care of myself. Maybe I am a little selfish, but what twenty two year old is not! (Angry In Seattle)
Posted by juliusp at 12:29 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2008
Hotel Berlin
Hotel Fontane Berlin is a great place is you are looking into a place to hold an International business meeting. It is located in a great place and right near an airport. They also have a conference room that holds up to 1000 people, which is great for a bigger sized meeting and 13 conference rooms that are equipped with up to date technology. Hotel Berlin is also a great way to motivate your employees to get in shape. I heard recently that a lot of companies are supplying their employees with free or discounted passes or memberships to local gyms, or even having workout facilities installed in their buildings. I think this is so great, especially having somewhere to work out so close to their job. A lot of people are too tired to drive to a gym after a full day of work and then spend time exercising. Having a conference (especially if it is a longer one) at a hotel with such a great facility invites employees to get fit and also socialize while exercising, strengthening their bonds with coworkers (and their muscles!).
There are also a lot of other great things I found out about this hotel compared to other hotels in Berlin. First of all, the website has twenty six pictures of the hotel and property on it. This is a great visual aid. It also has several accommodations specifically for business meetings or conferences such as wireless internet (also good for other guests), shuttles for groups from the airport nearby and also they have BBQ facilities so maybe a company picnic while you are there.
All in all this is a wonderful place to have a business meeting if appropriate. If you are not in a business situation and are traveling for pleasure you have so many wonderful activities that you can participate in like tennis, bowling, horseback riding as well as working out at the fitness center. It is also located near several forms of transportation and you can easily find your way to attractions and sites off of the hotel property.
I'm not sure though about one thing, maybe it is because it is a different country, but the website says that this hotel is gay friendly. This is not something you would normally see on a website, at least not here, it would just be assumed, but it does tell you that this facility is a diverse one so you are bound to meet some new and exciting people!
Posted by juliusp at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2008
acne treatments
Did You Know That.......
- Almost 45 million people in the US have acne, with about 85% of the people experiencing acne being between the ages of 15 - 24 and more males than females. It is the most common skin disease.
- Acne is caused by plugged pores that lead to outbreaks. Overactive oil glands which are stimulated by the hormone androgen mix with dead skin cells and that androgen production is at its highest during the teenage years.
-Acne lesions usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders.
-Acne can be made worse by tanning.
-Although acne is not a serious health threat, severe acne can lead to disfiguring, and permanent scarring, which can be upsetting to people and affect a person's self-image.
-Stress does not cause acne, but research suggests that for people who have acne, stress can make it worse.
-Not everyone outgrows acne. Although acne mostly affects teenagers, it is a condition that also affects men and women into adulthood.
-Skin conditions such as acne need to be handled with care. You must be careful not to use abrasive soaps or cloths and don't wear tight fitting clothing over acne effected skin.
-The circumstances around adult acne are slightly different from that of teens, particularly for women. Women between 18 and 40 may have breakouts that occur most frequently when they are premenstrual.
Many people think that you must let acne run its course, but doing so is not a guarantee that your skin will clear up. Acne is a treatable skin disease, and should be addressed as such. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more likely your chances are for permanent scarring. If you have tried over the counter medications to no avail, there is still hope. There are many different treatments out there, and since all skin is different so are there different acne treatments. Finding the right one for you may be a process of trial and error, but don't get discouraged, you will find the acne treatment that is right for you. If you are frustrated, then contact your family doctor or a dermatologist, and they may be able to point you back in the right direction. Sometimes the obvious answer is right under our nose and we just can't see it till we turn our head.
Posted by juliusp at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)
July 21, 2008
diet pills
I think that for all of us there are things that we believe which we never even consider. Words and phrases that we learn from parents and friends to repeat in conversations later without ever thinking of their origins. Convenient things in our daily lives that are built upon the backs of other that we never even think about, we just enjoy their spoils. Then there are the worst kind of them all. There are those things which we hold to be true which are culturally false and may result in total aversion to such things.
I had a friend who I went to high school with who was overweight. HE had been to many different specialists and doctors to try our different routines and diets. Nothing ever seemed to work for him and he actually kept gaining weight. He used to get really bent out of shape about his weight for long periods of time and would even miss school because of it. Everything he tried failed and the only thing he felt that he was successful at was school. One day he saw a commercial for diet pills and he thought about them as the doctors had mentioned them; as something negative. He decided that because they had been wrong so far that he would try something different. HE bought these diet pills and tried them for about a year. Within that time he changed dramatically and it changed the way he thought about himself physically and as a person. When he stopped taking the diet pills he continued to do his daily exercises and he has never put on the weight again.
I was remind of this kid last week because I saw him in the paper. He went to college in California and he is now doing really well as a gymnast to the point where he is being put in big time papers for his performance. I have been thinking about him a lot since then I and I just think that this is a case where nothing works until you realize that you don't try what you're scared of. Listen to me; a little Socrates or something.
Posted by juliusp at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2008
disaster restoration
I find it so sad when I hear the stories and see the pictures of the after effects from natural disasters that have taken place all over the world. I just think that it must be totally devastating to have a natural disaster come through and tear up the area of the world that you call home. For the most part these events take place with little or no warning at all, which perhaps is the most devastating part of it all. Let's face it, you can't just lift your house out of the way and quick move it someplace else, it is just a sitting target, and for most people this holds all that they own and all the equity that they have in the world. I think that the governments of all the countries should have a plan for disaster restoration in place, so that an area ravaged by tragedy can receive immediate relief. There definitely need to be funds set aside for these emergency events, much in the same way a family needs to have emergency plans in place, and monies set aside just in case.
It seems that the occurrence of these events is becoming more and more frequent, and it is leaving a lot of people in a hopeless situation. I just really can't imagine watching all that devastation taking place and not being able to do anything but watch it destroy your world. Then to make the whole experience even more frightening is the idea that after all that devastation you will be left alone and without help or hope. One would think that someone would care enough to help, but no one does. The government sends some initial aid to the area, and then forgets all about the fact that you have been left homeless and penniless and even worse yet hopeless. Those few who want to help, have so little in the way of resources that it will take about a decade or more to get all the residents of the ravaged area into some sort of decent living situation again.
I guess it truly amazes me that countries who spend so much time worrying about everyone else in the world, and spending so much money to protect them, think so little of their own citizens. In this country we really need to look at that. Who pays the government in tax dollars, the Iraqi's or the residents in Louisiana? So who should we help first? Is this really a question that we need to ask?
Posted by juliusp at 12:25 PM | Comments (0)
July 10, 2008
insurance quotes
I recently heard an advertisement on television telling people to update their insurance every few months to check and make sure they are getting the best rate available. Well, honestly I have been with the same insurance company since I started driving and never really thought about calling around and getting insurance quotes. You would think that it seems obvious, however, I just didn't really think about it. This morning I sat down on the computer and looked up a few of the well known insurance companies that I could think of. I had a copy of my policy, so I knew what insurance coverage I was currently paying for, and I was amazed at the cheap insurance quotes I got. I always thought that my insurance rates were just the going rate, and I thought I was getting the most insurance for my money. Well, I was wrong. There were lots of insurance policies that were going to charge me less, so I contacted my insurance company to tell them that I was going to switch companies because I could save over $500.00 per year. I really thought that they were going to at least try to match the rate I was getting, but they didn't even bother. What a disappointment! I guess my business wasn't really that important to them, so I will be switching insurance companies as of tonight. Now, in the short term I will have to pay the new insurance company and then wait for a refund check from the old insurance company, but still, I didn't want to wait until the term of my policy was over. After all, why keep paying too much for my insurance now that I knew that I didn't have to.
As for that advertisement I saw on television, I am really grateful for the suggestion that I check into lower rates for my insurance. I never knew that it would be so simply to check into other rates and make the switch. Saving $500.00 per year is a huge savings and I have decided that to reward myself I am going to put that savings aside for a rainy day. After all, it is money that I could have been paying for car insurance, and now it is back in my pocket...FREE MONEY!
Posted by juliusp at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2008
basement windows
A friend of mine recently had her house destroyed by the people who were renting it. When she got them in, they seemed like the perfect tenants. They had a family and were nice and clean cut and paid their rent on time every month. The house was in good condition and my friend stopped worrying about the house and occasionally drove by the house to take a look and all seemed well. Then all of a sudden she started getting the rent checks late and then not at all. When she would drive by the house things were looking a mess, unsightly with garbage in the yard and she could not even believe these were the same people that she had originally rented to. Well, she had to go through eviction proceedings and through this and talking to a few of the neighbors apparently the husband had a drug addiction problem. She finally got them evicted and when they moved out the house was trashed. This man had gone on a rage and trashed the house. He took what looked like a sledge hammer to the windows even the basement windows and the doors. When this psycho got done with the place, it looked like swiss cheese. What was such a cute little house, is now quite frankly an eye sore.
Well, thank goodness for insurance. She was fully covered for the whole thing. Unfortunately, now she will have to go through all the trouble of hiring someone to do the work. I know that she went to order some vinyl replacement windows for the house and the company is going to install those for her. She is now working on hiring a contractor to take care of the rest of the work and she has gotten a few estimates, but several of them are actually more than the insurance paid her for the damage. She is seriously considering selling this house after she gets it fixed because she is really afraid of having another nightmare rental. She feels like there is no way that she could have known that this man was a time bomb waiting to go off. All his reference checked out, and the truth is how could she really have known that this was going to happen. Bottom line is she couldn't have, some things are not foreseeable.
Posted by juliusp at 12:23 PM | Comments (0)