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January 23, 2009
THE SECURITY CAMERA AT THE DOOR
I couldn't believe it when I arrived at my sister's house over the holidays. They had installed an alarm monitoring system and a security camera at the door so that they could see who I was before answering. Don't get me wrong, my sister and her husband have 4 kids, they live in a really nice neighborhood and they are already in a gated community. One would think that they are probably safe enough, however, they said that there had been a lot of break ins in the area and many different suggestions in their local news paper listed as security news. They said the paper said that you shouldn't think that just because you live in a nice area, or in a gated community that means that you don't need to be concerned about your family's security. As a matter of fact, they felt it was quite the opposite. If you live in a high end neighborhood or a gated community then you are actually more likely to become a target, because thieves want more bang for their buck, meaning that if they are going to risk breaking in someplace, that they want it to be somewhere where they think they can get the most money out of the deal.
Well, my sister said that her concern really wasn't for her stuff, she said that is what insurance is for. She said that lately she was having to work late, and so the kids were home all alone in the afternoons and early evening and she wanted to know that they were safe when she wasn't there. Now she said since they installed the new alarm system, they all feel much safer and more secure. She said she especially notices it with her younger kids, they just seem more free to go anywhere in the house even at night when they used to be scared. She says it has brought a more peaceful feeling to her whole family and that it is nice to know that they are safe all the time, even when they sleep.
Posted by juliusp at 02:15 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2009
ALL NATURAL DIET PILLS ARE PART OF MY WEIGHT LOSS PLAN
There are so many weight loss alternatives out there, but I have made my decision that it is time to get my weight under control and now I must choose a method that I think is realistic for my lifestyle and will still get me some amazing results. A long time ago, I was on weight watchers and that really worked wonders for me, but I was doing it with a friend and now I will have to it on my own, and over the past few years I have really noticed that losing weight has become more difficult for me. I am not sure why, perhaps it is true what people say about getting older makes it harder to shed those unwanted pounds. Not really sure, but I do know one thing and that is I will finish off 2009 lighter than I started by about 50lbs and I haven't weighed that for quite a while now, so I know that this is no easy chore, but a complete lifestyle overhaul that I am going to have to do. It is going to mean some rigorous regular exercise, a strict but healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, and also some natural diet pills.
I have looked into a few of the pills that they have on the market, but I prefer the natural pills because they tend to work more harmoniously with your body, and have a lot less side effects. I have taken diet pills a few times in the past, however, they have some great new ones on the market these days, that can help increase your metabolism, improve your digestion and all while they are supressing your appetite, which is what I really need. Plus they help you through the dieting process by giving your body a little bit of extra energy so you don't feel lifeless and like you can barely move. After having dieted before, I know this is something I really need, because if I start feeling too draggy on a diet, then the first thing I start looking for is the sugar, and I don't mean an orange, no, I look for cake. I know that taking all natural diet pills will help me with this, and that is why they are an important part of my New Years resolution.
Posted by juliusp at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2009
ATTENDING ONE OF THE BEST UK UNIVERSITIES
When considering a college, I really wanted to consider going to school internationally. It is a little bit more difficult to locate a school to attend overseas, but since I was very young I always envisioned attending one of the best UK Universities. I am not really sure why, some people say that for me this was a past life thing or something like that. I had never been to Europe, but I just knew that I would love it. I was looking at a whole bunch of UK Universities and Colleges, but when doing my research one school really just popped out at me. I was just online doing a Uni Search and then there it was, simply right in front of me. I put all other schools aside and told my parents that I was going to this school. And once I make up my mind about something, I make it happen. My family isn't overly wealthy or anything like that, so I have worked really hard to make sure that my grades are awesome and I have put aside some money on my own. I also came up with some incredible financial aid options in my field of study, which only will make my college experience in the UK more affordable. I have a friend who is already there. Sure we met online, but we have been in contact for the past several years, and I know that when I am ready, I will have a place to stay with her. She doesn't go to the same university that I have my heart set on, but her's is right in the same area, so if I want I know we can be roomies, at least for a while until I can get a job and get my own place nearby.
My parents think that I should stay in the states, especially with the state of the world of late, but this is honestly what I am driven to do. I am very independent, and I know I will do just fine on my own. This is what I want, and on that note they know that there is no stopping me.
Posted by juliusp at 09:17 AM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2009
TV and Insurance
I was watching an older TV show the other day and the grandfather works at an Illinois health insurance company. Every Friday the family sit down for dinner with the grand daughter and they talk about current issues and things like that (the daughter is in like middle school) and then one day the grandfather lectures the granddaughter about insurance and what she has learned in class about it and they have this really long conversation and she seems to be an insurance wizard spitting out information on temporary medical insurance policies and goes on and on about things that I don't even know and I'm pretty sure most grown-ups don't even know.
The whole time my roommate and I sat there watching it and then when the commercial came on we were both like, that is crazy, who is this girl? There is no way she learned all of that information in class. We never learned anything it seems like that has to do with the real world. We learn about diagramming sentences (has anyone ever in their life after that class ever diagrammed a sentence, no I doubt it) and long division (haven't used it once since like 7th grade). But we don't learn about things that you really need to learn like short term health insurance or mortgages or anything that we will actually have to know when we grow up. Instead we sit at a board and we write out verbs and nouns and draw them on a tree like thing with chalk.
The thing I think is the most unbelievable is that we learn in driver's education how to drive and all of those things and the rules of the road but we don't learn important things like what to do when you get into an accident or how to drive in the winter or even how to change a tire. They teach us how not to get into an accident, but sometimes it is unavoidable and people freak out when it happens and they don't know what to do.
I just think that we need to learn stuff that will actually prepare us for real life. If you meet someone who diagrams sentences as their job (not a teacher) or a noun saved a life, then I guess we could justify those wasted days in class.
Posted by juliusp at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2009
Fashion: Trying New Things
There are a lot of fashion and clothing lines out now that have been out for awhile but are starting to get more and more recognition. I had heard of lines like Baby Phat but had never really looked into them or bought any of their clothing items or accessories. But I was online one day and I saw a link for the shopping website for Baby Phat and I decided to check it out. They have a lot of cute stuff that I probably wouldn't have even known about if it hadn't been for that ad.
I have to say that even though I try not to be, I am kind of plain when it comes to clothes. I wear jeans a lot and I wear a lot of black. Not like weird black, but more like classy cute tops from Express or Limited. I also wear a lot of polos. People would probably say I'm more preppy or have a classic vibe. So when I see stores like Baby Phat with more of an out there reputation I tend to stay away and not even give them a chance. There are a lot of color varieties and patterns and I usually stray away from that so when I had heard about those types of stores I don't really even give them a second thought. But when I went on to their website I found a lot of things that I liked that I wouldn't have thought of before.
They also have a lot of cute bags and accessories. Since I wear a lot of black or neutral color clothes, I tend to buy bags (even though I have a lot of black ones) that pop like I have a few clutches in different colors like a snake skin pink one that I wear with black outfits and get so many compliments on. Or earrings and necklaces that stand out in metallic or patterned.
But I think from now on I am going to give stores that I normally wouldn't a chance before just shutting them out because I don't think that they are my style. Because I ended up finding a bunch of things that I liked from that website and I normally wouldn't have gone there. I guess it is good to try new things!
Posted by juliusp at 09:24 AM | Comments (0)
January 12, 2009
Fitness Training and Certification
Despite the current economic situation that the whole world seems to be facing, the businesses in our area are strong. This seems to be especially true of those businesses that employ or cater to the student population at large. The climate that we are in here makes it seem like things won't ever affect us but I can guarantee that we will similarly all have to face this crisis in our own ways. That's why we have to fight that feeling of security and try our best to become great students and eventually great employees.
The way that we can ensure our own safety with regards to this current climate of economic trouble is to ensure ourselves a place in the job market after we're done with school. This is best accomplished by trying to build as many skills as we possibly can in the limited time that we have here at school. Some things could be larger like trying to take on another minor, or even another major. These could be a little bit more difficult because of the time that might be added on to our degree time and that would just increase the debt you would finish with. In the same light though the chances of our name standing out in a pile of applications could be worth the time and money as our career might turn out a little better from the start.
The other option is to try and build up another skill or certification that might be of use later when looking for a job. Things like Fitness Trainer Certification or professional cook are options that are easy to train for and easily transferable to any location where you might live. Just explore those things that you like to do in your down time and explore those things. Once you have figured out what it is that you could be passionate about then go and find out More about fitness and Training certifications or what ever it might be you love.
The key here is that we are entering in to a time of uncertainty and it will be the job of our generation to take on the weight of the country and the world. It is important for us to explore all options that could keep us employed ad moving forward with our goals.
Posted by juliusp at 08:18 AM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2009
FIND A GOOD ACNE TREATMENT FOR YOUR TEEN
These days it seems that more teenagers than ever are battling acne. I don't know if this is because Americans are eating more junk or if the teens are just not taking good enough care of their skin. I think that many parents are unaware of the emotional toll that acne can cause during the teen years, however, I know this first hand. I had a battle of my own during my teen years and right into my early twenties. My parents tried getting me over the counter meds to help the problem however, it did little or nothing depending on the acne product. When I went away to school, is when I really began tackling the problem on my own. I went online and researched acne and found a few products but in particular one acne treatment really caught my attention and I decided that it seemed worth dipping into my small savings account for. There were lots of testimonials from people who got good results and they were extremely inspiring. Well, I went online and ordered the product and I can still remember how excited I was when the package finally arrived. Sure, I didn't want to get my hopes up too much. After all, many times in the past I had been disappointed by an acne treatment that promised excellent results and left me with the same pimple face I had had when I started using their products. Well, sure enough this product was different. Within a few days I noticed that my acne was diminishing. No, it wasn't all gone within 24 hours, but I did notice right away that it was less noticeable and easier to cover up than it had been before. Then gradually, the zits started to clear up and I would say within about a month, my skin was significantly clearer. Better yet, when I started to break out, I just used the products and they worked. Now I can't say that I am completely acne free, but I am close to it. I still get occasional outbreaks, but they last only a few days, and are minimal in comparison to what I had in my teens. I have more confidence and so many people tell me how good my skin looks I can't believe it. I have become not only a poster child for these products, but I encourage all parents with teens to keep looking for a product that works for them. The teen years are hard enough without having to go through them with craters on your face...take it from me.
Posted by juliusp at 09:57 AM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2009
Frygt, angst og fobi behandles bedst gennem terapi
Stadigt flere undersøgelser har påvist, at kognitiv terapi er blandt de bedste former for terapi til behandling af lidelse som angst, fobi og depression. Det gælder både socialt fobi og frygten for bestemte ting som f.eks. edderkopper.
Der findes en række former for angst og frygt, men panikangst og generaliseret angst er de to mest udbredte former. Panikangst er hvor patienten får pludselige og overraskende anfald af angst sammen med fysiske symptomer. Angsten kommer ofte uventet og ses ofte sammen med frygten for at være sindsyg eller pludseligt at miste kontrollen over sig selv.
Generaliseret angst er hvor patienten bliver vedvarende urolig eller bliver nervøs for forskellige personer eller ting. Det kan tit være frygten for hændelser der sker i fremtiden og som ofte er meget overdrevet i forhold til hvor frygteligt det er i virkeligheden. Et eksempel kunne være at man er bange for at miste sit job, selvom man klarer sig godt og at man har en lang opsigelsesvarsel hos en arbejdsgiver med en solid økonomi.
Der er en tæt sammenhæng mellem angst og depression. Det betyder altså at angst og depression ofte optræder sammen og til og med kan forstærke hinanden. Kognitiv terapi er den mest effektive terapi til angst og depression. I kognitiv terapi arbejder man med at ændre de tankeprocesser og følelser samt sin adfærd og derfra lave bedre strategier til at håndtere problemerne.
Indenfor fobier findes der tre primære former, nemlig agorafobi, socialfobi og enkeltfobi. I korte træk er agorafobi det at være bange for at gå uden for sit hjem, mens socialfobi er angsten for at blive kritisk vurderet er andre. Enkeltfobi er derimod frygten for en bestemt genstand, f.eks. en flyvemaskine.
Ifølge Sundhed.dk har op mod en femtedel af alle mennesker lider af frygt, angst eller fobi i en grad der er til gene for dem i dagligdagen. Et lignende tal findes for depression. Det er måske overraskende, for angst / frygt bygger faktisk på en meget naturlig mekanisme som sikrer os mennesker overlevelse fra trusler såsom farlige dyr i naturen. Men denne naturlige egenskab er altså hos mange forstærket i en grad at det virker generende i deres travle hverdag.
Nogle vælger bare at leve med angst eller forbi, mens stadig flere vælger at lægge den bag sig via terapi. Der findes en bred vifte af forskellige mere eller mindre seriøse former for terapi, men den nok mest effektive og udbredte er kognitiv terapi. Den kognitive metode arbejder med de tanker der ligger bag patientens angst eller fobi og via arbejdet med disse tanker bliver patienten langsomt i stand til at vende sig til det der gør dem utrygge.
Posted by juliusp at 01:12 PM | Comments (0)
January 02, 2009
VIRUS REMOVAL IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
Recently my computer starting shutting down my monitor and I really didn't know why. At first I thought it was just a problem with the monitor so I put a different monitor on the thing and it kept doing the same thing. I knew something was wrong and thought that perhaps my computer had a virus. I decided to look in the yellow pages for someone who works on computers and see if they could help me. I brought the computer over and dropped it off to the guy right away. I didn't want to spend too much time without my computer. I use it for everything, and I really don't function well without it. The guy said that he would look at it that afternoon and when I heard from him the following morning, he said that the computer was not shutting down either of his monitors, so he really didn't see the problem. I asked him if he would go through and look into putting some good anti virus program in for me. He said that he had gone through and done some virus removal on my computer and said that the computer virus removal program that I did have in my computer was not working, which honestly I already knew, but I really didn't know what to do with it, so I just left it on there and continued using it to at least run scans and clean out what was in there. He said that he wasn't sure that he had removed all the viruses, but that he would install something called Cyberdefender. I really didn't know what this was, so I decided to pull out my laptop and looked it up and found a Cyberdefender virus removal review which gave me some good solid information about this program and what it would do for me. It offered, spyware and adware detection and removal, virus protection, spam killer, intrusion control and scam shield. According to my computer guy this was the best thing on the market to help not only protect my computer, but also to help me block out and clean out just about anything.
Well, I got my computer back that day, and I am so happy that my computer is protected again and is running better than it has in months. I never realized how many viruses come into your computer just from general use, but at least now I know that my computer is secure and protected.
Posted by juliusp at 08:34 AM | Comments (0)