RN Programs in Florida: The Key to Job Success

Students enjoy the vibrant lifestyle offered by RN programs in Florida. The stressful course load associated with nursing school can be balanced with spending weekends at local beaches. The nursing programs available at these Florida nursing schools give individuals terrific opportunities to study for all aspects of nursing.

Graduates of RN programs will need to pass the national license exam with a score of at least 10. Before meeting this qualification, individuals will need to:

Supply a copy of your degree from a certified nursing program, Pass the Florida licensing exam, Pass a background check, Pay the application fee.

Failing this examination 3 times will mean being required to enroll in a remedial program. Taking the exam immediately after graduating and while the knowledge is still fresh in your mind, can help to stop this from occurring.

University of South Florida - USF

The National Institute of Health has ranked the University of South Florida as the 28th best nursing school in the United States This rating means that the school receives grants, allowing them to set up their classrooms and labs using the latest and greatest technologies.

USF College of Nursing has two Registered Nurse programs. The 2nd Degree program is meant for individuals already holding a degree in a different subject, while the Upper Division program is meant for first time students wishing to major in nursing.

2nd Degree students must complete:

Statistics, Anatomy & physiology I and II, Chemistry, Microbiology, Psychology, Human growth & development, Nutrition

Upper Division students take:

Gordon rule mathematics, English composition, Psychology, Statistics, Human growth and development, Microbiology, Nutrition, Anatomy & Physiology one and two

To be able to complete either of the RN programs, you will need a grade point average of 3.2 or higher.

The tuition rates for residents will depend on whether the student attends the Sarasota, St. Petersburg, or Tampa campus. The prices charged per credit hour will go from $150 for undergraduate students, to $365 for graduate students. Non resident fees range from $511 to $755 per credit hour for the Registered Nurse programs.

Florida State University

FSU boasts a beautiful campus located in Tallahassee. Students enrolled in their Registered Nurse program are going to get their training from both a regular classroom setting as well as clinical instruction. The College of Nursing's RN program normally takes 4 years to complete. Lots of students enroll every year, and only a limited number get accepted. While the school accepts GPA's of 3.0 or higher, the average grade point average of accepted students is 3.6. 92 % of graduating students pass the national license exam.

All applicants will be required to already have completed at least three of the courses in the list below. The remainder of the courses will need to be taken while in the program.

Microbiology and microbiology lab, Anatomy & physiology lab I and II, Chemistry, Psychology, Introduction to sociology, Nutrition, Anatomy & physiology 1 and 2, Statistics, Human development

At approximately $4,800 a year, the tuition for Florida State University is fairly inexpensive. With insurance, room and board, personal expenses, books, expect to spend about $14,000 a year.

Hopefully this article has helped you to answer most of the questions you have about RN programs in Florida. With great weather, top rated RN programs, plus a large variety of post graduate employment opportunities, Florida might be the location for you to pursue your healthcare profession.

Enjoy Every Summer With Skill-Full Summer Camp

Summer camp is supervised and planned programs for children during summer vacations in most parts of the world. The concept of summer camp is not a new one it has been carried on since long in many parts of the world majorly western countries.

The traditional view of most of the summer camps is mountains and camps with activities like hiking, painting, games, campfires, music, performing arts and computer learning etc. With internet and other day to day activities enrollment to these camps vary from time to time. Pressure of holiday homework from schools, social tie ups etc doesn't allow kids to join such camps.

Its time to educate the parents about such programs which can be really lucrative and helpful for child's overall development. Kids learn a lot at these camps like first and foremost they learn to be independent without their parents, they learn to be in a competitive world, they build up their confidence through various activities taking place at the camp and last but not the least they learn to manage themselves. These camps offer both educational as well as cultural values.

Organization of such camps is not an easy task. There are organizers, counselors, cabin leaders, and teachers etc. who are part of the team of a summer camp. These camps are organized mostly at outskirts of cities or hilly areas. This trend was started by countries like U.S, U.K., France and Ireland etc however now the practice is being followed in most parts of the world.

During the stint at these camps participants live in a personalized, professionally equipped, clean and neat, fun filled and supportive environment in which every camper learns social well being, appreciation for nature, self esteem and effective leadership. The stay becomes a big relaxant and rejuvenation for every camper for the rest of the year as they spent time in fun, adventure, pursuing hobbies, making new friends at beautiful natural scenery.

Now this again is a difficult choice for parents to choose for their kids. It is also a developing as a vast market where in many brands offer their summer camp services and promise safe and sound activity oriented camps. Parents go in for a lot of research and word of mouth plays a vital role in such cases and then decide for which summer camp their child might join for his next summers. Thus it's a challenge for the summer camp organizers to lure and educate the parents well about their camp and specific unique USP's of their camp.

How to Stay Safe at This Year's Hajj

Last year, a record one million, eight hundred thousand people arrived from across the world to experience the holy Muslim duty of Hajj, at the city of Mecca. On top of this, there were approximately another one million pilgrims who travelled from within Saudi Arabia; a total of nearly three million people. When you see the figures, it's easier to understand how, despite improved safety measures from the Saudi government, there continue to be deaths and injuries during the six day religious event.

There are a number of ways in which pilgrims travelling to the 2011 Hajj can prepare for the pilgrimage and keep themselves safe whilst there. These tips cover both before and during Hajj, so ensure that all people hoping to complete the Hajj have completed all necessary actions.

Firstly, before you travel, ensure that all members of the travelling party have up to date travel inoculations. Each year, the Saudi government releases a list of travel vaccines which all pilgrims must have if they will be granted a Hajj visa. The 2010 list included yellow fever, polio, influenza and meningitis - all nasty illnesses, so make sure that you're up to date with your jabs!

Once you have arrived at Mecca, ensure that you have plenty of clean water to drink and remember to eat as often as is necessary. This may sound obvious, but in recent years there has been a large number of Hajji's taken ill due to heat exhaustion, dehydration or fatigue. The only way to combat these things is to ensure you have enough water, rest if you start feeling weak or dizzy and stay out of the sun when possible.

The biggest risk when completing the Hajj is at the Jamarat Bridge area. There have been a number of stampedes and crushes in the past, but the Saudi government has improved facilities in the area. There are now more access-ways, footbridges and emergency exits; while crossing the bridge, keep on the lookout as to where the nearest exit would be. If the people around you do start pushing or jostling for room, remain calm, keep to the edge of the crowds and try and find the nearest exit. Keep hold of any young children or weak family members.

Finally, be careful during the stoning of the jamarat. With so many people who all wish to complete this part of their pilgrimage at the same time, there is a risk that flying stones may hit other hajjis. In order to minimise the chance of being hit by a stone, it may be worth throwing from the bridge level. On the final day of the Hajj 2011, try not to take your luggage with you to the jamarat; this decreases the amount of room there is for all pilgrims and will make it harder to get out of the crowd when you're looking to leave.

Whilst these are tips to keep protected at the 2011 Hajj, if you keep calm and are sensible, the experience should be safe for everyone!

Languages In Luxembourg: National Identity In A Trilingual Space

Luxembourg's linguistic situation can be defined, albeit rather simplistically, by the fact that several different languages are used simultaneously in several different forums and media, whether it is written or oral, judicial or educational, radio or television. Names of shops and streets, menus and such appear primarily in French (with some Luxembourgish added underneath in recent years), whereas much of the media is printed and broadcast in German, although French is also apparent here in cultural articles and social announcements. Instead of what can be considered to be a linguistic norm for a nation, where one country speaks one language, the Grand Duchy represents a vast area of multilingualism, however this is also hugely different to many other countries who speak several languages, the main disparity being that in the majority of these countries, the different languages are reserved to specific geographical regions or are considered as a dialect, rather than an official language. Luxembourg breaks away from this convention by overlapping its inherent trilingualism in a manner which can almost be said to be that of a hierarchy.

With regard to communication, one language is spoken throughout the country: Luxembourgish. It represents a significant symbol of Luxembourgish identity and is the everyday language of choice for speaking. The language is of a Germanic descent, however it has sufficiently evolved and transformed over time to become suitably distanced from its parent tongues and to be considered a different language, and as such it is no longer readily understood by native Germans. The language itself has enough changes in syntax, vocabulary and turns of phrase to distinguish itself as separate from German, although a German speaker might understand some words and some constructions. Where French is concerned, the opposite issue is true, i.e. that a speaker of French might understand better certain turns of phrase if the vocabulary is readily available to them. In this way it can be somewhat true to say that Luxembourgish is French spoken in German

Having several languages in one's arsenal at any one time is extremely beneficial, but there are also drawbacks, especially when it comes to the Luxembourgish language and actually creating it on paper. A Luxembourgish writer is sadly almost certainly fated to suffer literary sterilization when attempting to physically write in Luxembourgish. This has lead to a flourishing lyrical poetry and theatre scene conducted in Luxembourgish, being that they are primarily prime areas for oral communication and critique. Certainly, Luxembourgish writers who write in German give a certain local flavour to their work by using a language known to all native Luxembourgers but which still retains typical Luxembourgisms. Writers who write in German also have the advantage of using a language which is closer to their mother tongue than French is. In this respect, writers in Luxembourg who choose to use French as the main language in their works are regarded somewhat less favourably. These writers face the problem of writing in what is essentially a completely foreign language to them and their readers, as it is further distanced from the other two official languages in the country. In addition this completely foreign language has been nurtured and cultivated in a Germanic territory. The writers who use French would perhaps be more ideally suited to the title of critic or essayist, where these two terms hold equally high esteem in both Franco and Germanic realms.

Luxembourgish is currently in a state of flux. The sentiments of Luxembourgers range from pride in the face of oppression during the Second World War, to modern-day quasi-nationalistic resolution, to basic joy that they have Luxembourgish at their disposal. Language laws have been passed, although they served only to make official what the citizens already felt - that Luxembourgish was (and is) a language of great importance to them, that it represents a significant portion of their national and social (given the transparent European borders that we see nowadays) identity. Luxembourgers are very much in control of their language and the ideology that has been linked to it through years of historical, legal and economic multiculturalism. It is not that the Luxembourgish language represents a precursor for total cultural assimilation in the country, but rather that it is a part of who they are as a country, as a nation, and as a people.

Cycling in Mallorca

Bicycles are a common means of transport in many countries of Northern Europe despite the bad weather.

Take the city of Hamburg as an example; I used to be one of the many thousands who travelled by bike everyday, with an average daily temperature of 12ºC and about 190 days of rain a year, with three months of frost during winter One can imagine how I was looking forward to cycling in Mallorca when I moved here... average temperatures of 21ºC, only 74 days of rain annually, lots of sun, and only a few hills in the low land of Palma.

But reality is different For seven years now I have been driving around Palma on a motor scooter or in the car Palma is the town with the most cars per capita in Spain, and numbers are growing The city planners react by constructing more streets and underground car parks, and the towns and villages of Mallorca are lacking the infrastructure which could make cycling play an important role in decongesting the traffic The bicycle as a means of transport is virtually non-existent - neither in the heads of the politicians nor in the heads of the majority of the population The lack of bike lanes, combined with precarious roads and aggresive drivers, make cycling in Mallorca very dangerous.

The few existing bike paths do little to change the situation in general One can now, for example, cycle along the bay of Palma, from El Arenal to Magaluf on a newly constructed cycling path But this track is only good for leisurely rides as there are no connecting bicycle lanes to other areas.

More recently the Town Hall of Palma has provided the users of several car parks with rental bikes free of charge If you park your car below the cathedral or near the Avenidas, you can hire a bike cost free - a new model of the park-and-ride system! Available also are child seats, helmets, and bike baskets But when you head out and find yourself in the middle of the heavy Palma traffic, it can be terrifying The only place to feel safe is in a few of the quieter, narrow alleys in the historic city centre.

If you do not want to use your bike as a means of transport but enjoy cycling as a hobby or sport, improvements are being made and options are expanding Only recently has the Balearic Government constructed about 235 km of new cycling paths, enabling one to explore a vast stretch of flat, rural countryside between Inca and Campos with the trusty bicycle While this is mainly intended for touring and racing cyclists, there are also special tracks for mountain bikers.

Excellent conditions throughout the mountain region, ranging from moderate paths to more challenging cross-country routes.

Mallorca is an ideal training ground for professionals When Northern Europe battles the cold and frost, cyclist flock to Mallorca for its superb biking conditions Year after year, racing teams such as the T-Mobile team come here to train for the the flat stages in the hinterland, and for mountain stages in the Tramuntana Moreover, many teams participate in the important tour round Mallorca in January as they start the new racing season.

Mallorca has managed to breed some top quality local professional cyclists of its own and is proud of the cycling racing team which will represent the Balearic islands when they compete in the Tour de France in 2005.

The Balearic Department of Tourism estimates that approximately 70,000 tourists come to Mallorca each year to take part in organised cycling trips The tour operators set up groups that vary in degrees of difficulty or daily kilometers and that are usually conducted by former professionals.

We have seen them, be it on the old or the new road to Llucmajor, on the steep and winding routes to Cap Formentor, or on the Avenidas in Palma Mallorca is simply paradise for cyclists so lets hope that the trend of improving facilities will continue while encouraging motorists to be a little more patient of our leisure and sporting cycling fans.

Dr. Helen Cummins is the Editor of abcMallorca Magazine a high quality guide to Mallorca printed in three languages including informative Articles about Mallorca, up to date Events Guide and a Business Directory.

Educational Paths To Becoming A Licensed Pilot

Have you ever dreamed of flying high above the clouds behind the controls of a jet? Of course it sounds like just a dream, but there are those who choose to make a living out of flying airplanes. You should aim for whatever makes you happy in life. Although it seems a bit non-traditional and out of reach, maybe aeronautical school can make you the pilot you've always hoped to be!

Professional pilots can have stressful jobs; the lives of your passengers are in your hands as you fly above the clouds and over the sea to your next destination. Having a calming presence is a valuable quality in a pilot as many people have a fear of flying and need to have a smooth flight experience.

If you earn your pilots license and complete all of the necessary coursework, a career in the exciting and luxurious world of private jet chartering could be yours. People charter private jets in order to get away to a destination for vacation or on business travel. While you ensure your guests arrive at their destination safely, you can also see the exotic islands and beautiful places they experience.

The military provide lots of job opportunities for pilots not only in the Air Force, but in other sectors as well. The Air Force is probably one of the first things that come to mind when you mention professional pilots in the military. The Navy and Army also have pilots to command missions and heroically bring the soldiers home safely.

If you need help deciding whether pursuing a career as a pilot is right for you, there is help. Flight simulators can be tested for those looking to enter an aeronautical school or the military in order to see if they would be comfortable leading a flight vessel.

Earning your education and training in an aeronautical school can be a bit pricey. If you need help paying for school, check out your scholarship options in order to receive financial aid for tuition and expenses. There is nothing that should stand in the way of you earning your wings and being a captain of the sky. If you need to take out student loans to cover the rest of the cost that scholarships did not account for, be sure to check into which programs can be dispelled or forgiven.

If you did take out federal student loans in order to pay for your education, joining the military as a pilot will allow you to repay them through the CLRP (college loan repayment program). Enlisting for four or five years will allow you to wipe out up to $50,000 in qualifying student loans and give you a chance to become a pilot who defends our country.

Time Management Tips For Working Mothers And Professional Women

Let's face it; a woman's time is never her own. When you're at work, there are a million demands that need met, and when you're home, you sometimes cannot even go to the bathroom without a child wanting a moment of your time. Working mothers have a lot of competition for their attention, so finding ways to improve time management can make your life a lot easier.

One of the most important tools for managing time is a calendar. It doesn't matter if it's an electronic version in your cell phone, a digital calendar like Google Calendars, or the old-fashioned DayTimer style you keep in your brief case, organized working mothers and professional women know that keeping track of appointments, schedules, and dates is much easier to do if they are all stored in one place. It only takes a few double-bookings to make you realize the importance of this tool.

Another crucial tool for a woman on the go is a well-organized handbag. You wouldn't believe the number of minutes lost to women every day because of searching through a chaotic and jumbled bag for car keys, a cell phone, or a pen. Choose a bag that has compartments for everything and use them.

If you are struggling with managing your time effectively, it's also important to pay attention to what is distracting you from getting the job done. Did you just finish playing a game of Tetris on the computer or spend a half an hour on Facebook chatting with a friend only to realize you are coming up on a hard deadline? Discipline is crucial to effective time management. If discipline is difficult for you, you can do a few things to help: hide comments on Facebook from games that might tempt you, log out of Facebook when you leave so that you have to log back in, or turn off the computer altogether if you don't need it to get the work done.

Finally, to make sure you stay on task, make a list of all the things you need to accomplish each day and week. Prioritize everything in order of due date or difficulty, knocking the most difficult tasks off the list first.

Working mothers and professional women also need to take time out for themselves. Get a massage or a manicure, talk to a friend, and make sure you get some exercise. It's just as important to build these things into your schedule as it is all of your other to-dos.

Egads! My Child Has Homework - Parents, Reading With Your Children Can Help

Here's the scoop. As your children progresses through the elementary and secondary grades, their homework assignments will increase. Assignments on language arts, science, and social studies, will appear nearly every night. Of course, your children will also bring home math homework assignments, as well. Math homework needs to be addressed in another article.

Now, take a deep breath, gather your wits, and relax, now learn how you can help.

1. Above all else, help your child develop organizational skills.

It's simple! The "Notebook Method" - a messy folder of papers is stressful. Buy a three-ring binder and create sections for each subject. Train your child to keep their assignments in each section.

2. Down to Business

Get comfortable, sit down with your child, and together complete assignments-be involved, even if that means you have to do the reading.*

3. How to Help

First, preview the entire text, chapters or passages assigned. Talk about the sub heading or sub-section (usually in bold letters). Discuss together what you both are going to be reading about. Also, build background knowledge before you begin reading. Parents need to share what they already know about the topic, that is, if they have any previous knowledge, while asking your their child what they already know.

Secondly, read the questions your child will need to answer prior to reading. This SETS A PURPOSE for reading! Next, if necessary, read the text aloud to your child. Make sure your child is following along with you. That is, they hear and see the words as you read. They should be engaged. Because, concurrently your child is working on his or her reading skills; those necessary to read expository materials while also increasing their site word vocabulary, i.e. the, it, was, here, almost et.cetera.

Thirdly, IMPORTANT! As you read the assignment, periodically see if any of the questions, have been answered so far. Have your child write the answer down, and then proceed reading again.

Why am I blathering on about how to read textbook passages? BECAUSE! Children are taught how to read using narrative texts, that means stories. Then, all the sudden, we present them with expository, or rather text passages the expose information. Then, we ask them to read and understand it. BLAM! They run into trouble. Don't worry they'll catch on and will succeed.

The procedure or rather, the steps I've provided here are not new. Research in reading has explored the best way to teach children how to read expository text, over and over. This is one of the many ways parents can help their children read, comprehend and complete textbook assignments.

Make the effort every night to help your children succeed in school remember, and it sounds trite, parents are their children's first teachers. Parents, don't worry, you are not cheating by reading for your children. The assignment is about what they have learned. Not whether they could read the assignment.

Before You Start Wearing Pumps

Many of us choose to go with pumps for special occasion because they make our legs look longer and toned, you feel taller, it peps your step and you feel sexy. While we hope to achieve all this we silently say a prayer because we know what putting on a pair of high heel for a night means. Aching feet at the end of the night, fortunately all is not lost. You do not have to continue in this way. I have a few secrets that will make wearing high heels a lot less painful.

Ladies, the first thing you need to know is this. The worst thing you could ever do is go out a day before you need to wear your high heels to purchase them. This is because you need to break them in before wearing them. This allows the shoes to mould to your feet and stretch them in all direction. You can break in your shoes by wearing them for a few hours at home so your feet get accustomed to the shoes. I do not recommend putting on your heels and then sitting to watch TV, read a book or take a nap, chances are you won't accomplish much. Wear them while you do chores around the house.

Next thing, make a conscious effort to wear heels at least 2-3 times per week. When you constantly wear flat shoes, your feet become accustomed to having your weight evenly distributed in the shoes. When you wear heels once in a while, the difference in weight distribution will shock your feet causing a lot of irritation. Often times we end up with pain underneath the ball of our feet or blisters along the sides of the feet and on top of the toes. Constantly wearing flats also tends to make your feet wider, therefore making it harder to walk in heels which have a narrower sole. So to make the transition between flats and heels easier try to wear heels at least 2-3 times per week, even shoes with a small heel helps.

Lastly, be sure to moisturize your feet. This helps to minimize the occurrence of blisters. Lotioning your feet allow the straps and buckle to slide back and forth easily. You can also bring a small bottle of lotion with you so you can reapply when you realize that your feet are getting irritated. Also, try to find heels made of material that this not too hard that will irritate your skin and heels that will help to support your weight.

Back Pain During Pregnancy - How To Beat The Pain Without Medication

Back pain during pregnancy is something that's completely normal and although it may seem like it lasts forever the pain usually goes away after twenty weeks into the pregnancy. The backache or back spasms are the result of the softening of supporting ligaments and disks in the back due to an increase in a hormone called progesterone during the early stages of pregnancy.

How To Deal With Pregnancy Back Pain

The best way to deal back pain during pregnancy is to exercise because exercising will stretch out a woman's back muscles, get the blood flowing and ease most of the pain. Exercising is the best method for easing and dealing with pain because doctors are hesitant to prescribe medication early on in a woman's pregnancy and it's also a safe way to insure that the baby stays safe.

The best low impact exercises that any pregnant woman can do are going for short walks and bridging. To start bridging all a pregnant woman has to do is lie down on the floor, bend her knees and lift her buttocks up into the air.

Women who want to engage in some type of exercise routine during pregnancy should choose a low impact routine like Yoga or Tai Chi because both of these forms of exercises are good for strengthening plus toning muscles without putting a lot of stress or tension on the mother or baby.

Rub Out The Pain With A Great Massage

Massage is also a great way to deal with back pain during pregnancy. Spouses or partners don't have to worry about knowing expert massage techniques. All it takes to give a pregnant woman a good back massage is the ability to listen to where the pain is in her back, some nice smelling lotion or oil and her favorite relaxing music.

Massaging a pregnant woman's feet is another way to help fight back against back pain and help that woman to feel better during her pregnancy. The most important thing to remember when rubbing a pregnant woman's feet is to go easy and focus on massaging the entire foot (even her toe nails too!) because nerve endings are everywhere and a great foot massage will make her feel wonderful.

Rest - It Doesn't Have To Be A Dirty Word

The next step to dealing with pregnancy back pain is encouraging the mother to be to get more rest.

It's not easy for most pregnant women to get rest during their pregnancies because many women are working during the early stages or are raising children plus taking care of their families.

In spite of how busy a mother to be is it's important for their spouse, partner or significant other to pick up the slack so she can sit down and rest, take a little cat nap or even a bath.

Some other things that can be done to ease a woman's back pain during pregnancy are replacing a beds old mattress, buying a comfy recliner for her to enjoy during the day, buy her a new pair of athletic shoes and investing in a home massage system for the feet and body.

Bed Bugs: The Easy Way to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs suck the blood out of you, literally. They're disgusting and hated by everyone, but difficult to get rid of. They are increasing rapidly and showing up in homes, hotels, even hospitals.

If you have bed bugs in your home you may have had problems getting rid of them, but there is a way to win this home game and here's how: A little known natural secret called Diatomaceous Earth.

Diatomaceous earth is also sometimes called fossil shell flour or diatomite. It is white to off-white powder, a soft siliceous solid composed of prehistoric skeletons of tiny single-celled aquatic plants known as diatoms. It has many uses, including natural pest control for pets, pest control for home, garden and farming. In its natural form it is organic, non-toxic and safe to use.

And it will kill your bed bugs without you having to put toxic chemicals in your bed, on your mattress and in your home.

Diatomaceous earth/diatomite is often used by naturally-minded pet owners to kill fleas, ticks, lice and other pests on dogs, cats and other animals. It is known as a mechanical insecticide. All natural, it kills by physical action, not chemical, by puncturing the insect's exoskeleton and absorbing the moisture in their bodies. It causes the bugs to dehydrate and die and can be very effective.

How to get rid of bed bugs

You put the diatomite in your bed, and when the bed bugs come to feast on you they will come into contact with the powder. Once they do, the powder will begin to kill the insects immediately. They have no defense.

In addition to killing bed bugs, diatomaceous earth is used by gardeners to help control garden pests like aphids, white flies, beetles, loopers, mites, leaf hoppers, and other pests. In your home, diatomaceous earth can be used to kill many other insects, including cockroaches, silverfish, ants, bedbugs, flies, fleas, box elder bugs, scorpions, crickets, and many other insects without introducing potentially harmful pesticides into your home.

Use only food grade diatomaceous earth in your home and around people or pets. Diatomaceous earth or diatomite that is produced for pool filters is treated with high heat (calcining) and a fluxing agent, causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form, which is very sharp and should not be breathed. You should never use diatomaceous earth/diatomite that you may have around your home for use in your pool filter for any other purpose, including pest control.

So here's the new score for your home game: Diatomaceous Earth: 1. Bed Bugs: 0.

It's a home game. It's YOUR home. And your bed bugs lost.

Diatomaceous earth can be an affordable, safe and effective tool for combating bed bugs naturally and effectively. It is available from natural pet supply stores.

A Woman's Job - Is It Abuse?

A woman's job can be an abuse to herself. There are many kinds of abuse that women have endured since the beginning of humans living together as families, and clans. Woman were always considered "the weaker sex", not as valuable as a man, property, not able to earn equal pay, not able to play sports with men, not allowed in "Men's Clubs", the parent responsible for a bad child, suffer every day with side effects from changing hormones, is blamed for a messy disorganized home. The list can go on and on. It was always the job of a woman to set the mood for the home. Her "place" was in the home.

We have taken on many new roles since we have been "liberated".

Now we are suffering even more. Heart disease, anxiety, and depression are on the rise for American women. Work and home responsibilities often are abusive to her body and psychological mind. Were we meant to do it all?

Many men have decided, that since women are now free to participate in all area of their previous sacrosanct lives, their women must produce and provide financially for the family. Yes, it is a relief for a man. He can come home, do what he chooses, eat dinner and then retire to the couch for the evening while all the action goes on behind the game or movie.

He can have a better standard of living because there are now two salaries or maybe she is providing the entire income for the family. There are men who really don't want to work, so he finds a girl with a great degree and job capabilities, and then marries her. After a while, they have children, he quits and tells his tired wife to go out to work, bring and pick up the children from day care, prepare meals, care for the children, clean the house, do laundry, get lunches for the next day, make sure homework is complete, sign all forms needed for school the next day, answer all home phone messages, give baths, read stories, tuck in children, get out clothes for the morning, take a shower, climb into bed and try to get a good nights sleep, barring any children waking up with nightmares, or are in need of a burp.

The next day is a repeat of the last, and it goes on and on and on. It's a woman's job to handle it all! It doesn't have to be this way.

Yes, women love the freedom, but don't blame us if things go wrong. Society is making men the weaker sex and making buffoons out of them. Look at the commercials? Why not show men,women and families sharing the work of providing and raising the children.
Positive family objectives and family life classes, should be taught to newlyweds, and comments sent to the producers of the shows that denigrate either gender to foster good family values.

Praise the good, solid men by their woman's side, sharing domestic work. These fine men are saving their woman's life. Their children see good role models, and the father bonds so much more with the children and they with him when he helps care for them. Women are taking more leadership roles and are moving up the ladder in many corporations. Many women are entrepreneurs of the work at home job market. Reversing roles can work if there is communication, and no resentment. We have come a long way, but listen to yourself and your partner.

If you are feeling overburdened with responsibility, tell him or her that men and women are equals. It is imperative to share the daily doldrums. Divide the chores and give yourself a ten-minute "time out" each day to regroup your mind and spirit. Don't suffer, like it was expected of women, in past ages. Pray often! Meditation lowers blood pressure, calms your spirit and quiets the mind during sleepless hours.

The Truth About Elves And Their Magical Selves

Elves are every bit a mystery even today. However, their origin can be traced back to Norse mythology, where they are viewed as being a divine or semi-divine race of beings endowed with special magical powers that they are reputed to use for and against humankind. The truth about elves and their magical selves is that they grew along with folklore into both the 19th and the 20th centuries. One exposure that they have managed to gain for themselves is the fact that they have been known for years to be associated with Christmas. They are looked on as being "Santa's little helpers" and it is this enduring image that gives their magical selves all the more interest to others.

The ones in modern English folklore of the 19th century were also linked to fairies. It was this connection that would go on to give them their defining size. In addition, they appeared to dwell in rocks and or underground, as well as in springs and wells. The author J.R.R. Tolkien seemed to truly appreciate them for all the kinds that they were to everyone. He wrote a treatment in the 20th century that displayed the various races in fantasy. These races included light, black, dark and the dwarves of Norse mythology. Each race was now a permanent member of high fantasy due to Tolkien. The truth about these beings is that though they apparently had various types. There is only one breed of them today that cancels all the rest out. These are indeed the most famous and for now.

They are every inch a magical part of Christmas as is Santa and his reindeer. They manage to give so much to this wonderful holiday in a number of ways. The truth about them is that their legend is the stuff that Christmas is made of as is any other tradition that is part of it too. These "Christmas helpers" are not only small in stature according to Christmas legend. They are also male and female in gender. Not only do they each have pointed ears, but they are youthful in appearance, as well as immortal in how long they live. They became a reality via the hand of popular Scandinavian story tellers in the mid 1800s. They are now a permanent part of Christmas and aid Santa in designing toys as gifts for children.

The truth about elves is evident and that is that they will go on living an endless life in the eyes of children everywhere. These youngsters not only adore Santa but also the very magical force that is Christmas itself.

Writing and Speaking With Industry Jargon Considered

Whenever one is writing or speaking it becomes readily apparent extremely quickly, regardless of the area of science, industry, or topic that the readers or listeners come from various levels of knowledge in the field. Obviously, it serves no purpose to talk or write over people's heads. Likewise it only detracts from the author or speaker to talk down to the student, reader, or audience.

Okay so, how do you talk to a broader audience, but ensure you are not boring the experts, or flying over the heads of the others?

Now then, having written a number of industry articles and also spoken to far more groups than I care to remember - I suppose the technique I like best is to put it like this (example):

"The US Navy along with the top university research teams have come a long way in the development of UUV's (underwater unmanned vehicles) over the last decade."

By clarifying the term or acronym early, it allows for those in the industry, or the experts to read through it, and those who are not in the industry to at least follow along even though they are a novice. Plus, it allows the new comers to learn a new term and assists them, bringing them up to speed on the industry jargon. The same technique tends to work very well with large audiences and you are less apt to see, blank stares peering back at you.

This is what I typically do, and although readers rarely give me feedback on this particular technique, I can safely say that I personally appreciate it when other authors of research papers, technical pieces, and industry articles do the same, especially when I am studying a new topic.

Okay, realize also that you don't want to use the long version in every sentence or repeat it too often, but it also makes sense if you have an extremely large audience reading your article, essay, or listening to your talk, YouTube video, or lecture to make mention of the term's meaning along the way again, somewhere in the middle, especially if you are introducing a whole host of industry type jargon in your speech or writing.

It is only fair to your audience that you do this, and frankly, you'd want them to do the same if they were teaching you a new topic as well. Meanwhile, as long as you keep it brief you will not alienate the other experts or your peers in using this strategy. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this.

Writing Quality Online Content for a Popular Audience

Crafting unique content for online publication requires a skill set very different than writing for "offline" publications. You must carefully consider all the elements that set online writing apart from every other venue. The most obvious of those is of course SEO (search engine optimization), but I want to instead focus on some of the stylistic and structural elements that distinguish the online medium. Choosing a topic and considering the target audience walk hand in hand, and it's a poor writer who doesn't spend a good deal of time considering who will see the finished product. Beyond that, the essential keys to writing effective and quality online content are clarity, brevity and impact. Master those three aspects, and you're already ahead of the curve.

Topic Selection

It's an understatement to say that online content cuts across disciplines and interest groups. Everything from health to pet care to diet plans have become dominant topics for online content creators. When thinking about potential topics, you need to have at least some experience with the subject matter. Readers can generally tell if you're making things up as you go along. Write about what interests you, but still be prepared to do some research. Backing up facts with proof is an excellent way to build credibility.

Audience

The most easily neglected aspect of content writing is the audience. Consider carefully who you want to see your writing, and what they should learn from reading it. Your audience defines the angle that your writing will take. In general, academic style writing is not appropriate for online content. Unless your audience is specifically the academic community, you want a voice that reaches out to as many readers as possible.

Building an audience is more complicated in the virtual world than the physical. For one, readers are never going to deliberately search for you and your writing. They will stumble upon your content almost by accident, in pursuit of specific answers to a specific need. Online audiences have virtually no attention span. The lure of the next link, the next bit of stimulation can be overwhelming. Your content must combine quality and freshness, or your potential readership will go elsewhere.

Structure

Write paragraphs, not papers. This bit of advice runs more or less contrary to everything you learned in school about organization and flow. Internet audiences have learned to expect blocks of information rather than long-format documents. With that in mind, a 500 to 1,000 word article is about the perfect length. It's likewise important to finish and start strong. I can spare you the finer points of crafting a good "lede" or hook, but suffice it to say that your readers will only spend a few seconds deciding whether your content is worth their time. Beyond that, each paragraph must be densely constructed and focused on a single idea. Transition smoothly and quickly to the next paragraph rather than simply terminating the line of thought.

Revision

Drafting and revision are at the heart of producing superior content, no matter the venue. Hemingway once said that the first draft of anything is always poor. With most online content, the trick will be to reduce, reduce and reduce some more. Avoid unnecessary verbiage and long, rambling passages that add nothing to your message. Ask a friend or colleague to read an early draft and solicit their honest reaction. When you feel you've reached the zenith of composition, sleep on it. Look over your production one last time before publishing it for all to see.

Tie Everything Together

There can be no weak links in the writing process. Leave out one essential element, and the entire foundation is compromised. A satisfied reader will come back for more. An unsatisfied reader won't bother finishing the piece you just spent hours of time crafting. Get every element right before publication, and success will follow.

The Life and Times of Rudolph Valentino

When people saw Rudolph Valentino speak in silent films, what they heard in their minds was the language of love. That is why, even to this day, the mere mention of his name still evokes the image of a great lover.

Valentino lived a short but fabled life, dying unexpectedly at the age of 31. Nevertheless, he had many accomplishments, only some of which I shall attempt to detail here.

First and foremost, he was a talented actor. To understand why you need only to watch him in one of his most famous roles, as Julio in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, where he soared, captivating critics and the general public alike with his performance.

This film, one of the greatest of the silent era and the first ever to earn more than a million dollars, is perhaps best remembered for the tango scene where Valentino uses the structure of the dance not only to establish his character, but also to exude his own brand of sensuality. It was quite a feat, akin to Elvis Presley's first appearance on television. That he had prior experience as a dancer, of course, was very helpful. But the role also required him to turn himself inside out emotionally, something he was able to do quite well.

What made Valentino one of the most remarkable film stars of all time?

• He had the right combination of looks and talent, also perfect timing and grace.

• As an icon of love, he became a lightning rod for public opinion.

• He fully inhabited his screen characters, living intensely whoever he portrayed.

• He was able to speak volumes within the framework of silence.

• He stood out in every scene he was in without even trying.

• His appeal was universal. He was, therefore, in some sense an 'everyman.'

Valentino was also known for his soulful gaze. When his eyes peered out from the screen, people felt compelled to take note. Why? Because apart from anything else he was attempting to convey, they were always filled with love. Again, that is what moviegoers were really reacting to as they watched his films.

Valentino's skills as an actor, I believe, can be traced back to Castellaneta, the little town in southern Italy where he was born. Upon visiting, I found the people there to be cordial, generous of spirit and 'molto simpatico.' Simply put, I felt very welcomed. I was also able to get a sense of how that environment might have affected Valentino in his formative years. The old town center, built high on a hill in the middle of a plain, provides its residents with a spectacular view of the surrounding area. As a result, the second floor windows of the apartment he lived in as a child would have enabled him to see for miles.

I contend that from an early age Valentino liked to keep his eyes on the horizon. In fact, he always tried to keep the bigger picture in mind. Even in death this is so, his crypt immediately adjacent to a beautiful stained glass window depicting mountains, trees, water, and the beginning of a stairway to the clouds.

Any viewing of a Valentino film reveals the luminosity he infused into all his roles. What was his gift? He sparked our imaginations, encouraging us to believe in our own magic. Such was the strength of his powerful yet unassuming charisma.

Rudolph Valentino broke through the existing stereotypes of American masculinity by re-defining how a man could choose to look and act in relation to the world around him.

Among other things, Valentino reminded the Roaring Twenties generation:

1. That love and sex always have primal components as well as spiritual, emotional and esoteric ones.
2. That we may live love as something that's beyond the skin, transcending time.
3. That feeling comfortable with one's own sexuality is a must.
4. That love is what both fills and fulfills us.

None of these ideas are new. However, it fell to Valentino to shine a spotlight on them, something it seems that he was destined to do.

Valentino's personal magnetism created a polymorphous image upon which audiences projected their own romantic and erotic desires. He was the canvas. They were artists. Together, they conspired to conceive one of the greatest lovers the world has ever known.

Writing and Speaking - Improvisation and Impersonation, Why Not Throw in a Little Innovation?

Hey, you know what? Good speakers and writers are hard to come by. Oh sure, there are 10s of millions of writers in the world it seems and with the Internet there are more and more every day. With YouTube there are more and more speakers throwing their hat into a video as well, but it seems that there are very few "really good" writers and speakers.

If you are sitting in an audience and a speaker is making you laugh, and their timing is perfect, and you can tell they are throwing a little improvisational in from time to time, it makes you listen, and wonder what they're going to say next, and you don't want to miss anything.

You might think this is hard to do, but it really isn't, and, you may even speak this way when talking with your own friends, and not even realize it. Now you might occasionally strike a sarcastic tone, and do a little Impersonation of someone that you're making fun of behind their back, and if you do this, and you don't even realize it, you have all the skills to be a great speaker and to throw in a little improvisation, and a little Impersonation.

It's really not that difficult, and perhaps the reason that few people are able to do this, is they are too worried about what the crowd might think, or they don't feel the self-confidence they need to pull it off. Now then, I'm not suggesting that you strike a sarcastic tone, that sort of comedy isn't always good when speaking to professional groups, and yes folks who read articles, essays, other writing probably get enough of that style reading blogs and stuff on the Internet.

However, a little Impersonation can go a long way, and you shouldn't be afraid to try new things, or a little innovation here and there. Sometimes it just feels right, and you should go with it. The best way you can try new things is to try it out on an audience, and then work on and practice the timing. Over the years I've developed about 15 minutes of comedy, all original jokes, which make almost anyone laugh wherever I go, and they go over really good with large audiences.

Is it hard to impersonate people? Generally not, especially celebrities, because they have idiosyncrasies, certain phrases, and a certain voice inflection. It's not hard to impersonate them at all, but it does take practice. I would suggest to you that you should practice these things, and borrow various phrases that people use, and use them in your own writing, of course always attributing them to the person who you are impersonating; try it, it works, and the audiences love it, the readers too. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Engage, Don't Sell at Book Signings

I'm new as an author, so I'm reluctant to give advice. I am not new, however, in professional selling. My entire career in corporations, like Xerox, involved responsibilities with customers, both as a salesman and as an executive. For the last 20 years I have offered consulting advice to large and small corporations in their sales management practices through Prodyne, Inc., a consulting firm I founded in 1991. The following observations and suggestions are rooted in that experience.

My first book signing was in a small B. Dalton store in Bemidji, MN. The longer I sat behind the table, the more people felt awkward in approaching me. I also knew that being a large man can make it harder for some people to warm up. It seemed intuitively obvious that day that the people who were "hovering" in the store wanted to talk to me, but didn't know how. Being a Rotarian and sharing that value of friendship with others helped. I didn't have to sell them the book-they knew I was selling books. I needed to engage them in the topic of reading, something we both shared as an interest.

This is where the professional selling model of listening 75% of the time comes in. But the dilemma is "How do I do that?" It starts with a smile, getting out from behind the table, shaking hands, making clear eye contact, introducing yourself and engaging them in a conversation with questions. What kinds of books do you like to read? Are you a frequent customer of the store? Have you found what you're looking for? Is that t-shirt from the college you went to? Can I help you with a recommendation? Would you like to know more about my book? You get the picture-the list goes on. Within minutes this first book signing went from a flop to a success and, more importantly, everybody had fun.

As I gained additional exposure at book signings, the concept of being paired with other authors presented itself. Many authors, by nature, are more on the introverted side of the personality spectrum. As a result, they sit there waiting. A lady next to me fit this mode at a book signing at the Sister Wolf Bookstore in Dorset, MN. It was crowded, so the prospect of getting up and wandering around wouldn't work. She asked me what to do. I suggested that if she had a broken leg and someone came to visit at her home, what would she do? She wouldn't sit there and say nothing. "Of course not," she said. Think of this as the same thing. No. 1, believe they are coming to see you. No. 2, they may, or may not, buy your book. No. 3, they will buy or refer your book based on the experience they have with you, as a person. Be welcoming, be friendly, and be inquisitive. Take the pressure off them and you by engaging, not selling. They are more likely to remember your book if they have a pleasant experience to attach it to.

She asked, "How do I get people to come to my table in the first place?"

"Let me show you." With that the next person into the store had a Michigan State University hat on. This was too easy as I am green and white clear through. I said, "Go green," just loud enough for the person to hear.

He stopped, looked in my direction and said, "Go white." He came to my table and bought a book. When I was done I admitted to the lady that it's not always that easy, but she got the point. Engage people in a friendly way.

The dark side of this method is that you will occasionally attract the person who wants to tell you their life story, or about the book they want to write. Control the discussion by offering to talk more after the book signing or by simply excusing yourself to transfer the discussion as another interested reader arrives. If my wife, Carole, is with me and senses that this is happening she'll come to my aid at the table and engage the "talker," luring them away so I can focus my attention on others. As in every case, however, the person needs to feel good about the experience through a pleasant, enjoyable dialogue.

I'm still new at this, but I don't look at book signings the same anymore. It's really an opportunity to meet a lot of nice people who share my interest in books. Sales of your book will be an enjoyable byproduct.

Prices for Prestige Properties Have Risen More in Paris Than Anywhere Else

Sixty eight million euros. This is the price for which the Bourbon-Conde hotel located in the 7th district of Paris sold 2 years ago. Today, it still holds the world record for the highest transaction. And since then the ratings for Paris in the luxury real estate market has grown and grown. According to a network of agencies in the premium housing market, it's in Paris that the prices of this section grew the most (+21%) in 2010.

The other "world-towns" which attract the wealthier people coming from the four corners of the globe have seen less spectacular progress: an almost stability in New York (+1%) and Geneva (+1.5%), and a reasonable rise in London (+8.5%).

Thus, in New York, the high standard houses cost approximately 10.1 million USD in 2010 whereas in 2009 they cost 9.7 million USD yet 11.6 million USD three years ago.

The gap gets wider again if we compare the evolution during the last 5 years: in Paris, the prices grew by about 44%, compared with only 25% in London while they remained steady in New York.

But the prices have stopped rising, the result is now here: considered for a longtime as cheaper than New York and London, Paris has pretty much managed to catch up with the other two, which is especially due to the fluctuations of the exchange rates. According to Barnes, another real estate network agency specialized in premium property, the most beautiful apartments situated on the left side of the Seine in the VI and VII district are currently worth between 14000 and 18000 euro per square meter whereas on the right side of the Seine, in the XVI and XVII districts, these properties can be negotiated between 9500 and 11500 euro per square meter.

No New-Build in Paris

Direct consequence: transactions for prestige properties have reached a new level. Therefore, a 250sqm flat with view over the Champ-de-Mars was sold a few weeks ago for 5.8 million euros, 23000 euros per square meter. "Today, the prices are 10% higher in Paris than New York for equally valued properties", estimates a local estate agent.

The experts have various explanations for the French capital's catching up. In Paris, there's fewer products because they haven't build prestige dwellings since the SRU law of 2000 which means a 20% of buildings must be kept for social housing in new developments. Although New York is a case apart in the United States (of America), the town has suffered from the subprime crisis which affected real estate. Moreover, Paris has a trick: it is more of an international city than New York. In the last 12 months, 40% of new owners of properties valued between 4 and 10 million euros were foreigners in the French capital. With a diversity of nationalities (Russian, Middle-Eastern, Chinese, American...) which protects from regional economic crisis.

Simple Steps Toward Economic Recovery

While it is true that we have a complicated economic system, there are still simple rules that we should follow in order to move us out of this current real estate slump that we are in. There are not many markets that affect the economy as a whole in the way that real estate does. The good news is that fixing the real estate market can have a domino effect that helps stimulate other parts of the economy. All it requires is the first domino to be pushed. Unfortunately, we seem to be having a hard time doing that. We should be focusing on increasing consumer demand, rather than trying to sustain people who are really in no position to benefit from the assistance for the long run.

One difference between real estate and other markets is that stimulating demand is done a little differently. Yes, reducing prices and home improvements always help, but another way is to move more people into the position where they can actually get approved for a loan. Not many people can honestly say that they do not want to own a home; it is the American dream. So, unlike clothes or furniture, we do not need to make people want to buy, but rather make them able to buy. This is how we stimulate demand in real estate.

Once we successfully stimulate demand (by moving more people into a position to purchase), we will begin seeing home prices increase. The more demand for a product there is, the more the price of that product will increase, with all other things being equal. With so many Americans underwater, there is a stagnate portion of our market that is simply waiting for their home prices to go back up. Once home prices go up, and people begin moving into the positive equity zone, we will see more refinances, cash out, second loans, etc., all things that encourage spending. This spending will increase the number of jobs that are available, which will increase the demand for real estate, starting the process over again.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in America is 9.1%. While this is above average, it is important to recognize that over ninety percent of American's are still working. There is obviously plenty of room for economic growth, and increasing home values will lead to more investments and spending, which leads to more jobs. Our government is spending at record levels, with much of the money allocated to real estate recovery going to the wrong places. If we stimulate demand for (ability to purchase) real estate, we will see the economy begin recovering, starting with the housing crisis correcting.