Biggest Consumer Ripoffs: Everyone knows that bottled water and coffee-shop beverages are indulgences, and not values. In-room hotel movies and mini-bar contents are obviously overpriced. Microsoft makes billions every year not because of customer satisfaction, but rather a carefully engineered lack of real choice. Even so, the most aggravating ripoffs are those representing blatant legalized […]

I recently took part in an online exchange in which one participant claimed that “only an idiot would suggest that someone chooses to be a homosexual.” I immediately responded, “so, you’re saying God is an idiot?” At this writing the “tolerant participant” has not yet responded. However I know enough about him to predict he […]

I hear it at least three times a week: “I can’t believe [INSERT ASSHOLE SPOUSE’S NAME HERE] would do this. We were best friends! We were together for so long! How could he/she do this?” Well, for one thing, you’re not best friends. You never were. You were married, yes. You were partners at one […]

It may shock you to learn that almost 50 percent of the food grown in the U.S. is never eaten. It’s a difficult reality to swallow considering over 16 million American children live in households that are classified as “food insecure” by the USDA. Totaling approximately 34 million tons each year, food waste is a […]

Today numbers fly around here and fly around there. Inflation is only this much (tell that to the mom or dad at the grocery store! Oh, fuel and food are excluded in the numbers but we cannot do without fuel and food!). There is an overwhelming number of numbers but do they result in better […]

Ashley’s Story Ashley sat on the front porch of her house, rocking back and forth on the porch swing like she had been doing for the past month. It had been a hard month on her. She no longer went to work, or hung out with her friends, who were having big concerns over her […]

Stop here every day for a new question and answer, practical help for busy parents. Question I recently got married again. My husband has a 14-year-old daughter, and my son is 17 years old. Before we got married we knew they were dating, so we told them to break up. But they don’t listen. We […]

I’ve had abdominal surgery twice, once per child. I paid close attention to my instructions; though I was more obedient to them the second time around and had a much easier recovery for doing so. Here are a few things to ask your doctor about. Breathing: You’d think this wouldn’t be a necessary topic, but […]

When your vehicle has been placed in repossession status, hiding your car from the repo-man may make some sense, at least temporarily. Hiding your car from the repo-man may buy you some well needed time. But if you are growing weary of hiding your car in the next zip code, or the constant calls from […]

An old-fashioned, nostalgic Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a real Christmas tree. If you’re in need of a Christmas tree, consider making this Christmas traditon a family activity and cut your own. Here is a guide to Christmas tree farms in West Virginia: Allen DeHaven Trees 201 Mylena Drive Hedgeville, Berkeley, West Virginia Phone: (304) […]

Kennedy Green House: Designing an Eco-Healthy Home from the Foundation to the Furniture Robin Wilson Greenleaf Book Group Press PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709 www.GreenLeafBookGroup.com 978-1-60832-030-1, $30.00, 2010 Title of review: A stunning example of green living, 5 stars When Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and his family realized that their house had been infested […]

Brads come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Using brads in your scrapbook is fun and convenient. Brads can be used for all kinds of reasons. So how can you use brads to help create better scrapbooking pages for your memories? First Step One of the first things that you need to know is […]

Veterans Day is Friday, November 11th. It’s a day in the U.S. for honoring those who have signed up to serve and defend this country in times of peace and in times of war. As with any holiday, there’s an opportunity to listen to and play some music that in some way can tie into […]

Smartphones are replacing cellphones for more and more people. But the exorbitant cost of a data plan, from a wireless carrier like AT&T or Verizon, puts them out of reach for many. Add in the fact that most smartphones require a two-year contract and in an economy where many, if not most, people aren’t sure […]

Being a form of business, forex trading requires meticulous planning before proceeding to carry out. Almost everybody could be said to be taking part daily in the forex market as everybody engages in one form of buying and selling activity or another; otherwise called currency trading. In forex trading, it is easy to enter and […]

Sleeping in, hanging around his apartment and maybe watching some television were all possibilities during his day off from work for Staff Sgt. Peter Rosie, an infantryman with the 1st Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 4th Cavalry. Rosie was currently in his eighth year of service as a paramedic with the New York Fire Department where […]

COMMENTARY | In a previous article, I showed how the Obama administration’s commercial crew program, designed to create a commercial launch industry capable of servicing the International Space Station, is commercial in name only. The commercial crew is suppose to enable a vibrant, commercial space transportation industry, which would reduce the cost of space travel, […]

Everyone has their favorite iPhone apps and the most commonly used ones like Facebook, Google Maps, Weather and News apps are obvious. Here are some of my favorite iPhone apps that are without a doubt, some of the best out there. AroundMe – This free app provides you with information related to the places closest […]

There’s no secret to ending the maddening cycle of arguments that leave you wondering how it got so heated, even when you can’t remember what you were arguing about in the first place. Breaking away from this destructive pattern just takes is a little training – for both of you. The fact is, the manner […]

Every now and then a movie comes along that triggers such an elated feeling of happiness that you’re smiling from the beginning to the very end. “Beginners” is one of those movies that manage to squeeze every positive emotion from the viewer and make them laugh, cry, or just simply smile due to the cute […]

School is starting and this is an important time to consider the possibility and ramifications of head lice. No matter how clean your house is and how well your child is groomed, you are not immune to these horrible pests. Children play closely together; they wear one another’s coats, hats, and hoodies, and they easily […]

An annuity is a complicated investment and an insurance product, which takes a great deal of time to be able to understand fully. People who sell annuities are paid high commissions, giving them a solid motivation to show you that it’s the perfect investment to make. There are many kinds of annuities and the annuity […]

As parents, our kids are our best source of happiness. Seeing them smile makes our world brighter. We play with them, take them to parks or just go out for snacks and dinner. But we are not always there with them as we also work. This is why we seek ways for them to enjoy […]

That sense that it’s just not healthy is more than just your parental intuition. When you see your teen kicked back on the couch watching television again – for the fifth straight afternoon – you have a scientific basis to be concerned. Recent studies have shown that sedentary teens (those that get less than 20 […]

If you want to have a fun-filled and relaxing vacation, then the Venice Beach in California is the ideal choice. Vacationing in Venice Beach is great if you want an escape from the hectic city life and enjoy the sceneries of the beach without much hassle. There are many activities you can choose from and […]

Wal-Mart is a great place which offers its customers substantial savings every day. So a savvy shopper can really rack up on tremendous savings when using coupons along with Wal-mart everyday low prices. A store’s coupon policy is sometimes difficult to find. WalMart has one of the best coupon policies. WalMart accepts all sorts of […]

Don’t you just love the 80s? It was the decade of cheese. I can still smell the Aqua-Net Hairspray. But all things must pass. However, with the arrival of DVD came releases of some the 80’s most popular shows. And one thing is for sure. There were some really bad TV series in the 80s. […]

Our nation, struck deep by terrorist actions on 9/11, continues to dwell on Al Qaida and other Middle Eastern fanatical groups while much closer, just across our southern border, acts of horrendous terror, comparable to those committed in the Middle East, occur on almost a daily basis. When reporter Daniel Pearl was held and then […]

In 2008 the motorcycle magazine I was working for asked me to go photograph the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. The truck carrying the traveling memorial wall was to arrive at a motorcycle shop and then be escorted by motorcyclists on the rest of the journey where it would be displayed. The day started out in […]

The best way to find Russian and Ukrainian women looking for love and romance is through a Russian dating site. There is a huge selection of Russian bride’s sites in the net today; it is always a good practise to check out any sites before you commit yourself to signing up or parting money. Here […]

Dear NHL Offices, I know you don’t know who I am and for these purposes, you really don’t need to. I’m just an average fan watching at a distance looking at the crumbling of a treasure that I love. I watch the occasional doubleheader here and their on Saturday night, watch a primetime matchup whenever […]

What do you do when you don’t have room on a table for a lighting fixture? Bring in a wall sconce. Wall sconces are terrific for bringing light into a room – yet not taking up any table or floor space. From candle to swing arm models, you can use them to bring light wherever […]

Disney finally does a sequel right, almost, taking the focus off the previous films star of Lightning McQueen with Mater the tow truck now taking the starring role. Film making 16/25 Video 24/25 Audio 24/25 Bonus Features 10/25 Total 74/100 Let’s face it, Pixar is the mark for quality entertainment and we expect to find […]

Creativity Creativity is the nectar of the gods. When it flows, it’s the adrenalin in your veins. When bathed in it’s all-consuming fragrance, you know down to your bones that you’re part of something greater than yourself. You lose all track of time. Your need for rest, for food, for sleep and especially, for thought, […]

In 2010 I started my mail order barbecue business. I was 22 at the time, with no money, no credit, and hardly any experience. So, I did the only thing I could at the time: I cut corners everywhere and started a business with hardly any money. $1,215.00 to be exact. Boy, am I glad […]

Back to school sometimes requires more expensive purchases than pencils and notebook paper and researching a vehicle is a daunting task. These are the top three fuel efficient vehicles also known for safety: the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO, the 2012 Ford Focus SEL, and the 2011 Nissan Juke. 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco Starting at $16,525, […]

“The ground is shifting below our feet and apparently there’s no other way out,” say characters in the star-studded vehicle “Margin Call,” (playing now in Special Engagements around the country). This film about the financial crisis of 2008 and how it brought Wall Street to its knees, creating a ripple effect still being felt around […]

When I got engaged in 1998 I weighed over two hundred pounds. I didn’t let that stop me from planning my dream wedding in the Nantahala Gorge near Bryson City, North Carolina. I had a vision for my wedding that included a beautiful wedding gown. I started my search in some of the most popular […]

People often burn candles to enhance their home with fragrances. The scent choices are as varied as the styles and colors, and they range from common fragrances to very unusual scents. Candles are available that smell like newly mowed grass, linens, ocean breezes and more. Some fragrances are stronger than others, and the prices vary […]

Isn’t it amazing how even the littlest of kids today know how to turn on Mommy’s iPhone and can play a DS or a Wii with their older siblings? Kids who are barely in preschool know how to turn on the TV, and some even know how to work the microwave, too. Much has been […]

Have you ever wondered what happens to pro athletes once they leave the sports spotlight behind? I have. It seems that some simply fade into sports history, others fall on hard times and then there are those that transition into new careers. Often times those new careers have to do with the restaurant business. Take […]

One of the things I find fascinating is this whole “Occupy Wall Street” event. It’s been going on for a few weeks; they claimed at the outset that they were going to be there for ‘several months’ and now it seems as though the protesters and their benefactors have achieved some kind of a stasis. […]

Aye Mateys, we are about to embark on a perilous journey to the Caribbean in search of the infamous Black Pearl, that ghostly ship pirated by none other than Captain Jack Sparrow his self! No, no, wait; wrong story, wrong pearl. How about if I at least promise a little Jamaican vacation? Irie, Mon! Lookout! […]

One of the best things about being a writer is the fact that you can hold a permanent job and still write on the side. That is the good thing in having a creative profession. You can moonlight on the side and do freelance jobs while still maintaining a regular salary. In fact, many writers […]

As a freelance writer I spend quite a few hours each day sitting. As it turns out, that is probably the norm no matter what job you do. According to research by the U.S. Labor Statistics Bureau, quite a few career fields involve sitting in the same position for lengthy periods of time. Unfortunately, the […]

Medications Help But Don’t Always Fix Everything When people first started out trying to find a way to get on the road to recovery, especially few years ago, many people thought that the only magic answer was going to be through medications. Hope was held out that one could take a pill or a shot […]

Totally Bamboo has some great party trays for both serving and individual use as well as the unique bamboo cutting board from highly renewable bamboo. Ease of Use/Performance: 23/25 Convenience/Storage 25/25 Appearance/Design 25/25 How much I enjoy 23/25 Total: 96/100 Bamboo is a highly renewable resource, the grass grows to 98 feet and at an […]

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail in Pinellas County, Florida, is a 37-mile linear (longer than it is wide) trail extending from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, Florida. It runs along an abandoned railroad corridor and when completed will extend to 47 miles. It is a multi-use trail for walkers, joggers, bikers, and skaters. No motorized […]

Cincinnati has long been known for such things like cornhole, Flying Pigs, the professional sports teams the Reds and the Bengals and, most notably, always being a few decades behind the rest of the country. But one thing that is often forgotten is its love for the German infused dish of goetta. What is goetta […]

In the three minutes it took to walk down the driveway to the mailbox and back, my red shirt was drenched, moisture visible from every angle.. These 90 degree temperatures were really starting to get to me. I had to stop watching the weather because I’d always get in a screaming match with the TV. […]

Whether you’re giving your garden beds a break or you’re just interested in growing up something delicious and beautiful for your porch or patio, a container herb garden is a fantastic project. Herbs make the ideal plant for even the novice gardener. They’re easy to grow and thrive with the regular trimming they’ll get as […]

Writing Style and Grammar aside, what distinguishes an effective Business Communication from one that is largely ignored is the manner in which the communication is organized or formatted. That said, a Business Communicator may be a talented Wordsmith, but if words, thoughts, and ideas are not presented in a recognizable format, most readers will neither […]

It comes in threes. Bristol Palin’s “Not Afraid of Life,” inaugurated the most recent triad. In it, the former Alaska governor’s teen candidly described the fallout from “going rogue” with boyfriend Levi Johnston. That’s to be followed next week by Dick Chaney’s “In My Time,” in which the notoriously redacted veep admits he kept a […]

Fresh, homegrown blueberries, right in your back yard! Blueberry bushes are amazing, but caring for them can be daunting. For one thing, trimming blueberry bushes is a chore that must be done every year. And just like pruning any flowering and fruiting bush, the process is a bit complex. However, follow these easy step-by-step instructions […]

I belong to a wonderful forum for mental health clinicians with many competent therapists. A while back, we were having a discussion on dealing with our own emotions. This led me to add comments to the original post about my own thoughts on this. After completing it, I began to think of all those who […]

“Once Upon a Time,” the ABC series that brings fairy tales to life, is enjoying more success than its NBC predecessor “The 10th Kingdom.” The latest ratings update from Nielsen reveals that “Once Upon a Time” had 8.6 million viewers on Feb. 12, 2012. Although both shows received positive reviews from critics, “The 10th Kingdom” […]

What a relaxing method of madness to have a day of fun, frolicking and friskiness (my gosh this sounds good) at the local golf course (oh what, is that it, Golf). Well walking aimlessly like a security guard high on Red Bull looking for some action around a plain open (and mown) grass field all […]

Here is a new medical finding worthy of a raising your glass to toast: wine helps melt away body fat. Just a small amount of alcohol (5 to 30 grams, equal to one or two cocktails or glass of wine) daily lowers the risk of weight gain, especially in women. The alcohol in wine speeds […]

The 2010 documentary titled Smash His Camera is about Ron Galella, a “pioneer paparazzo” who is hated by some and praised by others. His work is debatable: is it art or newsworthy? Is it slanderous uninvited intrusion caught on film? You decide. Ron Galella got his start in the early 60s as a curious art-driven […]

We are using the Reading Assistant in our homeschool this year and I think it is absolutely wonderful. The program is expensive by some standards but there are several subscription options available. The Reading Assistant is a computer based reading program that is designed to improve a student’s reading ability. It is available for grades […]