« January 2009 |
Main
| November 2008 »
Paka's New Game
The person who said, "You train a dog, but a cat trains you," certainly knew animals. Paka has recently trained us to play a new game. It's actually really cute, and odd for a cat. And I started the nightmare a few days ago.
When we go into the bathroom to smoke, Paka now comes charging in - voice raised, rubbing on everything, and leading us to the shower. That's my cue to fill a glass with water and - slowly - pour it into the tub, so that he can watch it go down the drain. The odd part is - he absolutely hates getting wet or anything to do with water and the bathtub.
At first, that was enough. He would balance on the edge of the tub and enjoy it from a healthy distance. Then, still balanced on the edge, Paka started leaning over as far as he could to sniff the tub. Quite a sight, a cat-behind sticking out of the shower - pointing straight up in the air and tail waggling in happiness. And it was enough.
Paka wouldn't climb into the tub at all and if I poured more water, he wouldn't even look. But, you know cats! Ever curious, he eventually had to climb into the bathtub, shaking his wet paws in disgust, just to get a closer look and smell. When the water and the smell were gone, he would come out. Simple, quick; not a problem.
Then, I showed Mark how Paka loved his game -- and a feline ritual was born. After a second baptism of the shower floor, Paka walks along the edge of the tub until he can sit on the shower chair. Once he's comfortably settled, we are required to open the other shower door and play "Peek-A-Boo," one of us on each side of the open doors.
When I got up today, Mark was going back to bed. Paka yelled for 15 minutes - until I told him we weren't going to play in the bathroom and Mark shut the door.
Now, Paka is pouting! It's either terrible-twos or teenage rebellion (he's almost 3 years old) - true-age or 'cat-years' - he's just plain demanding.
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Auto Insurance
One way to cut expenses, in these difficult economic times, is to revisit insurance premiums.
Maybe circumstances were different when you first signed up for, what seemed to be, a
cheap car insurance policy. One of my stepsons has had some problems with tickets and accidents - typical teenage boy driving issues. His insurance cost was through the roof.
He recently reviewed what he was paying and went looking for a better option. Even with all of the marks against him, he managed to improve his costs and saved a fortune.
Why not take a minute and see if you can reduce some of your expenses, as well?
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Computer Memory
Since I bothered to make some resolutions, I thought I should also start thinking about the last one - Scheduling My Time. Because none of the others are going to happen, if I don't get organized.
With the great (free) database software I've got, it was easy to start generating ideas for a calendar / checklist / schedule. Sadly, as fast as this computer is, it still bogs down under the workload. Getting organized is going to be a little tough if I can't even create the schedule!
So, you know me, I went shopping for
notebook memory. And did I come up with some great ideas!
For next to nothing, I can upgrade the laptop to 1GB memory. That should speed up the processing! One problem solved.
My second problem is storage. I've developed a growing spreadsheet that I use to log my work progress and, now, with a schedule database that shows every sign of being large, I run the risk of running out of storage. Not any more!
I think a couple, or four, flash drives will solve storage issues and keep the data safe. Works for me!
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
New Year's Resolutions
Since my last *holiday* post, I've been thinking about resolutions.
Admittedly, there are several things I'd like to change in the New Year. Some are a matter of willpower; others are more along the lines of get-started-now and it'll take care of itself. So, here we go:
- Stop smoking
I don't usually make this resolution, because it's the first one I break. But this year, I think I'll add an alternate activity to compensate.
- Clean House Every Day
It doesn't take long to keep a tiny apartment clean, when you do a little every day. I used to get up at 3:00am, make Mark's breakfast and pack his lunch, clean the kitchen, dust the furniture, clean the bathroom, scrub the floors, and vacuum the carpet - every day. It took me less than 2 hours. Then, the rest of the day was mine. (I don't want to get up at 3:00am again, but I do like having everything neat and tidy.)
- Exercise
This is a two-fold resolution. I need to get into better shape and it will give me something more constructive to do when I think I need a cigarette.
- Edit Every Day
Over the last few months, I have developed a bad habit of putting off *going to work* until the end of the month. Then, I have several days of manic, no-sleep work that burns me out for the first 2/3 of the next month. So, at the end of the month, I have several days of . . . You get the idea!
- Bake Once a Week
We both love biscuits and coffee cake and fresh bread. Not to mention, cookies and cakes and brownies. With the ever-increasing prices of - everything - it's just practical to make some things at home. And you just can't beat the smell of anything baking in the oven.
- Work on JMark Afghans
I have gotten involved in so many other things, that I've been spending less time with the website. For 2009, I want to add the FAQ section, Glossary, and completely revise the Photo Albums. Not to mention, find even more great companies and products to offer our customers!
- Create an Inventory for JMark Afghans, etc.
I've been thinking about this one for a while. Letting customers choose a style, size, and colors for their afghan, hat, scarf, or shawl is still the foundation of JMark Afghans, etc. But, sometimes, you need a gift in a hurry. By having items in stock, I can broaden my customers' options.
- Start a Topical Blog (or two)
Don't get me wrong, I love Random Musings. It's a place where I can sit down and talk - about anything that crosses my mind. But, I have some very specific interests and passions which would benefit from more focused attention. They often get lost in the other posts and random thoughts.
And lastly, but most importantly:
- Schedule My Time
It's easy to come up with great ideas. Not so easy to follow through and get everything done. In the last couple of years, I've become rather disorganized, giving attention to whatever is screaming the loudest at the time. I'd like to have a schedule, so that everything I want to do gets its fair share of attention and I'm not chasing my tail from dawn to dusk.
On that note, I'm going to go have a cigarette, flop down in my recliner, and play *myFarm* on Facebook. Hey! It's not 2009, yet!
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Wholesale Insurance
Saw a commercial the other day for life insurance. I think about it sometimes, because we're getting older and don't (currently) have any coverage. Not terribly intelligent, but I've also seen some of the conditions and premiums; not terribly inexpensive, either.
With both of us smoking, and Mark's health, I just never thought it was something we could manage on our very tight budget. Still, - in the interest of New Year's resolutions and all that - I decided that I should take another look at what's out there.
One of my biggest complaints about the whole insurance-buying process is getting a quote that matches the eventual premium. No matter how much information you provide upfront, the bottom line never matches the I-can-get-it-for-you-cheap sales pitch. And shopping for insurance for Mark is always difficult.
I did find a one-stop-shopping site that has a substantial database of insurers, options, and premiums. (I need to research some of the terms they use, because the options seriously affected the rate quote.) Playing around with their quote calculator is really interesting; didn't realize the details that affect the cost of insurance. Bottom line?
After independently checking a couple of companies, it does appear that you can
get accurate term life insurance rates from Wholesale Insurance. But, again, these quotes are only as good as the information provided by the insurers and you're still going to have (in my opinion) some differences when you get to the actual payment amounts.
But it's a great place to start. And they include carrier ratings in their database, so you can avoid the financially unstable, fly-by-night types.
Give them a try and let me know what you think. 'Kay?
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Phew! Survived the Holidays!
Well, another Christmas season has come and gone. The days leading up to the 'big day' are so filled with stress that, by the time Christmas arrives, I'm too exhausted to enjoy the day.
Now, it's time to think about New Year's resolutions. I don't usually make resolutions, because I habitually fail to keep them. Why promise myself, or anyone else, something that I know I won't follow up on?
Though, with all of the changes in the economy and a new President - this might be the year to think about ways that I can make some positive changes in my life, too.
What about you? Any resolutions on your mind this year?
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Happy Holidays
To my readers and friends:
Merry Christmas
O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today!
|
Happy Hanukkah
Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik ner shel Hanukah.
|
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
The Passenger Pigeon, et. al.
One of the things I do, when I'm not crocheting, blogging, and avoiding housework is search out and add sites to a variety of categories at
Best of the Web. Currently, I'm exploring species of birds - alive and extinct. It's a rather upsetting situation sometimes.
Take, for example, the Passenger Pigeon.
Two hundred years ago, in 1808, there were documented sightings, from the likes of Audubon and Muir, putting the population of these beautiful birds in the
billions. Yes,
Billions - per flock.
It didn't take long for humanity to wreak its usual havoc. Less than 100 years later, the last bird was gone from the wild:
The last wild bird was a female shot on 24 March 1900 by a 14 year old boy named Press Clay. He shot this bird at his family farm near Sargents, Pike County, Ohio, USA. The stuffed skin of this female is now kept in the museum of the Ohio Historical Centre, Columbus. A few individual passenger pigeons still survived in captivity. Some in Milwaukee (Wisconsin, USA), Chicago (Illinois, USA) and some in the Cincinnati Zoological Gardens (Ohio, USA). By 1909, only the Cincinnati birds were left. These surviving birds were a female named Martha and two males of which one was named George. By the of 1910 only the female Martha survived. Martha was found dead on the floor of her cage on Tuesday 1 September 1914 at 13.00h (1.00 p.m.) precisely. Her keepers had just checked a short while previously. Martha, the very last passenger pigeon, is now kept in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (Fuller 2000; Wilcove 1989)
http://www.petermaas.nl/extinct/speciesinfo/passengerpigeon.htm
Remember, this is
billions of birds -- per documented flock -- wiped out in less than 100 years.
If I recall correctly, there is a lame duck in Washington who seems to think that this is the way to treat non-human residents of this planet. And, rumor has it, he was a History major.
Apparently, some lessons don't stick.
And do not get me started on the mammals that this moron is endangering!
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Find the Best Buy
The economy is pinching like too small shoes. We went grocery shopping recently and nearly had a coronary over the prices. Gas prices are dropping to record lows, but - now that we can afford to drive to the store - we can't afford the food.
It's especially hard, with Christmas right around the corner. How do you manage to put
something under the tree and on the table at the same time?
Obviously, you do like we do - search high and low for the
best buy on whatever it is you need. It's difficult, but not impossible. We do almost all of our shopping online and, this year, many of the stores we frequent are offering free shipping. This saves going out and keeps the costs comparable.
One of the grocery stores we visit regularly, even has downloadable coupons. Simply choose the items that you're planning to buy and their online service will put the coupon on your VIP card. When you make the purchase and have the card scanned, it automatically deducts the coupon amount.
Thank heaven for businesses that are thinking about the consumer. The deals are out there. It just takes a little hunting.
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Space Bag Offer
With our tiny apartment and limited storage space, it's difficult to find a place for everything. Especially since we have several heavy blankets and comforters, a plethora of afghans (in all sizes), and winter clothes that we only use for a few weeks out of the year. Stacking everything on the shelves in the closet just doesn't work. There aren't enough shelves and the ones we have are just to narrow for bulky items.
I know you've seen the commercials for the
Space Bag storage system.
Personally, I think this is just a tremendous idea. Consolidate everything into smaller packages that can be slid under the bed or even put into storage. Shoving everything into the closet or using those storage bags from the corner store, just doesn't keep things fresh and dry.
I've been thinking about developing an afghan inventory lately. But, I can't have everything sitting around, unprotected, until it gets sold. That just isn't appropriate.
With these bags, I know that the afghans I make will be as perfect, when I get ready to ship them, as they were when I crocheted them. Check out the link in the far right column of every blog page - the prices are amazing.
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Free Shipping Upgrade on Zazzle!
We have a lot of (I think) fun products on
Zazzle.
From aprons to mugs, t-shirts to shoes, and almost everything in between. My favorites include the fabric totes - which I use for every quick trip to the store, instead of dragging home (and contributing to the trash heap) tons of plastic bags.
Now - for a limited time - Zazzle is offering a free
upgrade to 2-day shipping. Just follow the directions and add the coupon code to take advantage of this great offer.
Stop by today - I know you'll love the great products, not just from JMark Afghans, but from all of the creative people who contribute to the Zazzle catalog of fun gifts.
See you there!
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Emergency Microsoft Patch for IE
For those of you who use Internet Explorer on a regular basis - Watch for your updates! Microsoft is releasing an
emergency patch on Wednesday for, what they are calling, a perilous IE flaw
I don't use IE unless I absolutely have to. It stopped being user friendly (if it ever was) about the time I discovered Firefox. But I still have it installed on my computer and do need it for the occasional website or application.
Apparently, there is a HUGE hole in the IE software that allows hackers to get into and take control of computers.
"When the patch is released people should run, not walk, to get it installed," said Trend Micro advanced threat researcher Paul Ferguson.
"This vulnerability is being actively exploited by cyber-criminals and getting worse every day."
This would be why I avoid Internet Explorer. It is the primary target of, and most vulnerable to, cyber thugs. Yes, Firefox has been getting intermittant hits from these miscreants, but not nearly at the same levels
Take care of your computer and keep those updates installed. And, if you can, switch to a less vulnerable software.
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Sit on Santa's Lap
Do you remember the anticipation leading up to Christmas when you were a child? Waiting in line for your chance to sit on Santa's lap? We were all on our best behavior for weeks, because we didn't want a lump of coal in our stocking. The excitement of getting a chance to share our fondest desires was just too exciting.
Got a wish this Christmas? Well, you're never too old to tell the jolly fat man what you want for Christmas. CEIVA Logic has seen to that.
In order to demonstrate the amazing features of their Digital Photo Frame, they have given everyone the opportunity to visit Santa and tell him what you want this year. Simply type in your name, your wish, and upload your photo. Couldn't be easier!
It was fun trying to find a picture to upload. I ended up settling on a rather silly one, with me looking into the camera over the top of my reading glasses. Then, I had to decide on a Christmas wish. (My choice is between me and Santa!)
Literally in seconds, your face will pop up on Santa's digital photo frame. Listen to Good Saint Nick talk to you, review your wish, and check with his elves. Have you been naughty or nice this year? Santa knows!
This digital frame is fascinating. Get it for someone you love - Grandma and Grandpa come to mind - and you can immediately send new pictures from your house to theirs. I love the idea.
Even better? Send your photo and wish to Santa today. Then, enter the sweepstakes, for your chance to win one of 29 daily $500 prizes!
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Ask Obama to Help Endangered Animals
I read an interview with soon-to-be-ex President Bush recently. He was detailing his religious beliefs. I think he missed a page or two (thousand) in the how-to-be-a-Christian manual!
Check out this press release from Defenders of Wildlife:
For Immediate Release
December 11, 2008
Contact(s) Cat Lazaroff, (202)772-3270
Bush administration takes parting shot at endangered wildlife
Last minute Endangered Species Act regulations put nation's wildlife at risk of extinction
WASHINGTON—Rushing to put in place changes it failed to secure in the past eight years, the Bush administration has finalized new Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations today, cutting huge holes in the safety net that protects animals and plants in danger of becoming extinct.
First proposed by the Department of the Interior a little over three months ago, the new regulations will eliminate the requirement that agencies seek advice from expert biologists with federal wildlife agencies in decisions about whether dams, towers, highways and other projects will likely harm imperiled species.
"This administration’s disdain for wildlife and the environment has never been more clear than it is today," said Jamie Rappaport Clark, executive vice president of Defenders of Wildlife and former director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. "For 35 years, the Endangered Species Act has helped save and recover imperiled wildlife on the brink of extinction. Now, with this administration facing its last days, they are doing everything they can to cement their anti-environmental legacy before the Obama administration takes office."
The Bush administration’s last minute rulemaking has drawn heavy criticism from the public, lawmakers, conservation groups and newspaper editorialists around the country. More than 250,000 comments opposing the changes were submitted to the Interior Department in the 60 days it allowed for the public to respond to the changes.
But the massive public outcry seems to have fallen on deaf ears. In its push to finalize the rules before President-elect Barack Obama takes office, the department had only 15 people spend only 32 hours reading the comments, averaging mere seconds in reviewing each of the more than 250,000 comments. Department officials then ignored the major concerns raised by the comments, making only cosmetic changes to the original proposals.
Both President-elect Obama and key Democratic leaders have signaled that they will oppose the ESA changes. In addition, Defenders intends to take immediate legal action to stop these regulations.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has argued that the new regulations are needed to keep the ESA from being used to limit emissions from coal power plants and other polluting sources that contribute to global warming. This continues the Bush administration’s failed approach of ignoring the problem.
"Global warming presents the greatest threat this generation has seen to ourselves, our wildlife and our environment, and yet the Bush administration has dragged its feet on addressing the impacts of a warming planet for its entire time in office," Clark said. "While the ESA by itself certainly can't provide a comprehensive solution to global warming, its protections will be essential in helping at-risk species survive a changing climate. If allowed to stand, these regulations will deprive the Obama administration of a powerful tool to protect wildlife and ecosystems from the effects of global warming."
Many of the ESA regulation changes finalized today were tried before in a failed legislative effort by former Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA), whose anti-environmental record and repeated attacks on the ESA contributed to his defeat in the 2006 elections.
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are the keepers of the flame for our threatened and endangered wildlife. They are equipped to make decisions based on looking at the whole picture for a species, on what’s happening to their habitat, their health and other significant impacts," Clark said. "It seems that the Bush administration has prioritized the interests of its industry allies over its responsibility to the public for protecting our nation’s imperiled wildlife. We will work in the courts, with Congress, and with the Obama administration to overturn these damaging regulations, so that we can begin to address the environmental neglect and damage that has been done over the last eight years."
###
Thank heaven we only have a few weeks left before sanity retakes the White House.
Contact President-elect Obama and let him know that these abominations need to be reversed!
I have!
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Another Great Idea?!
The United States has one of the best forms of government on the planet. But there has developed a loss of transparency and direct involvement
of the people and by the people in the last few years that, to my mind, borders on the criminal.
The government has been throwing a lot of taxpayer dollars at business and industry lately - without direct taxpayer approval. At least, I don't remember any rush to the voting booth to register my thumbs-up or thumbs-down on any of this. Making matters worse, we read about Bank of America - happily taking billions of dollars - and cutting off credit to the businesses that keep America employed. Boo! Hiss!
Now, we have
the automaker bailout idea. In simple terms, you're either for it or against it; in principal and in practice. Well, did you know that if the package goes through Congress, we'll be handing the judiciary a pay raise?! I didn't either.
This kind of (pardon the term)
crap is what makes me crazy! It isn't enough, $14,000,000,000
more bailout cash that this country doesn't have. Now, buried in that bill is a raise for US District Court judges.
Under 2008 rates, U.S. district judges earn $169,300 annually, while circuit judges get $179,500. Supreme Court judges are paid $208,100 except for the chief justice, who earns $217,400. Judges receive the salary for a lifetime, even after they retire, if they meet certain service and age requirements. The most recent raise, aside from cost-of-living increases, was in 1991. Under the proposed legislation, new salaries would range from $218,000 to $279,900.
Lynne Marek
The National Law Journal
January 11, 2008
The rationale for this increase is that first-year associates in private law firms make more than a US district judge and increasing pay would . . .
Does it really matter what excuses we're given? This is
not the time to increase spending to a group that already averages income higher than most of the workers in this country!
At least, I'm not seeing $169K on my tax forms. How about you?
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Save The Planet on Facebook
I love to play computer games - online and offline. We belong to a game club and get one game each month, at about 1/3 of the regular price, for download. Of course, there are a bunch of great sites that let you download demos or play online, so I'm never short of games to play.
Since we've added
pages on Facebook, I've found a great set of games -
Save the Planet! For zero out-of-pocket, I can play great games and have a positive impact on the world.
There are arcade, card, word, and strategy games, as well as the daily bonus games. Every day, one randomly selected game from each category becomes a bonus game and points are doubled for 24 hours. Why does this matter?
Points matter - beyond bragging rights - because the more one wins, the more one can donate to favorite causes. Or donate to them all. There are so many ways to win points and so many ways to help, I never want to stop playing.
Feed the Hungry with the World Food Programme. Help offset Carbon Dioxide through CarbonFund.org. Supply clean drinking water where it's needed most by helping Action Against Hunger.
Giving and helping has never been more fun! And those are just a few of the options on Facebook!
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Another Weight Loss Idea
No one wants to think about dieting during the holidays. There are just too many wonderful things to nibble on, everywhere I turn.
Right now, I'm helping Mark work through a huge package of goodies - cookies, petit fours, sausages, cheeses, candies, chocolate, and bread crisps to go with everything. With a little self-control it should last a few more days. Maybe.
Eventually, of course, I'll have to pay the piper and think about shedding those few extra pounds that I am certainly gaining. So, you know me, I headed for the Internet. I found an interesting a new weight loss product today that made me curious. (Gotta plan ahead.)
CLA, or Conjugated Linoleic Acid, occurs naturally in beef and dairy products. Reportedly, CLA will not only help reduce body fat, it will promote muscle growth.
Studies done with mice and rats, to determine the effects of CLA on weight loss, discovered that mice lost weight, but developed fatty liver deposits. These deposits interfere with how the body responds to insulin and are a contributing factor for type-2 diabetes in humans.
The rats didn't lose weight with CLA, but they didn't develop fat accumulations in their livers from being obese, either. (Human tests are ongoing.) So, there's really no way to know how one body will respond or react to CLA, which, it was mentioned, is not even remotely inexpensive.
Realistically, you still want to watch your calorie intake and get regular exercise. But if there's something safe that can help, isn't that a great idea?
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
The Great Outdoors
Mark and I just celebrated our 7th Anniversary, which means he has been trying to get me out camping for 6 years, 11 months, and 3 weeks. (I got a 'buy week' my first week here. ;-) )
It's not that I don't like being outdoors. Really. I go outside quite often - to the store, to the pool, to the mailbox. It's just . . . you know . . . bugs - and cold and cooking over a campfire and - bugs. (Well, it does bear repeating.)
I think that I may have to revisit my aversion to camping, though. After perusing all of the goodies at
Sierra Adventure Gear, I think I could get into the
Great Outdoors - on a regular basis. Seriously!
Just look at this stove! You have to understand, in our first apartment we cooked on a two burner hotplate - for almost 2 years - that was not nearly as nice as this camping stove. This thing is fantastic! If it came with an oven, I'd throw out my current stove!
We've got a tent, by the way. Mark bought it a few years ago and, according to Frankie (the only person who's ever used it), it is a great tent. It has three sections - a main 'room' with two sleeping areas that attach on the sides. But, even in Arizona, it gets cold out there at night!
Not a problem, apparently. There are sleeping bags, like this one, that have zippers all the way around - so you can zip two together - and are actually rated by temperature. (I've really got to get educated, it seems.) We can even get pads to put down under the sleeping bags. How cool is that?
It appears that I will be spending time in the
Great Outdoors pretty soon. Just as soon as I find the bug spray!
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Watch Your Email!
We get a lot of spammy emails, Mark and I and JMarkAfghans. Today, Mark got a couple that set off alarms. Luckily, the first one was a no-brainer.
'PayPal' had determined that there was a problem with Mark's account. He needed to log in, through the attached link, and confirm his credit card number and contact information. Oooooh! Not good! Hurry! . . .
[sound of screeching brakes] . . . Wait just a minute!
Mark doesn't have a PayPal account!
We immediately - and I do mean immediately - expanded the message headers (Really, Really Important!) and forwarded the email to
spoof@paypal.com. He's already received a response, thanking him for his assistance.
The second message was actually a bit more scary. '
Our Phone Company' needed to confirm Mark's account information - urgently - or they would not be able to ship his
Sidekick. Crap! We need to fix this . . . Ummmm?! . . .
Sidekick? . . . wait . . .
Mark didn't order a Sidekick, wasn't expecting a Sidekick, doesn't want a Sidekick, and - most importantly -
really would not want a charge on our phone bill for someone else's Sidekick.
Both of these messages were routed to Mark's Bulk/Junk/Spam folder, meaning most people wouldn't have seen or been bothered by them. But, because we habitually check our Bulk/Junk/Spam folders for misdirected mail, Mark was able to help PayPal and our phone company go after these criminals.
On the off-chance that you haven't heard this before - or have a teenager who thinks it's cool to tell everyone everything about . . . Please share!
1. Never respond directly -
and I do mean NEVER respond directly - to anyone who sends an email asking for your credit card information. ***NO reputable company EVER does that!***
2.
Never (I sense a redundancy here)
Never ~ahem~ NEVER (shall I say it again?) respond to a request ~~ from
your phone company ~~ for
your account information! They have all of the information that they need to process any
legitimate orders on your account - trust me! We have upgraded and ordered new phones a gazillion times and Never (Yes! it needed to be said! Okay?) have we had anyone call and say - "We need you to confirm your information."
Since the economy is in the
round-porcelain-thingy-which-sends-all-stinky-stuff-outh -- the chances that someone will try to buy their Christmas presents on your dime is
HUGE!
Make sure that they suffer for even trying to mess with you! Okay!?
PAY ATTENTION! people It's your life and your money.
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Audio Books
I am a voracious reader. Anything and everything. Romance novels, whodunits, Shakespeare, cereal boxes - anything. Everything. But my day doesn't always allow for putting other work aside to sit, with book in hand, and just read.
Now, I don't have to stop crocheting to read. Or feel guilty about finishing that novel when there are dishes in the sink or vacuuming to be done.
Even better? If I can't sleep, which happens a lot, I don't need to turn on a light and keep Mark up - I can listen to one of 50,000
downloadable audio books that I can put on my computer. (You know the news is just not a relaxing read - at any hour.)
After checking out the prices - which are less than the average cost of a hardback and almost the same as a quality paperback - my only concern was the quality of the recordings. I have an active imagination and love to lose myself in what I'm reading. A poorly read book would - at any price - destroy that immersion.
Luckily, this company agrees.
Don't forget to visit
JMark Afghans and
My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
