With the recent recall of a long list of supplements, designed to build muscle-mass by reducing fat production, I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop. So many products contain ingredients which, in and of themselves, are probably fairly safe. But, to my mind, when manufacturers throw a variety of appetite suppressants together in one capsule, the potential for problems just magnifies.
As I've mentioned on several occasions, one of the most common functions of weight loss / fat-burner supplements is called thermogenesis. Thermogenic products work to increase fat burning by increasing heat production in the body. It's a natural process, in and of itself; which is why exercise is a benefit to weight loss. However, artificially increasing that natural function, also tends to artificially increase the internal temperature of the body.
Participating in exercise or sports programs that already elevate body temperature while taking these supplements can magnify the chances of collapse from heat-exhaustion. Without knowing the exact levels of thermogenic ingredients in products that simply list 'proprietary' blends, it's virtually impossible to determine an individual's risk factors. Living in a place like Arizona, already increases the risk.
Normal exercise and a balanced diet are always the best weight-loss plan.
I recently received the following advice in an email. Not all of the advice is 100% valid, so I have added some caveats or suggestions, where applicable:
The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.
(This was actually listed on the Illinois Legal Aid website.) Bank employees are highly unlikely, given the volume they process, to verify checks against a signature card. And, many businesses may require that the information on your checks matches the information on your ID.
Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".
I like this one. Although, I haven't had anyone check the back of a card - or ask me for ID - in a very, very long time. (Perhaps retailers need to reeducate their employees?)
When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
Better to leave this line blank and simply remember to include the payment slip from your statement. (Anyone processing your payment at the bank or credit card company, already has access to your account information anyway - truth be told.)
Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.
Is there, truly, a need to have a phone number printed on your checks? (Not to mention, what if you change jobs?) I haven't written a check in many years, but I don't recall being required to provide that information.
As far as addresses versus PO Boxes: If I recall correctly, there used to be issues with POBs on checks. Then, there's the issue of check information matching your ID. And using a work address takes us back to - What if you change jobs?
Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks. You can add it, if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
Again - why would anyone ever provide this information on every check they write? Leave it off.
Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopies safe.
Admittedly, this isn't a bad idea. Though you can get the numbers from your credit card statements and the local DMV is in the phonebook. Social Security cards can be replaced online.
If your wallet is stolen:
We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
The actual SSA information, from their website: (The Social Security Administration will issue a new card, but they will not file a report or take any action regarding a stolen card.)
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (1-877-ID-THEFT or 1-877-438-4338);
File an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov;
Check your Social Security records (call toll-free 1-800-772-1213; TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ensure your income is
calculated correctly; and
Monitor your credit reports.
Equifax: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 1-800-685-1111
According to The American Institute of Stress, "Stress is difficult for scientists to define because it is a subjective sensation associated with varied symptoms that differ for each of us. In addition, stress is not always a synonym for distress. Situations like a steep roller coaster ride that cause fear and anxiety for some can prove highly pleasurable for others. Winning a race or election may be more stressful than losing but this is good stress."
No two people will, probably, agree on what is stressful, at any level. To me, a rollercoaster ride is highly stressful. To Mark, it's a great time. There are common life changes that tend to produce stress for most people. These changes are stressful, though some are considered positive events and some are, quite often, negative.
Getting a new job
Losing a job
Getting married
Getting divorced
Buying a house
Home foreclosure
It's not, however, the one-time stressors that are most dangerous. Losing a job is never easy, but it can be the push needed to find a better position. Divorce, while difficult, is a health step when leaving an abusive relationship. Signing those mortgage papers is a frightening committment, almost immediately balanced by the pride of ownership.
When life is filled with unending stress - e.g., a bad job or marriage, extended unemployment, or chronic poor health - eventually it becomes almost impossible to cope. Living daily, often hourly, on the edge from pain, worry, or fear is physically and emotionally damaging. A combination of individual stressors can do the same physical and emotional damage. Getting divorced, losing a job, losing a home, and becoming ill - without serious support and coping mechanisms - are probably more than a person can realistically handle.
This week, we've seen graphic examples of people unable to deal with their personal stresses. One, a religious and medical man, faced daily horrors and was about to be deployed to the midst of those horrors. The other was a man who simply had too many things go wrong, without relief.
Why they chose to arm themselves and shoot innocent people is beyond me. But, I do know, that when excessive stress continues unabated, anything is possible.
November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. A time when we stop and consider the quality of our lives and the lives of our loved ones. What type of memory loss is a normal part of aging? And what memory changes may be a sign of something more serious?
Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
Confusion with time or place
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
New problems with words in speaking or writing
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
Decreased or poor judgment
Withdrawal from work or social activities
Changes in mood and personality
The information on these pages also explains the difference between typical age-related memory changes and the changes that may signal the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.
Another health issue, related to Alzheimer's or any disabling condition, is Caregiver Stress. Unless you are/have been a caregiver for a seriously ill friend or loved one, it is difficult to imagine the range of emotions and stress that caregivers experience. To that end, the Alzheimer's Association has provided a short quiz to help caregivers determine their stress level and find the resources they need to care for themselves.
I have been a caregiver and I have worked with support groups. The first piece of advice we give to those caring for seriously ill or disabled relatives is: "Don't forget to care for yourself!"
One of the things that upsets me, greatly, are websites that offer reviews and evaluations of fat burner pills that are, in fact, no more than a collection of links to product sites.
If you really start looking at what's out there, the similarities are incredible. By looking at more than one or two sites a day, you begin to see a pattern: the same products, in the same order, linking to the same information. Nothing new, nothing honest, and nothing reputible. (Sorry. Got a little perturbed!)
This morning, I found something a bit different. Refreshingly different, as a matter of fact. Apparent honesty in a product evaluation!
As someone who has looked at a great number of weight loss / fat burner supplements and sites, I am fairly familiar with what usually constitutes the Top 10 Products on the average webpage. I am also familiar with the hype surrounding these miracle weight-loss pills. Which is why I was so pleasantly surprised to see some thought behind the reviews.
While the top 10 weren't all that different on this site, the information was. One product, which contains a lot of stimulants, was given a rather honest safety rating. The evaluation noted that, due to possible problems with the levels of caffeine in this product, customers might be better served by a different product.
It's not earth-shattering. But it is a little more reality than I expected to find.
There is no lack of best fat burner offers on the market. Sadly, as the media focuses on national obesity and the urgent need to encourage weight loss, more and more products appear with claims that aren't closely reviewed or monitored. At best, many products are simply ineffective. At worst, the ingredients or the combination thereof may be dangerous.
One of the basic functions of many fat burner / weight loss products is thermogenesis - thermo: heat, genesis: generate or create. Simply put, thermogenesis is the natural bodily process whereby the body generates heat and burns calories. Stimulating this process, in theory, would increase metabolism and burn more calories. Sounds good, right?
Now, imagine that the latest and greatest fat burning product has several ingredients that work to increase the body's metabolism. The promise is that heightened calorie burning equals heightened weight loss. Quite possibly true. But, the (unmentioned) other half of the thermogenesis equation is production or generation of heat.
This means that combining a number of ingredients that are designed to stimulate metabolism can also increase the generation of body heat or raise internal body temperature. If you spend time out in the sun, or participate in strenuous sports or exercise programs, this elevated internal temperature could seriously reduce the time it takes to succomb to heatstroke. A potentially deadly situation.
Hunting for information on an effective weight loss diet, I was unhappy to find nothing of the sort on one website. Despite the name.
We are in diet-change mode at our house - again. This means that Mark and I are trying to rethink and retrain our cooking habits. It isn't the first time we have had to make dramatic changes, but it has been a nightmare. Most of our favorite foods are now off the menu and we frantically need new ideas.
During the last year or so before Mark's liver transplant his diet was literally life-or-death choices. Every day, we counted the protein grams and sodium milligrams in every single item that hit a plate or bowl. But carbs and sugar were never an issue. Mark could have all the fruit and candy and pasta and goodies he wanted - as long as they were low sodium, low potassium, and minimal protein. All in all, it was a fairly simple transition.
Now, with diabetes sitting at our table for every meal and snack, we are forced (again) to relearn how to cook. Carbs and sugar, no matter how careful we are, are literally everywhere! Fruits, for the most part, are a no-no. Potatoes, pasta, bread, crackers - all of the foods that we used to serve to keep Mark from feeling starved - now shoot his sugar levels through the roof, no matter how we try to limit them. With meat prices, it's not like we can afford three (or more) high-protein meals every day. It is so frustrating!
So, racking my brain for ideas, I thought that perhaps a weight-loss diet program would be a starting point, since obviously eliminating sugars and other empty calories are a primary part of any low-cal diet. Guess, I'll have to keep looking.
The news, published in "Crossing the Finish Line," points to demographic factors - rather than hard work, good grades, and intelligence - as the strongest indicator of success or failure in post-high school endeavors. Gender, race, and parental education carry more weight than student effort or brains. If true, a rather sad situation.
In a nutshell, kids whose parents didn't go to or finish college, who come from a disadvantaged background, regardless of how hard they study or how brilliant they are, are much less likely to make it through four years of college.
Obviously, there will always be exceptions - thank, heaven! But, as one of those statistics, it's very disheartening to know that not much has changed in the 35 years since I went to - and didn't graduate from - college.
My 'personal relationship' with the Kennedy family began the weekend after / of my 7th birthday. When our birthdays fell during our mother's work week, we celebrated over the weekend. The year that I turned 7, my birthday fell on a Wednesday. That weekend saw the funeral of our 35th president.
After all these years, I remember standing in front of a small black-and-white screen. I remember a riderless horse and a flag-draped coffin. I remember 2 very young, very small children watching the passing of this box that held their father's body. I remember my heart breaking and tears rolling down my cheeks. This was the first death I had experienced in my young life; it left a mark.
Less than 5 years later, I would watch in horror as Robert Kennedy died in a hotel kitchen. (Technically, he died a day later, after extensive surgery at a Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.) I couldn't believe that another son, another promising life, had been taken from this family. It just seemed too cruel. (I would quickly develop a dislike for the father who, in my opinion, pushed his sons into the political life to which he had aspired in vain. And don't get me started about what he did to Rosemary!)
It wasn't long before the youngest son made headlines.
Chappaquiddick and Mary Jo Kopechne - the event killed a young woman, a presidential career, and perhaps, a father. (Joe Sr.'s death, almost exactly 6 years after John's assassination, less than 18 months after Robert's, and 4 months - to the day - after Chappaquiddick, made me wonder if his heart had simply broken with the knowledge that no other Kennedy would sit in the Oval Office during his lifetime.)
Projecting what many of us felt at the time, I hoped that Ted wouldn't seek presidential office. The Kennedy sons seemed to wear a bullseye, borne of a strong belief in social justice, equality for all citizens, and - most dangerously for John and Robert - the destruction of the mafia. They were fighting an uphill battle against powerful organizations.
To this day, I wonder if Ted Kennedy's problems with alcohol and women weren't a subconscious way of making himself a smaller target. Although the plane crash in 1964, as Mark reminds me, could have been an object lesson - long before 'they' got to Robert. Who knows?!
Even after his father's death and the death of that pressure to please Joe Sr., Ted sought the presidency. Much has been made of his hesitant answer to the question "Why do you want to be President?" Yet, the tape of the conversation belies much of that:
It's easy to admire Ted Kennedy for his vote against the Iraq War. But those of us of a certain age, as it were, won't forget his work to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act, the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act and the Kennedy-Hatch law of 1997. Ted had his hand in the establishment of OHSA, as well.
I am sad to watch the passing of the last son of Joe and Rose. Yet, I am happy to have grown up in 'his time' and to know that Edward Moore Kennedy - of all his brothers - "lived to comb grey hair."
To be perfectly honest, when I was asked to look at the Organizational Leadership Masters degree program at Gonzaga University, I had never heard of such a degree. Already familiar with the quality of the education provided at Gonzaga University, a Jesuit institution located in Spokane, Washington, I needed to find out just what a Masters in organizational development or organizational leadership entails. Similar in intent, they are not the same; although many educational institutions seem to use the terms interchangably.
Generally, Organizational Development seems to get pigeon-holed as a Human Resources specialization, with a focus on diagnosing and improving processes within an organization. In contrast, Organizational Leadership involves skill sets that include and extend beyond that scope into areas such as diversity, team building, ethics, and group behavior. The leadership programs also emphasize practical application of learned skills, in terms of creative thinking, communication, and problem solving.
As I understand it, Organizational Development has improvement of the organization as its primary goal, while Organizational Leadership advances the individual's ability to be an instrument of motivation and change within and beyond a specific discipline. In fact, many traditional fields are developing leadership specializations, understanding the benefit of adding sociology, philosophy, psychology, and management skills to their core training. Such an expanded knowledge base, as presented in the program at Gonzaga University, naturally presents a wider range of career options to the individual possessing these additional competencies.
Personally, if I'm going to invest my time and money in furthering my education, I want to be able to take that education anywhere.
Not surprisingly, substance abuse tends to increase as life becomes more difficult. And there aren't many more difficult situations than a recession and rampant job loss. Many people, when the pressures of just surviving day-to-day become unbearable, may look to self-medication to escape, if only for a short time, from the fear and hopelessness.
It doesn't matter that we all know the 'cure' is worse than the disease and investing in oblivion always makes the situation worse. Sometimes the sheer bliss of not-feeling can be very enticing. Once started, the brain's chemistry changes and the escapist cycle becomes very difficult to break. The hole we dig gets deeper and deeper. Before long, we're so far down that we can't find up.
If you have been considering drug rehab or alcohol treatment for a family member, or yourself, you might want to take a look at Ambrosia Treatment Centers. Their counselor-to-patient ratio, at approximately 1 to 6, is one of the best I've seen. More importantly, they understand that addiction doesn't affect only the addict.
Their free family program is not limited to family members, but includes the significant others of any patient in treatment at the Centers. I don't know if that's common or not. It is, to my mind, a valuable and necessary resource to ensure long-term sobriety. Co-dependency and enabling behaviors are prevalent in addictive relationships.
Having narrowly survived a marriage based on lies, alcohol-abuse, enabling behaviors, and (eventually) physical abuse, I can assure you that living without self-medication is by far the preferred lifestyle.
We 'talked' recently about getting a Masters degree in Business Administration and the requirements that must be met in order to enroll in a degree-granting program. One prerequisite for virtually all MBA programs is the GMAT®, the Graduate Management Admission Test®.
Designed to predict academic performance in applicants to an MBA program, the GMAT® is neither easy nor inexpensive. This makes GMAT prep a critical step in the process. So, why not go to the organization that employs the people who designed the adaptive testing algorithms behind the GMAT®?
What I really like about the Knewton program is that you can, basically, test-drive before you buy. There is a free 7-day trial offer that allows prospective applicants access to online classes, a full-length sample GMAT®, and practice problems and tests. If that weren't enough, they also provide explanations and test tips.
Do you suffer from public speaking anxiety? I did for years and years and years - thanks to a rather belligerent speech teacher from junior high school. She had no idea how to teach; how to encourage. Instead, she berated, belittled, and embarrassed her students. The ones, like me, who were shy were a particularly favorite target. I can still recall the blind panic I felt - every day - before walking into that classroom.
It was so debilitating that, at the age of 25, I was still paralyzed in front of strangers. Forget giving a speech! That was just never going to happen! Finally, sick and tired of being afraid, I signed up for a speech class at the local community college. I knew the instructor from another class I had taken, so there was a built-in comfort level. That class became a huge turning point in my life.
I still get nervous in certain situations and am not fond of large groups of strangers, but - through sheer stubbornness and force of will - I've conquered most of my fears.
The reason I mention this is that, in my recent WWW travels, I stumbled across a site that offers help to people like myself. Their herbal supplement is designed to enhance memory, reduce anxiety, and increase the body's resistance to stress. Definitely something I could have used, back in the day. (Except for the St. John's Wort.) But, what I found most helpful was the advice section.
From preparation advice to specific guidelines, based on the situation, it is sound and helpful information. I spent quite a bit of time reading the sample interview questions, along with the recommendations - and I'm not even interviewing. Then, there are the types of speeches and toasts for which suggestions are included. Just a great, to me anyway, jumping off point.
Most of the information is basic - be prepared, at the top of the list. But, when faced with a stress-inducing situation, the basics tend to be the first things we forget. This is an informative site with valuable assistance, covering a variety of situations. I don't think I've seen anything quite like it before.
I was reading a review of a weight-loss product, liporexall, today. Being a curious skeptic, I decided to look up the ingredients. Very interesting, and a little scary.
When I finally found a label, as is not uncommon, amounts were not listed for the majority of the ingredients. There was simply a 'proprietary blend' of 460.50mg that was supposed to cover 10 of the 11 components. ChromeMate®, the first item on the label did have an amount (300mcg) and RDA percentage (250%). But that left me with a lot of parts, including magnesium stearate, to account for in that 'blend.' Not to mention, how does one know that the percentages of each ingredient is the same from bottle to bottle?
Interestingly enough, one of the components - Super CitriMax® - also contains 200mcg of niacin-bound chromium, because one of its ingredients is ChromeMate® and the only ingredients in ChromeMate® are niacin and chromium. Which led me to ask - does the amount of ChromeMate® listed include the amount found in the Super CitriMax®? Or is the Super CitriMax® in addition to the initial 300mcg? At this point, my head started to hurt. A lot!
Then, I got to the other 9 items on the label. Five of them are thermogenic, meaning they increase the metabolism, internal cellular temperature, and burning of calories. Unfortunately, like some banned supplements, increased thermogenesis can cause jitters, nervousness, and insomnia; as well as dangerous overheating. In addition, some of the components have other possible side-effects that need to be considered.
7-Keto® raises T3 (a thyroid hormone) levels, which can affect the heart, thyroid, and bone density. ForsLean®, an extract from the roots of the Coleus forskohlii, also stimulates the thyroid and may increase the potency of antiasthmatic or antihypertensive medications. Because it lowers blood pressure and acts as a vasodilator, people with bleeding ulcers or hypotension should be careful when using ForsLean®. If that weren't enough, BioPerine®, which increases the absorption of many types of nutrients, has been shown to significantly improve the topical absorption of the primary ingredient in ForsLean®.
Really, most of the ingredients, with the possible exception of Infinergy® DiCaffeine Malate (caffeine and malic acid), are generally safe and probably quite effective. I'm just not certain that putting them all together in one tablet is quite as healthy. Especially, since there is no actual way to determine the precise amounts of each ingredient.
You wouldn't buy a house without a thorough inspection. How else would you know if the foundation is shaky or the roof leaks? The same is true for home insurance policies. Without checking carefully, how do you know that you're not paying too much or getting too little? Does your coverage include replacement value, or actual value? After you have a flood or a fire is not the time to find out that your policy doesn't include the computers or the piano. Or that the family-room sofa, which will cost $2,000.00 to replace, is only valued at $150.00.
The easiest way to get the right coverage at the right price is to get quotes from a number of insurers. Where you live, the size and age of your house, replacement value coverage, computers or jewelry riders - these all have an impact on insurance premiums. And need to be considered when shopping for a policy.
If you have a number of high-end electronics or inherited Grandma's jewelry collection, you will probably need a rider to provide complete coverage. This will add to your premium. That pool in the back yard? You may need additional liability coverage. But, if you don't have these additional needs, why should you pay an insurer as though you do?
Whether this is your first policy, or you're just doing a five-year check-up, get what you need. At a price you can live with.
The world of online education, like any other product or service on the Internet, is filled with wannabes. Filled with organizations that are very happy to take your money, for a lengthy period of time, at the end of which you have (if you're lucky) a frameable piece of paper that is too often more effective at the bottom of a birdcage than it is on a resume. Getting an MBA online is no different; although, from what I can tell, MBAs are extremely popular and, therefore, possibly more prone to abuse.
Before you even look at an MBA program, especially online, research the accreditation. I learned, from a woman I worked with, that in the business marketplace a degree is only as good as the accrediting institution. While she was knowledgable and had 'that piece of paper,' management did not recognize the school that she attended (online) as an accredited college / university. They, therefore, were not appreciative of her degree when it came time for raises and promotions. It was, in essence, a waste of her time and money.
The University of Scranton's online MBA program is accredited by the AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), a specialized agency that grants accreditation for business administration and accounting programs. It is the only 100% online program to receive this accreditation. During my research, I discovered that many accredited universities (e.g., Colorado State, University of Colorado, Michigan State, University of Michigan) have business and accounting programs that are also accredited by AACSB. This indicated to me that AACSB is not a rubber-stamp accreditation agency. Schools and programs earn the seals that they proudly display.
Not to mention, unlike many programs, The University of Scranton doesn't provide a 'degree-lite' online curriculum. The courses, faculty, standards, and diploma are the same for students who log in from hundreds, or thousands, of miles away as they are for those who occupy a seat in a classroom in a building in Scranton, Pennsylvania. To me, that is a major (pardon the pun) selling point. I would hate to spend 2 years, working my tail off, only to receive a diploma that, somehow, was less - online MBA - than what someone else received for the same effort, simply because they were able to physically attend class.
Which brings me to some of the other 'features' of an online MBA from The University of Scranton. Virtually all MBA programs require applicants to take the GMAT® (Graduate Management Admission Test®), a measurement of a student's qualifications for advance study and one predictor of academic performance. At The University of Scranton, the application includes a written response to a hypothetical business situation, designed to measure the applicant's writing and problem-solving skills. Based on this response, as well as the balance of the required documents, it is possible that the GMAT® will not be needed. A savings, to the qualified applicant, of at least $250.00 - plus study, prep, and test time. In the life of a business professional, time tends to be at a premium.
As a person who needs to get it done and get it done now, I also appreciate that The University of Scranton's online MBA program can be completed in two years, rather than the three that many part-time programs take. Most people I know have neither the time nor the money to invest in an extraneous year.
Do you? If not, please look at The University of Scranton. I think that you'll be happy with what they have to offer.
When I'm not designing, crocheting, cleaning, or moving, I am a mystery shopper. It's interesting and gets me out of the house once in a while. (Many shops can be done online, which also works well for me.)
A friend recently sent me an email he received, allegedly from Shoppers' Critique. I hadn't seen this one before, although I have heard of Shoppers' Critique. (Message follows; typos are original.)
----- Original Message -----
Subject: 13/7/2009
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:24:42
From: Roland Bliss <baltimoreishe @ gmail.com>
Dear Representative,
You have been selected for an assignment as a Mystery Shopper. You will earn $400 been a mystery shopper. Your employment packet include funds for the shopping, a training assignment which will be send to you after you received payment for the assignment. Paycheck would be sent to you for the assignment by Check or money order. The paycheck would be in a certain amount, you are to deduct your salary,and the rest would be used for the evaluation at the store that would be given to you. Your Employment packet are as follows :
Email me the below details:
Full Name:
Full Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:
Nationality:
Alternative Email Address:
As a mystery shopper you work and shop together for pleasure and the pay is $400 weekly on Part time basis , You only work 2-3hours twice in aweek. Do get back to the recruiting department of Shoppers' Critique International.
N:B - HAVE YOU EVER DONE THIS OFFER FOR ANY COMPANY IF YES/NO..... IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE CHECKING YOUR MAILBOX,JUNK/BULK MAIL AND REPLYING THEM ON A DAILY BASIS FOR MY MESSAGES,THEN YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION.
Your response would be highly appreciated.
Best Regard
Roland Bliss.
Secret Shopper®
As you can see, this message just reeks of scam/ spam/ phishing. From personal experience, I can assure you that Mystery / Secret Shopper organizations do not, ever pay in advance. That would be like giving the local tradesman $500.00 because, at some point, your sink may leak or you may need a room painted. Bad business and rather foolish.
So, with bells and whistles going off in my head, I went looking for Shoppers' Critique online. Amazingly, the first link I noticed - even before connecting to the website - was for a page titled: Scam Alert. Answered my question pretty quickly, didn't they?
I included a link to the Shoppers' Critique alert page, because the information listed there is concise, thorough, and easily applies to any message received from scammers and phishers. The links to reporting agencies are invaluable:
Your local FBI Field Office
www.fbi.gov Go to the site to find local information. (You don't have to have lost money to contact them. Any information you can provide may help stop the scammers and keep someone else from getting taken to the cleaners.)
With moving and the holiday, I've taken some time off the hunt for information on the best fat burners and what's new in the weight-loss universe. Today, I'm looking at some of the ingredients and claims related to a pseudo-Phenteramine product. One ingredient kept me busy for quite a long while; partly, because there was so much information and partly because the information was just so fascinating.
Salvia sclarea: Clary, Clary Sage - Purported, in a review, to increase fat disintegration.
I'm no botanical chemist, but after rather intensive research, I couldn't substantiate this claim or, in fact, any fat-burning properties. (Actually, Clary Sage is most frequently cultivated for perfumery and distilling.) However, I was so impressed by the list of applications that I am inspired to grow my own plants.
Actions & Disorders:
Helps control muscle spasms and, possibly, convulsions.
Diminishes inflammation associated with arthritis, migraines, gingivitis, and similar disorders.
Enhances mood; reduces stress, depression, and anxiety.
Aids digestion, relieves gastrointestinal disorders, and increases appetite; helpful with diarrhea, flatulence, and cramps.
Stimulates estrogen production, lessening menopausal symptoms and menstrual difficulties.
Antiperspirant properties ameliorate night sweats.
Improves blood flow, reducing high blood pressure and related conditions.
Alleviates acne, oily skin and scalp, skin inflammations, and dandruff.
Soothes tired, irritated eyes; the seeds, soaked in water, are commonly used to remove grit from the eyes.
These uses are repeated (in general and specific) from website to website and sources run the gamut from herbalists to plant biologists.
Although there are absolutely no reports of toxicity, Clary Sage is not to be used by pregnant women, possibly due to the estrogen-enhancing properties. Taken with alcohol, Salvia sclarea can induce a narcotic effect and/or enhance drunkenness. In fact, generations ago, Germans added this plant during brewing to enhance the "euphoric qualities" of their beer.
I presume that this ingredient is included in a fat-burner because of the mood-enhancing properties. Since treating loss of appetite is not exactly a standard objective in a weight-loss supplement.
Years ago, I wrote a novel about a woman who inherited a horse ranch from her eccentric uncle. In the process of putting it all together, I did a fair amount of research into ranches and horses. What I didn't research (and should have) is the care of livestock. Horses, cattle, sheep - different species, different needs, different problems.
I mention this because, a few nights ago, I had an idea for another story - about a woman and her daughter, and their collection of animals. This triggered the memory of a baby lamb in my aunt's farmhouse kitchen, next to the stove during one very cold winter. How did my aunt and uncle know how to care for this little creature? What did they feed it? How often? Did it have to have shots? Why wasn't it with the ewe?
Obviously, if I am going to write a story about caring for, in this case, a newborn calf - I need to get educated. So, since I'm really tired of unpacking and putting away, why not start my research?
After a couple of false starts, I found an interesting site that offers cattle suppliesand information about why, when, and how to use them. For example, there is an energy supplement to help calves under stress or when temperatures fall below 32 degrees. (An important thing for me to know, since my stories tend to take place on the chilly Colorado plains.) Then, there are pest-control items, grooming tools, feeders, mineral holders, fencing, and on and on and on. It would be impossible to rely on my memory of family farms from almost 40 years ago, so everything becomes important pieces of the whole. As they are for people with real livestock in real fields and real barns.
I'm glad I found Jeffers Livestock, because I need to know more than just what my characters' animals require. I need to know what supplies cost, how and when to use them, and how to get them from the supplier to the barn. Readers who know are not shy about 'educating' lazy authors!
Obviously, if I am going to write a story about caring for, in this case, a newborn calf - I need to get educated. So, since I'm really tired of unpacking and putting away, why not start my research?
