Thursday, September 11, 2008
Are you one of those people who, when asked how long ago something happened or how long something took, you give a rough estimate that's way off? Or are you chronically late because you're convinced that your morning routine or commute takes 15 minutes when in reality, it takes 25 or 30? Do you cook a dish for 50 minutes rather than 30 (as the recipe instructed) because you "lost track of time"? Some people are better able to judge the passing of time than others, but fortunately, this is an ability that can be developed with the following exercises.
Keep all your clocks as correct as you can make them. Remember to check the ones on your computer, car, and cell phone. When you enter a new environment, check any clocks and note whether or not they match yours. While you are training yourself, wear a watch, or carry a phone or other clock with you at all times. The more accurate your clocks, the better you'll be able to fine-tune your sense of time.
Stabilize your circadian rhythm. Humans have a natural internal clock that regulates biological processes. If this rhythm is disrupted, not only will you have difficulty judging time, but it can also have negative effects on your health and productivity. To keep your circadian rhythm optimized, develop a routine in which you eat, sleep, and expose yourself to natural light at about the same times each day.
Every time you think of it,guess to yourself what time it is. Check a clock or watch. Make a point of correcting yourself. Think or say to yourself something like "I thought it was 10:20, but it's actually 10:34. I was 14 minutes slow." This is your time sense gap.
You can make it a habit to do this every time you encounter a certain landmark or object, such as a stop sign, traffic light, or mirror.
You may want to try guessing the time when you awake, if you do not wake to an alarm.
Whenever you get a chance, check a clock, and make note of the time. Go about your regular life, attempting to guess when it has been one hour. Check a clock on your guess, and make note of your time sense gap. As you get better, vary the time intervals you try to guess.
When you start a task with a defined beginning and end (reading a chapter of a book, driving to a friend's house, taking a shower) guess how long it will take you. When you finish, guess how long it actually took you. Check the time. How far off was your initial guess? How far off was your second guess?
When you start a task that has a specified time frame(like when cooking), set a timer for the upper end of the range given. For example, if you're to cook oatmeal for 3-5 minutes, set a timer for 5 minutes. Assign yourself the task of guessing when 3 or 4 minutes have passed. If you make a mistake, the timer will save you from having burnt oatmeal. But with practice, you'll develop a sense for how long to leave the oatmeal cooking, as many chefs learn to do with various dishes they cook often.
7. Record your progress in a time sense journal. Whenever you observe a time sense gap, write it down. You might notice a pattern, like that you tend to be about 15 minutes slow in the morning, and 30 minutes fast in the afternoon. Or, like most people, time will seem to pass slowly when you're doing something monotonous or boring, and pass quickly when you're keeping busy or having fun. As you continue matching your guesses with reality, your sense of time will noticeably improve.
Some children who grow up in an unstructured household (in which activities are not in any way associated with time) may have difficulty adjusting to school, where many activities are scheduled (like having crayons taken away because coloring time is over, or not finishing a test because time is up). Offering children a sense of time and sequence (like "Finish cleaning your room so you can play with your brother when he gets home at 2:30") can help.[2]
It can help to get a clock or watch which beeps or chimes at each hour. This will help attune your body to the "rhythm" of the day.
If you have access to thermometers during the day, you can use some of these tips to learn to gauge the temperature as well by estimating the temperature before you check the thermometer. If you walk to work, see if your route can take you past a bank thermometer sign, and make your guess just before you get to the sign.
Stimulants (including caffeine) may cause you to overestimate time intervals, while depressants may do the opposite.
Nicotine cravings can cause you to perceive time as passing more slowly than it really is.
People with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or Schizophrenia often struggle with time perception.[5] If you display any other symptoms of these conditions, see a doctor.
In addition, people who have [Multiple Sclerosis] can develop a poor sense of timing.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Concerned about safety and the environment, many women are embracing "natural beauty." Check out these easy ways to start going green.
For most women, the term natural beauty might seem like something of a misnomer. After all, women spend an estimated $200 billion annually on cosmetics--substances that are specially designed to beautify, promote attractiveness, or alter appearance, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That figure hardly sounds like a ringing endorsement for embracing the natural look.
Increasingly, though, concerns about the safety of standard cosmetics and the impact they may have on the environment have prompted consumers to seek out eco-friendly alternatives. In fact, according to the U.S. Market for Natural Personal Care Products, the natural and organic cosmetics market is expected to reach $5.8 billion this year--an average growth rate of about 9 percent a year since 2003.
Want to start going green with your beauty regimen? Follow these eight easy guidelines.
Make it yourself.
One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to go green is to create your own beauty products. And in many cases, you'll find all the ingredients you need right in your own refrigerator or cupboards. For an easy at-home facial mask, combine one tablespoon of yogurt with a teaspoon of honey, apply, and remove after 15 minutes. For a brightening hair rinse, mix one egg with a tablespoon of olive oil and a quarter of peeled cucumber; let sit for 10 minutes, and rinse.
Conserve, conserve, conserve.
It may sound simple, but by making minor changes to your daily beauty regimen, you can conserve natural resources. When showering or washing your hair, be conscious of the amount of water you use, and consider investing in a low-flow showerhead. Instead of using standard incandescent light bulbs when applying your makeup, switch to compact fluorescent bulbs--they use two-thirds less energy and last 10 times longer.
Reuse and recycle.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 2 billion disposable razors wind up in landfills every year. To minimize the impact on the environment, choose a razor that allows you to change the blades (instead of regularly tossing a plastic, non-biodegradable razor into the trash) or better yet, invest in an electric razor. In addition, consider switching to recycled plastic bags for makeup storage and recycled toilet paper for makeup removal.
Don't be cruel.
While many cosmetics companies have adopted cruelty-free policies, there are still brands that regularly test on animals. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the safety testing of chemicals and consumer products currently accounts for about 10 percent to 20 percent of the use of animals in laboratories, or approximately 2 to 4 million animals in the United States. For more information on which brands and products test on animals, visit the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) online.
Learn the language.
Currently, cosmetics companies aren't required to meet any formal standards to use the term natural on their labels. For that reason, many critics claim that the natural-cosmetics market is just a pretty marketing ploy. The term organic, however, is regulated by the USDA's National Organic Program and may only appear on products that conform to manufacturing regulations established by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). For more information on organic standards, visit the NOSB's website.
Beware of parabens.
Most natural beauty gurus urge consumers to watch out for parabens, which some experts believe may disrupt hormone function and contribute to breast cancer. These are most often found in shampoos, shower gels, shaving creams, and lotions, and are usually listed on labels as methylparaben, ethylparaben, p-propylparaben, isobutylparaben, n-butylparaben, or benzylparaben.
Ditch the DBP.
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) has long been a staple in nail polish, hairspray, and sunscreen. But in recent years, studies have linked DBP to cancer in lab animals and to fetal-development problems, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. As such, many brands have started removing DBP from their products. Some cosmetics, however, still contain the ingredient, so be sure to look at the label.
Read the finer print.
In addition to parabens and DBP, there are several controversial ingredients that are prompting some women to think twice about their purchases. Although study findings have been mixed, most consumer advocate groups encourage consumers to research the health effects of aluminum, petroleum, sulfates, nitrates, and propylene glycol. As always, it's best to talk to your doctor about any safety concerns you may have.
Overcoming racism can be difficult, but you have to change your attitude. If you can do that, you're all set.
Think what really makes you different from another race, and in what ways you are alike.
Encourage your family and friends to respect other races.
Make friends with other races; usually when you like someone that's a different race, you will respect that race because you like the person.
Don't shy away from learning about other cultures or races.
Forget stereotypes; everyone is different. Some people do fit the stereotype, but the majority of people are different.
If you meet someone of a different race that you hate, dislike, or don't care for, you don't have to disrespect their race, just disrespect that person (everyone has issues with other people at some point).
Encourage those who make racist comments around you to stop.. that may make them realize how bad it sounds and stop altogether.
Try to not refer another race as "them," "they," or "it."
Avoid using slang terms for other races.
Don't be friends with people that disrespect other races it could make a bad image for you.
Remember this " we all bleed red"
Take Action Against Capital Punishment in Your State
2 comments Posted by Jane at Wednesday, September 10, 2008If you are one of the millions of people in the world who want to try and rid your American state of the cruel and inhumane act of capital punishment, then this article will give you ideas and explanations which may work in your defence. There are no guarentees that these steps will make your state free of this punishment, but if you try your very best, you will most likely get the results you want.
Before you even start your campaign, you need to understand the basic root of the capital punishment. Do your homework, and make sure you know why you are about to take action against this. You need to practically everything, from which crimes can be punishable by death, to the method(s) of capital punishment used in your state.
Have you ever heard the saying "There is no I in team"? In order to make your point get across, you need the most important ingredient - people! Some ways to get people to join you is by an internet petition or a radio broadcast. If using the internet, e-mail the news around to people at work or school. Only humans can get word round about things like this, so make sure you e-mail as many people as is humanly possible!
Find out who it is you need to have your debate with. Arrange an appointment with the people in charge of your state, and do not give up! If they turn you down, keep bugging them! This is all about showing them how much of a strong believer you are and you will not get down and stay there without a fight! If you still cannot talk to anyone, write a letter. Make several copies that you can repeatedly send should no one get back to you.
Now you need to make a speech or conduct your letter. Make it clear what you and your followers want, and that you won't stop until your wishes have been met! Include things like "Two wrongs don't make a right","You can't teach killing is wrong by killing" and "Killing a criminal is the easiest way out for them. Make them live with what they've done. Remind them everyday for the rest of your lives". You could always get someone with an English qualification to write things up for you. Show them a petition to increase your chance of getting what everyone wants!
Once you have written your letter/speech, all you have to do is wait. It may be days, weeks or months. Tell yourself and your team you have tried your best and won't stop until you win!
If your requests are rejected, keep trying. It takes a winner to get up after they've been knocked down.
If all else fails, protest! Say you won't be moved until you and your followers get what was asked for!
