Recent comments

  • Throwing out your own trash   18 years 37 weeks ago

    It's a great thing to make maintain security for people who have jobs...

    But at some point those jobs have to become obsolete, especially with new technology.

    I'm not saying that Joe or Bill should lose his job to a machine...

    But maybe his efforts would be more valuable to the world if he did something other than pick up others' trash.

    Maybe he could be a carpenter and build things. Maybe he could be a mechanic and fix things.

    Whatever it is, perhaps he could actually -add- value to the world, instead of just picking up the garbage that we clean up for ourselves.

    And it doesn't stop at garbage. If all drone-like jobs become obsolete, in theory, there will be more people, and hence resources, to build an even better world.

    Or we could all just pick up others' trash.

  • How to be charming   18 years 37 weeks ago

    There's a good book back then (in late 90s) by Michael P. Nichols called "The Lost Art Of Listening",
    I know the title sounds cheesy but the content is master, and not like some books that directs people to be somewhat manipulative, this is about helping your effort in changing your attitude for better relationship.

    I think the book still holds true.

  • 9 (and a half!) things to do at work when there's no longer work to do (also good for a boring day at home!)   18 years 37 weeks ago

    I had a job once where everyone, from the boss on down, was looking for jobs and discussing them whenever it was slow. You'd think that would mean it was a bad job, but it was actually the most pleasant place I've ever worked.

  • A year without toilet paper - The Interview   18 years 37 weeks ago

    This looks great! I think I'll spend the day reading back in the archives of his blog.

    Also-- it's easy to forget that most of the world doesn't actually use toilet paper and central AC. They wash with water and cool down with fans.

  • Throwing out your own trash   18 years 37 weeks ago

    Very interesting. I never thought about it this way before.

    My boyfriend's mom refuses to use self-check out registers at the grocery store because of this.

  • A year without toilet paper - The Interview   18 years 37 weeks ago

    Great interview Andrea! It is great to see Colin sticking up for his principles. A lot of negativity probably comes from people feeling guilty about their own wasteful lifestyles. The more successful Colin is with his experiment, the less excuse the rest of us will have for driving two blocks to pick up an Icee from 7-Eleven.

    That's one good looking family, by the way. That photo looks like one of those model families that comes with the frame. If no impact living can make me look as good, I say where do I sign up?

  • Baby Carrots: The Frugal Idea That Isn't   18 years 37 weeks ago

    No, that makes sense. If you're not a fan of the taste, then you're not a fan of the taste. It's good that you still make a point of trying to get all the nutrition you need. I just find it interesting that a lot of people don't know what carrots taste like at all, because they've only ever had baby carrots.

  • Baby Carrots: The Frugal Idea That Isn't   18 years 37 weeks ago

    I know that this may seem weird, but I like baby carrots BECAUSE they don't taste like carrots. I'm really not a big fan of carrots, but I can handle the baby carrots because they taste less carrotty... and while they may not be as good as normal ones nutritional, they're still pretty good for you.

    so there's a positive to the baby carrots, at least for me.

  • Baby Carrots: The Frugal Idea That Isn't   18 years 37 weeks ago

    I had always wondered why they tasted different then regular carrots. I find myself I try and buy the most grotesque carrots I can find. The last time I bought one it was about 3" wide and 8" long, it was awesome.

  • Perfect Peanut Sauce   18 years 37 weeks ago

    The 'thai peanut sauce' is very good, but it's really heavy. I think next time I make it I'll swap the coconut milk and peanut butter proportions. And definitely use light milk. Tasty stuff.

  • Almost 2000 uses for a can of WD-40   18 years 37 weeks ago

    Heres a more condensed version of the above list.
    1.cleans stuff
    2.removes stuff from other stuff

  • A year without toilet paper - The Interview   18 years 37 weeks ago

    I've been following this family's journey very closely, and I think what they are doing is pretty brave. It's easy to see the entire thing as a publicity stunt, but if it was, they probably wouldn't be enjoying many benefits from it. It seems like they are very genuine, and I commend them.

  • 9 (and a half!) things to do at work when there's no longer work to do (also good for a boring day at home!)   18 years 37 weeks ago

    ...you have to know your own corporate culture before you do any of those things. I know people who work in places where keystrokes are logged and certain words are targeted (so if someone searches for "freelance" or "graphic design" too many times, they get flagged). But my own job is low-key--everyone knows that sometimes we're busy, sometimes we're not, and we can do what we like as long as we show up every day and get our work done.

    For freelance jobs, it depends what you want to do. The job boards at Freelance Switch are nice.

  • 9 (and a half!) things to do at work when there's no longer work to do (also good for a boring day at home!)   18 years 37 weeks ago

    This afternoon I was wishing someone would give me suggestions as to what I could do while bored at work. I can't do too much, since my computer's in plain view, but my boss also knows how sometimes the office gets slow, so she's open to blog-reading at least. Thanks. :-)

    I'd heard of Etsy before, but now I'm looking into it as a place to sell my quilts and such, so thanks for that as well!

    -MM

  • 9 (and a half!) things to do at work when there's no longer work to do (also good for a boring day at home!)   18 years 37 weeks ago

    So where are the best places to look for freelance jobs?

  • How to Erase Your Medical Debt   18 years 37 weeks ago

    My insurance has a $5k deductible. I just had minor surgery totaling $4500 and was told by the accounts payable person (who first checked to see if I was eligible for any financial aid) that if I pay in full within 30 days of being billed, if I specifically ask for a "prompt payment" discount I can get 10% off of my bill. She said that they won't tell you this - you just somehow have to know to ask. I doubt all hospitals do this, but if you can pay in full it's worthwhile to find out.

  • 9 (and a half!) things to do at work when there's no longer work to do (also good for a boring day at home!)   18 years 37 weeks ago

    Lots of people look for other jobs while at work. If you get caught, then it's easy enough to come up with excuses (a friend of mine is searching, thought I'd help, etc). I looked while at my last job, and found enough freelance opps out there to strike out on my own entirely.

    I like the idea of completing surveys that can actually pay cash, or inventing something while sitting at your desk. Why not make some extra money?

  • 9 (and a half!) things to do at work when there's no longer work to do (also good for a boring day at home!)   18 years 37 weeks ago
    Eh

    That really depends on the workplace. I look for new jobs all the time at my job, and no one cares. People are pretty open about it - we all know when someone is going for an interview, too.

  • 9 (and a half!) things to do at work when there's no longer work to do (also good for a boring day at home!)   18 years 37 weeks ago

    My cousin tried the job search thing while at work and it cost him his JOB! Never look for a job while on the JOB!

  • Your 401(k) is not an investment   18 years 37 weeks ago

    This was a great article to run across today. I've been doing research into Roth IRAs this week and today I was looking at my options for a 401(k). Thanks for posting it. :-)

    -Mrs. Micah

  • Cure it with Garlic!   18 years 37 weeks ago

    anyone wishing to research garlic further based on scientific studies can access this list:

    http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb140.htm#Category1Herb140

    Over 100 clinical trials, and 20 case studies are mentioned. The results seem to favor garlic, even if only by a marginal amount in some instances.

  • Cure it with Garlic!   18 years 37 weeks ago

    Don't worry, Myscha.. "Guest" comes on Wisebread to discredit our authors quite often. LOL

  • Cure it with Garlic!   18 years 37 weeks ago

    Whether I'm published in a medical journal or not, it doesn't negate the fact that garlic does work for many things. I don't have to keep a log to know that my husband's symptoms clear up within a day or two, or that garlic is a proven antiseptic that is effective against many skin conditions.

    While many of the studies on the benefits of garlic have been inconclusive, there are some very recent ones that have shown positive results:

    "The herb garlic has a long history of use for treating or preventing colds. However, up until 2001, there was no scientific evidence that it actually works for this purpose. A U.S. study reported in that year does provide meaningful preliminary evidence that garlic might possess cold-fighting powers. In this 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 146 people received either placebo or a garlic extract between November and February.

    The results showed that participants receiving garlic were almost two-thirds less likely to catch cold than those receiving placebo. Furthermore, participants who did catch cold recovered about one day faster in the garlic group as compared to the placebo group.

    A study performed in Russia also reported benefits."

    *Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther. 2001;18(4):189–193
    *Andrianova IV, Sobenin IA, Sereda EV, et al. Effect of long-acting garlic tablets "allicor" on the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections in children. Ter Arkh. 2003;75:53-6.

    But I really don't have to go into a long quoting of case studies to share my personal and widely-received findings on garlic's health benefits. Something that has been used for generations by so many world cultures doesn't need a "study" for me to "suggest" to readers. And while your Institute report was interesting reading... the 4 paragraph reference to garlic mentioned just as many positive case studies FOR garlic as it did "inconclusive" ones. With the internet being an easy tool to gain access to "findings", I imagine one could discredit any medical practice in the world as a "myth." The report did find that garlic was not proven effective for high-cholesterol, and only moderately useful as a cancer-prevention tool. But I didn't claim anything about those two afflictions in my article.

    I love the connection you made between eating 3 whole raw garlic cloves and goat sacrifice... it really proves that you are a scientifically-inclined person who can draw comparisons in an intelligent manner.

    Thanks to everyone for their comments. I'm off to finish performing some unscientifically proven rituals now: praying, dancing, and hugging my children! :)

  • Cure it with Garlic!   18 years 37 weeks ago

    Garlic cures ear infections too. Here's how to do it and make garlic oil:
    http://milehimama.blogspot.com/2007/03/garlic-oil.html

  • Europe has the Euro. Are you ready for The Amero?   18 years 37 weeks ago

    Vote Ron Paul for President in 2008. He is OPPOSED to the creation of the NAU, is OPPOSED to anything that would undermine our sovereignty, and would DEFEND the liberty of the people.

    Spread the word.