Kids Don’t Have to Ruin Your Marriage

  By admin | May 17, 2012 - 1:53 am | Updates
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If you are one of those people who grew up not sure if you’d ever want kids, and now you find yourself married to the perfect spouse and thinking children might be in your not-so-distant future, you are not alone. If you are worried that having these kids will ruin your marriage, you are not alone, either. While it will take some work, and while it will certainly change your life, having a baby doesn’t have to ruin your marriage. You just have to get a little creative about how you think of spending time together, and you have to make the most of the time you have.

After Bedtime

Remember when you were a little kid and you used to complain about having to go to bed earlier than all of the adults? There was a reason your mom and dad made you go to sleep earlier than they did. They use the after-bedtime hours as adult time. This is the time for moms and dads to watch what they want on television, or to watch a movie not suitable for children. You might be exhausted when you put your kids to sleep, but enforcing a strict bedtime is good for the child and the parents. It gives the child a sense of routine, and a good night’s sleep, while it gives the parents some quality time together in the comfort of their own home.

Hire a Babysitter

Some parents may be wary of hiring a babysitter who is not a family member, but sometimes it is necessary if you ever want to get out of the house with just the two of you. Find someone you trust by asking a trusted neighbor or by consulting online babysitting and nanny searches. These internet babysitting profiles often run background checks and allow you to interview people before hiring them, which can put your mind at ease. Hiring a babysitter can really add up, though, from a cost standpoint. If hiring a babysitter is too expensive, see if you can trade off nights with the parents of your child’s friends. You take all the kids for a night one week, and then the next week, the other parents take their turn. This can be beneficial for everyone involved, because it allows you to spend less money while still being able to have someone you trust watch your kids, and your kids get to play with their friends every week.

Schedule Date Night

Those mommy calendars are no joke. When you have little kids running around, you need to schedule every minute of every day. Before kids, you probably had spontaneous date nights all of the time, but after kids, this can be much harder than it used to be. There is no shame in scheduling a date night. Put it on the calendar, and make sure everyone knows that you and your spouse are going out of town for a night, or maybe just dinner. It doesn’t matter what you do; what matters is that you do it alone.

Family Cuddle Time

While it’s definitely not the same as spending time alone, having quality family time every night is important for everyone. When you spend time with your kids, talking to them and sharing stories about your days and being excited about each others projects, this can foster a sense of companionship among the family. Even if you don’t feel like talking one day, pick a favorite movie or television show and cuddle up each other with a great blanket. You’ll feel great having spent quality time together with your family.


Buzzle: Children & Family

Ron Paul to Stop Campaigning in States Yet to Vote

  By admin | May 15, 2012 - 6:17 pm | Updates
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Ron Paul’s bid for the GOP presidential nomination has entered a new, scaled back phase that may signal the practical end of his campaign. In a letter to his supporters, Paul explained the position of his campaign moving forward: “Our campaign will continue to work in the state convention process. We will continue to take leadership positions, win delegates, and carry a strong message to the Republican National Convention that Liberty is the way of the future. Moving forward, however, we will no longer spend resources campaigning in primaries in states that have not yet voted. Doing so with any hope of success would take many tens of millions of dollars we simply do not have.”

The letter is entirely consistent with Paul’s larger message of fiscal responsibility. Rather than continuing to spend the campaign funds provided by his supporters on contests that he doesn’t deem winnable, Paul is choosing to focus on continuing his campaign without the massive overhead of direct campaign spending. The chances of Paul actually winning the GOP nomination are as remote now as they were a few months ago.

The reality is that the GOP nomination is going to Mitt Romney and the Vice Presidential running mate that he selects. Paul’s role at this point will be to force an acknowledgement of his message by the GOP establishment, and perhaps from the Romney campaign as it tries to mount a challenge to President Barack Obama’s bid for re-election.

Ironically, it will probably not be until after the upcoming election that people start to understand exactly what Ron Paul was trying to tell them for the better part of the last year. By then it won’t really matter, of course, but Paul’s message may be even more important in 2013 than it is in 2012.


Buzzle: Breaking News & Reports

Mad Men Creator Paid $250,000 to Use Beatles Song

  By admin | May 14, 2012 - 10:39 am | Updates
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The closing scene from the most recent episode of “Mad Men,” the show chronicling the massive social change that occurred in the U.S. during the decade of the 1960s, featured main character Don Draper relaxing after a day of work with a rye whiskey in hand and the Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows” playing on the record player. How much meaning the scene was supposed to convey is unknown to all but the show’s creator, Matthew Weiner, but from all appearances, Draper is coming to grips with the social change grudgingly and with no small amount of confusion. It’s not entirely clear that he doesn’t quite “get” the song, but the trippy sounds of the track is definitely a change of pace for the raised-in-the-depression, buttoned-down Draper.

Perhaps more interesting is that Weiner paid the hefty sum of $ 250,000 for the rights to use the song in the episode, an incredible sum by any measure, but especially for a non-network television show. Weiner, however, had no complaints, indicating that the song was integral to the theme of the episode. Noted Weiner, “It was always my feeling that the show lacked a certain authenticity because we never could have an actual master recording of the Beatles performing. Not just someone singing their song or a version of their song, but them, doing a song in the show. It always felt to me like a flaw. Because they are the band, probably, of the 20th century.”

Prior to getting approval, Weiner had to share details of the episode with Apple Corps, which owns the rights to the band’s music. Noted Weiner, “It was hard because I had to, writing-wise, commit to the story that I thought was worthy of this incredible opportunity. The thing about that song in particular was, the Beatles are, throughout their intense existence, constantly pushing the envelope, and I really wanted to show how far ahead of the culture they were. That song to me is revolutionary, as is that album.”


Buzzle: Entertainment & Media

Orangutans Use iPads to Communicate at Miami Zoo

  By admin | May 13, 2012 - 2:49 am | Updates
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Miami’s Jungle Island presents a unique glimpse into the intelligence of orangutans. But rather than evidence of the animals communicating with signs and body language, in this instance the orangutans are communicating with iPads. The park in Miami is just one of several zoos experimenting with the use of such technology to better understand the reasoning, logic and communications skills of the animals. The hope is that the program will allow a greater understanding of the gap between humans and endangered apes.

Linda Jacobs oversees the program in Florida and notes, “Our young ones pick up on it. They understand it. It’s like, ‘Oh I get this.’ Our two older ones, they just are not interested. I think they just figure, ‘I’ve gotten along just fine in this world without this communication-skill here and the iPad, and I don’t need a computer.’” If that sounds a lot like humans’ take on computers – based on age – well, that’s because it is kind of similar.

In Jungle Island, keepers have already been communicating with the orangutans by sign language for a long time, so this is merely the evolution of communication between animals and humans. Noted Jacobs, “We’re able to really monitor their health on a daily basis. We can do daily checks. If somebody’s not feeling well, we know it immediately.” Jacobs would ultimately like the animals to be able to communicate with humans not versed in sign language. She says, “It would just be such a wonderful bridge to have. So that other people could really appreciate them.”


Buzzle: Breaking News & Reports

How to Dispose of Smoke Detectors

  By admin | May 11, 2012 - 7:10 pm | Updates
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Smoke detectors are those gadgets which never get any attention unless … well, we’re all aware of the exact moments when they make their otherwise oblivious presence felt with their characteristic beeps. Funnily enough, when asked about our favorite inventions, we never think twice about naming our cell phones, tabs or computers, and remain blissfully unmindful of the one little thing that is undoubtedly the most useful.

Reportedly, around two-thirds of the deaths resulting from household fires have occurred in homes without a working smoke alarm; so, one can never underestimate the importance of a functional smoke detector. Smoke detectors may be doing the priceless job of alerting us when there’s a fire at home; but, seriously, how many of us pay attention to maintaining it or even checking it? Besides the annual or biannual battery change ritual, not many are aware that we need to replace our smoke detectors every eight to ten years. And, when it is time to replace them, we can’t just throw the old ones into the trash as they contain hazardous material.

Smoke alarms usually come in two variations, ionization and photoelectric, each being differently capable of detecting smoke. These days, we have alarms with dual sensors that incorporate both technologies to maximize the effectiveness. Smoke detectors mostly contain alkaline or lithium batteries and electronic circuit boards, which need to be recycled appropriately, whereas ionization alarms contain traces of the radioactive element, Americium-241. What it does is that it releases particles that are instrumental in detecting smoke in the area. It is present in a compartment within the plastic casing, so it can cause no harm when it is installed in homes; however, safety measures must be followed while disposing it. Disposal of smoke detectors should be done carefully to prevent radioactive material from polluting our landfills.

Household Smoke Detectors: Points to Remember

»

According to the Fire Protection Agency rules, smoke detectors are potential health hazards if they are not disposed off carefully.

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By law, manufacturing companies are supposed to label their products with warnings regarding their hazardous nature due to the presence of radioactive material. This is to make users aware that they should be disposed only at a nuclear waste disposal center.

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Another option is to return the device to the manufacturer, who would then responsibly recycle or dispose it. Extreme caution should be taken while returning a smoke alarm to the manufacturer.

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While returning it, do not open the device or fidget with its components. Wrap it in paper or bubble wrap, place it in a box and seal it before dispatching.

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In case the unit cannot be returned to the manufacturer, you can give it to a Household Waste Facility in your town.

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State laws regarding disposal of smoke alarms vary, so update yourself about the rules in yours.

Disposing Smoke Detectors With Radioactive Material

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The first step is to take the smoke detector apart as different components need to be disposed separately. Ensure that you are wearing protective rubber gloves before you begin.

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You must remove the batteries from the device and recycle them as per your regional laws.

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The plastic casing needs to be removed now. You can recycle this as regular plastic.

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The remaining contents should be wrapped and then sealed into a box. Never try to compress the unit or crush it.

»

Make sure to return it by UPS ground mail only. You are strictly recommended against sending it by airmail.

For some, this entire exercise may seem like a troublesome chore, but you must remember that it needs to be done after long intervals. The humble old smoke detector is the appliance that works nonstop to ensure that our homes remain protected from being ravaged in fires. Maintaining a device that does so much for our well-being shouldn’t require a lot of encouragement, should it?


Buzzle: Home & Lifestyle

‘Dark Shadows’: The Birth Of The Modern TV Vampire

  By admin | May 10, 2012 - 11:22 am | Updates
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Audio for this story from Morning Edition will be available at approx. 9:00 a.m. ET

May 10, 2012

In the influential Dark Shadows, a 1960s ABC soap opera with a gothic and supernatural bent, Jonathan Frid played Barnabas Collins, a vampire who returned to claim his coastal Maine manor.
Dan Curtis Productions/The Kobal Collection

In the influential Dark Shadows, a 1960s ABC soap opera with a gothic and supernatural bent, Jonathan Frid played Barnabas Collins, a vampire who returned to claim his coastal Maine manor.

When it comes to monsters on television, vampires have the market more or less cornered. Think about it: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries …

Vampires’ enduring popularity on TV may not be eternal, but they have been appearing on the small screen for decades. Mark Dawidziak, who’s written books about vampires and teaches a class at Kent State University on their appearances in film and TV, says that part of the way vampires have remained a force in popular culture is through their evolution on TV.

“The great innovations, as far as vampire characters go,” Dawidziak says, “always have come from either the printed page or television. Television has contributed as much if not more than movies ever have.”

Let’s do a little TV vampire-hunting through the decades. They’ve been in comedies like The Munsters, on Sesame Street, and of course sexy nighttime dramas like True Blood. But before any of those, there was Dark Shadows.

In the new film adaptation of Dark Shadows, Johnny Depp plays Barnabas. Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, wrote the screenplay for the movie and says the idea of living forever as a vampire continues to fascinate.
Enlarge Warner Brothers Pictures

In the new film adaptation of Dark Shadows, Johnny Depp plays Barnabas. Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, wrote the screenplay for the movie and says the idea of living forever as a vampire continues to fascinate.

In the new film adaptation of Dark Shadows, Johnny Depp plays Barnabas. Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, wrote the screenplay for the movie and says the idea of living forever as a vampire continues to fascinate.

Warner Brothers Pictures

In the new film adaptation of Dark Shadows, Johnny Depp plays Barnabas. Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, wrote the screenplay for the movie and says the idea of living forever as a vampire continues to fascinate.

Eerie theremin music, the dulcet tones of Victoria Winters, along with crashing waves on a rocky coastline, marked the beginning of Dark Shadows, the gothic soap opera that ran every weekday afternoon on ABC from 1966 to 1971, for a grand total of 1,225 episodes. But if you watch any of the first 200 installments, you won’t see vampires.

The show was set at Collinwood, a creepy old mansion on the Maine coast that was home to the wealthy Collins family. While the show had supernatural elements from the start, they were mostly suggested, not seen.

“And the show was going down the tubes,” according to Dan Curtis, the late creator of the series. In a commentary on a special-edition DVD, Curtis says that ABC was ready to cancel the series. Curtis’ kids told him, “At least make it scary.”

So he — and the special-effects shop — introduced a ghost you could see.

“From that moment, the ratings started to climb,” Curtis said. “And they got higher and higher the crazier we got.”

So Curtis added more ghosts — and then a vampire.

Wearing a cape, and stiff as a board, Barnabas Collins arrived on the scene to claim his former ancestral home as his own. He was played by the late Jonathan Frid, who wasn’t really a pretty boy like today’s TV vampires.

“But housewives, college girls, everybody just fell in love with him,” says Kathryn Leigh Scott, who played Maggie Evans on the show. “You can’t imagine the mail he got — some of it pretty erotic.”

Jonathan Frid’s Barnabas was so popular, in fact, that the show’s producers couldn’t drive a stake through his heart at the end of his 90-day contract as originally planned. Instead, he became the star of Dark Shadows.

“The genius of the Barnabas Collins character,” Dawidziak says, “was that Barnabas is the first vampire who questions his own nature. Barnabas said, ‘Do I have to be like this?’ “

Ian Somerhalder plays the charming and dangerous Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, a gothic soap opera that shares some similarities with Dark Shadows.
Enlarge Quantrell D.Colbert/The CW

Ian Somerhalder plays the charming and dangerous Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, a gothic soap opera that shares some similarities with Dark Shadows.

Ian Somerhalder plays the charming and dangerous Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, a gothic soap opera that shares some similarities with Dark Shadows.

Quantrell D.Colbert/The CW

Ian Somerhalder plays the charming and dangerous Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, a gothic soap opera that shares some similarities with Dark Shadows.

By giving Barnabas a conscience — and relationships — Dark Shadows opened up all kinds of possibilities for vampies, says Dawidziak.

“And this,” Dawidziak says, “is where the vampire is going to become increasingly humanized, sexualized, sensualized. They’re going to become younger. They’re going to become more vital.”

More than four decades later, just about every vampire on TV still owes a debt to Dark Shadows, right down to The Vampire Diaries on The CW. The show is also a gothic soap opera — but with two big differences: significantly better production values; and its vampires are mostly teenagers.

The show’s co-creator Julie Plec says the coming-of-age idea is something they got from another TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon.

“Joss Whedon sort of gets the super gold star for the high-school-is-hell allegory,” Plec says. “And that was the beauty of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. … This idea that the worst thing that happens is you finally give up your virginity to your one true love, and the next day he turns into an evil, murderous vampire.”

But all of these contemporary vampires wouldn’t exist without Frid’s Barnabas Collins, says Kathryn Leigh Scott.

“I think they all emanate from him. He’s the granddaddy of all of them,” she says.

Frid died in April, but he and Scott and other actors from the Dark Shadows TV show have cameos in the new movie. Johnny Depp — who was a fan of the original — plays Barnabas Collins. And like the original, his Barnabas apologizes before sucking people’s blood.


Arts & Life

Healthy Fast Food Drinks

  By admin | May 9, 2012 - 3:35 am | Updates
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Who said that all fast foods are unhealthy? Take a look at these temptingly delicious fast food drinks, which are a healthier option, too.

Gone are those days when fast food was considered to be junk; all thanks to fast food owners who are catering to the diet-conscious. You can now enjoy a cup of your favorite drink without having to worry about piling on pounds with these relatively healthier drinks. Get ready to grab a lip-smacking, refreshing, healthy drink, while you are out there, on the go.
Espresso PICK YOUR FAST FOOD DRINK … Yogurt Blend

Espresso

Considered to be the best drink ever, the espresso is packed with just about 75 milligrams of caffeine per cup. It gives the needed kick to jolt you up. We are not talking of every other espresso by the way; we are talking of an exclusive Starbucks espresso. It’s a better option than a cup of Joe, which means, you would be consuming lesser calories. Team it with fat-free/low-fat milk and you have a healthier option.

 Iced Latte

Probiotic Yogurt Blends

Fruits and yogurt make a great combination when blended together, and it’s healthy too. Made with soy milk, probiotic yogurt and whole fruit, it makes a ‘berry berry’ good option for health-conscious people.

Filled with the goodness of berries and downed with the much-essential dose of proteins, calcium and iron, Jamba probiotic fruit and yogurt blend boasts of packing in just about 230 calories.
Nonfat Latte

Iced Latte

On a hot summer’s days, you decide to grab an iced latte; and what if the latte you order is made with nonfat milk and consists of 0 grams of fat? Now that’s what we call a healthy option indeed!

Einstein Bros. Bagels medium iced latte will give you a much-needed refreshment at just about 60 calories and 7 grams of protein.

 Green Tea

Nonfat Latte

What will you do for a no fat, protein frothing drink? Nothing; just head to your nearest McDonald’s and ask for the Nonfat Latte.

This healthy concoction of coffee and milk offers you the added benefits of proteins with just about 90 calories. The nonfat latte is a healthy breakfast option that is available.

 Mocha Cream

Green Tea

Now, who wouldn’t want a cup of flavonoids and antioxidants that will improve the overall mental and physical health and de-stress you as well?

Kick-start your day by heading to Dunking Donuts and opting for this drink, thus reaping its benefits. The best part is that it contains absolutely no calories!
Smoothie

Mocha Cream

Tempting enough to down it in one go, the mocha cream concoction is an absolute must-have to curb those odd snacky urges that you have. The one at The Coffee Beanery is laced with orange and vanilla. Although topped with a huge dollop of whipped cream with chocolate shavings, it will punch in just about 120 calories and 6 grams of fat; besides, it’s decanted coffee that we are talking about.

 Lemonade

Berry Smoothie

Head to your nearest McDonald’s outlet and ask for the McSmoothie or berry smoothie. You would be delighted to know that the berry yogurt smoothie contains just about 210 calories and less than 0.5 grams of fat, making it a relatively healthy option to go in for.

 Iced Tea

Lemonade

Why shouldn’t this summer drink feature here when we have all the reasons it should? A glass of lemonade contains a healthy dose of vitamin C and 3 grams of sugar; besides, having 25 calories. The Chick-fil-A’s diet lemonade has no calorie sweetener and is low on sodium.
Skimmed Milk

Iced Tea

Think healthy, and here’s a good news! Iced tea is a healthier option too. Okay, we aren’t talking of sweetened ice tea, we are talking specifically of Sonic’s ice tea which is absolutely natural, unsweetened, and is refreshing; besides, it contains only five calories.

 Iced Coffee

Fat-free Milk

Another option for you would be to down your spicy burger, or a pack of potato fries with a glass of skimmed/fat-free milk. Your body will thank you for a healthy dose of potassium sans the extra fat. The fat-free milk from Burger King contains just about 100 calories in a 7.8 fl. oz bottle.

Iced Coffee

A frothy cup of delight for those who like their coffee black and cold. Besides making coffee appealing, it’s also a great summer drink. It contains 57 calories and just about 1 g fat. Ask for the Greek iced coffee at Starbucks for this goody treat; besides, you can even make it yourself.

And finally, the best among the best; a glass full of crystal-clear water. Have it in whichever way you want and from wherever you want. It contains 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, and is a healthy option. Need anymore evidence for gulping down a huge serving of it? Writing about the healthy fast food drinks has made me thirsty too! Guess I’ll just pop into the nearest McDonald’s outlet and get my cup to quench my thirst. Till then, adios my friends.


Buzzle: Food & Drink

How to Detect Microexpressions

  By admin | May 7, 2012 - 8:10 pm | Updates
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Imagine how people would look without a slight smile lighting up their face or the frown that lets you know they are disappointed. What if we weren’t able to let our eyes twinkle in recognition of the one we loved, or laugh out loud to our heart’s content at the petty surprises of life? The picture that comes in front of my eyes just describing this is a cardboard face devoid of any sort of emotions, drained out of life forever. Would you like it this way? Nah! At least I wouldn’t want to have a blank expression on my face 24/7.

I, personally enjoy looking at the different expressions around me; the smiles, the tears, expressions of satisfaction, of excitement, relief and sometimes of guilt. Just observing people in their most human form is enough to jolt me to a state of absolute awakening, especially when my day itself is gloomy.

In our day-to-day life, we try to camouflage our emotions with words. However, there’s a truth in the eyes only a few can see, the words that they speak are silent glimpses to the true emotions we hide. These emotions are nothing but reactions to situations and no matter how hard you try to hide, you will never succeed in hiding these microexpressions.

*Click on the images for a better view.

What are Microexpressions

Expressions that last for less than 1/25th of a second are termed as microexpressions. They are described as brief involuntary emotions experienced by an individual when placed in a ‘do-or-die’ situation. In other words, microexpressions are observed for a minuscule moment on the face of an individual in extreme situations. Apart from the basic emotions like sadness, joy, dread, surprise, disgust, anger, disdain, microexpressions include emotions like delight, embarrassment, exhilaration, guilt, pride, contentment, shame and relief.

AngerDisgustPrideFrustrationExcitementSadnessJoySurprise

Types of Microexpressions

If only one spared a moment to think about the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words”, they would see the truth behind it. Just like a flash of lightning lighting up the sky, a flash of emotion can determine the mood and emotion of the person. Besides, research has shown that about 90% of our communication revolves around non-verbal communication. Microexpressions are classified into three broad categories namely:

Simulated ExpressionSimulated Expression

Facial expressions that are devoid of genuine emotions are termed as simulated expressions. By simulation, we understand that the emotions expressed are forced and not real/genuine. Microexpressions of a forced smile especially to pose for a picture, etc., come under this category.

Neutralized ExpressionNeutralized Expression

The individual prefers to have a bland look on the face rather that portraying any sort of emotion on the face. The real emotions are counterbalanced or suppressed in this type of microexpression. A typical bored face sans expression would fit into this category.

Masked ExpressionMasked Expression

Just like a clown, who has his face plastered with a permanent smile, this type of microexpression is about absolute masking of emotions. This type of expression leaves no scope to portray the actual expressions.

Detecting Microexpressions

Being able to distinguish the truth from the lie is a herculean task and should we say that it takes a lot of practice. As microexpressions last for a fraction of a second, constantly observing them can be a strenuous task. However, the task is not reserved for professionals alone; just about anyone who has a roving eye can catch and detect these microexpressions. The only thing you need to remember is that every time you have a conversation with anyone, keenly observe the person’s face. Ensure you do not appear to be glaring at the person you are observing. You can understand the real feelings of the person with these simple steps.
» A Smile Can do Wonders
A genuine smile is reflected in the eyes of the individual. In case, the smile does not fill up your subject’s eyes, you should immediately understand that they are lying or hiding something from you. Notice the ‘crow-feet’ at the edge of the eyes; that’s where the secret lies!
» Focus on the Window to the Soul
Maintaining eye contact with your subject is very important and this you have been told many a time in the past, but you duly ignored it. The eyes are a sure bet on whether a person is lying or hiding something from you; well, the eyes are not simply called the windows to the soul. Notice the way the eyes move when the subject talks to you. When the person is lying/sad and is trying to hide this emotion from you, his/her eyeballs will constantly move from one corner to the other.
» Ah! The Wrath of the Gods!
How do you understand if you have angered someone? Observe the lips of the person in front of you; if something angers them, it will show with narrowing of the lips into a thin line. Besides, there will be a flash of intense glare in the eye, which will tell you to tread cautiously.
» Twitch twitch!
The slightest twitch should be your giveaway. To catch that microexpression, go with your instincts open; you will observe that twitch in the eye, in the lips and you know something’s amiss.

FrustrationBoredSadDesperationHappyDisappointmentContentmentMischievous

The only way to catch those microexpressions is to keep your eyes wide open. Besides, knowing how to read microexpressions will help you know if someone is lying to you. By the way, do not stop practicing your skills of micro-observing people around you; after all, practice will make you an expert ‘lie detector’ at least. Here’s where I sign off and get back to my favorite pastime of observing the people around me and leaving you to pursue it too.


Buzzle: Home & Lifestyle

Goodreads

  By admin | May 6, 2012 - 12:23 pm | Updates
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Goodreads.com is a website for book lovers everywhere. If you love to read, and if you love social networking, you should check out Goodreads. The website marries social networking and books in such a way that makes your friends’ reading progress easy to follow and makes it simpler than ever to find your next reading material.

What is Goodreads?

Goodreads is a social network for readers. Like Facebook or Twitter, it allows you to update statuses and share information. Unlike most popular social networks, Goodreads also allows you to show your friends your progress on the book you are reading and to write reviews for everything you’ve ever read. You can see and comment on your friends’ reading progress, as well as create or find a book club group page in your area.

How do you use Goodreads?

Goodreads is simple and intuitive to use. When you sign up for an account, you will be able to find your friends by their email addresses or other social network accounts. Once you have some friends, every time you log in, you will see a timeline of their updates. You can see when they’ve added a book to a list, or when they’ve finished or reviewed a book. As soon as you have an account, you can also start looking for books you’ve read or that you want to read and add them to your lists. Once you finish reading a book, you can go to the book page and review it by giving it any number out of five stars. If you wish to write a longer review, you can do that, too.

Finding Books

If you have ever finished a book and needed a recommendation for what to read next, Goodreads has the answer. Finding your next book has never been easier. Now, not only can you search for individual books you know you want to read and add them to your “to read” list, but you can also easily see what your friends have recently read. When you search through friends’ reviews, you can also see who liked what books, making your selection process even easier. Adding books to your “to read” list can help you keep track of what you want to read next, and seeing what books your friends enjoyed – or didn’t enjoy – can help you populate your list of books to read next.

Goodreads on the Go

Like all good social networks, Goodreads has apps for mobile phones and ways to connect to your other social networks. You can get Goodreads for iPhone and Android by downloading them from the App Store or Android Market. You can also connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts so all of your networks know what you’re reading. Furthermore, you can connect your Amazon Kindle to automatically update your progress on your e-books. Last but not least, you can set up Goodreads to auto-publish book reviews to your WordPress or Blogger blog. Sharing your favorite books has never been easier.

Book Clubs

If you are looking for a book club that meets in your area, or one that meets virtually, you can search for that on Goodreads, too. Similarly, if you want to create a web space for your own book club, you can do that easily; just start a new group on Goodreads and update the page to show what books you’re reading. You can also create events to easily share with members where and when book club meetings and author readings are taking place.


Buzzle: Arts & Literature

Surprising Uses of Everyday Foods

  By admin | May 5, 2012 - 4:48 am | Updates
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Food is necessary to fuel our bodies, but sometimes we buy too much of it at the grocery store. When your produce starts to go bad, or when you’ve kept those spices around for just a bit too long, or when you thought you’d make a recipe out of all of those ingredients but just didn’t get around to it, there are many other ways you can still use your food instead of throwing it away. Surprisingly, it doesn’t involve eating it either.

Fruits

Before throwing away old banana peels, use them to shine up metals and leathers that you have. Rub the peel against the surface and then polish it with an old cloth. Banana meat is also good for reducing wrinkles. Dab a bit on those trouble spots, let it sit for a while, and then wash it off, and your wrinkles will disappear. Lemons are great to lighten skin and hair. If you have troublesome acne scars, dab a bit of fresh lemon juice on them and leave it overnight. You’ll notice a difference in the morning. Apple slices will help ripen tomatoes quickly when the two fruits are placed together in a paper bag, and orange peels are great fire starters for your next backyard fire pit party.

Vegetables

A slice of cold potato over your eyes can reduce puffiness and redness on your eyelids. Sit with the potato over your eyes as you would with slices of cucumber in a spa. Garlic removes splinters with ease. If you rub garlic over a splinter, it will come right out.

Oils and Condiments

Mustard can make you feel a lot better if you are suffering from a cold. If you use it like a vapor rub and apply it to your chest under a wet towel, you’ll feel better in no time at all. Butter can help you untangle all of those knotted necklaces that are in the back of your jewelry drawer. Just slather some on, watch the necklaces slip apart, and rinse them off. That high-calorie mayonnaise in your fridge that you are trying not to eat because it will ruin your diet is great for getting crayon off of the walls. The next time your kids draw all over, don’t worry. Slather some mayo on there and wipe it all away. Olive oil is a great product for your skin, as well as to quieten creaky hinges. If your dog or cat brings home fleas, using salt is a great way to get rid of them around the house. Just pour salt into the vacuum cleaner and around the baseboards. Let it sit, then vacuum the salt up. The salt dehydrates the fleas and kills them. Be sure to throw away the vacuum bag or empty the vacuum bin immediately, or some of the fleas can crawl back out.

Beverages

Everyone knows the trick of using club soda to get dark stains out of the carpet. But did you know it also works to get pet urine out of the carpet too! Beer is a great hair lightener. If you are out of lemons, try soaking your hair in beer before going outside. Just don’t forget to wash it out afterwards. That old 2-liter bottle of pop will work wonders if you need to clear out a clogged drain. Just pour it down the drain and watch the fizzes do their job of breaking up the gunk. Milk is great for stain removal, especially if your stain is some type of ink. Just soak some into the stain and watch it loosen up.

As you can see, there are so many other uses everyday foods have around the house. So next time, before tossing any food away thinking it is of no use, stop for a moment and think about all their uses mentioned here.


Buzzle: Food & Drink