Modern ways to control water:
Wind farm in the middle of the ocean:
Fantasy road that exists part of the time - Arctic highway:
For More Information Please Visit: http://www.shock4all.com
A few Miracles of the 21st century
Ref: http://www.shock4all.com/2008/11/few-miracles-of-21st-century.html
Modern ways to control water:
Wind farm in the middle of the ocean:
Fantasy road that exists part of the time - Arctic highway:
For More Information Please Visit: http://www.shock4all.com
Modern ways to control water:
Wind farm in the middle of the ocean:
Fantasy road that exists part of the time - Arctic highway:
For More Information Please Visit: http://www.shock4all.com
10 simple steps to release stress
Ref: http://www.wikihow.com
1. Figure out why you are stressed.
2. Find a quiet place to relax.
3. Find relaxing music that relieves your stress.
4. Find other items that make you happy like cards, pictures, your old dolls, toys, or letters.
5. Get a small box with a lid.
6. Put your items in your box.
7. (optional) decorate the box.
8. Put the box in your room.
9. Take it with you when you go some where.
10. If you become stressed, get the box and sit in your car or a quiet room.
1. Figure out why you are stressed.
2. Find a quiet place to relax.
3. Find relaxing music that relieves your stress.
4. Find other items that make you happy like cards, pictures, your old dolls, toys, or letters.
5. Get a small box with a lid.
6. Put your items in your box.
7. (optional) decorate the box.
8. Put the box in your room.
9. Take it with you when you go some where.
10. If you become stressed, get the box and sit in your car or a quiet room.
How Solar Water Heater Works
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_hot_water
Solar hot water is water heated by the use of solar energy.
Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage. The system may use electricity for pumping the fluid, and have a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use. The systems may be used to heat water for a wide variety of uses, including home, business and industrial uses. Heating swimming pools, underfloor heating or energy input for space heating or cooling are more specific examples.
In many climates, a solar heating system can provide up to 85% of domestic hot water energy. This can include domestic non-electric concentrating solar thermal systems. In many northern European countries, combined hot water and space heating systems (solar combisystems) are used to provide 15 to 25% of home heating energy.
In the southern regions of Africa like Zimbabwe, solar water heaters have been gaining popularity, thanks to the Austrian and other EU-funded projects that are promoting more environmentally friendly water heating solutions.
Residential solar thermal installations can be subdivided into two kinds of systems: compact and pumped systems. Both typically include an auxiliary energy source (electric heating element or connection to a gas or fuel oil central heating system) that is activated when the water in the tank falls below a minimum temperature setting such as 50 °C. Hence, hot water is always available. The combination of solar hot water heating and using the back-up heat from a wood stove chimney to heat water can enable a hot water system to work all year round in cooler climates without the supplemental heat requirement of a solar hot water system being met with fossil fuels or electricity.
Among pumped options, there is an important distinction to be made regarding the sustainability of the design of the system. This relates to what source of energy powers the pump and its controls. The type of pumped solar thermal systems which use mains electricity to pump the fluid through the panels are called low carbon solar because the pumping negates the carbon savings of the solar by about 20%, according to data in a report called "Side by side testing of eight solar water heatings" by DTI UK. However, zero-carbon pumped solar thermal systems use solar electricity which is generated onsite using photovoltaics to pump the fluid and to operate its control electronics. This represents a zero operational carbon footprint and is becoming an important design goal for innovative solar thermal systems.
Solar hot water is water heated by the use of solar energy.
Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage. The system may use electricity for pumping the fluid, and have a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use. The systems may be used to heat water for a wide variety of uses, including home, business and industrial uses. Heating swimming pools, underfloor heating or energy input for space heating or cooling are more specific examples.
In many climates, a solar heating system can provide up to 85% of domestic hot water energy. This can include domestic non-electric concentrating solar thermal systems. In many northern European countries, combined hot water and space heating systems (solar combisystems) are used to provide 15 to 25% of home heating energy.
In the southern regions of Africa like Zimbabwe, solar water heaters have been gaining popularity, thanks to the Austrian and other EU-funded projects that are promoting more environmentally friendly water heating solutions.
Residential solar thermal installations can be subdivided into two kinds of systems: compact and pumped systems. Both typically include an auxiliary energy source (electric heating element or connection to a gas or fuel oil central heating system) that is activated when the water in the tank falls below a minimum temperature setting such as 50 °C. Hence, hot water is always available. The combination of solar hot water heating and using the back-up heat from a wood stove chimney to heat water can enable a hot water system to work all year round in cooler climates without the supplemental heat requirement of a solar hot water system being met with fossil fuels or electricity.
Among pumped options, there is an important distinction to be made regarding the sustainability of the design of the system. This relates to what source of energy powers the pump and its controls. The type of pumped solar thermal systems which use mains electricity to pump the fluid through the panels are called low carbon solar because the pumping negates the carbon savings of the solar by about 20%, according to data in a report called "Side by side testing of eight solar water heatings" by DTI UK. However, zero-carbon pumped solar thermal systems use solar electricity which is generated onsite using photovoltaics to pump the fluid and to operate its control electronics. This represents a zero operational carbon footprint and is becoming an important design goal for innovative solar thermal systems.
50 Interesting Facts
Ref: http://www.hemmy.net/2006/04/30/50-interesting-facts/
1. If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.
2. If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. For when a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.
3. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
4. Your tongue is germ free only if it is pink. If it is white there is a thin film of bacteria on it.
5. The Mercedes-Benz motto is “Das Beste oder Nichts” meaning “the best or nothing”.
6. The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal.
7. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing.
8. The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep a night.
9. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.
10. The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.
11. Dalmatians are born without spots.
12. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
13. The ‘v’ in the name of a court case does not stand for ‘versus’, but for ‘and’ (in civil proceedings) or ‘against’ (in criminal proceedings).
14. Men’s shirts have the buttons on the right, but women’s shirts have the buttons on the left.
15. The owl is the only bird to drop its upper eyelid to wink. All other birds raise their lower eyelids.
16. The reason honey is so easy to digest is that it’s already been digested by a bee.
17. Roosters cannot crow if they cannot extend their necks.
18. The color blue has a calming effect. It causes the brain to release calming hormones.
19. Every time you sneeze some of your brain cells die.
20. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.
21. The verb “cleave” is the only English word with two synonyms which are antonyms of each other: adhere and separate.
22. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.
23. When hippos are upset, their sweat turns red.
24. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle was built in 1903, and used a tomato can for a carburetor.
25. The lion that roars in the MGM logo is named Volney.
26. Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros.
27. Switching letters is called spoonerism. For example, saying jag of Flapan, instead of flag of Japan.
28. It cost 7 million dollars to build the Titanic and 200 million to make a film about it.
29. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples.
30. There are 1,792 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
31. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.
32. Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.
33. It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.
34. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
35. Most soccer players run 7 miles in a game.
36. The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air.
37. Every day 200 million couples make love, 400,000 babies are born, and 140,000 people die.
38. In most watch advertisements the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch (and make it look like it
is smiling).
39. Colgate faced big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish speaking countries. Colgate translates into the command “go hang yourself.”
40. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning its head are the rabbit and the parrot.
41. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
42. The average person laughs 13 times a day.
43. Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys? They are:Mizaru(See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru(Speak no evil)
44. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
45. German Shepherds bite humans more than any other breed of dog.
46. Large kangaroos cover more than 30 feet with each jump.
47. Whip makes a cracking sound because its tip moves faster than the speed of sound.
48. Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death.
49. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural cause.
50. The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!!
For more interesting articles please visit: www.hemmy.net
1. If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.
2. If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. For when a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.
3. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
4. Your tongue is germ free only if it is pink. If it is white there is a thin film of bacteria on it.
5. The Mercedes-Benz motto is “Das Beste oder Nichts” meaning “the best or nothing”.
6. The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal.
7. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing.
8. The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep a night.
9. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.
10. The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.
11. Dalmatians are born without spots.
12. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
13. The ‘v’ in the name of a court case does not stand for ‘versus’, but for ‘and’ (in civil proceedings) or ‘against’ (in criminal proceedings).
14. Men’s shirts have the buttons on the right, but women’s shirts have the buttons on the left.
15. The owl is the only bird to drop its upper eyelid to wink. All other birds raise their lower eyelids.
16. The reason honey is so easy to digest is that it’s already been digested by a bee.
17. Roosters cannot crow if they cannot extend their necks.
18. The color blue has a calming effect. It causes the brain to release calming hormones.
19. Every time you sneeze some of your brain cells die.
20. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.
21. The verb “cleave” is the only English word with two synonyms which are antonyms of each other: adhere and separate.
22. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.
23. When hippos are upset, their sweat turns red.
24. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle was built in 1903, and used a tomato can for a carburetor.
25. The lion that roars in the MGM logo is named Volney.
26. Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros.
27. Switching letters is called spoonerism. For example, saying jag of Flapan, instead of flag of Japan.
28. It cost 7 million dollars to build the Titanic and 200 million to make a film about it.
29. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples.
30. There are 1,792 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
31. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.
32. Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.
33. It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.
34. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
35. Most soccer players run 7 miles in a game.
36. The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air.
37. Every day 200 million couples make love, 400,000 babies are born, and 140,000 people die.
38. In most watch advertisements the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch (and make it look like it
is smiling).
39. Colgate faced big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish speaking countries. Colgate translates into the command “go hang yourself.”
40. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning its head are the rabbit and the parrot.
41. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
42. The average person laughs 13 times a day.
43. Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys? They are:Mizaru(See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru(Speak no evil)
44. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
45. German Shepherds bite humans more than any other breed of dog.
46. Large kangaroos cover more than 30 feet with each jump.
47. Whip makes a cracking sound because its tip moves faster than the speed of sound.
48. Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death.
49. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural cause.
50. The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!!
For more interesting articles please visit: www.hemmy.net
11 Great Ways to Earn More Money
Ref: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2008/01/11-great-ways-t.html
Read this excellent article here or visit: freemoneyfinance.com
If you'd like daily tips, thoughts, and suggestions on how to grow your net worth, subscribe to Free Money Finance for free by clicking this link.
I get bashed from time to time for talking about how important it is to spend less than you earn. I've defended my rationale on this issue, but detractors wonder why I don't spend more time talking about growing income rather than limiting spending. Well, if you're one of those people, this post is for you. Buckle up, because we're about to enter the world of earning more money!!!!
Many of you know that I spent last year trying to earn an extra $10,000 above my salary (FYI, I'm including anything I can get above the 3% cost-of-living adjustment most people get from their employers.) I'm doing the same this year, and I thought many of you would like to join me. As a starting place, I'm identifying all the major ways I've compiled on how to make more money. Here's my list:
1. Ask for a raise -- Your job is your most important financial asset and using it to make more money represents the low-lying fruit of all money making opportunities. Of course you simply can't demand a raise for showing up. You have to ask for a raise in a way that maximizes your likelihood of getting one. Fortunately it's rather simple: do a great job, make sure others know about your success (especially your boss), then pitch the proper person on why you deserve a raise. If you do these things better than most, you can secure a 5-7% raise while the others are stuck with a cost-of-living adjustment. Also note, it's just as important to NOT do certain things when asking for a raise. Otherwise, you might torpedo your chances for the extra loot.
2. Get a promotion -- Ok, let's say you're squeamish about asking for a raise -- how about earning a raise by getting a promotion? It's generallyaccepted that if you have more responsibility you get paid more. But how do you go about getting a promotion? Basically it's the same way you go about building your case to get a raise -- perform well and make sure everyone knows about it. (Plus you can go "above and beyond" most others by doing things like taking professional classes to enhance your marketability.) Since this tip is dependent on the fact that a position actually opens up in your company, it's not quite as good as asking for a raise in my opinion.
3. Change jobs -- Just like it's usually the case that you'll earn more when you get a promotion, most people earn more money when they change jobs (either a lateral change that earns you more or a promotion via job change.) The key here is to market yourself correctly in the job hunt process so you can actually land a job that pays significantly more than your current position. Some job-hunting success tips: make the most of your cover letters, stick with a classic resume that highlights significant job accomplishments, and make the most of your interviews (which includes not asking stupid questions). I've applied these principles several times and I've averaged roughly 13% increases when I've made a move.
A couple other tips that are important when it comes to changing jobs:
Don't quit your job before you get another one. Quitting without another job is not a good idea and by doing so you're risking your most important financial asset. Believe me, I've seen the disaster. If you're stuck in a job you hate, take specific steps to get out of it, but don't quit without another position lined up.
Once you do get a job offer, ask for more money before you accept the position. Doing so can pay off big, netting you $1,000 a minute. Not a bad return, huh?
4. Turn your hobby into an extra income -- How would you like to do something you love and make some extra money at the same time? Then consider turning your hobby into an extra income. This could be anything from starting your own website to monetizing your artistic penchant to launching your own blog (if interested in this, see How to Get Your Blog to 100,000 Visitors and Beyond) to creating crafts to whatever.
I've done this with my hobby of writing. I've sold somewhere around 160 financial and business/marketing articles in the past ten years, earning me around $60,000 total. In addition, I started this blog on the same topic and it now generates a substantial amount of money (though I give away all the proceeds to charity). I have friends who've done the following: turned their love of cycling into a part-time job of repairing and maintaining bikes, turned their love of hunting and art into making decorative hunting knives that sell nicely at flea markets, and turning their love of baking into a side business selling high-end cookware. Is there something you love doing that could earn you some extra money?
5. Start a side business -- Ok, let's say you have a hobby like growing roses or playing video games -- something that may not lend itself easily to making extra money. Instead, you could start a side business (here are some additional tips) of something totally different. Not something you love doing, but not something you hate either. A few examples of what you could do:
- Take a job no one else wants to do (can you say "pooper scooper?")
- Become a lifestyle manager
- Advise college-bound students
- Stage homes
- Start a sign-in-the-yard business
- Take pictures or play music
There are literally all sorts of things you could do (including selling your blood -- admittedly it's not a "business", but I just had to throw in this idea to show how some people are so creative when it comes to making money)
Or, if you don't feel like you're able to start your own business, maybe you could buy an existing business.
6. Maximize your investments -- At first blush, it may not seem like there's a lot of extra income potential in earning an additional percentage or two on your investments. Over the short-term, there isn't. However, when time and compounding are considered, eeking out even an extra 1% could mean thousands of extra dollars for you. Personally, I like index funds because they beat most investments in the long term and take a minimal amount of time to manage. Combine them with the proper asset allocation and regular rebalancing of your portfolio and you're on your way to earning a good bit more from your investments.
7. Trade/barter skills -- This is a new one for me, but one that I've had a bit of success with. For instance, I've exchanged marketing advice for some legal counsel. Maybe you're a carpenter who can build something for a plumber who can fix your clogged sink. Or maybe you're a dentist who can offer free cleanings to a veterinarian in exchange for free pet visits. Or perhaps you could design a website for a chiropractor who could give you free adjustments. Or maybe you can offer dance lessons in exchange for someone tutoring your child. The possibilities are almost endless.
Yeah, this option doesn't put cash into your pocket, but it does save you money on something you need to have done. And it could serve as a launching point for your own new business -- you get some experience providing services for others and maybe you'll be able to sell some of those services to people who can't trade but would be willing to buy what you have to offer.
8. Use your current job skills -- Take what you do in your current job and consider selling those skills to others at night. If you don't like this option, consider teaching what you know to others. Simply take what you do 40-plus hours a week and extend it into a new business/side income.
9. Sell stuff you own and don't need -- If you're like the rest of America, you've got a boatload of stuff in your home that you don't need/use. So why not sell it and create some extra cash for yourself? With the popularity of EBay, doing this is often a cinch. And let's say you're in the 1% of people who don't have anything useful to sell -- maybe you could find some items at auctions and then sell them for a profit.
10. Use credit cards strategically -- In 2006 I earned almost $500 simply by charging purchases on a cash back credit card. My 2007 results aren't in yet, but I'll be way over this amount. Why? Because I picked the right card for my spending habits (which is THE key to making the most with credit cards) and charged as much as I could on it (including creative ideas like buying gift cards strategically.) In 2008, I'm planning on earning even more by using a hybrid cash back credit card method to earn upwards of 2.6% on my charges by combining uses of the Blue Cash from American Express card and the Chase Freedom Cash Visa Card. Eventually I hope to earn in the high three figures simply for doing what I'd normally do -- buying what I'd normally buy. You can do the same.
11. Get money owed to you -- As I've noted before, there are billions of dollars in abandoned and lost checking accounts, pensions, and so forth collected by governments. You should see if any of it is yours I'm a pretty good money watcher, but when I went to Missing Money I found that I had a claim (for "under $100") from a past job. Sure, it's not a ton of money, but someone out there is likely due a significant sum. Since it takes about one minute to check and see if it's you, what's the harm?
That's my list for now. I have a lot more ideas that I couldn't include on this list. If you'd like to check them out you can visit my making money category. But for now, let me ask you: do you have any other money making ideas to add?
For more please visit: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com
Read this excellent article here or visit: freemoneyfinance.com
If you'd like daily tips, thoughts, and suggestions on how to grow your net worth, subscribe to Free Money Finance for free by clicking this link.
I get bashed from time to time for talking about how important it is to spend less than you earn. I've defended my rationale on this issue, but detractors wonder why I don't spend more time talking about growing income rather than limiting spending. Well, if you're one of those people, this post is for you. Buckle up, because we're about to enter the world of earning more money!!!!
Many of you know that I spent last year trying to earn an extra $10,000 above my salary (FYI, I'm including anything I can get above the 3% cost-of-living adjustment most people get from their employers.) I'm doing the same this year, and I thought many of you would like to join me. As a starting place, I'm identifying all the major ways I've compiled on how to make more money. Here's my list:
1. Ask for a raise -- Your job is your most important financial asset and using it to make more money represents the low-lying fruit of all money making opportunities. Of course you simply can't demand a raise for showing up. You have to ask for a raise in a way that maximizes your likelihood of getting one. Fortunately it's rather simple: do a great job, make sure others know about your success (especially your boss), then pitch the proper person on why you deserve a raise. If you do these things better than most, you can secure a 5-7% raise while the others are stuck with a cost-of-living adjustment. Also note, it's just as important to NOT do certain things when asking for a raise. Otherwise, you might torpedo your chances for the extra loot.
2. Get a promotion -- Ok, let's say you're squeamish about asking for a raise -- how about earning a raise by getting a promotion? It's generallyaccepted that if you have more responsibility you get paid more. But how do you go about getting a promotion? Basically it's the same way you go about building your case to get a raise -- perform well and make sure everyone knows about it. (Plus you can go "above and beyond" most others by doing things like taking professional classes to enhance your marketability.) Since this tip is dependent on the fact that a position actually opens up in your company, it's not quite as good as asking for a raise in my opinion.
3. Change jobs -- Just like it's usually the case that you'll earn more when you get a promotion, most people earn more money when they change jobs (either a lateral change that earns you more or a promotion via job change.) The key here is to market yourself correctly in the job hunt process so you can actually land a job that pays significantly more than your current position. Some job-hunting success tips: make the most of your cover letters, stick with a classic resume that highlights significant job accomplishments, and make the most of your interviews (which includes not asking stupid questions). I've applied these principles several times and I've averaged roughly 13% increases when I've made a move.
A couple other tips that are important when it comes to changing jobs:
Don't quit your job before you get another one. Quitting without another job is not a good idea and by doing so you're risking your most important financial asset. Believe me, I've seen the disaster. If you're stuck in a job you hate, take specific steps to get out of it, but don't quit without another position lined up.
Once you do get a job offer, ask for more money before you accept the position. Doing so can pay off big, netting you $1,000 a minute. Not a bad return, huh?
4. Turn your hobby into an extra income -- How would you like to do something you love and make some extra money at the same time? Then consider turning your hobby into an extra income. This could be anything from starting your own website to monetizing your artistic penchant to launching your own blog (if interested in this, see How to Get Your Blog to 100,000 Visitors and Beyond) to creating crafts to whatever.
I've done this with my hobby of writing. I've sold somewhere around 160 financial and business/marketing articles in the past ten years, earning me around $60,000 total. In addition, I started this blog on the same topic and it now generates a substantial amount of money (though I give away all the proceeds to charity). I have friends who've done the following: turned their love of cycling into a part-time job of repairing and maintaining bikes, turned their love of hunting and art into making decorative hunting knives that sell nicely at flea markets, and turning their love of baking into a side business selling high-end cookware. Is there something you love doing that could earn you some extra money?
5. Start a side business -- Ok, let's say you have a hobby like growing roses or playing video games -- something that may not lend itself easily to making extra money. Instead, you could start a side business (here are some additional tips) of something totally different. Not something you love doing, but not something you hate either. A few examples of what you could do:
- Take a job no one else wants to do (can you say "pooper scooper?")
- Become a lifestyle manager
- Advise college-bound students
- Stage homes
- Start a sign-in-the-yard business
- Take pictures or play music
There are literally all sorts of things you could do (including selling your blood -- admittedly it's not a "business", but I just had to throw in this idea to show how some people are so creative when it comes to making money)
Or, if you don't feel like you're able to start your own business, maybe you could buy an existing business.
6. Maximize your investments -- At first blush, it may not seem like there's a lot of extra income potential in earning an additional percentage or two on your investments. Over the short-term, there isn't. However, when time and compounding are considered, eeking out even an extra 1% could mean thousands of extra dollars for you. Personally, I like index funds because they beat most investments in the long term and take a minimal amount of time to manage. Combine them with the proper asset allocation and regular rebalancing of your portfolio and you're on your way to earning a good bit more from your investments.
7. Trade/barter skills -- This is a new one for me, but one that I've had a bit of success with. For instance, I've exchanged marketing advice for some legal counsel. Maybe you're a carpenter who can build something for a plumber who can fix your clogged sink. Or maybe you're a dentist who can offer free cleanings to a veterinarian in exchange for free pet visits. Or perhaps you could design a website for a chiropractor who could give you free adjustments. Or maybe you can offer dance lessons in exchange for someone tutoring your child. The possibilities are almost endless.
Yeah, this option doesn't put cash into your pocket, but it does save you money on something you need to have done. And it could serve as a launching point for your own new business -- you get some experience providing services for others and maybe you'll be able to sell some of those services to people who can't trade but would be willing to buy what you have to offer.
8. Use your current job skills -- Take what you do in your current job and consider selling those skills to others at night. If you don't like this option, consider teaching what you know to others. Simply take what you do 40-plus hours a week and extend it into a new business/side income.
9. Sell stuff you own and don't need -- If you're like the rest of America, you've got a boatload of stuff in your home that you don't need/use. So why not sell it and create some extra cash for yourself? With the popularity of EBay, doing this is often a cinch. And let's say you're in the 1% of people who don't have anything useful to sell -- maybe you could find some items at auctions and then sell them for a profit.
10. Use credit cards strategically -- In 2006 I earned almost $500 simply by charging purchases on a cash back credit card. My 2007 results aren't in yet, but I'll be way over this amount. Why? Because I picked the right card for my spending habits (which is THE key to making the most with credit cards) and charged as much as I could on it (including creative ideas like buying gift cards strategically.) In 2008, I'm planning on earning even more by using a hybrid cash back credit card method to earn upwards of 2.6% on my charges by combining uses of the Blue Cash from American Express card and the Chase Freedom Cash Visa Card. Eventually I hope to earn in the high three figures simply for doing what I'd normally do -- buying what I'd normally buy. You can do the same.
11. Get money owed to you -- As I've noted before, there are billions of dollars in abandoned and lost checking accounts, pensions, and so forth collected by governments. You should see if any of it is yours I'm a pretty good money watcher, but when I went to Missing Money I found that I had a claim (for "under $100") from a past job. Sure, it's not a ton of money, but someone out there is likely due a significant sum. Since it takes about one minute to check and see if it's you, what's the harm?
That's my list for now. I have a lot more ideas that I couldn't include on this list. If you'd like to check them out you can visit my making money category. But for now, let me ask you: do you have any other money making ideas to add?
For more please visit: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com
Learn how to cook healthy and discover the benefits of the Mediterranean diet
by Enrico Forte
Ref: http://www.natural-health-journals.com
Its cuisine is a mix of aromas and flavors as a result of different cultures: Greeks, Arabs, Spanish, Italian and French.
The word that better explains this diet is: “The unique plate”. It means mixing a single plate with different nutritionals.
The classic example are recipes with “Pasta”; Vegetables; Species and Extra virgin Olive oil. In a single plate you can receive the benefits of different foods.
The most known examples are the Arab “Cous Cous” or the Spanish “Paella”.
It’s not only taste but also health. By eating fresh foods like fruit and veggies you could:
- Have anti-oxidants effects
- Prevent heart diseases
- Reduce cancer risks
- Avoid the risk of Alzheimer
- Live longer and healthier
Fish is rich of omega-3 fatty acids. They help protect against cancer, high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
Nuts (especially almonds) are a good sources of protein, fiber and antioxidants (Vitamin E and selenium). They are also high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3) which lower LDL cholesterol.
Pasta is a healthy food that has a low glycemic index of 41. Most pasta is made from semolina flour. It does not promote weight gain.
Olive oil is rich of monounsaturated fatty acids that offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL (”bad”) cholesterol while raising HDL (the “good” cholesterol).
Tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamins (C,A) and potassium. They are rich of lycopene, a substance that act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals cells in the body.
The best way to learn how a thing works is to try to do it, so here you are 3 simple plates you could cook home-made and verify yourself these health benefits.
For more articles please visit: http://www.natural-health-journals.com
Ref: http://www.natural-health-journals.com
Its cuisine is a mix of aromas and flavors as a result of different cultures: Greeks, Arabs, Spanish, Italian and French.
The word that better explains this diet is: “The unique plate”. It means mixing a single plate with different nutritionals.
The classic example are recipes with “Pasta”; Vegetables; Species and Extra virgin Olive oil. In a single plate you can receive the benefits of different foods.
The most known examples are the Arab “Cous Cous” or the Spanish “Paella”.
It’s not only taste but also health. By eating fresh foods like fruit and veggies you could:
- Have anti-oxidants effects
- Prevent heart diseases
- Reduce cancer risks
- Avoid the risk of Alzheimer
- Live longer and healthier
Fish is rich of omega-3 fatty acids. They help protect against cancer, high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
Nuts (especially almonds) are a good sources of protein, fiber and antioxidants (Vitamin E and selenium). They are also high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3) which lower LDL cholesterol.
Pasta is a healthy food that has a low glycemic index of 41. Most pasta is made from semolina flour. It does not promote weight gain.
Olive oil is rich of monounsaturated fatty acids that offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL (”bad”) cholesterol while raising HDL (the “good” cholesterol).
Tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamins (C,A) and potassium. They are rich of lycopene, a substance that act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals cells in the body.
The best way to learn how a thing works is to try to do it, so here you are 3 simple plates you could cook home-made and verify yourself these health benefits.
For more articles please visit: http://www.natural-health-journals.com
How to Make Sure You're Not on the Layoff List
By David Hakala on March 10, 2008
Ref: http://www.hrworld.com/features/avoid-layoffs-031008/
Read any newspaper, and you will learn that companies are laying off hundreds — or even thousands — of workers. It is a scary time because the decisions about who gets laid off seem entirely out of one's control. But in many cases, there are steps that you can take to increase the odds of keeping your job, or at least a job of some sort.
First, you need to make yourself more valuable than the next person. Remember the old joke about the two men who were running from a charging lion? “Do you think we can outrun him?” said one man to the other. “I don’t care about him,” said the other man, “all I have to do is outrun you.” It is a grim fact that in the race to avoid being laid off, the swiftest workers survive. You have to be more valuable than the next person in every way.
Do a great job. Average or mediocre employees are usually the first to be laid off. When rumors of layoffs start flying, it is all too common for morale and productivity to decline. But this is the time when you must put forth extra effort to do the very best job you can. Now is the time to work longer and harder.
Doing a great job means more than just showing up, putting in the hours and doing what you are told. It means finding ways to add value to the work that you do for your employer.
The Added-Value Action Plan
You can start adding value by reviewing your job description. Make a list of all your duties. Are you getting everything done exceptionally well? Next, write down all of the other tasks that you routinely perform (those that aren't in your job description) that add value to your work. Rate each of the tasks you do on a scale of one to five, with five being outstanding. How much value are you really adding?
Now is the time to look for other things that you could be doing to add value. Make a list of them and create an action plan to add them to your current workload. Specify how each new task would add value to your job in the form of money saved or earned for the company.
Collaborate with your boss on this added-value plan. Ask your supervisor how you can add more value to your job. Show him or her the worksheet you have made and the duites that you would like added to your job. What seems like added value to you may be a waste of time in your boss's eyes. Incorporate your manager's ideas into your added-value action plan. Show off what you are doing and ask to do more.
Once you complete your action plan, it is time to act on it. Post it on the wall and review it every day to make sure that you are doing all you can to keep your job.
Stay Positive
Be a pleasant co-worker, no matter how gloomy the layoff outlook may be. People who make others uncomfortable or demoralized are more likely to be laid off. Keep your spirits up no matter what.
Prepare to be flexible if layoffs become a reality. In some cases, you may be offered a job in another location. In other instances, you might be offered a lower-grade job at a reduced salary. These options are often better than none.
Finding a new job or starting your own business is yet another way to avoid being laid off. You can start now to renew your network contacts, work with recruiters or prepare a business plan.
When layoffs appear on the horizon, you don’t need to stand frozen like a deer in the headlights. You can work harder to keep your job or prepare to move on your own schedule instead of someone else’s.
For more articles please visit: http://www.hrworld.com/
Ref: http://www.hrworld.com/features/avoid-layoffs-031008/
Read any newspaper, and you will learn that companies are laying off hundreds — or even thousands — of workers. It is a scary time because the decisions about who gets laid off seem entirely out of one's control. But in many cases, there are steps that you can take to increase the odds of keeping your job, or at least a job of some sort.
First, you need to make yourself more valuable than the next person. Remember the old joke about the two men who were running from a charging lion? “Do you think we can outrun him?” said one man to the other. “I don’t care about him,” said the other man, “all I have to do is outrun you.” It is a grim fact that in the race to avoid being laid off, the swiftest workers survive. You have to be more valuable than the next person in every way.
Do a great job. Average or mediocre employees are usually the first to be laid off. When rumors of layoffs start flying, it is all too common for morale and productivity to decline. But this is the time when you must put forth extra effort to do the very best job you can. Now is the time to work longer and harder.
Doing a great job means more than just showing up, putting in the hours and doing what you are told. It means finding ways to add value to the work that you do for your employer.
The Added-Value Action Plan
You can start adding value by reviewing your job description. Make a list of all your duties. Are you getting everything done exceptionally well? Next, write down all of the other tasks that you routinely perform (those that aren't in your job description) that add value to your work. Rate each of the tasks you do on a scale of one to five, with five being outstanding. How much value are you really adding?
Now is the time to look for other things that you could be doing to add value. Make a list of them and create an action plan to add them to your current workload. Specify how each new task would add value to your job in the form of money saved or earned for the company.
Collaborate with your boss on this added-value plan. Ask your supervisor how you can add more value to your job. Show him or her the worksheet you have made and the duites that you would like added to your job. What seems like added value to you may be a waste of time in your boss's eyes. Incorporate your manager's ideas into your added-value action plan. Show off what you are doing and ask to do more.
Once you complete your action plan, it is time to act on it. Post it on the wall and review it every day to make sure that you are doing all you can to keep your job.
Stay Positive
Be a pleasant co-worker, no matter how gloomy the layoff outlook may be. People who make others uncomfortable or demoralized are more likely to be laid off. Keep your spirits up no matter what.
Prepare to be flexible if layoffs become a reality. In some cases, you may be offered a job in another location. In other instances, you might be offered a lower-grade job at a reduced salary. These options are often better than none.
Finding a new job or starting your own business is yet another way to avoid being laid off. You can start now to renew your network contacts, work with recruiters or prepare a business plan.
When layoffs appear on the horizon, you don’t need to stand frozen like a deer in the headlights. You can work harder to keep your job or prepare to move on your own schedule instead of someone else’s.
For more articles please visit: http://www.hrworld.com/
Laid Off: 16 Ways to Make the Best of a Bad Situation
By David Hakala
Ref: HRWorlf Article
A layoff can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. If your number comes up during downsizing, it can feel as if you have lost your reason for being. During this traumatic time, there are some steps you can take to ease the pain and make the best of things.
1. Keep your emotions in check. The first reaction to being told that you are being laid off is fear of loss, and fear is always followed by protective anger. But anger will not do you any good and can harm your exit strategy. Keep your cool.
2. Listen carefully as severance benefits are explained. Your mind may be on what you are going to do next, but what is being offered to you now is just as important. Ask about severance pay, COBRA insurance, your 401(k) plan and so on.
3. Ask about references. It’s reassuring to know that you can get one from your former supervisor.
4. Make sure that you collect all of your personal things. It is unlikely that you will be allowed back in the office once you leave.
5. Go home and grieve for a few days. Grief is a natural reaction to being laid off and is the first step in the healing process. You have to stop denying that the layoff happened and accept it. That is what grief is about.
6. Don’t blame yourself. Employees are selected to be laid off for reasons that are often beyond their control. Don’t look for reasons why you may have brought the layoff upon yourself.
7. Commit to the change. Once you have accepted the layoff’s reality, make a commitment to drive the change in your life instead of letting it happen to you.
8. Make concrete plans. Create to-do lists, schedules and action plans so that you can keep your life structured and measure progress toward your goals.
9. Apply for government unemployment benefits. Do this immediately, and participate in retraining and job-placement programs.
10. Keep to a schedule. Get up at the same time as you did when you had a job. Treat your job search as if it was your new job and show up for it on time every day.
11. Take advantage of outplacement services, if they are offered. Such services include training in job-search and interview skills that most people seldom practice. Outplacement services can also provide support and encouragement during this troubled time.
12. Get out of the house. Go out and exercise at the time you would normally leave for work. Some people treat a library or a job-training center as if it was their new office. The change of scenery can focus your mind on job hunting and help you avoid depression.
13. Polish up your résumé. Taking stock of your achievements will help ease the pain of the layoff, and setting a new career objective will help you focus your job-search efforts.
14. Take stock of your contacts. Make a list of everyone you know, and don’t avoid them. It’s tempting to hide sheepishly when you have been laid off, but this is the time to renew your acquaintances and let them know that you are available for work.
15. Update or create your Facebook or LinkedIn profile. Employers are using social networks to look for employees these days, so make these sites work for you.
16. Revise your household budget. Make painful cuts now to avoid even more painful ones later. Never assume that unemployment is going to be brief.
Being laid off is never easy. Taking these steps can help ease the pain and get you back on track to a rewarding new job.
For more articles please visit: http://www.hrworld.com/
Ref: HRWorlf Article
A layoff can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. If your number comes up during downsizing, it can feel as if you have lost your reason for being. During this traumatic time, there are some steps you can take to ease the pain and make the best of things.
1. Keep your emotions in check. The first reaction to being told that you are being laid off is fear of loss, and fear is always followed by protective anger. But anger will not do you any good and can harm your exit strategy. Keep your cool.
2. Listen carefully as severance benefits are explained. Your mind may be on what you are going to do next, but what is being offered to you now is just as important. Ask about severance pay, COBRA insurance, your 401(k) plan and so on.
3. Ask about references. It’s reassuring to know that you can get one from your former supervisor.
4. Make sure that you collect all of your personal things. It is unlikely that you will be allowed back in the office once you leave.
5. Go home and grieve for a few days. Grief is a natural reaction to being laid off and is the first step in the healing process. You have to stop denying that the layoff happened and accept it. That is what grief is about.
6. Don’t blame yourself. Employees are selected to be laid off for reasons that are often beyond their control. Don’t look for reasons why you may have brought the layoff upon yourself.
7. Commit to the change. Once you have accepted the layoff’s reality, make a commitment to drive the change in your life instead of letting it happen to you.
8. Make concrete plans. Create to-do lists, schedules and action plans so that you can keep your life structured and measure progress toward your goals.
9. Apply for government unemployment benefits. Do this immediately, and participate in retraining and job-placement programs.
10. Keep to a schedule. Get up at the same time as you did when you had a job. Treat your job search as if it was your new job and show up for it on time every day.
11. Take advantage of outplacement services, if they are offered. Such services include training in job-search and interview skills that most people seldom practice. Outplacement services can also provide support and encouragement during this troubled time.
12. Get out of the house. Go out and exercise at the time you would normally leave for work. Some people treat a library or a job-training center as if it was their new office. The change of scenery can focus your mind on job hunting and help you avoid depression.
13. Polish up your résumé. Taking stock of your achievements will help ease the pain of the layoff, and setting a new career objective will help you focus your job-search efforts.
14. Take stock of your contacts. Make a list of everyone you know, and don’t avoid them. It’s tempting to hide sheepishly when you have been laid off, but this is the time to renew your acquaintances and let them know that you are available for work.
15. Update or create your Facebook or LinkedIn profile. Employers are using social networks to look for employees these days, so make these sites work for you.
16. Revise your household budget. Make painful cuts now to avoid even more painful ones later. Never assume that unemployment is going to be brief.
Being laid off is never easy. Taking these steps can help ease the pain and get you back on track to a rewarding new job.
For more articles please visit: http://www.hrworld.com/
Ride your bike all winter
By Lloyd Alter, Toronto
Ref: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/ride-your-bike-all-winter-part.html
Lots of people ride their bikes all year round; the picture shows a parking area at a train station in Hyvinkaa, Finland, where it gets colder and darker earlier than anywhere in America. I thought from personal experience that a few suggestions were missing in our earlier post, so I've added them here.
1. It isn't cold: Biking is like any vigorous exercise, and your body warms itself. The rule is to dress as if it is 20 degrees F warmer; that is too much of a shock to the system when you get on your bike, I tend to dress as I would for a light run or cross-country ski.
2. Consider getting a junker bike: Particularly if you use a skinny, tired road bike; the bumpy wide tires of a mountain bike do provide more control.
3. Lose the clip-in pedals and bike shoes: You need warmer shoes and you need your feet on the ground more often, being clipped in is dangerous.
4. Plan your routes: Roads are a lot narrower in winter when they plough the snow to the side but don't remove it. Back roads that left plenty of room for bike and car don't in winter. If you live in a city with streetcar tracks, you will be forced into them; I avoid tracked streets as much as possible in winter. Not how we recommend you dress. Photo credit: Icebike
5. Protect your extremities: Your core will be warm as toast but your fingers and toes are out there exposed to wind. Have roomy shoes that can take two pair of socks, lobster gloves or mittens. On really cold days, I have worn an extra pair of shorts to protect other extremities.
6. Balaclavas are great: I have a thin one that goes under my helmet, and keeps my neck warm. I can pull it up over my chin and mouth when it gets really cold.
7. Lots of lights and loud, obnoxious reflective clothes are a must: It gets dark early, you will often be sharing the same lanes as cars, and they all think that only a complete nutcase would be out on a bike so are not looking for you.
8. Drink lots of water: You won't know it but you get really dehydrated.
9. Time your ride: Not only can you be incredibly smug for doing the green, healthy thing, but don't be surprised if you beat all your driving and transit riding friends to work. Let them know.
For more details please visit: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport
Ref: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/ride-your-bike-all-winter-part.html
Lots of people ride their bikes all year round; the picture shows a parking area at a train station in Hyvinkaa, Finland, where it gets colder and darker earlier than anywhere in America. I thought from personal experience that a few suggestions were missing in our earlier post, so I've added them here.
1. It isn't cold: Biking is like any vigorous exercise, and your body warms itself. The rule is to dress as if it is 20 degrees F warmer; that is too much of a shock to the system when you get on your bike, I tend to dress as I would for a light run or cross-country ski.
2. Consider getting a junker bike: Particularly if you use a skinny, tired road bike; the bumpy wide tires of a mountain bike do provide more control.
3. Lose the clip-in pedals and bike shoes: You need warmer shoes and you need your feet on the ground more often, being clipped in is dangerous.
4. Plan your routes: Roads are a lot narrower in winter when they plough the snow to the side but don't remove it. Back roads that left plenty of room for bike and car don't in winter. If you live in a city with streetcar tracks, you will be forced into them; I avoid tracked streets as much as possible in winter. Not how we recommend you dress. Photo credit: Icebike
5. Protect your extremities: Your core will be warm as toast but your fingers and toes are out there exposed to wind. Have roomy shoes that can take two pair of socks, lobster gloves or mittens. On really cold days, I have worn an extra pair of shorts to protect other extremities.
6. Balaclavas are great: I have a thin one that goes under my helmet, and keeps my neck warm. I can pull it up over my chin and mouth when it gets really cold.
7. Lots of lights and loud, obnoxious reflective clothes are a must: It gets dark early, you will often be sharing the same lanes as cars, and they all think that only a complete nutcase would be out on a bike so are not looking for you.
8. Drink lots of water: You won't know it but you get really dehydrated.
9. Time your ride: Not only can you be incredibly smug for doing the green, healthy thing, but don't be surprised if you beat all your driving and transit riding friends to work. Let them know.
For more details please visit: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport
Science Says We Really Are What We Drink
Science Says We Really Are What We Drink
Great article by by HILARY HYLTON
Ref: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1853838,00.html
And now for some helpful scientific advice: When that IRS agent comes to your office to conduct an audit, offer him a cup of coffee. And when you're sitting down to do your holiday shopping online, make sure you're cradling a large glass of iced tea. The physical sensation of warmth encourages emotional warmth, while a chilly drink in hand serves as a brake on rash decisions — those are the practical lesson being drawn from recent research by two Yale-educated psychologists, published last week in Science magazine.
Encountering warmth or cold lights up the insula — a walnut-sized section of the brain — says John A. Bargh, a professor of psychology at Yale, who co-authored the paper with Lawrence E. Williams of the University of Colorado who received his Ph.D. from Yale earlier this year. And the insula is the same part of the brain engaged when we evaluate who we can trust in economic transactions, Bargh says.
Psychologists have known since the mid 1940s that one person's perceptions of another's "warmth" is a powerful determining factor in social relationships. Judging someone to be either "warm" or "cold" is a primary consideration, even trumping evidence that a "cold" person may be more competent. Much of this is rooted in very early childhood experiences, Bargh argues, when infants' conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations, particularly warmth and coldness. Classic studies by Harry Harlow, published in 1958, showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth surrogate mother rather than one made of wire, even when the wire "mother" carried a food bottle. Harlow's work and subsequent studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills.
Feelings of "warmth" and "coolness" in social judgments appears to be universal. Although no comprehensive worldwide study has been done, Bargh says that describing people as "warm" or "cold" is common to many cultures, and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries. To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth, the researchers conducted two experiments. The first involved a group of 41 undergraduates who were taken by elevator to a fourth floor room. During the ride, a research assistant who was unaware of the study's hypotheses, handed the test subject either a hot cup of coffee, or a cold drink, to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form on a clipboard. The drink was then handed back. When the subjects arrived at the testing room, they were presented with a personality profile describing "Person A" and asked to rate that person's personality traits. Those who had briefly held the warm drink assessed Person A as warmer than test subjects who had held the iced drink.
"We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly," says Bargh.
In a second experiment, done under the guise of a product-evaluation test, participants were asked to hold heated or frozen packs used to treat muscle aches. They were then told they could receive a gift certificate for a friend, or a gift for themselves. Those who held the hot pack proved to be more likely to ask for the gift certificate for a friend, while those who held the frozen pack tended to keep the gift.
"It appears that the effect of physical temperature is not just on how we see others, it affects our own behavior as well," Bargh said. "Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people, but also cause us to be warmer — more generous and trusting — as well."
The practical advice Bargh takes away from the study is that important decisions are best taken with a cold drink in hand, because that part of the brain that triggers caution in economic and trust decisions is stimulated by cold sensation. Conversely, if you are planning on introducing your fiancee to mom and dad, pass on the icy martinis in that air-conditioned, glass and steel restaurant; do it over a mug of hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire.
For more details please visit: http://www.time.com
Great article by by HILARY HYLTON
Ref: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1853838,00.html
And now for some helpful scientific advice: When that IRS agent comes to your office to conduct an audit, offer him a cup of coffee. And when you're sitting down to do your holiday shopping online, make sure you're cradling a large glass of iced tea. The physical sensation of warmth encourages emotional warmth, while a chilly drink in hand serves as a brake on rash decisions — those are the practical lesson being drawn from recent research by two Yale-educated psychologists, published last week in Science magazine.
Encountering warmth or cold lights up the insula — a walnut-sized section of the brain — says John A. Bargh, a professor of psychology at Yale, who co-authored the paper with Lawrence E. Williams of the University of Colorado who received his Ph.D. from Yale earlier this year. And the insula is the same part of the brain engaged when we evaluate who we can trust in economic transactions, Bargh says.
Psychologists have known since the mid 1940s that one person's perceptions of another's "warmth" is a powerful determining factor in social relationships. Judging someone to be either "warm" or "cold" is a primary consideration, even trumping evidence that a "cold" person may be more competent. Much of this is rooted in very early childhood experiences, Bargh argues, when infants' conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations, particularly warmth and coldness. Classic studies by Harry Harlow, published in 1958, showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth surrogate mother rather than one made of wire, even when the wire "mother" carried a food bottle. Harlow's work and subsequent studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills.
Feelings of "warmth" and "coolness" in social judgments appears to be universal. Although no comprehensive worldwide study has been done, Bargh says that describing people as "warm" or "cold" is common to many cultures, and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries. To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth, the researchers conducted two experiments. The first involved a group of 41 undergraduates who were taken by elevator to a fourth floor room. During the ride, a research assistant who was unaware of the study's hypotheses, handed the test subject either a hot cup of coffee, or a cold drink, to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form on a clipboard. The drink was then handed back. When the subjects arrived at the testing room, they were presented with a personality profile describing "Person A" and asked to rate that person's personality traits. Those who had briefly held the warm drink assessed Person A as warmer than test subjects who had held the iced drink.
"We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly," says Bargh.
In a second experiment, done under the guise of a product-evaluation test, participants were asked to hold heated or frozen packs used to treat muscle aches. They were then told they could receive a gift certificate for a friend, or a gift for themselves. Those who held the hot pack proved to be more likely to ask for the gift certificate for a friend, while those who held the frozen pack tended to keep the gift.
"It appears that the effect of physical temperature is not just on how we see others, it affects our own behavior as well," Bargh said. "Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people, but also cause us to be warmer — more generous and trusting — as well."
The practical advice Bargh takes away from the study is that important decisions are best taken with a cold drink in hand, because that part of the brain that triggers caution in economic and trust decisions is stimulated by cold sensation. Conversely, if you are planning on introducing your fiancee to mom and dad, pass on the icy martinis in that air-conditioned, glass and steel restaurant; do it over a mug of hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire.
For more details please visit: http://www.time.com
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