Interesting Facts About Me

(Photo credit: TheChristianAlert.org)

In lieu of anything to say, I was tagged by my brother over at Music on Your Pizza at some point before finals, so I’m getting around to it now. I’m not going to tag anyone else (especially as any of you who read this have probably already gotten this one), but I’ll answer:

Meme premise: I am to list ten (somewhat) interesting and (relatively) unknown facts about me/opinions of mine/habits/etc. I am also to tag ten other people, but as I said, I’m not going to. Given that I’m not particularly forthcoming on this blog, this may be a big first, but so it goes….

1) I don’t actually like doing research, though I’ve worked in multiple labs over the years in different bioogical fields. Now that I’m in medical school, I’m very happy that I won’t have to do basic research ever again. Obviously, however, I like talking about it.

2) At one point, I did, in fact, have an investment license (and I was a public notary). Amusing.

3) I’ve always suspected that my father’s side of the family plays up their Scottish heritage more than is strictly true, but I’ve never cared enough to truly dispute it. I find it more entertaining to carry on the possible vast exaggeration than to be the whistleblower.

4) A nun once hit me on the head with a bible for falling asleep during a prayer service. I think it’s an even funnier event considering that I’m not Catholic, and never have been, but happened to go to a Catholic high school.

5) I paid WAY too much for a car warranty...WAY too much.

6) I often appear younger than my younger brother, so when we’re out together, I invariably get carded, while he does not. When he’s not around, I appear about as old as I am, but there’s something about his presence.

7) I’m convinced that if I work hard enough, I can grow almonds in Wisconsin.

8) I secretly love shoes, and if I ever have the money, I intend to have lots of them. I feel rather guilty about this, but it seems a harmless secret passion. The only real problem is that I tend to leave all my shoes by the door, having taken them off when arriving home.

9) I didn’t really have an interest in dolls as a child - I had My Little Ponies instead. Dolls seemed boring.

10) If I weren’t in medicine, I’d sort of love to be a bohemian artist. Of course, I realize it’s not all my mental image thinks it is, but I still sort of like it. For a little while.

As I said, no tags, but I didn’t want to be totally remiss in my “having-been-tagged” obligation.

Selecting the Best Sunscreen

It is an established fact that broad spectrum sunscreen products help in staving off skin cancer and slow down the signs of growing old – the ideal means of keeping skin healthy & safe all through the year. And since we know that many of you are out on spring break at the moment, or are looking to get out on your Manitou pontoon boat in the sun this summer, we thought we would provide as much All these sunscreens snugly fit an exceptional lifestyle requirement while offering potent shielding from ultraviolet A as well as ultraviolet B rays.

Here is a compilation of the smartest new-fangled buys for effectual and hassle-free coverage.

Ideal for People with Sensitive Skin

Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion by Coppertone is an ideal buy. The use of this product helped in bringing out notable improvement in reddishness and wrecked capillaries following four weeks of usage in one trial. The product costs around nine dollars and is obtainable at most medicine stores.

Ideal Moisturizing Product Plus Sun Protection

‘Aqualia Thermal Lotion’ SPF 30 Twenty-four Hour Hydrating Moisturizer by the Vichy Brand is a fine product for dabbing on the first thing in the mornings prior to stepping outdoors. It costs around twenty-eight dollars and available at many drug stores.

Ideal Age Defying Sun Block

The Age Shield Sun block with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 55 plus Repair by Neutrogena has soy as one of its chief constituents that helps in fading away brownish sun spots that have developed as a result of basking in the sun. The product costs around twelve dollars and available at a number of medicine stores.

Ideal for Mid-Day Touching Up

The Pro Sunforgettable SPF 50 by Colorescience is a powdery mineral-based sunscreen that could be brushed on over the facial and neck areas. It has a slight tint hence ensuring one does not skip out any areas – though the colour swiftly blends in for matching any skin tone. It costs around sixty dollars and could be procured at the site colorescience.com (no follow).

Ideal for Zit-Prone Skin Type

The Quik Gel Sport Spray with SPF fifty by BullFrog brand is a non-oily product that is just perfect for people prone to developing pimples and does not cause pore clogging. It costs around ten dollars and obtainable at a number of medical stores.

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Beginning Again

Okay, now I know my brain is fried because I decided to start another blog. There is something in me when I procrastinate that says, "hey, why don't you create something totally new for yourself to do." So, today, as I struggled through proofing a collection of technology journal articles (I suggest that no one do this if there is a set of sharp knives within reach), I searched for, and found, two great blogs: The Dilbert Blog and Henry Rollins's Dispatches. Inspired by the hilarity of Scott Adams's posts, I whipped off three crappy cartoons of my own and realized that I had no idea how to draw. So, I searched how to draw on the Web and found a couple of great sites that taught drawing. I figured I would take one lesson a day and then I realized that I was procrastinating with no shame whatsoever.

What I am quickly realizing, is that I really need to find something I love doing or I am going to revert back to being a sedentary Nintendo-loving 12-year-old once again. So, I have decided that this freelance proofreading job will be my last (unless I am short on money for my project) and I will find something that I truly love to do (to make money at. If something like that is available. Otherwise, I will go back to selling myself out to the highest bidder and sitting for dozens of mind-numbing hours in front of this monitor)

Well, it's 3 a.m. That is when I told myself I would stop working on freelance, so it is just as good of a time to stop working on this post. Til next time.

Real Estate Cheviot Hills by Southern California Realtor JR

Lanterns (Photo credit: buck82)

Cheviot Hills California is next to the finest fun spots located in West Los Angeles! Cheviot Hills real estate is right around the corner from Beverly Hills real estate CA! It's a hot location because it's next to big celebrity country clubs, including the Hillcrest Country Club and the Rancho Park Golf Course. There's also major studio attractions. Culver City next door houses Sony Studios and a slew of production companies. Fox Studios is right there and the shopping... oh, never mind, cause I already mentioned it was next to Beverly Hills, but then again there's also the Westside Pavilion which you'll love. The Apple Pan is right across the street which used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Don't be annoyed with UCLA being right next door. The Bruins are hardly mentioned on most of the other popular sites regarding Cheviot Hills in Los Angeles, I already checked. Maybe UCLA would reach major attraction status if it weren't for that other school fight on :). Cheviot Hills is also just minutes away and Santa Monica beach which cannot EVER!! be forgotten because everyone LOVES IT is another adjoining city. There are plenty of homes with lovely outdoor lighting, condos and multi family income properties to choose from in Cheviot Hills CA so call me to get the latest and greatest best offer on homes for sale in Cheviot Hills California.

Knowledge of Cheviot Hills and Rancho Park and making your dreams and goals turn into reality is what I specialize in as your California real estateagent in Cheviot Hills, CA. When you are ready to sell or buy a beautifulnew home in Cheviot Hills make sure you drop a line to your Cheviot Hills Real Estate Agent, JR Middlebrook.

I can also help you find immaculately new condos Cheviot Hills townhomes, remodeled homes, or Cheviot Hills land for sale to build your own newhouse in Cheviothills for your family, business or investment.

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Getting the Right Gifts for the Holidays

I often feel like Scrooge when this subject comes up (and not the part at the end when he starts handing out free turkeys and the like). As much as I hate saying it, this needs to be said.

Each year the holidays bring out the best in most of us. Some of us are generous to a fault and give lavish gifts to one another. Although I find no fault in the sentiment, I would be negligent if I didn’t say “don’t go into debt to do it”.

The holidays should not be about creating debt. Yet, despite that comment, millions of people charge up hundreds or thousands of dollars that they will not be able to pay off when the bill arrives. Some view this as the time of year where they deserve a break or reward. However, the damage can reach far beyond the holidays. For some, they will spend the better part of next year still paying for items they purchased this year. Of course, because of this debt, it will affect next year as well (having less money for day-to-day living expenses or savings).

If you are still in the process of paying off debt, I would respectfully suggest that one of the best “gifts” you can have this holiday is not creating more debt. Talk to your family members. Make this the year you want to “get ahead”. Draw names so each member of the family only has to buy one gift. Set limits – and stick to them. One great idea to stick to a budget is for everyone to get Amazon e Gift cards with a fixed amount, and then have everyone buy what they want for each other. Or, just find other low cost items or activities that everyone will enjoy – after all, it is family that matters most not things.

If you have been reading the Xvest e-letters along with my book entitled Winning the Cash Flow War, and implementing the strategies, then you are making progress. Now, just stay the course and soon you will realize a whole new realm of financial freedom!

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Being Environmental with Food

Thought about giving up eating meat for the sake of saving the poor animals? The thought is good. But is it already too hard to clean up your plate before you leave the table?

You don't need environmental consultants to tell you all the buzzwords like “Think green”, “eco-friendly food”, “organic food”, “natural food” that are all fluttering in the air and are becoming louder and louder year after year. You certainly wouldn't want to fall behind the trend. But again, how realistic is it for you to eat raw food just because they save the poor planet some energy? Not so achievable.

Plus, why do you have to be so hard on yourself if there are already many other things you can do to be the same socially responsible? Even your Halloween can be “greened”. Or even, for the popcorn bag you are holding on to now, neerg has an eco-friendly food substitution for you. Now you can be just as great a hero to the environment as you want yourself to be. Also never suspect the taste of those natural foods; because they taste just as good as the normal snacks do.

Not so sure about your choices? You will be surprised how many different kinds of snacks that are made from organic food and natural food. You just have not yet discovered them all! It will be very helpful for you to check what’s available on some green shop like neerg.

Let me introduce some of the best to you first. So if you are looking for things like granola for breakfast, or afternoon snacks like dry vanilla pears, sunflower seeds, kaia is the brand that you don’t want to miss. Ingredients forkaia are all organic food which includes organic bananas, oranges and goji berries. Don’t forget the 479? though. Not only are their ingredients natural food, but also they have a wide range of bold flavors for their popcorns – from ginger sesame caramel, to black truffle, coconut curry plus cashew.

There are also numerous kinds of organic honeys you can get from Rare Hawaiian that you should check out if you need some healthy sweetness.  And you can also find very healthy drinks like the Light Acai Juice which uses the highest quality Acai pulp to deliver the same amount of antioxidants, but with 50% less sugar and 50% fewer calories!

Other organic food include fruits produced in-season and locally grown; juicy berries and melons are great natural food “snacks” during hot summer times; celery and carrots are great for veggie lovers as snacks. Thirsty? Remember to buy the healthy drinks that are not individually packaged. You will find more healthy drinks on neerg also.

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Benefits of Hydrotherapy

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Why does a soak in a hot tub make you feel good?

The benefits of hydrotherapy have been known for centuries. With the introduction of spas, or hydrotherapy tubs, Americans rediscovered that great feeling. But what makes hydrotherapy relieve so many ailments?

Two hundred years ago, a doctor in Bath, England (of all places) recorded the effects of warm water immersion, or hydrotherapy, on a man named James Crewk who suffered from jaundice, palsy, rheumatism, and back pain. Crewk was a drunk with a bad heart. The records show that when he was immersed in warm water, the swelling in his legs was reduced and he excreted more fluid than he drank.

Oddly enough, there is not much documented on water immersion and hydrotherapy. However, in the early years of America's manned space program, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) became concerned about astronauts because of the illness and dizziness they suffered during relatively short periods in space. A loss of salt and minerals (electrolytes) can cause this condition. Warm water immersion (soaking in a hydrotherapy tub) was selected for the NASA experiments, because people weigh only 10 percent of their body weight in water, and that was as close as they could come to simulating the weightlessness of space on earth.

They discovered that hormones triggered the electrolyte changes. By allowing the astronauts to soak in a hydrotherapy tub, NASA found a means to control hormones. This work was helpful in discovering how hydrotherapy can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

 Hydrotherapy Can:

• REDUCE STRESS LEVELS - The general massaging hydrotherapy action increases circulation, relieves tension, and accelerates physical and emotional healing.
• SOOTHE MUSCLE & JOINT PAIN - During hydrotherapy, the body becomes buoyant, reducing body weight by as much as 90%, reducing pressure on joints and muscles.
• CONDITION & CLEANSE THE SKIN
• BALANCE BODY AND SPIRIT
• PROMOTE DEEP, PEACEFUL SLEEP
• Today, a soak in a hydrotherapy tub, or spa, can help relieve stress, muscle aches, and minor arthritis pain as well as a number of other health problems. Best of all hydrotherapy can help you relax and forget the stresses of the day.

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