Errico Wand

I'm Errico , sit down and have fun

I'm Errico , sit down and have fun


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  • When International Students Are Interested in American Slang: 2 Tips to Offer

    Posted on May 19, 2012 by dadmin
    When I asked him, “What’s up,” in my casual American-like way, my friend from Japan wanted me to tell him the proper casual response to this exchange. I told him, “Not much.” I never really thought about why this international student would be interested in American slang, but I now suspect it was because he also wanted to appear more casual in his conversations. My Japanese friend wanted to be a “regular guy,” at least as far as American standards are concerned.

    Taking this idea a bit further, it’s good that my Japanese friend probably only wanted to seem more casual in his conversations with Americans. This means that it’s not necessary to teach every conceivable bit of American slang to international students. In order to help international students who are interested in American slang, I only have to provide tips that will help them recognize American slang when they hear it and to understand the reasons for it.

    Tip #1 Recognizing the Presence of American Slang

    If I had taken my Japanese friend to a place where people were saying they are “juiced” about some upcoming social event, he might have seemed awkward, unable to understand that ‘juiced’ is a word in American slang that means eager or excited. In this, I would find the perfect opportunity to offer a tip to this international student regarding American slang. To begin with, American slang is so accepted because people can realize it’s slang and not something else. When people say “juiced,” for example, they don’t mean to be put into a blender. One of the ways that international students can begin to recognize the presence of American slang, then, is that slang isn’t meant to be taken literally.

    Tip #2 Understanding the Reasons for American Slang

    If my Japanese friend had asked me what others meant when they talked about getting “trashed” over the weekend, I would have another opportunity to offer a tip about American slang. Again, “trashed” isn’t meant to be taken literally, but is a way that college people refer to drinking lots of alcohol. In this example, I would be able to offer a tip that would help this international student understand the reasons for American slang. It seems that any slang is a type of password into a particular social group, one that requires its members to speak the same language. By saying “trashed,” I can assume these people are trying to impress those around them by the level of alcohol they can drink. Another tip for international students who are interested in American slang, therefore, is that slang represents a kind of social status. Slang serves the purpose of letting people be popular. Additionally, the slang that is used around close friends would not be used in other social arenas.

    In sum, my tips to offer international students who are interested in American slang aren’t meant to encourage them to use similar expressions. I only want these students to be able to recognize American slang and to understand the reasons for it. My Japanese friend only wanted to be a “regular guy” who didn’t have to act shocked because he was taking slang too literally.

    Source: personal experience


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  • Avoiding Business Mishaps By Sticking to a Budget

    Posted on May 18, 2012 by dadmin

    Budgeting simply defined is defining limits to your expenditures so as not to exceed net income. The smart businessman must always calculate what it would cost to operate his business. He must also find ways to spend money efficiently in order to maximize return.

    I purchase designer watches and send it overseas. It is sold by a jeweler who reconditions the watches. The business name is Marikina Watch. Here are the steps I take to make sure that my business sticks to the budget or undercuts it.

    I make sure to keep accurate records. Tracking cash flow is the most important thing in sticking with a budget. Even small expenses can add up to a lot and can marginally affect the bottom line. Accurate and timely information is essential for a successful business. I used categories to separate my expenses in a spread sheet. The categories highlight where money was specifically spent.

    I carry a notebook to track all the small expenses that did not have accompanying receipts. I enter these miscellaneous expenses into the spreadsheet at a later time. This ensures that there are no “money leaks” in my budget. These are expenses like vending machines and parking meters.

    Determining the monetary cost of an item and finding the absolute minimum you can pay without compromising quality or utility should be a constant activity. In this economy there are a lot of companies that offer significant discounts on items such as business cards, stationery and envelopes. Consumables like toners, paper, coffee and office supplies prices should be tracked. Discount stores are now in vogue and being caught in one carries no stigma. Purchasing supplies no frills style is now a sign of business savvy.

    I shopped for the lowest prices for internet access, phone services, copier machines leases and other recurring monthly bills. Periodically I review special offers by the provider companies for these services. Frequently changing providers for these key services is of course an unbearable disruption. However information can be used for price negotiation. It is possible to get the same service for a lower price.

    After expenses I track my monthly income. No budget works without giving equal attention to income and expenses. Track your income in as detailed a manner as you track your expenses. Determine net income as opposed to just knowing business revenue. This is done so adjustments to the budget can be made quickly as opposed to incurring debt.

    These suggestions take effort to implement. Every successful businessman will however tell you that the effort is well worth it. The alternative is business closure and I cannot have that.


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  • Greece Political Stalemate Continues, Euro Exit Seems Likely

    Posted on May 17, 2012 by dadmin
    Continued discord between Greek political leaders continues to erode faith that a compromise will be reached and that the country will remain in the Euro. Stock markets in Greece and elsewhere in the region slid as the news continues to be bad. After May 6 elections left a great divide in the Greek parliament, with roughly half supporting a 130 billion euro bailout by the EU and IMF and half against it, things have gone downhill.

    Greece is set to run out of money as early as next month a Greek default now seems even more likely, as does an euro exist. Said Alessandro Giansanti, an ING strategist, “There’s a real risk for the market that at some point Greece will have to leave the euro if they don’t find political cohesion.” EU leaders have begun to openly discuss the country’s departure from the euro, a subject that was once considered taboo but now is occurring because the country is in such a ridiculous state of mismanagement.

    Noted European Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, “We wish Greece will remain in the euro and we hope Greece will remain in the euro. But it must respect its commitments. Greece has its future in its own hands and it is really up tot Greece to see what the response should be.” Some in Greece hope the country remains in the euro. Noted one pensioner, “We have to stay in the euro. I’ve lived the poverty of the drachma and don’t want to go back. Never! God help us. They must cooperate or we’ll be destroyed. It will be chaos. For once, they must care about us and not their own position.”


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  • Waffles Ideas for Lunch, Dinner and Snack

    Posted on May 16, 2012 by dadmin

    Waffles, frozen or homemade, have been a quick and delicious breakfast staple for decades. If you and your family enjoy the flavor and convenience of waffles for breakfast, it’s time to bring them to the forefront at lunch, dinner and snack time too with these easy to fix waffle ideas.

    Waffle Burgers

    A waffle is bread and when you place a hot beef patty with all the fixings between two waffles, you have a gourmet waffle burger. The ideas are limitless for a lunch or dinner of waffle burgers. Use frozen waffles and frozen beef patties when in a hurry and need a quick meal on the run or make heart healthy waffles from whole wheat waffle mix and ground chicken and turkey.

    If you have a child that is a picky eater, a waffle burger is a great way to sneak in some vegetables without them knowing it. Puree vegetables like carrots and broccoli and mix into the ground meat before forming into burgers and cooking. Top cooked waffle burgers with a slice of tomato and onion and you’ve just served your child one-two servings of healthy veggies without them even knowing.

    Pizza Waffles

    This waffle idea can be served anytime of the day and it even makes a perfect horderve for a casual party. Create pizza waffles by topping fresh or frozen waffles with your favorite pizza toppings. Healthy pizza waffles begin with whole wheat waffles and get topped with a variety of fresh veggies like sliced grape tomatoes, olives, onions, pesto and mozzarella cheese. Pop them under the broiler until cheese melts and top with a sprinkling of freshly chopped basil or cilantro.

    For a more substantial waffle pizza, spread waffle with pesto, marinara or tomato sauce and top with cooked meat (pepperoni, beef, chicken) and whatever else you like on your pizza and broil until toppings are hot. Any version of a waffle pizza can be sliced into quarters and served as an horderve.

    Dessert Waffle

    A great way to end a meal or to create a quick snack is with waffles and ice cream. Plate a hot waffle and top with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate or butterscotch sauce or top with fresh fruit. For a delicious on-the-go waffle snack create an ice cream sandwich by placing a scoop of ice cream between two waffles and pressing it all together.

    Sources:

    Food Network

    Allrecipes


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  • Surprising Uses of Everyday Foods

    Posted on May 15, 2012 by dadmin

    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

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  • How a Broken Refrigerator Taught Me to Save Money

    Posted on May 14, 2012 by dadmin

    When our refrigerator went on the fritz and we found out it would take three weeks to get the new part, my husband and I grabbed a large ice chest and small dorm refrigerator from the garage and set about downsizing the contents of our now defunct kitchen appliance. Although it was inconvenient storing our food in such a tiny space, we noticed an unexpected but pleasant result. We were saving money. But how did that happen? After all, we were eating exactly the same as before. On closer inspection, we realized that our broken fridge forced us to change a few bad habits like the way we shopped for groceries and how we prepared our nightly dinner. Here’s what we learned.

    1. Cook only what you’ll eat. In the past, when I made dinner for my family which includes three teenage boys, I would always cook a little more with the thought that I would save the rest for leftovers during the week. But nine times out of ten, the leftovers would just sit in the back of my refrigerator until I would eventually throw them in the trash. With my refrigerator out of commission and cold space at a premium, however, I had to be very careful in how much food I would cook each night. By preparing only what I knew we would eat at each meal we rarely had leftovers saving us a bit of cash in the process.

    2. Shop for food every few days rather than once a week. Before I used to go grocery shopping once a week buying all our fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy that I thought we would need for the next seven days. Although I was fairly accurate in my estimates, without a doubt something would slip through the cracks. Whether it was a few pieces of fruit, a bag of lettuce or too much fish, there was always something that spoiled and had to be tossed at the end of the week. But now with only a small dorm fridge and camping cooler to store our food, I had to shop every few days buying only what we could use in the next 48 hours. This resulted in very little, if any, food spoilage or money down the drain.

    3. Resist impulse buying. Previously, every trip I took to the grocery store included some kind of impulse buy. Whether it was a new type of frozen pizza, tempting deli item, some exotic fruit that I thought would be fun to try or just buying too much of something in general, I would put it in my shopping cart without a second thought. But now without my refrigerator, there simply wasn’t the room to store new things. No more impulse buying meant more money in my pocket.

    So how much money did these changes shave off my grocery bill? An impressive $ 25 a week. Although my refrigerator is once again working, I’ve continued to follow these three simple but cost-effective rules making the $ 400 repair bill a bit easier to swallow.



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  • How to Dispose of Smoke Detectors

    Posted on May 13, 2012 by dadmin

    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

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    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.

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    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?


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  • Justin Bieber & Usher Cover Billboard Magazine

    Posted on May 12, 2012 by dadmin

    They’re both gearing up to release new albums, and Justin Bieber and Usher share the cover of the latest issue of Billboard Magazine.

    The “One Less Lonely Girl” singer confessed that while he is all about taking risks with his new music, he doesn’t want to put anyone off by going too far.

    “I don’t want to lose my young fans, but I also want to mature and develop. I always keep one foot out of my comfort zone, trying new things and experimenting – if you don’t, people will get bored. Seeing the smiles on people’s faces and how I affect them when I perform makes me want to give them the absolute best experience they can possibly get.

    Meanwhile, Usher gave Bieber props for his flowing skills. “He’s always been a dope MC. C’mon. Easy. ‘Boyfriend’ was really the defining moment; it became No. 1 everywhere, which is what dreams are made of. Both of us are being modest about what our journeys have been in terms of songwriting: Justin really has participated in every writing session -that’s amazing. It’s easy to just dial something in, but if you make the music authentic, people feel connected to you as an artist from the beginning.”

    And Justin returned the favor, sharing that he’s really benefitted from Usher’s mentoring. “What’s great is that in Usher, I have a mentor that’s been doing it so long and has been successful in everything that he’s done. He’s made some mistakes, too, but he’s learned from them, so he can tell me what to do and what not to do.”

    Both Usher and Justin will be performing at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards.

    Dropping a brand new track just in time for the Mother’s Day weekend, Justin Bieber has debuted his latest single “Turn To You”.

    In the emotionally charged song, the Canadian hitmaker utilizes a mild beat while belting out heartfelt lyrics in which he professes his profound love for his mom.

    Among the lyrics, Justin recalls how hard his beloved mother worked to provide for him after giving birth at a young age.

    The 19-year-old superstar sings out in the tune, “You worked two jobs to keep a roof up over our heads/ You chose life for me, no you never gave up/ I admire you for the strength you instilled in me/ You were so young, you were just my age when you had me/ Mom, you were so brave, there was nothing that would stop or get in our way/ And I know you will always be there for me.”

    Continuing to give thanks for how she helped him become the giant success in which he is today, Bieber’s new song “Turn To You” is extra-special in the fact that proceeds from purchases are being directed to single moms in need.

    Of the charitable plan, Justin tweeted, “Think im gonna release #TurnToYOU for my mom this friday for mother’s day weekend. the proceeds will go to help other single moms. Thanks”

    The Mother’s Day weekend release comes as Bieber is readying for the debut of his new studio album “Believe” – which will be made available in the U.S. beginning June 19th.

    ©2012, GossipCenter.com. All Rights Reserved


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  • President Obama Declares Support for Same-Sex Marriage

    Posted on May 11, 2012 by dadmin
    After Vice President Joe Biden declared his support for same-sex marriage over the weekend, President Barack Obama and his aides felt like he should address the issue sooner rather than later. So, in an impromptu sit-down interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts, Obama explained that the evolution of his position on gay marriage was complete – and he now supports same-sex marriage. He phrased it in this manner: “At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”

    The President did acknowledge that he believed the Vice President had gotten a bit “over his skis” on the issue, implying that Biden should have kept quiet until the President could better frame his own announcement. And while the announcement has drawn the expected responses from Mitt Romney’s camp and constituent groups on both sides of the issue, many analysts are viewing it as a non-issue in the long term.

    Of course, expecting the issue to go away before November is highly unlikely, and it’s safe to assume that Obama is going to be forced to expand greatly on his position in the months to come. But, the fact is that he is not proposing or attacking any legislation with his “new” position on the matter. Instead, he can claim that he is making an honest and non-political statement about his personal position on an issue that is extremely sensitive for many Americans.

    The President’s team is counting on the fact that the economy is going to be the make-or-break issue of the upcoming election, so they will remain focused there. Of course, if the election turns out to be as close as many are predicting, the gay marriage issue could tip the scales in one direction or another.


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  • French President-Elect Hollande Seeks Strong U.S. Relations

    Posted on May 10, 2012 by dadmin
    New French President-elect Francois Hollande has made many announcements and speeches since winning the presidency of his nation, but one of particular interest to Americans looking on is that Hollande is not seeking to “make things difficult for Barack Obama.” Hollande referred to issues such as Afghanistan and others that Americans and the French have not always seen eye to eye on. He also was quick to note that he speaks English very well and wishes to maintain good relations with the U.S.

    Noted Hollande, “Yes, I speak English, more fluently than the former president. But a French president has to speak French!” Hollande made his comments, in English, to a French publication. Hollande, a socialist, will meet with President Obama next week prior to two international summits – the G8 meeting that will focus on the world economy, and a NATO meeting about policy in Afghanistan.

    Hollande also praised Obama for improving relations with his country after the presidency of George W. Bush saw a constant erosion of cooperation between the two countries. He noted, “I will therefore assert France’s independence without making things difficult for Barack Obama.” Hollande also promised that France’s roughly 3,600 troops in Afghanistan would be removed by the end of the year, but that he would make that move in coordination with NATO allies. That promise is, ironically, identical to the one Obama made when he was running for president in 2008, and one on which he has thus far failed to deliver for over 3 years.


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