The CoTV
Welcome to the November 20, 2008 edition of carnival of the vanities. I hope it finds you well and content. Alvaro Fernandez presents Online Cognitive Therapy OKed by Health Insurance posted at SharpBrains, saying, “helping consumers get a good night’s sleep has become a priority for most of the top-tier U.S. health insurance companies, including WellPoint, Aetna, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente and several Blue Cross plans. Their new programs don’t involve sleeping pills.” Alvaro Fernandez presents Neuroplasticity and the Brain That Changes Itself posted at SharpBrains, saying, “helping consumers get a good night’s sleep has become a priority for most of the top-tier U.S. health insurance companies, including WellPoint, Aetna, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente and several Blue Cross plans. Their new programs don’t involve sleeping pills.” Aparna presents Sugar as beauty aid posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, “You need not ban sugar from your life completely. In fact, there are certain good things about sugar for you to consider. For instance, aloe-sugar syrup works as a good antidote for pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and delayed periods. If you are still keen on avoiding sugar in your diet, then why not consider using it as a beauty aid” Jim presents 0% Credit Cards: No Interest Purchases & Balance Transfers Offers posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. GrrlScientist presents Singing in Slow Motion posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “Birdsong is the primary model system that helps scientists understand how the brain produces complex sequences of learned behavior, such as playing the piano. In songbirds, there are many interconnected brain regions that play specific and important role in the production of song. These brain regions are known as “song control nuclei.” Two song control nuclei, the High Vocal Center (HVC) and the robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA), are especially important for birdsong because damage to either prevents the bird from singing altogether. It was hypothesized that either HVC or RA could orchestrate the rhythm of the bird’s song, acting like a sort of biological metronome, but the technology did not exist to identify which song control nucleus might play this role—until now. In an elegant combination of physics and biology, two researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge invented a tiny new device that allowed them to identify HVC as regulating the rhythm of birdsong.” Silicon Valley Blogger presents 10 Frugal Steps To Help You Survive An Economic Crisis posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “Thank you!” The Smarter Wallet presents Best Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, “Thanks!” Romeo Vitelli presents Providentia: Saartjie’s Homecoming posted at Providentia, saying, “A tragedy of the past and a legacy for the future” debergerac78 presents The Obama Administration sets new ethics rules for lobbyists posted at The Business Ethics Blog, saying, “His upcoming administration is shaping up to be an antidote against Capitol Hill corruption.” Machione presents A Long Weekend That Turned Into A Week, Thanks To The McCain/Palin Ticket posted at Fear And Loathing – The Gonzo Papers, saying, “What made it all more interesting for me, as a gambler, was that there was no problem finding supporters of the GOP who wouldn’t contribute to the McCain/Palin ticket, but didn’t hesitate to bet that Obama would lose.” burgson maria presents Anything is possible posted at WORTH TO BE BLOGGED. Barry Wright III presents The Right People posted at 3stylelife. nickel presents 0% Credit Cards: No Interest on Purchases for up to 12 Months posted at fivecentnickel.com. CreditAddict presents Credit Card Signup Bonuses @ Credit Card Addict posted at CreditAddict. Kilroy_60 presents The Genius Of Frank Lloyd Wright Shines Through On An Autumn Afternoon posted at The Lives and Times… of Anthony McCune, saying, “Recently I had a chance to get shots that I believe showcase the beauty of the Dobkins house in autumn.” CreditShout presents College Students and Credit Card Debt posted at CreditShout. Marcus Smith presents 3 Painfully Obvious Reasons to Speak in Plain English posted at MarcusASmith.com. Marsha Hudnall presents Preventing Holiday Weight Gain: 10 Tips to Guarantee Holiday Weight Gain posted at A Weight Lifted, saying, “The annual holiday food fight is about to begin. You know, the one where conflicted women nationwide (even worldwide) face down rich-food eating traditions.
This year, to help women understand what doesnt work when it comes to happy holidays, the healthy-weight experts at Green Mountain at Fox Run have come up with some sure-fire tips to take the guesswork out of gaining those holiday pounds. We counter them with sensible advice for emerging from the holidays feeling great.
For Guaranteed Holiday Weight Gain
Before the Holidays
Diet! Diet! Diet! Lets face it, you expect to overeat during the holidays so why not get a jump on weight loss now? If youre feeling truly ambitious, try dieting during the holidays, too; the deprivation will be highly effective at driving you to overeat. Our real advice: Learn to eat what you want now in a way that leaves you feeling great. Then the holidays wont pose any special challenge, and you can enjoy them fully.
Work out extra hard and long every day. You can make up for those times during the holidays when you wont want or have the time to do anything. Our real advice: When we overdo on exercise, were more likely to burn out, or worse yet, injure ourselves, and guarantee we dont want to do anything. Slow and steady wins the race.
Start weighing yourself daily. Youll be able to follow your weight up and down the scale, and cut back even more when youve gained an ounce. Then youll heighten your feelings of deprivation even more, further guaranteeing holiday overindulgence. Our real advice: Toss out the scale now and for always. It generally doesnt give the instant gratification we seek, and often negatively impacts our motivation to take care of ourselves.
During the Holidays
Take on as much work as you can. If you dont do it, who will? The holidays just arent the holidays without all the fuss! Our real advice: Choose wisely in what you commit to. You may end up with fewer or simpler celebrations but youll enjoy the holidays much more.
Surround yourself with family and friends who make you feel guilty about eating. Its easier to say no when your spouse, mother, sister, daughter, friend looks disapprovingly at you as you reach for that wonderful holiday sprinkled cookie. Our real advice: Educate family and friends about the real impact of their attempts to control what you eat. If they wont listen, minimize your time around them when youre eating. It may mean missing a party or meal, but you might feel much better as a result.
Forget about stress management for now. Youre too busy!! Just focus on getting what you need to get done. And be sure to really have too much to do before big parties. If you can pick a fight with your spouse on the way to a party, all the better to guarantee extra emotional overeating. Our real advice: Take care of yourself physically and mentally to help keep a balanced view on whats important during busy times. Maybe the easiest thing to do: Get some exercise! Physical activity refreshes, relaxes, revitalizes and will add energy and enthusiasm to your life. Make it a regular part of your day during the holidays and after.
Before & During Parties
Make sure every social event revolves around food. If you throw the party yourself, make too much food, especially desserts! Set up nuts and other goodies early so you can pick at them all day long while you skip meals. You do eat fewer calories that way, right? Our real advice: Traditional foods are a big part of festivities, but holidays dont have to be all about food. Plan fun activities such as pumpkin bowling (knock down gourd pins with small pumpkins), a pine cone toss (count how many pine cones you can land inside a hula hoop) or just fun and refreshing walks through the woods, around the neighborhood talking to friends you pass.
Set a hands-off rule for all the rich foods youll encounter. If you just say no, youll be able to nip any weight gain in the bud! Our real advice: When we forbid foods or label them bad, we set ourselves up for overeating them. Again, learn to eat foods you love even those rich in calories, fat, sugar in a manner that makes you feel well. That way, youll enjoy them and, if youre following a healthy lifestyle, youll enjoy a healthy weight, too.
Go ahead and buy all those goodies on sale in jumbo packages. Theyre for your guests; they wont create any problem for you having them around. Our real advice: Good intentions aside, mere exposure to food often sets us up for wanting to at least taste it, especially if weve got the idea we shouldnt. Help yourself by buying only as much as you really need, and even then, it might help to keep goodies tucked out of sight in the pantry until party time.
Bank calories whenever possible. Skip breakfast and lunch to make sure youll overeat at the party. Our real advice: Feeding yourself well all the time leaves you better nourished and able to choose wisely whether at parties or the food court at the mall.” DWSUWF presents Monday Miscellany – Special Bear Market Blues Edition posted at Divided We Stand United We Fall, saying, “To solve a problem that was created by too much government spending, too much government debt, too much easy government sponsored credit, and a market distorted by massive government intervention we are now given to understand that we need to increase government spending, government debt, and create more market distortions with more government intervention. That strikes me as insane.” That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of the vanities using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. Technorati tags: carnival of the vanities, blog carnival. Welcome to the November 20, 2008 edition of carnival of the vanities. I hope it finds you well and content. Alvaro Fernandez presents Online Cognitive Therapy OKed by Health Insurance posted at SharpBrains, saying, "helping consumers get a good night's sleep has become a priority for most of [...]
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Dreary BOMS
Welcome to the November 16, 2008 edition of best of me symphony. As we all look towards winter here are some good links to warm your cockles. Simonne presents Dirty Blue Widget 1 posted at Dirty Blue Widgets, saying, “The Dirty Blue Widgets poetry jam sessions have opened today with a love poem. You are invited to bring your poetic contribution to this poetry blog. Each line is much appreciated.” Cory Albertson presents 6 Tips for Reducing Your Debt posted at Debt Relief, saying, “Debt is not a pleasant burden, especially in the midst of a global economic slowdown. Before job security and credit concerns really start to impact your life, follow these six tips for getting debt free.” Dereck presents The Fisherman Fable posted at I Will Not Die. JHSEsq presents BlogBlast for Peace 2008: No Peace Without True Equality posted at Colloquium, saying, “There can be no peace in the world until all persons are assured equality under the law, irrespective of their gender or sexual orientation. Sadly, the fight against discrimination must continue here in California in the wake of the November 4, 2008, election.” Jim presents Kiplingers Best Discount Brokers posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. Michael. presents Vince Neil Hosts Off the Strip Poker Tournament posted at Online Casino Blog. Sam presents NEW !! Do You Need a Will? Ten Steps to Make a Legal Will. When Do You Need An Attorney? posted at Surfer Sam and Friends, saying, “A basic will is a simple document used to transfer your own property to whomever you want to get it after you die. If you have a modest estate and simple wishes about what you want to do with it, you can make your own legal will.
Some people dont want to face the thought of their death. It is an emotional and psychic hurdle. But wouldnt you be happier to know that your plans are in place, and your wishes will be respected after you are no longer here? With a will, you know that your loved ones are provided for. A will ensures that, if death comes unexpectedly, your loved ones will not have to deal with this additional burden in their time of grief.
Do You Need a Legal Will?
Without a will, the court will determine who gets your money, property and personal belongings, and will divide your assets among close family members. The court determines who will get custody of your minor children, without regard to your wishes. The court will appoint an attorney to manage your estate, and will pay attorneys fees out of your estate. Wouldnt you like to choose for yourself what happens? That’s why you need a will.” Dereck presents In the Presence of a Cold Rain posted at I Will Not Die. Silicon Valley Blogger presents Worried About Your Savings Accounts In Problem Banks? posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “Thank you!” The Smarter Wallet presents Freshman Fund: Save For College With A 529 Plan Registry posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, “Thanks!” That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of best of me symphony using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. Technorati tags: best of me symphony, blog carnival.
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More reviews from Marty.
Music Review: Joetown, Kip Winger, Omnium Gatherum, Plan9, Samothrace, Theocracy, and Viking Skull
God bothering power metal to death rock via a bit of Kip Winger.
Welcome to the overflow. The place where things that dont make the cut for Marty Musical Meltdown get mentioned. These reviews are shorter and probably more biting. I review stuff here cause I fell like it or it just does not fit in the main column.
Fairmont: Transcendence
Like the car of the same name made by Ford in the 1970s this a triumph of mediocrity. This is the type of music you would find in the background at the local coffee shpp as everyone surfs the internet with their favourite cup of daft named coffee or chai. I get the feeling the band might not be offended to hear that this would make perfect fare for those radio stations that are played in offices. Its does nothing for the senses.
Its not bad enough to annoy or good enough to make you take notice. Its just there audibly. Pleasant and well played enough but nothing to move the soul. I had to actually force myself to pay attention to the CD lest I just put it on and suddenly realise its over. For those who think Enya is too engaging.
Midnight Syndicate: The Dead Matter: Cemetary Gates
This is MS doing what they do best. Creepy soundtracks and music inspired by horror and dark movies. This lot is inspired by the new indie horror flick The Dead Matter. You know ancient relic allows access to the world of the undead etc. Not exactly anything novel script wise but the music on here is quite good. Its only a matter of time before this lot get out of the world of indie cinema and pen the soundtrack to a major release.
That is something they much deserveMS always relase quality despite their active writing adventures. Not sure about the movie but the CD is worth getting whatever time of the year.
Abigail Williams: In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns
Named after a central character in the Salem Witch Trials and a major character in The Crucible, a play which my beloved has performed in professionally, this lot are obviously big fans of Cradle of Filth. Many believe the band are rather more over-hyped than they deserve. Their brand of keyboard-laden deathcore does not really move me much it has to be said.
That might be due to the fact the band broke up for a while and seem to have a problem keeping members. I think we need to wait for this line-up to produce something more solid and original before giving them much examination. One does have to wonder why this lot have got the attention while others who peddle something similar havent. Ones to watch but not much to see hereyet.
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