Three Secrets You Aren't Supposed To Know
Are there really secrets that you aren't supposed to know? There are, but let's look at what a "secret" is. It isn't something that nobody knows, after all. In fact, anyone can learn almost anything on the internet today with enough time. But the fact that this information is available doesn't mean that you have it.
Secrets, then, are simply pieces of knowledge that most people don't have, and which some people try to hide or to keep others from knowing. This secret information may be out there and available to you, but it won't be easy to find. Here are a few examples.
Credit Card Secrets
Did you know that some credit card companies have been changing the due dates on statements without warning? Oh, the date is right there for you to read, but they know that you get used to paying the bill at the same time every month. Some people will pay late due to the changed date, and that means more money in late fees and interest. Obviously, you aren't supposed to know this.
Did you know that on the same credit cards from the same bank, some people are paying an annual fee and others are not? You might think that because it says right there in black and white that the annual fee is $25, that everyone pays it, but it isn't so. If you are a good customer, and threaten to get rid of the card, the company will probably get rid of the fee. But you have to ask. I have had a fee dropped many times just by calling and asking. If they won't drop the fee, I cancel the card. I never pay fees for credit cards, and there are plenty of cards without fees.
Medical Secrets
I had a lump on the side of my nose many years ago. It had been there, slowly growing, for at least six years. A doctor said he wasn't sure if it was cancerous or could become so. Further tests would be needed, which I declined. Instead, I opted for a natural substance which I had read about in an alternative health newsletter. I bought this oil for six dollars at a health food store and applied a drop to the growth each morning. In six weeks the growth was gone, and it has never returned.
It took six dollars and six weeks to get rid of a growth that had been there for six years. Now, who do you suppose doesn't want you to know about these kinds of secrets? The medical profession in general, perhaps, but the pharmaceutical companies in particular. You aren't supposed to know about natural cures because they have no good way to profit off of them.
You see, unlike a new drug or medicine, a natural product cannot be patented, so anyone can sell it. That makes it tough to have much of a profit margin, or to spend millions on advertising, when you'll then just go buy it from a cheaper source. This is why we are seeing calls for regulation of natural products, including vitamin pills. It isn't the consumers who want "protection" from the "dangers" of vitamins and herbs. It is the companies that have to compete against these cheaper alternatives.
Television News Secret
You probably have noticed how frivolous the news has become. Chances are, more than once you have sat there watching the evening news and thinking, "There must be something more important than this to report on." It really isn't a secret that the networks are more inclined to entertain than to inform you with news.
What is more of a secret is that not all news broadcasts are that way. In other parts of the world, you actually get important news that you never hear about here. In fact, even CNN has more than one type of programming. Here in the United States, we get the fluff. But when I was in South America, I watched CNN International, and their was a big difference. I actually learned about what was going on all over the world. It still wasn't great reporting, but it was far above CNN's domestic broadcast in quality.
Why? Perhaps we want the fluff, and so they give it to us. Apparently, it isn't tolerated as well in other places. Also, perhaps we aren't supposed to know these secrets of television news, of differing coverage. I don't suppose the news networks want to advertise the fact that we get fed the worst coverage of world news.
Copyright Steve Gillman. Want to discover what that natural oil was and more Secrets You Aren't Supposed To Know? Go get your free "secrets" course at: http://www.TheSecretInformationSite.com
Torchieres are Elegant and Space Saving Light Fixtures
The torchiere is a lighting fixture that has gained much popularity over the last ten or so years, with its slim elegant design and availability in a wide range of prices, it’s easy to see why. For those not familiar with the torchiere, they are a close relative of the floor lamp but with a few discernable differences. Torchieres are generally characterized by a very thin column that rises up from some sort of weighted base. Most stand around six-feet tall and have light diffusers or shades that force light upwards, as opposed to lamps which shine downwards. This is probably the key characteristic of the torchiere.
Torchieres are fairly versatile, as they can pretty much work in any room in your home. They are most widely used in living rooms and bedrooms but they don’t look out of place in dining rooms and home offices either. The slim torchiere is ideal for so many rooms because of its space-saving design. With floor and table lamps, one needs to worry about the size of the base and the size of the lampshade. There are none of these worries with torchieres.
As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the torchiere is available in every price range. Stores ranging from your neighborhood Target or Wal-Mart to higher end retailers like Restoration Hardware all carry some form of the torchiere. You can spend as little as $20-$30 for a cheapie basic model or into the thousands for a torchiere made from finer materials with a more elaborate look.
In pretty much all cases, a torchiere provides more ambient light than a standard lamp, sometimes up to 20% more light. The reason for this is the upward facing shades mentioned in the first paragraph. Light will hit a standard height ceiling and be diffused over a greater area than light from a table or floor lamp, which is forced downwards and often blocked.
Visit the Eco-Lights website for a great selection of lamps, chandeliers, and outdoor lighting.
Preparing Children for Emergencies
Intense circumstances create high amounts of stress, not only for adults, but children also. Whether it is a fire, flood or earthquake, children need to know what to do and how to do it in order to minimize stress and anxiety. Have you heard stories on the news about a child who saves a family by staying calm, calling 911, and following directions? Being prepared to help in an emergency saves lives. What makes it possible for a child in a high stress situation to be ready to help?
Establish and Practice Home Emergency Plans. Everyone in the family needs to be aware of potential disasters and what to do if they occur. Start family emergency planning with a brainstorming session. (Depending on the age of your children you may need to explain that brainstorming is sharing whatever comes to mind. No idea is bad and no one should be laughed at for their contributions.) After brainstorming pull out the most effective ideas and make a family written plan and post it in a public place. Put plans into action by rehearsing drills. After each trial, evaluate performance to make the plan run more smoothly. Planning in such a way allows children to maintain control of their responses and actions, even when emergencies are out of their control. Planning increases their ability to respond calmly in an emergency.
Enroll Youth in Programs. Community youth programs teach important life skills. These programs prepare children by enlarging upon the lessons from home and school. Organizations such as The American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Girls Scouts of U.S.A, and R.A.D. Kids promote emergency preparedness and skills, and often assist families by offering good exercises to do at home.
First Aid Classes. Teach, review, and practice basic first aid with children. Talk about more complicated first aid procedures, even if they are not physically capable of doing them. Although children may not be able to perform procedures such as CPR, clearing a person's airway, or giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, it is beneficial for them to know what it is in case they ever witness it. Traumatic events cause more fear and tension if they are completely new or unfamiliar.
Community Service. Create a sense of belonging, responsibility, and service for your family by participating in city wide clean-ups or other service projects. Involvement teaches children that many hands make light work and that we all need to help each other to get a job done. If there ever is a need for community work during an emergency children will know how to help and work together.
Teach Health and Fitness. Having a strong mind and a healthy body aids a person in a disaster. Being able to react and withstand challenges is an important component of physical readiness. Youth can help with tasks such as sandbagging, shoveling, and cleaning if they have been physically active and living a healthy lifestyle.
Laughter is the Best Medicine. Humor reduces stress and anxiety by releasing feel-good hormones in the brain, promoting positive thinking and emotion. Make humor apart of everyday life. Encourage good jokes and optimism. Practice making tense situations lighter with laughter. Children will be reassured and relaxed during the stress that is associated with emergency if they can have the healthy outlet of laughter.
Being prepared for possible emergencies increases confidence, knowledge and skill in children of all ages. Because emergencies can cause high stress and have a negative impact and effect on people's lives, especially children, it is important to take the necessary steps to prepare them for such situations. Also remember that children react to the emotions of those around them and can sense when there is fear, stress or anxiety. The best way to help a child in an emergency is to be prepared to deal with the situation yourself.
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Francesca Black is a prolific writer and has generated a number of educational articles about emergencies. Additional articles can be found at Prepare for Emergency http://www.prepare-for-emergency.com .