How Dry Will It Get? New Climate Change Predictions

 

Map of projected changes in global precipitation.
Credit: Scripps

Global warming's crystal ball is clearing as climate models improve, and scientists now predict that some regions will see a month's less rain and snow by 2100.

The new rain and snow estimates indicate that subtropical spots — such as the Mediterranean, the Amazon, Central America and Indonesia — will undergo the biggest precipitation shifts in the coming decades. The number of dry days in these zones will rise by as many as 30 days per year, according to the study, published today (March 13) in the journal Scientific Reports.

"Looking at changes in the number of dry days per year is a new way of understanding how climate change will affect us that goes beyond just annual or seasonal mean precipitation changes, and allows us to better adapt to and mitigate the impacts of local hydrological changes," said Suraj Polade, a climate scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego and lead study author.

The findings also suggest a rising probability of droughts and floods in the near future as annual rainfall becomes more variable, the researchers said. [Weather vs. Climate Change: Test Yourself]

"Variability is going to play a big part in making things worse [as climate changes]," Polade told Live Science. "When you're increasing the variability of the climate, one year you can have a flood and the next year you can have a drought. You can also have an increase in extreme precipitation events, with a whole year's precipitation in just a few storms."

South Africa, Mexico and western Australia will go without rain for 15 to 20 more days per year, and California is likely to have five to 10 more dry days per year by the end of the century, the study found.

Some of the subtropical missing moisture will head north: The study predicts the Arctic will have 40 more wet days a year, but the South Pole will only get 10 more wet days per year.

Rerouting the weather

Why the shifts? Answers vary, but previous research has pointed the finger at changing storm tracks, particularly for tropical cyclones such as hurricanes and typhoons. Climate models suggest that midlatitude cyclones may shift north, while those that hit near the equator will likely stay their usual course.

There are also poleward shifts in the vast atmospheric patterns that control where rain falls. For example, the Hadley cell, the large-scale pattern of atmospheric circulation that transports heat from the tropics to the subtropics, has marched south during recent decades, moving the subtropical dry zone (a band that receives little rainfall) along with it. The northern and southern jet streams, which mark where cold and warm air meet, also seem to be creeping toward the poles. Their movement away from the equator suggests that the Earth's tropical zones are expanding, according to recent studies. The jet streams play an important role in moving moisture around the higher latitudes.

"We are looking at why this is happening," Polade said. "Earlier studies suggest that warmer regions will get wetter, while colder regions can get wetter or drier," he said. "The tropics are also getting wetter or drier, while the subtropics are drying."

The report relies on the latest global climate models (known as CMIP5), which predict future climate change under certain greenhouse-gas emissions scenarios. The study tested an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to 950 parts per million by 2100, more than twice the current level. The number means there would be 950 molecules of carbon dioxide in the air per every million air molecules. 

Email Becky Oskin or follow her @beckyoskin. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.

General Dynamics delivers second mobile landing platform to US Navy

 

13 March 2014

General Dynamics NASSCO has successfully delivered the second mobile landing platform (MLP) ship, USNS John Glenn (MLP 2), to the US Navy.

The second MLP ship has been named to honour the former US Marine Corps pilot and US senator John Herschel Glenn, who is also the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth.

General Dynamics NASSCO president Fred Harris said: "We are delivering this ship with the quality, innovation and capability needed to support the future missions of the nation's fleet and uniformed men and women around the world."

The 785ft-long MLP is a new class of auxiliary vessel being designed for the US Navy to serve as a floating base for amphibious operations and a transfer point between large ships and small landing craft.

Powered by a twin-screw diesel electric propulsion system integrating four MAN/B&W medium-speed diesel engines, the new MLP ships will enter service with three maritime prepositioning force (MPF) squadrons to support a wide range of missions including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, amphibious and other combat missions.

The third ship of the class, MLP 3, is currently under construction by NASSCO and will be configured as an afloat forward staging base (AFSB).

MLP 3 is expected to be delivered to the US Navy in the second quarter of 2015.

Separately, the US Navy has placed orders with General Dynamics for maintenance and modernisation of the Virginia-class attack submarine, USS Minnesota (SSN-783).

Under the $57m contract, the company will perform a post-shakedown availability, which consists of maintenance work, repairs, alternations and testing to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity.

Scheduled to be completed in February 2015, work under the contract will be conducted at the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, US.

---

Image: US Navy's second mobile landing platform, USNS John Glenn (MLP 2), underway off the California coast. Photo: courtesy of US Navy.

O que é HPV?

 

O HPV é um condiloma acuminado, conhecido também como verruga genital, crista de galo, figueira ou cavalo de crista, é uma doença sexualmente transmissível (DST) causada pelo Papilomavírus humano (HPV). Atualmente, existem mais de 100 tipos de HPV - alguns deles podendo causar câncer, principalmente no colo do útero e do ânus. Entretanto, a infecção pelo HPV é muito comum e nem sempre resulta em câncer. O exame de prevenção do câncer ginecológico, o Papanicolau, pode detectar alterações precoces no colo do útero e deve ser feito rotineiramente por todas as mulheres.

O HPV é uma DST que pode causar câncer principalmente no colo do útero e no ânus

Não se conhece o tempo em que o HPV pode permanecer sem sintomas e quais são os fatores responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento de lesões. Por esse motivo, é recomendável procurar serviços de saúde para consultas periodicamente.

 

Causas

A principal forma de transmissão do vírus do HPV é pela via sexual. Para ocorrer o contágio, a pessoa infectada não precisa apresentar sintomas. Mas, quando a verruga é visível, o risco de transmissão é muito maior. O uso da camisinha durante a relação sexual geralmente impede a transmissão do HPV, que também pode ser transmitido para o bebê durante o parto.

visão geral

• sintomas
• tratamento e cuidados
• prevenção
• encontre um médico

Sintomas de HPV

A infecção pelo HPV normalmente causa verrugas de tamanhos variáveis. No homem, é mais comum na cabeça do pênis (glande) e na região do ânus. Na mulher, os sintomas mais comuns do HPV surgem na vagina, vulva, região do ânus e colo do útero. As lesões do HPV também podem aparecer na boca e na garganta. Tanto o homem quanto a mulher podem estar infectados pelo vírus sem apresentar sintomas.

Saiba mais

• Sintomas que podem sinalizar uma DST
• Corrimento vaginal pode indicar DSTs

visão geral

• sintomas
• tratamento e cuidados
• prevenção
• encontre um médico

Tratamento de HPV

Na presença de qualquer sinal ou sintoma do HPV, é recomendado procurar um profissional de saúde, para o diagnóstico correto e indicação do tratamento adequado para o HPV.

Saiba mais

• Saiba como prevenir e tratar o HPV

visão geral

• sintomas
• tratamento e cuidados
• prevenção
• encontre um médico

Prevenção

Vacina

Foram desenvolvidas duas vacinas contra os tipos de HPV mais presentes no câncer de colo do útero: a vacina bivalente e a vacina quadrivalente. Essas vacinas, na verdade, previnem contra a infecção por HPV. Mas o real impacto da vacinação contra o câncer de colo de útero só poderá ser observado após décadas. Uma dessas vacinas é quadrivalente, ou seja, previne contra quatro tipos de HPV: o 16 e 18, presentes em 70% dos casos de câncer de colo do útero, e o 6 e 11, presentes em 90% dos casos de verrugas genitais. A outra é específica para os subtipos de HPV 16 e 18.

Saiba mais

• Vacina contra HPV
• Vacina só protege contra alguns tipos de HPV

É fundamental deixar claro que a adoção da vacina contra o HPV não substituirá a realização regular do exame de citologia, Papanicolau (preventivo).

A vacina contra o HPV é mais uma estratégia possível para o enfrentamento do problema e um momento importante para avaliar se há existência de DST. Ainda há muitas perguntas sem respostas relativas à vacina do HPV:

• A vacina do HPV só previne contra as lesões précancerosas ou também contra o desenvolvimento do câncer de colo de útero?
• Qual o tempo de proteção conferido pela vacina do HPV?
• Levando-se em conta que a maioria das infecções por HPV é facilmente debelada pelo sistema imunológico, como a vacinação afeta a imunidade natural contra o HPV?
• Como a vacina afeta outros tipos de HPV associados ao câncer de colo de útero e condilomas (verrugas)?

A vacina do HPV funciona estimulando a produção de anticorpos específicos para cada tipo de HPV. A proteção contra a infecção vai depender da quantidade de anticorpos produzidos pelo indivíduo vacinado, a presença destes anticorpos no local da infecção e a sua persistência durante um longo período de tempo.

Câncer de colo do útero

A duração da imunidade conferida pela vacina do HPV ainda não foi determinada, principalmente pelo pouco tempo em que é comercializada no mundo, desde 2007. Até o momento, só se tem convicção de cinco anos de proteção. Na verdade, embora se trate da mais importante novidade surgida na prevenção à infecção pelo HPV, ainda é preciso delimitar qual é o seu alcance sobre a incidência e a mortalidade do câncer de colo do útero.

 

Google Lets Photographer Into Secretive Data Centers, Beautiful Photos Ensue

 

Look around on the web, and you’ll find plenty of photographs of Google’s colorful offices in Mountain View (AKA the Googleplex) and around the world. Finding images shot from inside the company’s tightly-guarded data centers is much harder, since only a handful of employees are allowed to roam the spaces where the “web lives.” However, Google recently invited photographer Connie Zhou inside a number of its high-tech data centers. Gorgeous photographs resulted — images that show incredible scale, mind-numbing repetition, and quirky colors.

The massive server rooms house tens of thousands of servers that handle your searches and all of the services offered by the search giant.

Google says that the rainbow-colored pipes aren’t just for show; the colors help the employees quickly determine which is which.

Wired’s Steven Levy was also invited to tour the data centers, and has written up a fascinating piece on his experience. In an interview with Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep, he states.

 

Apple Cider Vinegar - The Wonder 'Drug' of Yesterday and Today

 

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is an effective natural bacteria-fighting agent that contains many vital minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron, silicon and fluorine that are vital for a healthy body.
Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is made by crushing fresh, organically grown apples and allowing them to mature in wooden barrels. This boosts the natural fermentation qualities of the crushed apples, which differs from the refined and distilled vinegars found in supermarkets. When the vinegar is mature, it contains a dark, cloudy, web-like bacterial foam called mother, which becomes visible when the rich brownish liquid is held to the light. The mother can be used to add to other vinegar to hasten maturity for making more Apple Cider Vinegar.

Natural vinegars that contain the mother have enzymes and minerals that other vinegars in grocery stores may not have due to over-processing, over-heating, and filtration. For this reason, it is recommended that you purchase only unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar, with an ideal acidity (pH) level of 5 to 7, this health drink is a natural probiotic.

What are the Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is a wonderful natural cure for a number of ailments which usually require antibiotics and other medications that have a number of side effects. In particular, Apple Cider Vinegar has been known to:

• Reduce sinus infections and sore throats
• Balance high cholesterol
• Cure skin conditions such as acne
• Protect against food poisoning
• Fight allergies in both humans and animals
• Prevent muscle fatigue after exercise
• Strengthen the immune system
• Increase stamina
• Increase metabolism which promotes weight loss
• Improve digestion and cure constipation
• Alleviate symptoms of arthritis and gout
• Prevents bladder stones and urinary tract infections

Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar:

General Health Problems:

Weight Loss

The use of apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for weight loss is centuries old. D.C. Jarvis, M.D maintained that an overweight person could lose weight gradually by taking 2 teaspoons of ACV in a glass of water before meals.

Bad Breath

Due to its anticeptic properties, Apple Cider Vinegar makes a wonderful remedy for bad breath or halitosis. Simply add 2 teaspoons of ACV into a cup of water and gargle the mixture in your mouth for 10 seconds at a time and spit the solution out. Repeat until the cup is empty.

Body Odor

Apple Cider Vinegar is an effective body odor remedy, since it can help adjust the skin's pH level which helps to eliminate odor-causing bacteria. For armpit odor, simply wipe them once each morning with undiluted apple cider vinegar (using a cotton ball). For foot odor, fill a pan with warm water and add 1/3 cup of ACV, then let your feet soak in this mixture for 15 minutes once per week.

Skin Problems and Infections:

Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural cure for acne. Apply a solution of apple cider vinegar and water (2 tablespoons to 1 eight ounce glass of water) with a cotton ball several times a day. This will help reduce infection and dry out inflammation.

Age Spots

Apple Cider Vinegar contains sulfur that fights the effects of aging, which makes it suitable for treating age spots. Apply daily, to these darkened areas of the skin, a solution containing 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of onion juice. According to this home remedy, the spots should begin to fade within 2 weeks.

Cellulite

Many women have found that Apple Cider Vinegar can help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Yeast Infection

Apple Cider Vinegar has been found to be an effective treatment for yeast infections.

Stomach Problems:

Heartburn

This usually occurs after eating, sometimes up to two hours later. This very unpleasant feeling can be alleviated by taking 2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar in 8 OZ of water, taken three times a day before meals.

Constipation

Apple Cider Vinegar is frequently used as a natural cure for constipation.

Diarrhea

There are various causes for diarrhea, and although it should not be left untreated, it is often a natural way for the body to rid itself of harmful compounds and ingested materials. Apple Cider Vinegar is a fantastic natural remedy for diarrhea since the high pectin concentration acts as a protective coating which soothes the irritated lining of the colon. A suggestion is to add 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to a large glass of water, and drink this 3 times daily while the symptoms persist.

Major Illnesses:

Diabetes

Apple Cider Vinegar may help to control high blood sugar levels, which is why it is often used as a natural treatment for Diabetes.

How to take it?

For daily maintenance, weight loss and pH balancing:

• 2 teaspoons in 8 oz of water 3x a day (taken before your meals) 

For treating an acute condition like acid reflux, cough, bronchitis, or sore throat:

• 2 Tablespoons in 8 oz of water 3x a day (taken before your meals) .

To help with the taste you can always add a teaspoon of raw honey.

Living with PAH: Coping on a Day-to-Day Basis

 

Get tips for living and coping with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Written by Stephanie Pierce Medically Reviewed on 27 de Fevereiro de 2014 by George Krucik, MD, MBA

What Is PAH?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but serious condition that causes the blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs to become too high. Blood pressure rises due to the constriction of the pulmonary arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood to the lungs (where the blood picks up oxygen). Narrowed arteries also mean the heart must work harder to pump enough blood to the lungs. Over time, the heart muscle can weaken, leading to heart failure.

Symptoms of PAH

The symptoms of PAH are similar to those of other heart and lung conditions, and often include:

• shortness of breath
• dizziness/fainting
• weakness
• fatigue
• racing pulse or heart palpitations 

Symptoms usually get continually worse as the disease progresses, though many are treatable.

Treatments

Treatment for PAH generally involves managing and treating its symptoms, as there is no known cure for the disorder. Treatment options include both medical interventions and lifestyle changes. The most suitable forms of treatment usually depend on the type and severity of your PAH.

Medical Treatments

Certain medications can be helpful in the treatment of PAH, depending on the cause of the condition (if the cause is even known):

• Blood thinners like warfarin can help to prevent clotting, keeping blood flowing as smoothly as possible.
• Diuretics work by eliminating excess fluid from your body, including any fluid accumulating in the lungs and lower extremities.
• Blood pressure medications, like calcium channel blockers, may be appropriate for some types of PAH.
• Endothelin receptor agonists (ERAs) work to prevent further narrowing of the arteries.
• Inhalers and prostacyclins, help treat and prevent shortness of breath.

Unhappiness by the Numbers: 2012 Depression Statistics

 

Depression statistics - infographic - click link

 

 

The Flying Phantom: US$40k sailboat levitates two feet above the waves

 

The Flying Phantom catamaran seems to levitate above the water as it hydrofoils.

“It’s like removing the handbrake – suddenly everything gets smoother and faster in pure silence.” This gravity-defying US$40k catamaran rises completely out of the water at speed on a pair of hook-shaped hydrofoils. It looks like the work of David Copperfield, but it’s real, and it’s set to start a revolution in the sailing world.

Sailing types can now buy themselves a racing catamaran that breaks free from the drag and discomfort of the water. The Flying Phantom mimics the hydrofoiling action demonstrated by the 2013 America’s Cup field by rising up on two J-shaped wings at speed until both hulls are a good two feet out of the water.

Why? “The main speed limits of a catamaran are the length of the hull, the wetted surface, and the pitch poling as you push it too hard,” explains Phantom’s Nicolas Felix. “When you’re foiling and the hulls aren’t dragging in the water, you can get nearly limitless performance. On a regular boat, you’re always fighting to gain a tenth of a knot, fighting against the friction of the water and the pitching of the waves. When you take off, the drag just disappears and there’s pure silence. Every puff of wind is transformed directly into acceleration.”

The Flying Phantom can get up on its foils in wind as low as 7 knots sailing downwind or perpendicular to the breeze, or upwind if the wind speed is above 10 knots. Its current tested max speed has been 33 knots, but Felix believes that limit can still be pushed: "The next limit is the cavitation issues you get around 45-50 knots.”

Apart from the vast reduction in drag, another benefit of hydrofoiling is that once the boat is out of the waves, the ride gets a lot smoother. Sailors who have spend years being beaten around the hindquarters by choppy waves are reporting that the foiling experience feels as much like a magic carpet ride as it looks. Of course, if something goes wrong and the boat crashes back down into the water, there could be some pretty serious deceleration in effect that might negate any comfort advantage pretty quickly, to put it mildly.

Hydrofoiling is not new in the sailing world, "flying" boats have held the outright sailing speed records for more than a decade, and the current champ “Vestas Sailrocket II” smashed out a truly scary 65.45 knots back in 2012. But the Flying Phantom is the first product to bring the levitation experience to the commercial market – a “democratizing” of the foiling catamaran.

Phantom International (based in France) is planning to race the Flying Phantom at a number of events in 2014, and also looking into the possibility of developing a racing series specifically for small foiling cats like this one.

The Flying Phantom launched at the Paris Boat Show this year and is on sale now for €28,260 (just under US$40,000).

Product page: Phantom International

 

50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do

 

Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life.  To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades.  Contrary to what you may have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one.

While not totally comprehensive, here is a list of 50 things everyone should know how to do.

Edit: Do you like this post image? Beautful, isnt’ it? You can get a copy here!

1. Build a Fire – Fire produces heat and light, two basic necessities for living.  At some point in your life this knowledge may be vital.

• How to Build a Fire
• Wilderness Survival Firecraft
• Build a Fire Without Matches or a Lighter (video)

2. Operate a Computer – Fundamental computer knowledge is essential these days.  Please, help those in need.

• How To Help Someone Use a Computer
• Webwise – The BBC’s Guide to Using a Computer
• Mac Basics
• Windows Basics

3.  Use Google Effectively – Google knows everything.  If you’re having trouble finding something with Google, it’s you that needs help.

• Google Guide
• Google Advanced Search Operators
• Google Web Search Features
• 20 Tips for More Efficient Google Searches

4.  Perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver – Someday it may be your wife, husband, son or daughter that needs help.

• Learn CPR
• How To Perform Adult CPR (video)
• How CPR Works
• How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver (video)

5.  Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle – There will come a time when you’ll be stuck without this knowledge.

• How To Drive a Stick Shift Instructional Movie (video)
• Learn to Drive a Stick Shift
• Learn to Drive a Car with Manual Transmission

6.  Do Basic Cooking – If you can’t cook your own steak and eggs, you probably aren’t going to make it.

• Cooking Basics and Tips
• Cooking and Baking How To Information
• Basics of Cooking Series

7.  Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention – If you can’t captivate their attention, you should probably just save your breath.

• How To Tell a Great Story
• How To Give a Great Speech
• Presentation Tips for Public Speaking

8.  Win or Avoid a Fistfight – Either way, you win.

• How To Actually Win a Fistfight
• How To Win a Fistfight (video)
• How To Win a Street Fight
• How To Avoid Confrontations Like a Samurai Warrior

9.  Deliver Bad News – Somebody has got to do it.  Unfortunately, someday that person will be you.

• How To Deliver Bad News in Writing
• How to Deliver Bad News to a Customer
• Good Ways to Deliver Bad News

10.  Change a Tire – Because tires have air in them, and things with air in them eventually pop.

• How To Change a Flat Tire (video)
• How To Change a Tire (video)
• Saturday Mechanic: Changing a Tire

11.  Handle a Job Interview – I promise, sweating yourself into a nervous panic won’t land you the job.

• The 25 Most Difficult Questions in a Job Interview
• Job Interview Questions and Answers
• How to Handle Your Job Interviews Successfully
• 10 Sticky Job Interview Situations and How to Handle Them

12.  Manage Time – Not doing so is called wasting time, which is okay sometimes, but not all the time.

• How To Manage Time and Maximize Effectiveness
• Managing Your Time
• 10 tips for time management in a multitasking world
• Time Management Tips and Exercises

13.  Speed Read – Sometimes you just need the basic gist, and you needed it 5 minutes ago.

• Learn Speed Reading
• How To Speed Read the Net
• Speed Reading Techniques

14.  Remember Names – Do you like when someone tries to get your attention by screaming “hey you”?

• How To Remember People’s Names
• Tricks for Remembering Names
• 7 Hacks to Remember Any Name

15.  Relocate Living Spaces – Relocating is always a little tougher than you originally imagined.

• Moving Tips and Guidelines
• Moving and Relocation Guides
• Moving Tips

16.  Travel Light – Bring only the necessities.  It’s the cheaper, easier, smarter thing to do.

• Travel Light with One Bag
• Pack Light and Travel Happy
• Packing Light and Right

17.  Handle the Police – Because jail isn’t fun… and neither is Bubba.

• What to Do If You’re Stopped by the Police
• How To Handle the Cops if They Knock on Your Door
• How To Handle the Police

18.  Give Driving Directions – Nobody likes driving around in circles.  Get this one right the first time.

• How To Give a Complete Stranger Driving Directions
• How To Give Directions
• Giving Good Driving Directions

19.  Perform Basic First Aid – You don’t have to be a doctor, or genius, to properly dress a wound.

• First Aid Guide
• Understanding First Aid
• Common First Aid Topics

20.  Swim – 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.  Learning to swim might be a good idea.

• How To Teach a Child to Swim
• Swimming Breathing Basics
• Find Swimming Lessons Near You

21.  Parallel Park – Parallel parking is a requirement on most standard driver’s license driving tests, yet so many people have no clue how to do it.  How could this be?

• How To Parallel Park a Car (video)
• How To Parallel Park (video)
• How To Parallel Park

22.  Recognize Personal Alcohol Limits – Otherwise you may wind up like this charming fellow.

• Alcohol: Know Your Limits
• Know Your Limits
• Alcohol Consumption Info
• Decide quitting alcohol

23.  Select Good Produce – Rotten fruits and vegetables can be an evil tease and an awful surprise.

• Produce Primer: Selecting the Best
• Tips on Choosing Produce and Keeping it Fresh
• Buying Fresh Vegetables

24.  Handle a Hammer, Axe or Handsaw – Carpenters are not the only ones who need tools.  Everyone should have a basic understanding of basic hand tools.

• How To Safely Use a Hammer
• How To Safely Use an Axe (video)
• How To Choose and Use a Handsaw

25.  Make a Simple Budget – Being in debt is not fun.  A simple budget is the key.

• Money 101 – Making a Budget
• How To Make a Budget and Stick To It
• How To Make a Budget That Works

26.  Speak at Least Two Common Languages – Only about 25% of the world’s population speaks English.  It would be nice if you could communicate with at least some of the remaining 75%.

• Free Online Language Courses
• Learn a Foreign Language Online Free
• Language Learning with Rosetta Stone

27.  Do Push-Ups and Sit-Ups Properly – Improper push-ups and sit-ups do nothing but hurt your body and waste your time.

• How To Do a Proper Push-Up
• Chris Comfort’s Push-Up Workout (video)
• 19 Variations for a Push-Up (video)
• How To Do Sit-Ups (video)
• How To Do an Abdominal Crunch (video)

28.  Give a Compliment – It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give someone, and it’s free.

• How To Give a Good Compliment
• 5 Kick-Ass Reasons to Give a Genuine Compliment
• How To Give a Killer Compliment
• 10 Best Compliments a Man Can Give a Woman

29.  Negotiate – The better deal is only a question or two away.

• How To Negotiate Like an Indian
• Salary Negotiation Tips
• Win-Win Negotiation

30.  Listen Carefully to Others – The more you listen and the less you talk, the more you will learn and the less you will miss.

• Tips on Effective Listening
• Listening Tips for the Classroom Environment
• Techniques for Active Listening

31.  Recite Basic Geography – If you don’t know where anything is outside of your own little bubble, most people will assume (and they are probably correct) that you don’t know too much at all.

• Maps and Geography of the World
• USA Geography Map Games
• Test Your Geography Knowledge

32.  Paint a Room – The true cost of painting is 90% labor.  For simple painting jobs it makes no sense to pay someone 9 times what it would cost you to do it yourself.

• Painting Tips (video)
• House Painting Guide
• DIY Painting Tips and Tools

33.  Make a Short, Informative Public Speech – At the next company meeting if your boss asks you to explain what you’ve been working on over the last month, a short, clear, informative response is surely your best bet.  “Duhhh…” will not cut it.

• How To Conquer the Public Speaking Fear
• Better Public Speaking and Presentation
• How To Write an Informative Speech

34.  Smile for the Camera – People that absolutely refuse to smile for the camera suck!

• How To Smile for the Camera
• How To Be Photogenic
• How To Smile with Your Eyes

35.  Flirt Without Looking Ridiculous – There is a fine line between successful flirting and utter disaster.  If you try too hard, you lose.  If you don’t try hard enough, you lose.

• Guide to Flirting
• Flirt Without Frightening
• The Rules of Flirtation
• The Science of Romance: Why We Flirt

36. Take Useful Notes – Because useless notes are useless, and not taking notes is a recipe for failure.

• Various Note Taking Systems
• Note Taking Skills and Guidelines
• Take Study-worthy Lecture Notes

37.  Be a Respectful House Guest – Otherwise you will be staying in a lot of hotels over the years.

• 10 Ways to Be and Excellent House Guest
• How To Be a Good House Guest
• Have A Pleasant Visit By Following A Few House Rules

38.  Make a Good First Impression – Aristotle once said, “well begun is half done.”

• How To Make those First Impressions Count
• Making a Great First Impression
• Tips for Making a Good First Impression

39.  Navigate with a Map and Compass – What happens when the GPS craps out and you’re in the middle of nowhere?

• How To Use a Compass Alone
• Using a Compass Alongside a Map
• Navigate with a Map and Compass

40.  Sew a Button onto Clothing – It sure is cheaper than buying a new shirt.

• How To Sew a Button
• How To Sew a Button On (video)

41.  Hook Up a Basic Home Theater System – This isn’t rocket science.  Paying someone to do this shows sheer laziness.

• How the Home Theater Works
• Home Theater Hookup
• Home Theater Installation Tips

42.  Type – Learning to type could save you days worth of time over the course of your lifetime.

• Online Typing Lessons for Everyone
• Free Typing Lessons for the Standard QWERTY Keyboard
• Free Touch Typing Program

43.  Protect Personal Identity Information – Personal identity theft is not fun unless you are the thief.  Don’t be careless.

• FTC’s Identity Theft Site
• Identity Theft Info (video)
• How Identity Theft Works

44.  Implement Basic Computer Security Best Practices – You don’t have to be a computer science major to understand the fundamentals of creating complex passwords and using firewalls.  Doing so will surely save you a lot of grief someday.

• 4 Steps to Protect Your Computer
• Security Basics for Home Computers
• SANS Basic Computer Security Whitepapers

45.  Detect a Lie – People will lie to you.  It’s a sad fact of life.

• How To Detect Bullshit
• Identify a Lie with 6 Simple Questions
• How To Detect Lies

46.  End a Date Politely Without Making Promises – There is no excuse for making promises you do not intend to keep.  There is also no reason why you should have to make a decision on the spot about someone you hardly know.

• Tips for The End of a Date
• Tips for Ending a Bad Date
• How To End a Date Gracefully

47.  Remove a Stain – Once again, it’s far cheaper than buying a new one.

• Effective Ways to Remove Laundry Stains
• DIY Cleaning and Stain Removal
• Stain Removal Articles

48.  Keep a Clean House – A clean house is the foundation for a clean, organized lifestyle.

• The Keep-It-Clean Plan
• Keeping a Stress-Free, Clean House
• How To Keep Your House Clean in 20 Minutes a Day

49.  Hold a Baby – Trust me, injuring a baby is not what you want to do.

• How To Hold a Baby (video)
• How To Hold a Baby

50.  Jump Start a Car – It sure beats walking or paying for a tow truck.

• Edmunds Jump-Start How To
• How To Jump Start Your Car (video)
• DIY: Jump Start a Car

 

http://evencool.com/links/50-things-everyone-should-know-how-to-do/

Cuatro frases que hacen un mundo de diferencia

 

Tamara Medina Sapovalova

Business Confidence Coach

“Somos lo que pensamos”. Todos tenemos hábitos que nos ayudan a alcanzar nuestras metas pero con frecuencia nos saboteamos con frases que nos decimos a nosotros mismos y que impactan nuestro desarrollo y crecimiento.

Una de las primeras cosas que analizo con mis clientes tiene que ver con las palabras y cómo las utilizan, además de la actitud que tienen ante la vida y los retos que ésta les presenta.

Tengo una regla que utilizo con todos mis clientes; durante las sesiones no está permitido utilizar las siguientes expresiones:

“No sé” – Si no sabes algo, investiga, aprende. Hoy en día con la tecnología de la que disponemos, el mundo está, literalmente hablando, al alcance de nuestras manos. La respuesta a cualquier pregunta la puedes encontrar rápidamente.

Si se trata de algo sobre ti mismo y tus sentimientos debes preguntarte: ¿qué te ayudaría encontrar la respuesta?

Si es con respecto a las cosas que quieres, puedes hacer una lista de lo que deseas. Si esto se te dificulta hazlo a la inversa: pregúntate que es lo que no quieres y lo opuesto será lo que si quieres. Más detalles de este ejercicio puedes encontrarlos en una de las entradas anteriores: Tips que te ayudarán a vivir una vida plena.

“No puedo” – ¿Qué te hace pensar que no puedes? ¿Qué te ayudaría para poder lograrlo? ¿Quién podría apoyarte? Es importante que te concentres en las soluciones. Encuentra la manera de lograr lo que quieres; tal vez tengas que hacerlo varias veces o buscar una nueva estrategia hasta que logres tus metas. Como bien dijo Albert Einstein, “La locura es seguir haciendo lo mismo y esperar resultados diferentes”.

“Es difícil” – Hay que ver la vida y las situaciones que se nos presentan como retos. Todo depende en aquello en lo que decidas enfocarte. Tienes dos opciones o te enfocas en todas las razones por las cuales no se van a dar las cosas que quieres o te enfocas en las oportunidades. La decisión es tuya. Puedes ver más sobre este tema en: ¿La vida es difícil o te la haces difícil?.

“Lo voy a intentar” – Como bien dijo el Maestro Yoda: “O lo haces o no lo haces, pero no lo intentes”. Cuando “intentamos” algo nunca damos el 100 por ciento pues “solo lo estamos intentando”, nosotros mismos ya nos estamos limitando.

Cuando nos hacemos preguntas la tendencia natural de nuestro cerebro es buscar las respuestas, pero si ya de antemano nos estamos diciendo que no sabemos, que no podemos, que es difícil, y que lo vamos a “intentar” entonces nuestro cerebro se “cierra” porque ya no ve como necesario el buscar alternativas, oportunidades, conocimiento y respuestas.

Como ejercicio te invito que esta semana prestes atención si utilizas estas frases en tus conversaciones cotidianas y que te hagas a ti mismo esta pregunta: ¿en qué te estás enfocando, en las oportunidades o en las razones por las cuales no vas a poder lograr lo que quieres?

Con algo de práctica, así como lo han hecho mis clientes, también tú podrás eliminar de tu vocabulario estas frases que te limitan y te darás la oportunidad de lograr mucho más de lo que jamás te hayas imaginado.

Cuando alguno de los dos trabaja jornadas muy largas

• Es entendible que en ocasiones tengan que trabajar horas extras o asistir a reuniones importantes que traspasan los horarios regulares de oficina, pero de alguna manera deben tratar de evitar que esto se vuelva una regla. Si siempre salen tarde del trabajo, llegarán a casa cuando la otra persona ya haya cenado por su cuenta e incluso tal vez haya decidido irse a dormir. Si esta dinámica se convierte en su día a día, llegará un momento en el que quien siempre está solo en casa, se canse y aburra de esperarles sin sentido. Dos cosas podrán suceder: un reclamo en tono de pelea surgirá, o bien, se dará un alejamiento con toda la indiferencia del mundo.

• Cuando trabajan hasta en fines de semana

  Cuando el trabajo se vuelve más demandante cada vez y de poco en poco les va siendo inminente ocupar hasta sus días de descanso para resolver pendientes laborales, la oportunidad de disfrutar los ratos de ocio juntos desaparece. Aquel que sí puede descansar los fines de semana, será el único que asista a las reuniones familiares o con amigos. Sólo uno de ustedes irá al club, a pasear al perro o al cine, y pronto, se volverá prácticamente en una persona soltera. Sentirse abandonado de esa manera sólo hará que el amor se diluya.

• Cuando el trabajo genera malhumor y estrés

  Cuando alguien tiene problemas en la oficina o demasiada carga de trabajo, todo el tiempo estará hablando o quejándose de ello. Cuando el trabajo se vuelve el único tema de conversación entre ustedes, o alguno pasa todo el tiempo atendiendo llamadas o correos electrónicos de la oficina, la situación se vuelve incómoda y aburrida. Aunque pasen tiempo juntos, la relación no se enriquecerá en absoluto, y por el contrario, se volverá una carga para el que sirva de confidente.

• Cuando no hay energía para el romance

  Cuando por fin se liberan y dejan de pensar en el trabajo, la energía que les queda es mínima. Ven tele y se quedan dormidos, platican y parecen zombies… y en la cama, nunca hay vitalidad para una sesión de sexo. ¿Crees que esto no acabará con la paciencia de tu pareja? Están juntos para compartirlo TODO, y si bien es cierto que ambos deben ser comprensivos y entender que el trabajo es importante, no pueden dejar de lado los cariñitos y los instintos más básicos.

• Cuando la presión del trabajo afecta su salud

  Todo el estrés que genera el trabajo, tiene repercusiones físicas: el sistema endocrino se ve afectado, aumentan el estrés y la ansiedad, se incrementa el riesgo de sufrir enfermedades cardiovasculares (infartos, anginas de pecho, hipertensión), insomnios, trastornos urinarios… ¿Qué tal te suena esto? Si enfermas, tu pareja tendrá todo el derecho de decirte: “te lo dije”. Una cosa es estar juntos en la salud y en la enfermedad, pero otra es tener que atender los achaques que la obsesión por el trabajo pueda provocar en alguno de ustedes sólo por la necedad de no querer liberarse un poco de él.

• Lo que debe hacer el que sufre el abandono:

  Se debe decir lo que se siente, hacer evidente lo que afecta. “Estoy triste”, “necesito que algo cambie”, “necesito pasar tiempo de calidad contigo”. Si no te haces escuchar, tu pareja podría ni enterarse de que hay un problema entre ustedes. No se vale que te calles lo que te molesta y un día, de buenas a primeras, simplemente te alejes y termines la relación.

• Lo que debe hacer el trabajador compulsivo:

  Aunque no lo creas, la solución está en ti. Por muy demandante que sea tu trabajo, tú, tus compañeros y jefes, entienden que también tienes vida personal. La salud de tu relación de pareja puede ser el motor para el resto de tu vida, así que no la sacrifiques en nombre del trabajo. Debes encontrar tiempo para pasar tiempo de calidad con tu pareja. Escucha y sé sensible o a lo que la otra persona siente y no des por hecho que estará a tu lado siempre sin importar que la ignores.