Ten Mistakes When Taking A Cruise
January 26, 2012 | 
Author 
It’s a shame to lay out $250 – $2,500 on a dreamy cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and inconveniences. So, in an effort to minimize the likelihood of a bump in the road to your perfect vacation, here are some common potholes that you can avoid.
Mistake #1: Not Making Your Luggage Distinctive. At the end of your cruise, your luggage will be placed in a huge room with THOUSANDS of pieces of luggage, probably in some designated area based on the color of a luggage tag provided by the ship. No matter how familiar you think you are with your own luggage, it’s amazing how well your bags will blend in with the mass of cargo surrounding them. Having a quick, easy way to identify your luggage will be a major relief, especially if it gets misplaced.
BUT, that isn’t the main reason to make your luggage stand out. You will be entering this cavernous room with a couple thousand other people, some of whom stayed up all night partying. They are going to be impatient to get their bag and get out and there is a fairly good chance that their vision isn’t so good. If your bag looks like their bag, it could be a goner. And, if a stranger does take your luggage it could be hours, even days, before you get it back.
Do something durable and noticeable to your luggage so that it not only is recognizable to you, but also let’s bleary-eyed fellow travelers know that your bag is not their bag. Put stickers on it, paint a day-glo streak around it, sew a teddy bear onto the outside… just make sure it stands out.
Mistake #2: Not Researching Shore Excursions Beforehand. It should come as no surprise that cruise line advertising folks have the ability to describe each and every shore excursion as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Of course, no cruise is complete without shore excursions and many of them are absolutely wonderful chances to do things you would never do otherwise. But, be smart here. It’s okay to get hoodwinked into thinking that palm trees do sway all day long and that sand feels like silk under your feet. But, it’s a whole ‘nother thing to be looking forward to that perfect, serene afternoon on a remote beach only to find out you have 500 friends, some with young kids, crowding around you and bumping into your beach chair while vendors hawk everything from coconut shells to t-shirts.
Before you commit, read some reviews, talk to the cruise ship shore excursion folks, ask fellow passengers, do some thinking. Most cruise ships have a “No Refund” policy on shore excursions, but don’t be afraid to ask for one if your experience is truly unacceptable. Better still, find out what you’re getting before you go. Many (if not most) shore excursions are just great and you’ll be happy you went. But cover your stump and you’ll be glad you did.
Mistake #3: Runaway Bar Tabs. Unless you specifically choose a package that includes it, your bar tab is NOT included in the “all inclusive” part of your cruise. Adding to the bite is the ubiquitous 15% gratuity that gets added to every purchase you make on board a ship.
I could suggest that you drink less, but that’s just plain dumb! You’re on a cruise! So, pay attention to how much you drink. Those cute little umbrellas drinks that come in a stunning canary-yellow cup will cost you about twice what a basic cocktail costs. Cruise ship booze is already costly enough; you don’t need to help them out by spending more for a cup that you’ll stash in a closet when you get home.
Cruise ships have a policy against bringing alcohol on board, but the policy is very loosely enforced if you don’t flaunt it. In other words, don’t strap a handle onto a case of Budweiser and check it as baggage or load up your carry-on bag with bottles of Wild Turkey. Discreetly packed airline bottles of booze or cans of beer will probably go unnoticed. Don’t try to sponsor a frat party, but you can definitely help yourself out a bit.
You are allowed to bring your own wine on board if you plan to drink it at dinner, though you are charged a “corking fee”. And, you can also bring a small stash of non-alcoholic beverages (soda, water, etc) with no problem. You should definitely bring some water, especially if you’re cruising in warm climates.
Mistake #4: Ignoring the Fury of the Sun Gods. Sun Burn treatments are the fourth most popular reason that people on cruises visit the ship’s infirmary. (The first three are: 1) bumps and bruises, 2) indigestion, 3) seasickness). Once you’re burned, there isn’t much anyone can do for you except try to alleviate the pain. (My favorite treatment for that is something called “Traumeel”. You can’t find it in the drugstore, but most health food places will have it.)
If you’re cruising in the winter months (Nov – Feb), you don’t have as big a problem. Even when you are in the sub-tropics, and even though your skin probably hasn’t seen sun for several months, the sun is hitting you at an angle and that makes all the difference. You still need to be careful, but you have more leeway.
In the spring and summer months, when the sun is overhead, you can get burned in as little as an hour, especially in the afternoon hours. Some silly people forgo the sunscreen because they want to make sure they get a tan. Not a good idea. Start your sunbathing session with at least 15 SPF (30 if you haven’t been in the sun, with extra protection on your lips). As you get closer to your end time, use less SPF. Even with a good sun blocker, your friends and co-workers will still know that you’ve been out in the sun.
Hats are a serious plus if you are in sunburn territory. Most people don’t put sunscreen on their heads, and so the part of your body that is getting the most direct rays for the longest period of time remains unprotected. Visors don’t protect your skull; you need some type of covering.
Mistake #5: No First Aid Kit. As previously noted, there are several reasons that passengers end up wasting time (and sometimes money) visiting the infirmary. You may not be able to avoid all mishaps, but you can prepare for the lesser blunders. By the way, all of this applies double if you’re traveling with kids!
Bumps and Bruises. The biggest reason people visit the ship’s doctor probably has something to do with mixing booze, slippery surfaces, metal railings and the rolling motion of the ship. For most of your injuries, the right size band-aid and a good analgesic crème will do the trick. A simple travel or camping first-aid kit will have what you need.
Indigestion. One of the drawbacks of having such constant access to all that wonderful rich food that cruise ships are famous for is that people eat it. And eat it. And eat some more. Unless you are a strict disciplinarian, you can expect to consume about two or three times your normal food quantity in an average day. Add to that the steady consumption of alcohol that is a hallmark of cruising and voila! Indigestion. Take along some Alka Seltzer, some Pepto Bismol and sum type of antacid tablet, like Tums or Rolaids. All of these are available in tablet form. Some ships stores will have some of this, but not always and if you need it in the middle of the night you’re out of luck.
Seasickness. The best treatment is prevention. After you get it, well… yuck! Check out the various forms of Dramamine that are now available, including pills and patches. The directions will tell you how much lead time before you hit the waves you need to get the maximum effect. You can also get acupressure wrist bands that work really well with some people.
One of the best treatments I’ve ever seen for treating seasickness once it hits you is Coke and soda crackers – lots of both. Some people say that 7-Up works also, but I think there is something in the caffeine in Coke that helps the whole process. If you are feeling sick, your cabin is the worst place to be unless the weather topside is really bad. Being able to get fresh air and see the horizon helps to trigger the brain sensors that calm seasickness.
Headaches. We all know that booze can make your head scream for mercy, but so can sun and lots of new food. If you’re not used to heavy carbs in your diet and you scarf up lots of pastries, ice creams or gourmet desserts, your body can trigger the same symptoms it does when detoxing from too much alcohol. And, if you experience bumps, cuts or sunburn a pain reliever is a good thing. Have a supply of different types of pain reliever. Depending on the reason for your pain, aspirin may not work as well as Tylenol or Ibuprofen in a given circumstance. (Do I need to remind you to read the label and follow the directions?)
Mistake #6: What? No Camera? A Picture Really Is Worth A Thousand Words. It’s hard to imagine, but some people will actually take the trip of their dreams and not take a camera. Or, they’ll take a camera, but they won’t keep it with them. Don’t do that. If you have a digital camera, use it, use it, use it. If you don’t have a digital camera, spring for about three or four disposable ones. And be sure to take you camera to the Life Boat Drill. You’ll know why when you get there.
A side bar to this camera thing is the Photo-ops that you have all over the ship. There will be dozens of them on your cruise – when you’re boarding, when you’re dining, when you’re getting off the ship, at the pool – at times it will seem like some one is taking your picture every time you turn around. You are, of course, free to decline. But I recommend that you give it a shot. Yes, these photos can be goofy, even cheesy, but they can also be a lot of fun. Plus, you just might end up with the best shot of the cruise. Some of the settings are outright elegant, rivaling what you would find at a studio. It’s a great way to get a nice formal picture for your living room or to send to your family, and there’s no sitting fee!
Mistake #7: Buying From Street Vendors. Where ever you go on your cruise, once you step ashore you will be approached (accosted?) by local folks trying to sell you something. I’m not talking about the shops and makeshift kiosks you may find, I’m talking about the guys selling Cuban cigars out of their trunks, or pirated CDs out of a cardboard box.
Your best bet, unless you’ve been there and really know the score, is to just say NO. Regardless of how appealing the offer, just say NO. Most of the products are very low quality and you have no way to check it out before you buy. I know of people who bought CD cases with no CDs inside, watches that didn’t work, Cuban cigars purchased in the local drugstore, “handmade” jewelry that came out of bubble gum machines, the list is endless. And this applies SIXTEEN FOLD if some local guy tries to sell you some pot.
In most ports of call frequented by American-based vessels, this street traffic is actually illegal. You probably won’t get into trouble, but why risk it? Save your money for the honest locals and their little shops that are going to sell you watches that do work, they just fall apart in a few weeks.
Mistake #8: Thinking You’ll Save Money “In Town”. One of the charming aspects of cruising is the ritual of visiting the local markets and shops. This is truly a fun experience and you can find all manner of unique and special items, but you probably won’t find any real bargains. There are bargains to be found, but you really need to know what you’re looking for and what it’s worth in the US. Don’t be cynical about it. It’s all part of the experience. Somehow, buying a wooden giraffe in Grand Turk is better than buying the same wooden giraffe at Pier 1 Imports, even if you pay a little more. Go figure.
You actually can save money when you buy liquor or tobacco products, but it might not be as good a deal as it first seems. Most ports have what are called “duty free” shops which means that there was no “duty” (i.e. import tariffs) paid on the products and so they are cheaper to sell in that country. The same applies to diamonds and other fine jewelry. The challenge is knowing what an item is actually worth. Just because these guys saved on the import fees doesn’t mean they’re passing the saving on to you. Also keep in mind that you are supposed to declare to US customs any purchases you make in a foreign country. Duty Free in Nassau doesn’t mean it’s duty free when you come back to the US. There are certain exemptions for personal items, but if you shell out some big bucks, you might lose the saving when you pay the US import fees.
So, don’t be a miser. Spend freely. Do some Christmas shopping. Spread your money around the local economy and have fun doing it. Just remember, these guys are in the business of selling stuff to foreign tourists. They know where the money is coming from and they know how to keep as much of it as they can.
Mistake #9: Sticking Around The Port. Yes, ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for. Most ports of call, especially when the call is for a day or less, are set up to provide the ships passengers with a particular experience. They accomplish this by making their ports as visitor-friendly as possible. The experience of Mexico that you get right outside the port in Cozumel is decidedly different than the experience of Mexico on the other side of the island. Around the port, all manner of business are set up to appeal to a particular comfort-zone and a particular economy.
But, often, just a few miles from the port, you can have a completely different experience. If you travel to Grand Turk, for example, you can spend a delightful afternoon at the resort-like environment of Margaritaville. The beach is well-maintained, though a bit crowded. There is a huge beautiful pool with lots of palm trees and man-made waterfalls. A beer will cost you about $6 and a burger will be about $8.
But a short taxi ride to the old downtown area will take you to a much more authentic location. At least for the time being. You can stroll crowded, dusty streets; see skinny dogs shuffling through garbage cans and have a local beer and piece of fried chicken for about $3.75 at one of the local pubs. Sure, the pub would never pass an American food inspection and you may have to do without air conditioning. But the experience can be wonderful. You won’t get that experience staying close to the port.
Of course, you want to be safe and you want to be able to get back to your ship before it sales, so keep all that in mind. But, there is a whole universe of color, sound, smells and people that don’t ever get to the port and it’s worth the trouble to find it.
Mistake #10: Not Preparing For the Journey Home. Sooner or later (it will seem much too soon), your cruise will come to an end and you’ll have to return to the land of making your own bed and cooking your own food. The journey home is often an irritating necessity and something to endure as quickly as possible. But, if you rush back into the reality you left behind, it’s kind of like a diver coming to the surface too quick after a deep dive. Your mind and body will resist.
If possible, do something fun on the way home. Stay an extra night in a hotel or visit a landmark or even a theme park. At the very least, stop at a nice restaurant for a leisurely lunch or dinner. A quiet picnic (even with fast food) at a rest area can be a perfectly delightful way to transition home.
Here’s a couple of things to do to make your return less stressful and hurried.
o If you’re driving, fill up with gas before you go to the port. Make sure that, when you leave, you don’t have to stop until you want to.
o When you have breakfast on your last morning, take some pastries with you, or even make yourself an egg sandwich. If you thought to bring a thermos with you, fill up on coffee or juice for the ride home.
o Leave some bottles of water in your car. Many bus companies will allow you to leave some personal items on the bus when you get to the port, so include some water and a pillow.
o Find out what the weather is back home. I once stood shivering in 40 degree weather outside the airport in a pair of shorts and an aloha shirt. Hey, it was 85 degrees when I left Puerto Rico that morning!
o Take the next day off. If you are returning to port on a weekend, good. If not, schedule the time off before you leave. Or call in sick. You’ll be SOOOOOOOO glad you did.
A Final Suggestion.
Keep up with all of the information documents you got on the cruise – daily ships newsletter, shore excursion price list, etc. When you get home, file all this in a folder and then use if for reference material for yourself or someone else the next time a cruise is planned. And before your forget, write down all the things you wish you’d thought of and that you wish you had known. Make a complete list and stash it with the other cruise information you brought back.
Happy Cruising!
The P90X Workout Schedule – Classic, Lean, Doubles – Which is Right For You?
The P90X Workout Schedule is comprised of three separate routines. You choose where you want to start based on your physical conditioning and then just push play. The three options are broken down into Classic, Lean, and Doubles. I will give you a breakdown of each P90X Workout Schedule for those that don’t understand.
P90X Workout Schedule Options:
“Classic”
This is where most people seem to start, including myself – The Classic Workout Schedule is straight forward and offers the best combination or those ready to build muscle and burn fat as they go.
The classic workout schedule requires no more than 1 hour and a half in any one day – The longest workout of the entire schedule is Yoga X.
I chose to do classic in my first round of P90X and seemed to get very good results by sticking almost 100% to the workouts. My diet was nothing organized and didn’t follow the P90X Meal Plan. However, I did eat healthy and clean, i.e. no soda, candy, ice cream, red meats, sugars, etc. I still consume sugar but on a highly reduced level, pretty much only in my coffee – that is my one diet evil.
The Classic P90X Workout Schedule will work you out 6 days a week just as Lean and Doubles will do except you tend to focus on a mix of Cardio and Resistance training, nearly 50 / 50. It looks something like this:
Monday: Resistance + Abs
Tuesday: Cardio
Wednesday: Resistance + Abs
Thursday: Stretch / Balance (Yoga)
Friday: Resistance + Abs
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: Off
P90X Classic is ideal for those ready to get started from ground 0 and not looking to lose a ton of fat up front before building muscle. The above example stays true through each phase with a few resistance videos switching up to add Muscle Confusion. Let’s look at Lean now.
“Lean”
The Lean Workout Schedule will have you focusing on Cardio a lot more than resistance. This is a great place to start for those that want to focus on weight loss first and then maybe work into muscle building later on. With Lean you will be doing a lot more cardio options which in turn will burn more calories and help you drop fat faster.
I have not tried the lean approach option myself but I think it would be ideal if you wanted to condition and didn’t think you were quite ready to jump into Classic. You will need to set aside up to 1 hour and 30 minutes for your Lean routine; the longest workout is Yoga X.
A Lean P90X Workout Schedule would look something like this:
Monday: Core / Cardio
Tuesday: Cardio
Wednesday: Resistance + Abs
Thursday: Stretch / Balance (Yoga)
Friday: Resistance + Abs
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: Off
Notice how Monday differs from the Classic P90X Workout Schedule – You add an additional cardio / core exercise to maximize fat burning and core strengthening.
Now what’s interesting is at phase 3 of Lean you actually do workouts similar to Phase 1 of the Classic. With that said you can see how Lean is designed as a lead up into Classic and then Classic builds into what we will look at next.
“Doubles”
Alright, this is the ultimate P90X Workout Schedule and for those already in shape or already doing Classic but ready for more. You will see why in a moment. Now with Doubles you will need a lot more dedication and time, you will need to set aside up to 2 hours and 20 minutes on some days. In most cases you will wake up and do cardio, then a couple hours later or in the evening you will do resistance + Abs.
Let’s take a look at what the P90X Doubles looks like. ( Now keep in mind in Phase 1 Doubles appear to be the exact same as Classic – In phase 2 this changes by adding 3 cardio workouts each week and in phase 3 there is a significant change by adding 4 cardio workouts)
The following example is based off the Doubles P90X Workout Schedule – Phase 3. I want you to see how serious this really gets!
Monday: AM – Cardio / PM – Resistance + Abs
Tuesday: AM – Cardio / PM – Cardio
Wednesday: Resistance + Abs
Thursday: AM – Cardio / PM – Stretch and Balance (Yoga)
Friday: AM – Cardio / PM – Resistance + Abs
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: Off
Notice how extreme is gets? The biggest difference between Classic and Doubles is the addition of all the Cardio. The best way to compare is this – In Doubles phase 3 you’re basically doing Classic with 4 additional Cardio workouts a week. Pretty intense eh – Believe me, it is!
Well that was a quick look at the P90X Workout Schedule and the variations that occur. This is a generalized overview but was hopefully informative. Keep in mind that with P90X and Muscle Confusion your resistance days will switch up to continuously bring intensity and challenge so you never fully adapt. This is the power of the P90X Workout Schedule – Choose Yours.
If your new and want to lose weight fast – Do Lean.
If you’re seasoned and want a challenge plus muscle gain – Do Classic
If you’re a pro and classic is not a challenge, get extreme – Do Doubles
The choose is yours and the P90X Workout allows so many variations there is no reason why you should not be pushing play today – Take responsibility for yourself and your health, take action today!
Troubleshooting Computer Freeze (Lockup) Problems
How familiar does the following sound? Your computer was working fine, but then suddenly started locking up (aka hanging or freezing), rebooting itself (crashing) or shutting down spontaneously? If you know only too well what I am talking about, then read on! Performing the simple steps below can fix the majority of lockup cases.
1. Check for recently installed software or hardware.
If the lockups started to happen after you installed a new peace of hardware, new software program, or new drivers, uninstall it and see if the problem goes away.
2. Run your antivirus program.
One of the first things to do in the case of sudden lockups is to run your antivirus program. Check your antivirus manufacturer’s website for updates and latest virus definition files. (This is absolutely necessary, outdated antivirus is not going to be of any use!) If you don’t have antivirus software installed – or if updates are unavailable – run one of the web-based antivirus scans that some major antivirus vendors like Trend Micro are offering for free. You can find a comprehensive list of available web-based scans and free antivirus programs on http://www.free-antivirus.info.
3. Run some good spyware removal tool.
If your machine is not infected with any viruses, it is still possible that it has some harmful adware or spyware is present. Download and run some good spyware removal tool such as AdAware or Microsoft AntiSpyware. Check http://www.free-antivirus.info for a list of free spyware removal applications.
4. Check for free hard drive space.
When no viruses are found, check out free hard drive space on drive C:. Make sure there is more than 20% of free space available; low disk space can lead to random lockups.
5. Check for overheating.
Overheating is another known cause of lockups. It can be caused by problems with fans inside the case, dust buildup, or other cooling problems. Make sure the power supply fan and CPU fan are running and free of dust buildup. You can check the temperatures inside the case by running Motherboard monitor
http://mbm.livewiredev.com
- make sure the temperatures are within the preset limits. Be very careful while cleaning inside the computer case (use plastic vacuum crevice tool) and NEVER OPEN THE POWER SUPPLY CASE as it contains high voltage.
6. Check the hard disk.
Check the hard disk – it is possible that its logical structure is corrupted. To check the disk for errors, right-click on the disk C: icon in “My Computer”, select the “Tools” tab, check all check boxes in the “Check disk options” field, and press the “Check now” button. It should ask whether you want to schedule the check next time you restart your computer – answer “Yes” and restart your PC. The check will be performed automatically after startup; it can take a while, so be patient. The program will attempt to fix some problems automatically – however, if the hard disk is failing physically, it will need to be replaced. It is also a good idea to run Disk Defragmenter (located in Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > System Tools) to optimize data placement on the hard disk for increased performance and reliability.
7. Check the memory.
Sometimes random lockups can be attributed to the computer memory (RAM) starting to fail. You can test the memory by running Windows Memory Diagnostic that can be downloaded from http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp. If memory problems are found, try re-seating the RAM (pull it out and plug it back in). If it doesn’t work, replace the defective RAM.
8. Check for other hardware problems (advanced users).
More hardware-related problems can be diagnosed by running hardware tests from the Ultimate Boot CD that can be downloaded from http://www.ultimatebootcd.com. However, you should only use it if you know what are you doing – some programs on that CD can be dangerous when used inappropriately (for example, some of them can wipe the contents of your hard disk).
9. Update Windows and drivers.
Some lockups can be caused by outdated software components – update your windows and drives by running a windows update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (it’s good idea to run it regularly).
The above steps will help diagnose and eliminate the most common causes of lockups. Hundreds more of other possible scenarios need to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, as it all goes down to your particular computer configuration. Asking on PC
troubleshooting forums/newsgroups should help you figure out solutions to not-so-obvious lockup cases.
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Nonverbal Communication in Business
There are five key elements that can make or break your attempt at successful nonverbal communication in business:
Eye contact
Gestures
Movement
Posture, and
Written communication
Let’s examine each nonverbal element in turn to see how we can maximise your potential to communicate effectively…
Eye contact
Good eye contact helps your audience develop trust in you, thereby helping you and your message appear credible. Poor eye contact does exactly the opposite.
So what IS ‘good’ eye contact?
People rely on visual clues to help them decide on whether to attend to a message or not. If they find that someone isn’t ‘looking’ at them when they are being spoken to, they feel uneasy.
So it is a wise business communicator that makes a point of attempting to engage every member of the audience by looking at them.
Now, this is of course easy if the audience is just a handful of people, but in an auditorium it can be a much harder task. So balance your time between these three areas:
slowly scanning the entire audience,
focusing on particular areas of your audience (perhaps looking at the wall between two heads if you are still intimidated by public speaking), and
looking at individual members of the audience for about five seconds per person.
Looking at individual members of a large group can be ‘tricky’ to get right at first.
Equally, it can be a fine balancing act if your audience comprises of just one or two members — spend too much time looking them in the eyes and they will feel intimidated, stared at, ‘hunted down’.
So here’s a useful tip: break your eye-to-eye contact down to four or five second chunks.
That is, look at the other person in blocks that last four to five seconds, then look away. That way they won’t feel intimidated.
Practice this timing yourself, away from others. Just look at a spot on the wall, count to five, then look away. With practice you will be able to develop a ‘feel’ for how long you have been looking into your audience member’s eyes and intuitively know when to look away and focus on another person or object.
When focusing on individual members in a large meeting or auditorium, try and geographically spread your attention throughout the room. That is, don’t just focus your personal gaze (as distinct from when you are scanning the room or looking at sections of the room) on selected individuals from just one part of the room. Unless you are specifically looking to interact with a particular person at that moment of your presentation, select your individual eye-contact audience members from the whole room.
Gestures
Most of us, when talking with our friends, use our hands and face to help us describe an event or object – powerful nonverbal aids.
We wave our arms about, turn our hands this way and that, roll our eyes, raise our eyebrows, and smile or frown.
Yet many of us also, when presenting to others in a more formal setting, ‘clam up’.
Our audience of friends is no different from our business audience — they all rely on our face and hands (and sometimes legs, feet and other parts of us!) to ‘see’ the bigger, fuller picture.
It is totally understandable that our nervousness can cause us to ‘freeze up’, but is is in our and our communication’s best interests if we manage that nervousness, manage our fear of public speaking, and use our body to help emphasise our point.
I found that by joining a local Toastmasters International club I was rapidly able to learn how to ‘free up my body’ when presenting to others.
Movement
Ever watch great presenters in action — men and women who are alone on the stage yet make us laugh, cry and be swept along by their words and enthusiasm?
Watch them carefully and you’ll note that they don’t stand rigidly in one spot. No, they bounce and run and stroll and glide all around the stage.
Why do they do that?
Because they know that we human beings, men in particular, are drawn to movement.
As part of man’s genetic heritage we are programmed to pay attention to movement. We instantly notice it, whether we want to or not, assessing the movement for any hint of a threat to us.
This, of course, helps explain why many men are drawn to the TV and seem transfixed by it. It also helps explain why men in particular are almost ‘glued’ to the TV when there is any sport on. All that movement!
But to get back to the stage and you on it… ensure that any movement you make is meaningful and not just nervous fidgetting, like rocking back and forth on your heels or moving two steps forward and back, or side to side.
This is ‘nervous movement’ and your nervousness will transmit itself to your audience, significantly diluting the potency of your communication and message.
So move about the stage when you can — not just to keep the men in the audience happy, but to help emphasise your message!
Posture
There are two kinds of ‘posture’ and it is the wise communicator that manages and utilizes both.
Posture 1
The first type of ‘posture’ is the one we think of intuitively-the straight back versues the slumped shoulders; the feet-apart confident stance verses the feet together, hand-wringing of the nervous; the head up and smiling versus the head down and frowing.
And every one of the positions we place the various elements of our body in tells a story—a powerful, nonverbal story.
For example, stand upright, shoulders straight, head up and eyes facing the front. Wear a big smile. Notice how you ‘feel’ emotionally.
Now-slump your shoulders, look at the floor and slightly shuffle your feet. Again, take a not of your emotional state.
Notice the difference?
Your audience surely will, and react to you and your message accordingly.
A strong, upright, positive body posture not only helps you breath easier (good for helping to calm nerves!) but also transmits a message of authority, confidence, trust and power.
If you find yourself challenged to maintain such a posture, practice in front of a mirror, or better yet join a speaking club like Toastmasters International [http://www.toastmastersa.org/champion/index.html].
Posture 2
The second type of ‘posture’ comes from your internal mental and emotional states.
You can have great body posture but without internal mental and emotional posture your words will sound hollow to your audience.
For example, the used car salesman at ‘Dodgy Brothers Motors’ might have great body posture and greet you with a firm handshake, a steady gaze and a friendly smile. But if in his heart he is seeing you as just another sucker then sooner or later his internal conflict between what he says and what he really thinks will cause him to ‘trip up’.
His body will start betraying his real, underlying intentions and you’ll start to feel uncomfortable around him, even if you can’t figure out why.
But, if that same used car salesman had a genuine desire to help you find the right car for you, and he puts your needs before his own, then his words and actions will remain congruent (in harmony) with his underlying intentions and you will trust him, even though you might not be able to identify why.
I have seen some supposed ‘self help’ gurus who don’t actually practice what they preach. Consequently their words ring hollow to me and their books, cds, dvds and training materials remain unpurchased.
I have met salesmen and women who don’t actually make the money they claim to make in their ‘fabulous business opportunity’, and while their words are practiced and polished, and their body posture is ‘perfect’, their words ooze like honeyed poison frm their lips and I remain unconvinced.
This second type of ‘posture’ is fundamentally tied to truth and honesty. It is about ‘walking the talk’ and being who you say you are.
It’s about not trying to sell something you don’t believe in or use yourself. It’s about not trying to pass yourself off as an expert when all you’ve ever done is read a book on the subject.
It’s all about making sure that your words and your intentions are underpinned by truth and honesty. Because all of us, no matter how polished a presenter we might be, are at the mercy of our body and its ability to ‘tell the truth’ in spite of what our lips might utter. Nonverbal clues rule!
Written communication
I could spend a lifetime writing about the art of written communication.
There is an art (and also a science) that can be learnt with diligence and practice. To write too formally; to write too informally; to write too briefly; to write too lengthily…
My first suggestion would be to avail yourself of one of the following three books, each of which is absolutely brilliant at giving you the skills and insights into effective business writing:
The Business Style Handbook: An A-to-Z Guide for Writing on the Job with Tips from Communications Experts at the Fortune 500 by Helen Cunningham and Brenda Greene
The Elements of Business Writing: A Guide to Writing Clear, Concise Letters, Memos, Reports, Proposals, and Other Business Documents by Gary Blake and Robert W. Bly
Effective Business Writing: Strategies, Suggestions and Examples by Maryann V. Piotrowski
From persuasive memos to complaint letters, sales letters to executive summaries — these exceedingly useful guides help you to write clearly and in an appropriate format, style and tone. Each book has numerous examples that show how to overcome writer’s block, organize messages for maximum impact, achieve an easy-to-read style, find an efficient writing system and much more.
In conclusion…
There are five key elements that can make or break your attempt at successful nonverbal business communication:
Eye contact
Gestures
Movement
Posture, and
Written communication
Nonverbal communication in a business setting requires not only recognition of these elements, but confidence in meeting their challenges.
Good luck and remember to communicate with passion!
From Dynasty to Destiny: Ten Celebrated Inventions of Ancient China
In the last two centuries, new cultural discoveries have nearly rewritten history. It’s been an exciting time, full of adventure and surprises. Around every corner there are new responses to questions we had already imagined answered. And of these breakthroughs, none shines as brightly as the impact of ancient Chinese inventions on modern life. As we explore ten of the greatest inventions and innovations of Ancient China, you may be surprised at their influence on recent technology.
1. Paper. Paper, as we know it, was invented in China around the year 105. After seeing earlier attempts made from silk, bamboo sticks and animal skins, Cai Lun came up with his own idea. After mixing mulberry bark, rags, wheat stalks and other stuff, a pulp formed. This pulp was pressed into sheets and dried, becoming a crude form of paper. Paper was such an important invention that the process of making it was a jealously guarded secret. The secret was safe until the seventh century when the art spread to India.
2. The Printing Press. Before Johann Gutenberg “invented” the printing press in the 1440′s, China created a type of printing press between 206 B.C. and A.D. 45. It was made using stone tablets to create a “rubbing” of famous Buddhist and Confucian texts. Next came block printing in the Sui Dynasty. In block printing, images and words were engraved on wooden boards, smeared with ink and pressed onto sheets of paper. Later, moveable type printing presses were introduced. According to the authors of Ancient Inventions, “By A.D. 1000, paged books in the modern style had replaced scrolls – a good 450 years ahead of Gutenberg.”
3. The First Book. Due to the early advent of the printing press, China also claims the first book. In 868, almost six hundred years before the Gutenberg Bible, the earliest known book was printed. By the end of the Tang dynasty, China had bookstores in almost every city.
4. Paper Money. While today you’d rather carry a lot of cash instead of coin, that hasn’t always been the case. The idea of paper currency was first attempted under Emperor Han Wu-Ti (140-87 B.C.) after war had drained the treasury. He issued treasury notes, worth and in exchange for 400,000 copper coins. Instead of paper, the Emperor used the skin of the white stag. But the creature was so rare that the idea soon lost appeal. In the early 800′s, the idea revived to deter highway robbers. In 812, the government was again printing money. By the year 1023, money had an expiration date and was already plagued by inflation and counterfeiting. Nearly six hundred years later paper money headed west, first printed in Sweden in 1601.
5. The Abacus. Well before Texas Instruments, the first calculator was in the works. The abacus dates from around the year 200 B.C. It is a very advanced tool with a simple design. Wood is crafted into a rectangular frame with rods running from base to top. About 2/3′s from the base, a divider crosses the frame, known as the counting bar. On each of the rods are beads. All of the beads above the counting bar equal five. Those below equal one. The rows of rods are read from right to left. The furthest bar to the right holds the one’s place, the next holds the ten’s place, then the hundred’s, and so on. While its design may sound complex, there are some Chinese today so skilled that they can solve difficult math problems faster than someone using a calculator!
6. The Decimal System. In the West, the decimal system appeared quite recently. Its first believed instance was in a Spanish manuscript dated around 976. But, the first true example goes back much further. In China, an inscription dated from the 13th century B.C., “547 days” was written as “five hundred plus four decades plus seven of days.” The Chinese likely created the decimal system because their language depended on characters (like pictures) instead of an alphabet. Each number had its own unique character. Without the decimal system, the Chinese would have had a terrible time memorizing all of these new characters. By using units of ones, tens, hundreds, etc., the Chinese saved time and trouble.
7. The Mechanical Clock. In the year 732, a Buddhist monk and mathematician invented the first mechanical clock. He named it “Water-Driven Spherical Bird’s-Eye-View Map of the Heavens.” Like earlier clocks, water gave it power, but machinery cased the movement. But, after a few years, corrosion and freezing temperatures took their toll. It wasn’t until 1090, when astronomer Su Sung designed his mechanical marvel “Cosmic Engine”, that a more dependable timepiece was made. Created for Emperor Ying Zong, this clock had a tower over 30 feet tall. It housed machinery that, among other things, caused wooden puppets to pop from one of five doors at regular intervals throughout the day. (Much like the modern idea of a Cuckoo clock.) The entire machine was powered by a giant waterwheel. This clock ran until 1126, when it was dismantled by the conquering Tartars and moved to Peking for another several years. The first clock reference in Western history was in 1335, in the church of St. Gothard in Milan.
8. The Planetarium. A planetarium is a big enclosed space that shows the stars and constellations on the inside. Orbitoscope was the name of the first projection planetarium. It was built in Basil in 1912 by Professor E. Hinderman. But, once again, China is the mother of this invention. The first planetarium is attributed to the design of an early emperor. As one source states, an astronomer named Jamaluddin created a planetarium during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), along with a perpetual calendar and other important astronomical devices.
9. The Earthquake Sensor. The earliest earthquake sensor was also an interesting piece of art. It was a bronze cylinder about 8 feet around, with 8 dragons perched above 8 open-mouthed frogs. In the mouth of each dragon rested a bronze ball. When an earthquake struck, a pendulum inside the cylinder would swing. It knocked the ball from the mouth of the dragon and down into the frog’s mouth. That frog’s back was then facing the direction of the center of the quake. Chang Heng invented it in A.D. 132 (during the Han Dynasty), almost 600 years before the first western sensor was made in France. Later, in 1939, Imamura Akitsune recreated the invention and actually proved it effective.
10. The Helicopter Rotor & Propeller. While the Ancient Chinese didn’t actually invent the helicopter, they were involved in its creation. In the 4th century A.D., they invented a toy called the “Bamboo Dragonfly”. You’ve probably seen them as prizes at local fairs or carnivals. It was a toy top, with a base like a pencil and a small helicopter-like blade at the end. The top was wrapped with a cord. When you pulled the cord, the blade would spin around and soar into the air. This toy was studied by Sir George Cayley in 1809 and played a role in the birth of modern aviation. It wasn’t until the early 1900′s that the first helicopter took flight.
It is sometimes a mind blowing thing to realize that what seemed to be modern ideas or inventions are much older than we’d imagined. And it’s likely that there are more inventions to be discovered. More historical changes to be made. In the conclusion of The Greatest Inventions of the Past 2,000 Years, Jared Diamond summed it up well while referring to the changing view of history and its inventors, “So, forget those stories about genius inventors who perceived a need of society, solved it single-handedly, and thereby transformed the world. There has never been such a genius……..If Gutenberg hadn’t devised the better alloys and inks used in early printing, some other contemporary tinkerer with metals and oils would have done so……do give Gutenberg some of the credit—but not too much.”
Questions:
1. Choose one of the inventions mentioned. Explain how different the world would be if it hadn’t been invented.
2. Why do you think there was such a large space of time between the Eastern and Western dates of invention?
3. What are two other inventions that came from ancient China? Research and find out when the idea was introduced to Western culture.
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Shower Curtain Cleaning Tips
Nobody wants to be taking a shower or a bath, cleaning themselves up, only to look up and see a dirty, scummy shower curtain. Unfortunately, your shower curtain is going to get dirty. Being in such damp conditions and with such soap scum build up – well, you’re going to have a dirty shower curtain on your hands. Luckily, there are some things that you can do to clean up your shower curtain.
You can wash your shower curtain in your basic everyday clothes washer. Just use about 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of bleach. Then add white towels and a regular amount of your normal laundry detergent and run the machine. Also use some liquid fabric softener. Do not run your machine on hot – plastic shower curtains could melt.
When you’re done washing your shower curtain, do not place it in the dryer (again, it could melt). Instead, simply hang it up in its regular place on the shower rod and let it drip dry.
No matter what your shower curtain is made out of, fabric, vinyl, or plastic, you can stick it in the washing machine with a cup of baking soda instead of bleach and vinegar. It is also a good idea to read the label on your shower curtain to check for any warnings or suggestions.
If you soak your shower curtain in salt water, it will prevent mildew (although, it could leave small crystals on your curtain if you use too much salt). Before hanging shower curtains, soak in vinegar or salt water solutions to prevent mold and mildew. To remove mold and mildew, wash in hot soapy water with a little bit of bleach. For plastic curtains, clean with laundry pre-wash spray. Spray along the top, letting it run down to cover the curtain. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off.
The Best Laptop Configuration
If you are in the bazaar for a new laptop, the processor, RAM, and harder drive aren’t the alone specs you’ll wish to consider. The affectation as well plays an important role. And we’re not just talking about size. Resolution as well matters. Why? Because the amount of pixels a awning outputs determines how abundant detail you’ll get from that LCD, whether you’re alteration photos or arena the latest games. A beyond resolution as well agency that you’ll accept added on-screen absolute estate, which is acceptable if you wish to accept two applications accessible ancillary by ancillary or you wish to abbreviate scrolling if Web surfing. You’ll as well accept added pixels to plan with if outputting the affectation to an alien monitor.
Bigger isn’t consistently better, however. Higher-resolution screens are not alone added expensive, they can accomplish icons and blazon arise too baby on Laptop, which can aftereffect in exceptionable squinting. And back we don’t acclaim that users lower the built-in resolution on any laptop, as the consistent angel is about fuzzy, it’s analytical that you accomplish the appropriate alarm the aboriginal time. So what resolution is appropriate for your next notebook? Use this as your guide.
7 inches to 10 inches: Mini-Laptop
On mini-Laptop with a 7-inch display, you’re bound to 800 x 480 pixels. This resolution makes icons and argument ample and simple to read, but in abounding cases you’ll acquisition yourself accomplishing a fair bit of scrolling around. We acclaim spending a bit added for a archetypal with a 9- or 10-inch display, area the candied atom is 1024 x 600 pixels (such as on the new Acer Aspire one and the MSI Wind NB). You’ll be able to see added of Web pages and abstracts and won’t charge to annal as abundant up or down or from ancillary to side. The HP 2133 Mini-Note goes up to 1280 x 768 pixels, but some may acquisition that too top for such a baby display.
10 to 12.1 inches: Ultra Portable and Thin-and-Light Laptop
These Laptop are advised to go anywhere but action added application and appearance than mini-Laptop. Generally, 10-inch ultra portables are giving way to systems with 11-inch LCDs. Some of the a lot of accepted 11-inch systems cover the ASUS U2E, Lenovo IdeaPad U110, and Sony VAIO TZ series, which appear accepted with 1366 x 768 pixels and no added affectation option. This resolution offers a acceptable antithesis amid awning absolute acreage and the ad measurement of icons and text, but you’ll pay a exceptional for the awning size. For continued accretion sessions, 12-inch screens are just added able than 11-inch options.
You’ll acquisition a bit added array in the 12-inch range, but resolutions are abundantly bound to one best for any accustomed notebook. For a arrangement this size, 1024 x 768 pixels provides able resolution for basal productivity, which you’ll acquisition on ultra portables such as the Lenovo Think Pad X61s. If you wish added resolution, footfall up to 1280 x 800 pixels, which is bigger for multimedia applications and accessible in high-end, failing machines including the ASUS Lamborghini VX3-A1 and Fujistu Life Book P8010.
13.3 to 15.4 inches: All-Purpose Laptop
In this chic of Laptop, resolutions ambit from 1280 x 800 up to high-definition 1920 x 1200 on high-end gaming systems. For accustomed accretion chores, 1280 x 800 pixels is fine, and you’ll acquisition it on accepted 13.3-inch systems such as the Apple Mac Book, Dell XPS M1330, Sony VAIO CR, and Toshiba Satellite U405.
That aforementioned resolution is accepted as you move up to 14- and 15-inch Laptop, but there are some notable exceptions. For example, the 14.1-inch Dell Inspiron 1420 and the 15.4-inch Inspiron 1525 accept a $50 advantage to advancement the console to 1440 x 900 or 1680 x 1050 pixels, respectively, which should accommodate added desktop absolute acreage and added data for tasks like photo editing, admitting with abate icons and text. The 15.4-inch Mac Book Pro has a 1440 x 900-pixel display, which is acceptable for artistic pros on the go.
As you move into 15-inch multimedia Laptop and gaming systems, such as the Alien ware Area-51 m15x and Dell XPS M1530, you’ll see higher-resolution LCDs. In the case of Dell’s M1530, affective up to 1440 x 900 pixels costs $50 (plenty of eye bonbon for the latest 3D titles), and the high-definition 1920 x 1200-pixel affectation costs $100 more. Note that this resolution may be abstract accustomed the mid range 256MB Nvidia cartoon agenda and that you won’t see the accurate account of the $500 Blu-ray Disc advantage on a 15.4-inch screen. On Alien ware’s m15x, the added $300 will be able-bodied spent, abnormally if you opt for Nvidia’s 8800M GTX graphics, complete with 512MB of video memory.
16 to 20.1 inches: Desktop Replacement Laptop
Most of the systems in this screen-size ambit are for multimedia tasks and gaming. You can get by with a 1440 x 900-pixel affectation if you won’t be accomplishing abundant added than blockage e-mail and surfing the Web. For instance, the Toshiba Satellite L355 sports a 17-inch awning with this resolution and costs beneath than $800.
Are you into multitasking or gaming? You’ll wish to footfall up to 1680 x 1050 pixels. In the case of HP’s dv9700t, for example, advance from 1440 x 900 to 1680 x 1050 costs a bashful $50. which should enhance movies, photos, and gaming, as able-bodied as accommodate added absolute acreage so you can accept assorted applications accessible on the desktop
Only austere high-def cine fans, gamers, and artistic pros will wish to splurge for a 1920 x 1200-pixel awning (also accepted as 1080p). In the case of the Alien ware Area-51 m17x (starting at $2,199), a 1920 x 1200-pixel LCD comes standard. The Gateway P-172X FX (starting at $1,999) is yet addition 17-inch gaming rig with a 1080p screen. In the case of the 17-inch Mac Book Pro, jumping from 1680 x 1050 to 1920 x 1200 for alone $100 is a no-brainier, abnormally if you’ll be outputting to an alien monitor.
Dr Seuss Crafts – How Can You Make Them?
Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. He was a writer of children’s books in the United States (1904-1991). During his extended career, he had written more than 40 children’s books that have sold more than 200 million prints all over the world. Based on the popular children’s characters of his books, Dr Seuss crafts and activities have originated.
There are a variety of Dr. Seuss crafts and activities available in various books and websites. Some of the crafts are Dr. Seuss cat-in-the-hat hat, Horton hears a who craft, green eggs and ham placemat, Dr. Seuss doorknob hangers, Dr. Seuss medicine cabinet, and make a colored bookmark.
The easiest among the Dr. Seuss crafts is Dr. Seuss’ Cat-in-the-Hat hat. It is a wearable paper hat; if you wear this, you will look like Dr. Seuss’ Cat-in-the-Hat. The materials required to make this hat are construction paper (red and white), glue, poster board, and tape or stapler. First, cut a piece of white construction paper into strips that are about 2² × 8.5². Then cut a two-inch strip from the poster board that is as lengthy as you want to fit your head. Paste few white strips onto a piece of red construction paper. Try to keep equal spaces between strips, and leave nearly two inches of red at the bottom edge hence you can cut it to appear like a brim. Allow the glue dry for few minutes. Once it is dry, cut it into a hat-like shape. Glue or staple the bottommost center of the hat onto the poster board strip’s center. Once you have attached the hat to the band, attach the band strip’s ends together using tape or stapler to fit closely around your forehead.
Horton Hears a Who Craft is simple pink clover that looks like the one Horton is holding in the movie. You can also make this craft easily. To make this clover craft, first, take a green-colored pencil and paste a pink pompon to at the tail end of the pencil. Then paste a tiny white pompon onto the pink pompon and let it dry completely. Now the clover is ready!
To make a colored bookmark, you need scissors, colored markers, crayons, or pencils, punching machine, and colored ribbon or yarn. You can either fully make the bookmark or print the readymade template out from the website and color it. You can use various colored markers, crayons, or pencils to color the bookmarks. Then cut along the outline using scissors. To make your bookmark more beautiful, punch a hole, using a punching machine, at the top end of the bookmark and tie a piece of brightly colored yarn or ribbon. The colored bookmark is ready now!
Drink Vending Machine – Relatable History of Soft Drinks, Especially in the United States
Whether you call it coke, cola, pop, soda, soda pop or soft drink the name still rings a bell in the proverbial mind of the United States conscious. That name, is one of tradition and sugary success that has a long road of challenges and innovations along the way. The United States has seen first-hand the impact of these refreshing drinks and considered it a good thing. Perhaps we take some pride in knowing the fact that a majority of our soda flavors helped our history grow. Maybe it brought together families and extended families, during those ‘oh-so’ special moments in history. We know that our grandmas and grandpas sure liked the stuff and we continue to enjoy the refreshing appeal of soda pop today. So sit back, relax and have a soda because it is a fascinating topic to talk about.
The soda pop history can go all the way back to the source (so to say). In America (particularly the Yellowstone national park region), there are a great many of naturally bubbling springs, which come up from the earths surface. We call these sources of natural carbonation and natural mineral water sources, partially because they come from the very rocks that we call home today. Even in the encapsulating Ancient times, when soda pop was an alien term, the societies (such as the Romans for example) thought that these natural mineral sources were a healthy and almost revitalizing source of life. They thought that going to bath houses and drinking these mineral waters would make them feel better (the invariable source of life, I guess). Naturally, there was a great amount of scientists later on who wanted to study the effects of these mineral waters. For example, Joseph Black (a Scottish physician) whose studies discovered gases present in carbonation, such as Carbon Dioxide for example. Interesting enough, the chemistry department at Glasgow is named after Joseph Black. Another important scientist to study these mineral waters was Friedrich Hoffmann who was a German physician and chemist, who also discovered some of the first information about the nervous system and German measles. Obviously, many more people researched the health benefits of this early bubbling mineral water.
The earliest known soda pops were called sherbets, which are now more known as a middle-eastern drink made with rose hips, cherries, rose, licorice and a variety of spices. These drinks came about in early times by Arabic chemists, who implemented many different spices and flavorings into them such as crushed fruits, herbs and aromatic flowers. Even in the later 13th century, soda pop started to get a name with the introduction of an English born drink called the Dandelion & Burdock, which was made from the fermentation of dandelion and burdock. This drink is similar to what we call Root Beer nowadays in the United States. Most of these ancient drinks were naturally carbonated from naturally recurring Carbon Dioxide sources, such as the mineral waters mentioned above.
The first commercially marketed soda pops that were not carbonated in the West happened during the 17th century. Most of these noncarbonated drinks were made from lemon juice, sweetened with honey. During the late 17th century, a French company by the name of Compagnie des Limonadiers had a monopoly on the sale of lemonade type soda pop. Businesses that carried these drinks offered them off the backs of the sales agents and dispensed them into cups for thirsty customers. In addition to this, during the 18th century there was much progress in terms of trying to find a process to produce chemistry-formulated carbonated water, like the water found in naturally occurring mineral sources. In the later 17th century, an Englishman named Joseph Priestley found a process to implement carbon dioxide into regular water, thus making carbonated water in the lab. His invention of carbonated water would lead to huge soda pop innovations. The paper in which he published his findings was known as Impregnating Water with Fixed Air in which he says that by dripping sulfuric acid onto chalk, would produce carbon dioxide gas. This would allow the gas to dissolve into a bowl of water, thus starting the process of carbonation. Another Englishman named John Nooth caught hold of this information and made a machine capable for commercial use. There also was a Swede named Torbern Bergman who made a machine that generated carbonated water in a most similar way (by sulfuric acid and chalk). One of the first chemists to add flavorings to carbonated soda pop was Jons Berzelius who added spices, juices and wine to the carbonated water, during the late 18th century.
The biggest time for the soda pop industry in the United States, was the innovation of the soda fountain. During the early 19th century, a Yale chemist professor named Benjamin Silliman sold these sodas in New Haven, Connecticut. Business owners in Philadelphia and New York City also started selling these sodas in the earth 1800s. Also during the early 19th century, John Matthews and John Lippincott (New York and Philadelphia respectively) started making soda fountains. They became successful and had large factories built for making the soda fountains.
People started to drink mineral water because as we stipulated earlier, it was found as a healthy practice. In the United States, many pharmacists started to sell mineral waters for these reasons. They also started to add herbs and other chemicals to mineral water. Some examples of the things they added were birch bark, dandelion, sarsaparilla (early root beers) and fruit extracts. These flavorings and additions were included to improve the sale value of the mineral waters and offer more taste to the consumer. These pharmacists become a popular part of American culture. American people loved to go to these pharmacies with soda fountains, daily. Most of the soft drinks that were consumed by American people during parts of the 19th century were found at the soda fountains, a pharmacies or ice cream parlor. After this period, canned soft drinks became one of the hottest markets ever for United State consumers.
When the bottling industry first started there were over 1,500 patents created for the process of bottling these soda pops. Since the carbonation put the soda pop under great pressure there were many innovations to the way the soft drink was bottled. You did not want the Carbon Dioxide to escape from the bottle, or else you would lose all the carbonation and flavor. During the last part of the 19th century, William Painter (originated from Baltimore) created the “crown cork bottle seal”. It was the first successful method of storing carbonated soft drinks, without losing the gas. During the turn of the century, there was a patent created for the process of blowing the glass for the creation of the bottles used in the carbonated drinks. Earlier, the glass that had been used for this process was blown by hand, which was a time consuming effort. The inventor of the machine was named Michael Owens (worked at the Libby Glass Company). The production of glass bottles rose exponentially after this patent from 1,400 bottles a day to around 58,000 bottles a day.
Now that we have soda available in many forms like aluminum cans and plastic bottles, we can enjoy the wide variety of offerings from soda pop companies. The soft drinks themselves are made by mixing the ingredients and flavorings with water. Most of the production of soft drinks is done at factories. Most of the time, soda pop companies will use a syrup (like corn syrup) to sweeten the drink. Syrups also relate to the drink machines that mix the syrup with the carbonated water separately. There is a rich tradition of the soft drink and we are now in a period where famous soda pops enrich our everyday lives; when we grab for a soda we know the history behind it, who drank it in our family and who did not.
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How to Remove Sour Smell From Clothes
Sour smell from clothes can be sickening and annoying. Even if we think that we have washed them well, they still end up having the smell. It is important to learn the ways to get rid of the odor. They are as follows:
• Hang them out to let the smell disappear. Dry them out in the sunlight. It will help remove odors but prolonged exposure may destroy the color of your clothes.
• Soak the clothes in your washing machine using a mild detergent. Then use a fabric conditioner to make their smell better.
• Wash your clothes over again using hot water. You can also rewash them and add a cap full of vinegar into the load and dry them immediately. Repeating the washing will be of great help to get rid of unwanted smells from your clothes or towels.
• Mix baking soda, bleach safe for colors, vinegar, regular washing detergent, and the hottest water that the fabric could stand. You wouldn’t want to destroy your clothes. Fill the tub and let the mixture sit. After 30 minutes, turn the washer off. Repeat this until you get the desired result. Baking soda has been proven to be effective. Actually it can also treat some skin problems.
• You can also use your regular detergent with Oxiclean detergent. Soak the clothes in Oxiclean for 30 minutes before you put them into the washing machine.
Patience is the only requirement for this problem. If you want your clothes to smell clean and fresh, then be patient in doing the things mentioned above.
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