Anne Rondepierre

When you dine out, your tip tells your server how you feel about them. But how do they feel about you?

When dining out, we get to show our satisfaction level with our tip. But chances are, your waiter or waitress might have a thing or two to say about the customer, if only they could. Here's there chance, and some of the things that drive them nuts:

You know the owner, or come here all the time. It's a common gripe of restaurant staff. They'd still prefer you make a reservation or quietly wait for a table.

It's closing time. Some customers don't realize, or just don't care, that servers have to do side work after their shift. If you hear the vacuum cleaner, that's your cue.

Ordering stuff that's not on the menu. People do it all the time. If you must, show some gratitude in your tip.

The arguing couple. It's uncomfortable for the server to have to interrupt a dispute to serve you. And if you're having a rotten time, it could be unfairly reflected in your tip.

Messy kids. Kids make messes, and your server will clean it up, just don't forget to tip a little extra for that.

______________________________________________________________________

Outer Voice

Appearance and body language can make a big first impression, and so can your voice!

Most people take their voices for granted, but it can say a lot about you. We put effort into our appearance and what we have to say, and there are ways to make it sound even better:

Tap into your best pitch. A good way to do this is to hum for a few minutes, in the shower, or in the car. Go up and down the scale, and breath through your nose.

Smile. Smiling actually changes and enhances the quality of your voice. Try it, you'll notice a big difference.

Talk to yourself. Like any musical instrument, your voice could use some tuning and warming up. Our voices are often at rest for a long time before needing to use it. Give it a dry run before making that phone call or entering that verbal situation.

Breath deep. A few deep breaths really opens up your diaphragm, tapping into your relaxed pitch. It will also take less effort to project your words.

Hydrate those pipes. We all sound better after wetting our whistles, and it will cut down on the need to clear your throat.

______________________________________________________________________

Red Robin

Ahhh, the first Robins of spring. Your lawn is their favorite spot, but can they really HEAR the worms?

After a long winter, the sight of Robins plucking worms from lawns is a welcome one. But can they really HEAR the worms they're hunting? Contrary to popular belief, no. They find them by cocking their head to the side, and spotting the movement in the grass. Experts say a common Robin can eat 14 FEET of earthworms in a single day.

And what about those pretty little blue eggs? The average female lays about four of them, and incubates them for 12-14 days. After hatching, the babies are fully feathered in about 10 days, and leave the nest a few days after that.

American Idol Revealed

Your favorite American Idol judge reveals something about your personality....

Admit it, one of those judges on American Idol is your favorite. And according to psychologist Jaye Derrick, your pick says something about your own personality:

Simon Cowell: You're a perfectionist, with high standards, and won't settle for mediocrity.

Kara DioGuardi: You're an individualist, and welcome a challenge.

Ellen DeGeneres: You tend to go with your gut instincts, and rely on intuition.

Randy Jackson: Your an analyst. You strive to balance a situation.

And if you miss Paula? You're a risk taker. Chances are you wear your heart on your sleeve and let it all hang out. And censoring yourself may not occur to you until after the fact.

______________________________________________________________________

Pain In the Back

If you've got back pain, you're in the majority. There are a few key factors that put you at risk for it. I'll tell you what they are, in a moment...

For most of us, the first attack of low back pain usually hits between the ages of 30 and 40, and it affects about 8 out of 10 people. There are a few factors that make us more prone to back pain. When we're not physically fit, we're at risk. We need strong abdominal muscles to properly support the spine, and if we don't exert ourselves regularly, we're more likely to injure ourselves when we do.

Another big factor for back pain is a big belly, which puts extra strain on the lower back. And our emotions can make matters worse. Stress can tighten muscles and elevate your awareness of pain.

 Source: Fred Cicetti, The Healthy Geezer

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Big Screen, Small Sound


You've got that great big screen picture, but what's up with the sound? The thinner the TV, the smaller the speakers...

You love the picture, but the sound stinks. With TVs getting thinner and thinner, there's less room for high quality speakers. There is a solution. Add a separate sound system. A home theater in a box system has everything you'll need. These prepackaged systems will give you the surround sound that's on your dvds and blu ray movies. Some even have the players included.

With a lot of the new TVs, the speakers direct the sound from the sides or even the back of the set. The home theater in a box systems come with 2 to 7 speakers, which puts you back in control of the audio.

Source: Consumer Reports

Tall, Dark, and Lying

Could lying on your dating profile be okay? There can be an upside to some...

If you dropped a pound, or added an inch, on your dating profile, you're not alone. A recent study revealed a shocking 81% of participants lied about at least one thing on their profile. The most common offenders, women rounding down on their weight, and men rounding up on their height. So how do you spot a liar? Look for what's NOT there:


People lying about their weight avoided writing about food.

People lying about income avoid the topic of money.

Often, liars' profiles tend to be shorter. They avoid using the pronouns "I" and "me".

There is an up side to some of the fibbers though. Most of them will accurately portray themselves in person. Those who bend the truth are more likely to be people pleasers, while people who are brutally honest, with long profiles tend to be less flexible.

_______________________________________________________________

Nice Guys Finish Last

There's some truth to the saying that nice guys finish last, in the business world. CareerBuilder.com studied the careers of more than 1,500 people, and found the evidence to be overwhelming. So what's so bad about being nice?

Being too nice can reduce your effectiveness as a leader.

Being sympathetic and supportive can weaken your management potential.

Being too agreeable was found to negatively impact salary, occupational status and involvement in work.

However, being mean or abrasive is not the answer, it can do just as much damage. The best approach is to find a balance, cooperative and positive, but firm and able to take on a challenge or resolve a conflict.

______________________________________________________________________

　
***Like New!

If you're trying to sell something online, it's important to make your item stand out. Consider putting several asterisks or other symbols before the title of your ad. It's a trick that gets the pros a lot of hits, and ultimately sales. Studies show that people scanning a list are naturally drawn to an item that looks different or stands out.

It's a good idea to add phrases like, great condition, like new, adorable, or favorite. Items with pictures and detailed descriptions sell much faster. Look up specs on your item if you don't already have them, and include them in your ad.

______________________________________________________________________

Do Me A Favor

Could you do me a favor? If you do, we'll be at lot closer. Asking for a favor can be more powerful than doing one...

If there's someone you'd like to get to know, or be closer to, ask them to do you a favor! A study in the journal Human Relations revealed when someone gives you time, or advice, or does another small favor for you, a connection is made. And it's a more powerful one than if you were to do the favor for them. In most cases, it just feels better to do someone a favor, than to ask for one, and it also opens the door for a return of the favor in the form of lunch or a cup of coffee. Presto, you've got the opportunity to get to know each other a little better.

______________________________________________________________________

Think Out Loud

Do you ever run across someone in the grocery store who is talking to themselves? Or maybe it's you! Chances are that person won't forget to buy something...

It happens to the best of us, we go to the grocery store, and check out without getting what we went for. Those people who talk to themselves in the aisles forget a lot less. And it works for math too! Researchers have found that students who talked out math problems, found the correct answers than those who did the math in their head. Thinking out loud also reduces the odds of forgetting a step or details in a lengthy task.

Cloves

Rosemary

Mint

Thyme

Lavender

Cinnamon sticks

Peppercorns

______________________________________________________________________

Potato Chips

If you like potato chips, you'd better have some orange juice with them...
 

Potato chips, bet you can't eat just one. The bad news is, potato chips contain a carcinogen that's formed when starchy foods are heated at high temperatures. A measly 1 ounce serving of chips can contain up to 39 times more than the World Health Organization deems safe. The good news? Orange juice. Consider washing down those chips with some OJ. Research shows it'll boost your liver's ability to break down carcinogens by as much as 35%.