BIG Pavement

Chinese Jump Rope

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:12:51 -0700

Imagine having a great time playing with just a simple piece ofelastic string! Chinese Jump Rope is a jumping game populararound the world! Chinese Jump Rope found me as a child and once again, throughmy profession as a physical educator. The game is funny likethat, popping up from generation to generation, verbally passedfrom one to another like a folk tale. Chinese Jump Rope is a challenging game played by anyoneanywhere. The simple rules test the skill and coordination of allplayers. An elastic rope is the only equipment needed for play.The game is easily learned and always fun! Chinese childrenfirst played Chinese Jump Rope in the th century. Rediscoveredby English children in the 's, Chinese Jump Rope remains aspopular as ever. Chinese Jump Rope is no ordinary "rope skipping" game. "Enders"hold an elastic rope while a "jumper" jumps the rope in specialways. The challenge? To jump successfully!RULESA Jumper jumps until a jumping mistake or "miss" is made.-...

Sports First Aid Kit

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:10:29 -0700

Do you have an active family? Are your kids involved in socceror little league? What sports are high on your priority list 'running, golf, tennis? American Sports Data, Inc. estimates: - . million people overthe age of exercise frequently, participating in singleactivities running, cycling, treadmill - . millionparticipate in recreational sports basketball, tennis,softball - . million people are active outdoors hiking,mountain biking, skiing - . million players are registeredwith the U.S. Youth Soccer Association If you pound the pavement, swing the club, or bat the ball,there is always the chance for injury. Is your family preparedwith a sports first aid kit that meets your needs? Manycommercially packaged first aid kits contain basic supplies.Sure, they might offer limited help for simple emergencies. Butis your first aid kit prepared to handle your child's rugbyinjuries or treat a sprained ankle on the soccer field? Howabout your knee pain after a...

Late Night Adventures with Your Children

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:14:37 -0700

Vacations are fun ! Weekends with the family are nice. But, LateNight Adventures are "simply marvelous". If you really want toshine in your child's eyes on a more regular basis-- try somelate night adventures with them. By late night I am talkingabout adventures that start from pm on. Shouldn't kids be inbed at that time? -- yes Shouldn't parents keep structure? --yes Don't parents need to set an example? -- yes Aren't kidsonly young once? -- YES and that is the point.Take time to be magical in your child's eyes. I applaudorganized, structured family systems. I think it can be quitedifficult for many families today that are over worked, tappedout, and stretched as far as time will allow for cramming inactivities. Yet, since your kids are only young once-- why notgive it a shot and build a couple memories as the coolest parenton the block. Here are a couple ideas that won't take up much time or moneybut go a long way with kids: Wake up and watch a lightening thund...

Allergies, Asthma and City Trees

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:12:46 -0700

Allergies, Asthma and City Trees Thomas Leo OgrenSome urban tree species cause an inordinate amount of asthma andallergy problems, while other tree species cause little or nohealth problems. A large part of the problem is that thearborists and landscape professionals, who plant these trees,often don't know the difference. The type of trees and shrubsused in modern city landscapes has changed dramatically in thepast three decades. In the past, the majority of street treesused were perfect-flowered, insect-pollinated trees, such as theonce so common American elm tree. Today though, many of the mostwidely used city trees are wind-pollinated species. Most ofthese species are unisexually flowered dioecious andormonoecious and further compounding the problem, thousands ofpopular cultivars sold today are touted to be 'seedless,''low-maintenance,' 'pod-free' or 'litter-free.' These fruitless,seedless trees are male plants, all male, and male trees produceprodigious amount...

Looking At Time With A Capital T

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:16:21 -0700

I keep a fossil on my desk at all times. Whenever I feel rushedor find myself creating a sense of urgency, I pick up the fossiland caress its polished surface. It's over million yearsold. Suddenly, returning that phone call or meeting thatself-imposed deadline doesn't seem nearly as critical. Myancient arthropod reminds me that, in the scheme of things, thismoment is indescribably insignificant. I find that remarkablycomforting. True story: I brought the fossil with me as a sort of visual aidfor a presentation I was giving on sustainability at Intel. As Iopened the car door in the Intel parking lot, the fossil slippedout of my bag. It crashed to the pavement, the asphaltshattering the tip of my favorite piece of history. I'm tryinghard to avoid seeing any deep meaning in that disturbing littleincident. Anyway, I've been stroking that poor broken fossil a lot thisweek. I'm not freaking out about anything. I've just beenspending some time thinking about time. Is lif...

Fashion and the Fisherman.

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:12:27 -0700

The one thing I have always enjoyed about fishing is that yourarely see anyone wearing a tie.I suppose there is the occasional urban lunchtime warrior whomight race from his cubicle to the Hudson river to get a fewcasts in for some glow-in-the-dark fish, but ties are certainlynot the norm when it comes to suiting up for a days fishing onthe river.When it comes to high fashion in the fishing world, a button upfast drying high tech shirt is about as close to fashionable asit gets.Unless of course you count the plaid jacket!!As it is, I can't quite figure out the purpose of the necktieanyway.Who in their right mind would come up with a part of the malewardrobe to wrap around your neck, and then cinch it up tight,and consider this a vital part of the function of clothing.For Gods sake,this is what they would do to condemned men justbefore they drop the floor out from under them, to create arather discomforting constriction about the windpipe and neck.I could understand it...

How to Capture Great Opportunity

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:13:44 -0700

How do you treat opportunities?More often than not, most of us walk the pavement looking down,rather than up. We miss the opportunity to smile and connectwith passers-by. And I'm sure that over the last year or two,people frown more and smile less. And if this is how we treateach other, I wonder how we treat the opportunities that flowour way.Digging a little, I discovered some interesting answers. It seems that people, in general, are not happy. Aside of thestresses and strains of life, one of the things they blame forthe way they feel right now, is the state of the world. Digging deeper, I found something else... Take a look at today's media headlines. Do you feel inspired bythem? Do you feel the press do much for the you, by way ofinspiration and wisdom? I don't remember a time when a newspaper guided me towardsbetter thinking or towards the opportunity within the chaos.They are more likely to tell us about a celebrity divorce or ascandal in a reality TV show than ...

The Right Words Can Make You Wealthy

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:13:19 -0700

Imagine you're in a darkened movie theatre watching a suspensethriller, and the scene you are engrossed in shows a beautifulwoman walking alone on a dimly lit, shadowy street. The onlysound is the rhythmic noise of her shoes against the pavement.The camera moves in for a closeup of her feet, revealing blackfishnet stockings that disappear into stylish, expensive, redshoes. Then, slowly, the camera zooms out, retreating along thestreet from where she just came. The sound of her footstepsfades as she recedes into the distance.A scrap of paper comes into view, tumbling over itself. Itcontinues its lazy somersault through the air encouraged by agentle breeze, then slides along the street until it is abruptlyhalted, trapped between the pavement and a man's muddy boot.Immediately you realize the woman is being stalked.Suddenly, from the back of the theatre a loud, authoritativevoice shouts: "Fire! Get out!"What would you do? Would you shrug your shoulders and wait forthe mov...

Successful Job Search

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:13:31 -0700

Most of the time, competition stimulates us, gets our juicesflowing, generates creativity, a sense of excitement, andmotivates us to perform at our best. Looking for work is anothermatter! When it comes to financial survival, to regainingindependence and self-worth, competition can be crippling. We apply for a job in the fervent hope that hundreds of othersare not also applying. Finding work is too serious an issue tobe considered a game or a sport. We need to find that positionthat will make everything all right, make us believe inourselves again, and help rebuild the self-esteem andself-confidence shattered by unemployment.Unless we are very lucky, there will be competition for everyposition we identify. Our remaining option is to set ourselvesapart from other hungry applicants. How?Take a global view and emerge from the dank and slimy job searchswamp by utilizing a number of techniques I call knock-outP-U-N-C-H-E-S, guaranteed to leave your competitors crying"Uncle...

What to Do if You are Over 40 and Have Lost Your Job

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:14:38 -0700

Unexpectedly loosing your job can be a very traumatic anddistressing experience at the best of times. If you are over and can't find the job you deserve, you will need great innerstrength and self belief to come out on top.Could this be you?You're working at your family's welding business during the day,and then go to your second job at night. You're -some yearsold, working as a cashier at Target. You always said that ifyou're years old and have a career that requires you to weara name tag, then to just shoot you!Not that there's anything wrong with working at Target orwearing a name tag or working the family business. Those are allhonest jobs. It's just that after years with your previouscompany, and with your education and expertise, you hadn'texactly planned on ramping up to your golden years askingcustomers if they'd like to save ten percent on their purchaseby opening a store credit card.You heard rumblings about the company folding. But as far as youkn...

What is My Life Purpose?

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:16:50 -0800

Why am I here?If you haven't already asked this question, I'm sure you will.Sooner or later most of us do.It's not an easy question to answer. It's broad in terms ofpossibility.Right now you might be a go-getter in the city; but you couldjust as easily be a procrastinator in a suburb. Same question,different perception. But whatever we're searching for in life, be it a bigger home, awonderful relationship, a new car, top job with a superb salary,loving children or just a little peace in our hearts, it's clearto see we are all united in our search for one thing. But whatis that thing?It's a simple thing. It's at the heart of all of our decisions,yet it often passes us by too easily, too often. When we docatch it, it is a marvelous experience. I believe we're all searching for happiness and I believe thereason why we miss it so often is because of how we search forit. What do I mean?We've been conditioned to want. Wanting creates 'doing'. Wedesire possessions and mone...

Recruiting Excellent Job Candidates

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:16:22 -0800

b>Six Easy Search Tips to Get the Cream of the CropAn independent recruiter, recruiting agency or executive searchfirm is charged with tracking down excellent potentialcandidates for available job positions. Despite the fact thatthere are innumerable people seeking positions of employment inthe st century, it often seems to a typical recruiting agencythat qualified men and women are few and far between.Here are six easy tips that recruiting services, staffing firms,or executive search firms should keep in mind when on the huntfor outstanding potential job candidates in the st century. These tips are equally applicable to companies undertaking theirown search without the help of recruiting agency services.Indeed, the headaches associated with finding qualifiedpersonnel is magnified for a company undertaking its ownrecruitment efforts.. Post an Ad on an Industry-specific Job Board. Oftentimes, a recruiter will take a scattershot approach tofinding candidates that ar...

Job Search Pals Find Jobs Faster!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:19:37 -0800

p> JOB SEARCH PALS FIND JOBS FASTER!Most English speakers have heard the expression: "Two heads arebetter than one". The saying rings ever more true with jobseekers.Think of this. The lonely job seeker is attempting to find a jobby himherself. The tedious job of filling out applications,composing a good resume, answering ads and pounding the pavementto find a job is enough to depress any lone job seeker.However, teaming up with a buddy can work wonders. The pal youfind does not have to be looking for the same kind of job thatyou are. The purpose for being pals is to:. Provide a measure of emotional support. . Pass on possiblejob leads. . Shore up weaknesses, such as resume building. .Combine research & resources. One person drives to an interviewwith their pal, next time the pal drives. Less chance ofnervous- ness & saves gas . Provides a sense of perspective &humor. It's hard to be gloomy with a partner who needs you tobe upbeat. . Each person can serve ...

Job Downsizing - Make The Best Of It

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:14:54 -0800

You're working at your family's welding business during the day,and then go to your second job at night. You're -some yearsold, working as a cashier at Target. You always said that ifyou're years old and have a career that requires you to weara name tag, then to just shoot you! Not that there's anything wrong with working at Target orwearing a name tag or working the family business. Those are allhonest jobs. It's just that after years with your previouscompany, and with your education and expertise, you hadn'texactly planned on ramping up to your golden years askingcustomers if they'd like to save ten percent on their purchaseby opening a store credit card. You heard rumblings about the company folding. But as far as youknew, the numbers were good. At least they were good. Thencompetition took over and the owners decided it was a good timeto bow out gracefully. You were hoping you weren't going to beone of the countless main wage earners to get let go. But sadl...

Valuable Tax Deductions for your Vehicle You Can't Afford to

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:15:05 -0800

Is your business missing out on valuable tax deductions you cantake for the use of your personal vehicle for businesspurposes?If you haven't done so already, you should definitelybeat a path to the door of your local office supply store andpick up a notebook for logging the mileage you drive to conductbusiness--and be sure to log the miles you drove to buy it.Not taking the trouble to do this is like letting your priceygasoline flow onto the pavement instead of into your tank! Even if you work at home most of the time, miles you've drivento purchase office supplies, buy stamps or mail packages, andother errands for your business can translate into big taxdeductions. With fuel costs soaring, you are literally throwingmoney down the drain if you are not keeping track of thismileage and taking the deductions for it to which you'reentitled as a business owner. And the first entry you need tomake is the beginning mileage on the odometer as of January.You'll also want to make...

Career Advice

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:15:19 -0800

The other night I was watching the World Wrestling Federation,which is something that I like to do every Thursday night. Iknow, I know, but I find the show entertaining and relaxing in astrange way ... it's so ridiculous that there is no way to takeit seriously.Anyway, Stone Cold Steve Austin one of the famous wrestlerswith a notoriously bad temper was chewing someone out. SuddenlySteve stopped in mid-sentence and said "Look at me when I'mtalking to you". The person looked at him, then after anotherminute looked away. Steve repeated his words again, "Look at mewhen I'm talking to you!". This happened several times.This little drama got me to thinking, what is it about the eyes?When you are talking to someone where should you be looking?Does where you put your eyes have anything to do withadvancement in your career?It has been said that the "eyes are the mirror to the soul", andin my experience this has proven to be true time and time again.I have gotten into the habi...

3 Secrets to Landing a Home-Based Position

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:16:57 -0800

Secrets to Landing a Home-Based Position Copyright Sharon Davis.Landing a telecommute position isn't easy. Finding them in thefirst place is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Then,when you finally do find one that looks promising, it's filledbefore you can even click on 'apply for this job'.Why are they so few and far between anyway? Don't employersrealize the benefits of allowing their employees to telecommute;less sick time, increased productivity, lower overhead, and soforth?The truth is that you'd be surprised to know just how manycompanies do hire telecommuters. Most of them simply don't wantto advertise those openings on the Internet.But it's not all bad news. There are three very important rulesthat you should follow when pursuing a telecommute job. If youdo, your chances of getting hired will be much greater. If youbreak them, your chances are about as good as winning thelottery.Rule : Don't apply to positions that you aren't qualified for.A...

Working from Home ... For Yourself or Someone Else?

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:17:39 -0800

Although many people badly want to work from home, not everyonewants to have to launch and run a fully-fledged business oftheir own in order to do so. For such people the desire to workfrom home is more about maximizing time to be with family,physical location, comfort and convenience than it is aboutentrepreneurship. If this is you, telecommuting may be the answer you've beenlooking for.WHAT IS TELECOMMUTING EXACTLY?For our purposes, telecommuting simply means an employee isworking from a location other than the employer's premises.Usually it means the employee is working from home, performingthe same functions that he or she would otherwise be doing inthe employer's office.ADVANTAGES OF TELECOMMUTINGThe advantages of telecommuting are many.> For the EmployeeFor parents with youngish children, perhaps the greatestbenefit of telecommuting is the increased time available tospend with family. Note, though, that one of the greatest mythsabout telecommuting is that i...

Examples of Reptilian Behavior in the Workplace

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:12:44 -0800

Got any modern-day dinosaurs in your office? Here are someexamples of reptilian behavior in the workplace:The reptilian brain, our oldest brain, operates at the level ofsurvival instinct. It's the life of easy choices -- Can I eatit? Will it eat me? Can I mate with it? This brain regulates basic life functions, generates strongprimitive emotions needed for survival lust, fear, aggression,doesn't take orders, and is so far away from "executive central"the neocortex it doesn't even know we have one. It is also theseat of addiction. Unmanaged it results in "poor judgment," so increase yourawareness and EQ to learn how to incorporate this vital butsometimes troublesome source of knowledge into your life. . Hitting your partner instead of hitting the in-box. EQ meansknowing how to manage your anger and the anger of others. . Banging the law clerk instead of banging the gavel.Sex is great at the right time, with the right person and thisrarely applies to the workplace....

Make Your Mark - How to Attract Clients and Grow Your Business

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:20:04 -0800

Marketing: how you attract clients and promote your business isan important part of your recipe for success and profitability.Developing a strategic marketing plan will ensure your successand allow you to not spend time and money in the wrong places.Don't hit the pavement or the floors until you have taken thetime to do some thinking and planning for the next months.The clarity and focus that results from creating a strongstrategic marketing plan will bring you what you are looking forwith more ease and more certainty. Use these marketingprinciples when creating a plan to ensure you will be in an evenstronger place this time next year. These marketing principalswill allow you to make your mark.Do an Assessment Before you jump into this new business climateaccess your marketing efforts from last year. Review all yourexpenses from last year. Evaluate if you have more or less tospend this year and review the success or failure of each ofyour expenses and efforts individ...

Summer Sales Doldrums - What To Do

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:14:46 -0800

Last week I talked about how to take a vacation when you're theleader of the band. This week I want to talk about summer sales.Many sales people and just as many business owners bemoan theirannual summer sales slump. Their numbers are down and they justcan't understand it. It's as if their whole business is paralyzed because sales dryup or customers are on vacation. In my experience, that'shogwash. When you take that attitude, you are selling yourself abill of goods not worth the paper it's printed on. There is no need to punish ourselves about this perceived?seasonal drop in sales, or slower pace of sales. Instead, it'simportant to realize the natural cycles people and businesses gothrough. In sales for years, I found July and August were totallydifferent than the rest of the year. Peoples' heads aresomewhere else - they don't want to be sold anything. That said, there are a number of things those of us on thevendor side can do to offset this tendency. . These ...

Asphalt Paving Company Serving Property Management Corporations

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:16:48 -0800

Manhatten Paving Company now offers its asphalt paving servicesto property management companies in Los Angeles, California.Thus, enabling them to get greater discounts for asphalt pavingwork conducted to meet their specifications across a multitudeof properties. To keep asphalt paving costs at a minimal formanagement companies, Manhatten Paving Company offers discountsto clients who provide repeat business throughout the year.Asphalt paving maintenance for these companies are a majorconcern that can be dealt with on better cost related terms.Thesummer months provide the most distress on asphalt pavement, soit's imperative to stay ahead of asphalt paving maintenanceissues before they get out of hand. Paul Lane is the perfectperson to speak with regarding asphalt driveway paving concernsfor consumers in the Los Angeles and South Bay area. To allowManhatten Paving the opportunity to service your paving needs,feel free to take a look at our website

Paving The Way for California's Asphalt Consumers

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:15:25 -0800

The California asphalt paving industry is ever-changing and inorder to provide the best services, asphalt paving companies areturning to new technologies to stay ahead of the competition.Asphalt technology in California has been changing since thecreation of Hot Mix Asphalt and will continue to change as timepermits. Asphalt rubber pavement was introduced in , whichshocked many industry experts. Asphalt rubber pavement seemedpromising to those in the industry who were ready for a change.On the other end of the spectrum were industry experts whothought that the world wasn't ready for such technologies to beimplemented.In Tom Kuennens article titled, 'Asphalt Rubber Makes a QuietComeback' shown in Better Roads Magazine, he describes rubberasphalt as, 'a chemically reacted mix of liquid asphalt binderwith to crumb rubber. The rubber is obtained fromreclaimed tires, and added to liquid asphalt. It's reacted atelevated temperatures prior to being mixed with aggreg...

A Message From Santa

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:15:42 -0800

My first job in retail was as a professional Father Christmasfor a group of retail stores...at the age of .On leaving school, I'd come to Australia with my parents onholiday from Scotland and decided to stay for a couple of yearsto work and study. It was getting close to Christmas and Ineeded some money to pay the rent. It was also the beginning ofsummer.Five small stores in a shopping strip in the Perth suburb ofMidland had banded together to hire a Father Christmas buthadn't had much luck in attracting a retired pensioner, theirpreferred candidate. The physical nature of the job wasn'tappealing to the candidates. You see, they were expecting'Father Christmas' to march up and down the pavement in hisSanta Suit carrying two big bags, one filled with balloons withthe names of the stores printed on them and the other withlollies. This would be in the heat of summer. No seat to sit on,no air-conditioning, and six hours a day on your feet.The idea was that children would...

Keys To Starting Your Own Clothing Company

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:29:49 -0800

Ever wanted to start your own clothing company? Its not asdifficult as you think. What do you absolutely need? . A decent logo . Creative concepts and graphics - DesignTalent . A unique, blank apparel supplier . A decent screenprinter . A Line Sheet to show potential buyers . Sales andpromotional talent. Which do you think is most important? Its obviously designtalent you say? Are you Joking? You must be joking. Have youstepped out of the house recently? Have you seen Von Dutchclothing? Crayon weilding Chimpanzes produce better designs.Furthermore, I imagine the monkeys are more sanitary, but Idigress. is clearly the most important element. You can create anentire line of fashion forward, beautiful clothing but if youcan't pitch it - no one will ever see it excluding your mom ofcourse. So, unless you want a closet full of your fantasticdesigns, ask yourself the following two questions: Can I sell? In other words......can I hit the pavement with my line shee...