If Billy Madison can do it you can too.  One thing I like about education no matter what you do in life as a way to earn $$ an education can never be taken away from you.  I have my masters degree and have taught at all levels.  The thing that education does for me is it gives me choices on what I want to do.  Anyone can do it.  I am not book smart I am street smart and very good at street smarts.  Education is not about being smart it is about sticking with something and finding a way to get it done.  Period... Get your education for free!

Obama will give you $2,500 a year to go to school (ARA) - By now, everyone knows that the Obama administration's stimulus bill is designed to get the economy moving again. However, you may not know that most of the bill's $70 billion for education will go to low- to middle-income individuals.

A major part of the bill is a $13.8 billion tuition tax credit boost called the American Opportunity Tax Credit. This tax credit reimburses 100 percent of the first $2,000 of educational expenses for lower income students. For the next $2,000, students will receive a 25 percent reimbursement. In short, lower income students will receive $2,500 in education reimbursements per year.

The bill also features other benefits for low-income students. Families that do not earn enough to pay income taxes can receive a $1,000 education refund.

"These kinds of incentives from the government don't come along very often," says Janet Hill, financial aid and education counselor at ClassesandCareers.com, a free online education service. "If people have been thinking of going back to school, now would be the time to do it. If they are hurting financially, they can easily get the money they need to get a degree." These benefits are set to expire after the 2010-2011 school year.

Fortunately, thanks to a growing number of online education options, degree-seekers can take advantage of President Barack Obama's stimulus bill without leaving their jobs. Sites like Classes and Careers.com have helped nearly 500,000 degree-seekers get their stimulus money and enroll in online universities.

"We help people learn how to take advantage of this bill," says Hill. "All they have to do is visit our form and fill it out. We guide them through the rest."

If you are a low-income individual and want to get money to go back to school, visit ClassesandCareers.com, fill out their form, and indicate which schools you may be interested in. An education adviser will contact you and help you get your share of President Obama's stimulus money to go back to school.

Sponsored content provided by ARALifestyle. Copyright ARAnet, Inc.

The Test That Guys Still Need (Not an I.Q.!) YOU Docs Daily Home Three Soothers for Tired Eyes Posted in:

The Truth About Good-for-You Foods

May 29, 2009 5:44 PM by Mehmet C. Oz, MD, and Michael F. Roizen, MD | 6 comments

Q: So many restaurants are serving catfish, and people keep telling me it's healthy. I thought it was considered a dirty bottom-feeder, and that you had to be careful with it. Which is it -- healthy, or not? -- Julie, New York City If you're ordering it at a reputable restaurant or buying it at the store rather than catching it out on a lazy river somewhere, the humble catfish is A-OK to eat. In fact, U.S. farm-raised catfish is a good fish choice: It's flavorful and inexpensive, it's considered eco-friendly and sustainable, and one 3-ounce serving has about 25% of your daily protein needs.

A:

The disparaging "dirty bottom-feeder" slur pertains primarily to wild catfish, which generally feed in shallow, muddy river water, exposing them to toxins such as PCBs and pesticides that have accumulated in the sediment. These pollutants can get stored in fish fat for years -- the main reason to avoid wild catfish.

Farm-raised catfish, on the other hand, really don't deserve the name-calling. They are raised in clean, fresh water and are typically fed soybeans, corn, and rice. The disappointment: They contain less of the valuable omega-3 fat than they used to. A recent study of fish purchased in the United States shows that only farmed salmon and trout contain appreciable amounts of omega-3s. What happened with catfish? We don't know. But it could be fish-farming techniques.

In any case, catfish is a good source of protein laden with nonsaturated fat. If you do reach for this fish, make sure you're getting the good stuff: Look for a package label that says, "U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish." Try this tasty Cajun Pecan-Crusted Catfish recipe for dinner.

Find out which five fish are best for your heart and contain the least amount of mercury.

Q: How much caffeine is in dark chocolate? Enough to keep me up at night? How does the caffeine get in there, and do all chocolates have it? -- Ellen, Newton, MA Ah, chocolate! As it delivers its blood-pressure-lowering polyphenols called flavonoids and helps lower lousy LDL cholesterol, it also delivers some caffeine. The cacao bean, the source of edible chocolate, is one of many naturally caffeinated plants. (You probably know some of the others: coffee beans, tea leaves, and kola nuts . . . yes, that brand could have been KokaKola.

A:

Only white chocolate is considered caffeine-free, because it doesn't contain cocoa solids, or "nibs." But beware: White chocolate is often made with milk and trans fats, which can age you. If your heart is set on the classic (it knows what it's doing!), know that the darker the chocolate, the higher the caffeine. Why? Simple. It takes more cocoa solids to make the chocolate darker. The more cocoa solids, the more caffeine.

But how much caffeine are we really talking about? About 1 1/2 ounces of Hershey's milk chocolate has 9 milligrams of caffeine, but nearly the same amount of Hershey's Special Dark has more than triple that: about 30 milligrams. Compare that to a 12-ounce can of diet cola (35 to 45 milligrams) or an 8-ounce cup of coffee (about 135) or tea (40 to 50).

The average U.S. adult downs approximately 200 milligrams per day, and 300 milligrams per day is considered "moderate," so you shouldn't worry too much about the caffeine in that dark chocolate bar . . . unless you're planning on eating a half dozen of them. In that case, you have more to worry about than the caffeine! Can decaf drinkers get hooked on coffee? The answer might surprise you.

Q: I've heard that frozen vegetables can be even healthier than fresh. Is that true for fish, too? Frozen fish isn't any less nutritious than fresh, and it actually has some advantages if the fish was "fresh frozen" (or "flash frozen," "frozen fresh," or "quick frozen"). That means it was frozen as fast as possible, usually on the fishing vessel within hours of the fish being caught and cleaned. Fresh-frozen fish has its nutritional goodness "locked in." And because bacteria can't multiply very quickly in a frozen state, frozen fish is better protected against decomposition and spoilage . . . so there's less chance it will make you ill. What to watch out for: any signs of frost or ice crystals. Either one suggests a previous thaw and refreeze or too much time in the freezer, and your fish dish simply won't taste its best. Watch this video for a quick demo on how to skin and debone fish fillets.

A:

Frozen fish isn't any less nutritious than fresh, and it actually has some advantages if the fish was "fresh frozen" (or "flash frozen," "frozen fresh," or "quick frozen"). That means it was frozen as fast as possible, usually on the fishing vessel within hours of the fish being caught and cleaned. Fresh-frozen fish has its nutritional goodness "locked in." And because bacteria can't multiply very quickly in a frozen state, frozen fish is better protected against decomposition and spoilage . . . so there's less chance it will make you ill. What to watch out for: any signs of frost or ice crystals. Either one suggests a previous thaw and refreeze or too much time in the freezer, and your fish dish simply won't taste its best. Watch this video for a quick demo on how to skin and debone fish fillets.

  Its time to get a little dirty....

livescience.com - Mon Dec 28, 10:01 am ET

To keep sickness at bay, many of us constantly wash hands and disinfect surfaces. But a new lab study shows one pesky bacterium eats cleansers for breakfast: When disinfectant was applied to lab cultures of the bacteria, they adapted to survive not only the disinfectant but also a common antibiotic.

The research team focused on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium responsible for a range of infections in people with weakened immune systems. When the scientists added increasing amounts of disinfectant to P. aeruginosa cultures, the bacteria adaptedto survive not only the disinfectant but also the antibiotic called ciprofloxacin.

Here's how: The bacteria were able to more efficiently pump out antimicrobial agents. The adapted bacteria also had a genetic mutation that allowed them to resist ciprofloxacin-type antibiotics specifically.

"In principle this means that residue from incorrectly diluted disinfectants left on hospital surfaces could promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria," said lead researcher Gerard Fleming of the National University of Ireland in Galway. "What is more worrying is that bacteria seem to be able to adapt to resist antibiotics without even being exposed to them."

The results, published in the January issue of the journal Microbiology, show just how savvy some bugs are, adding to research on superbugs - drug-resistant microbes that modern medicine struggles to combat.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, has become a deadly and growing problem in hospitals in recent years. And news out this week suggests the country's first case of a highly drug-resistant form of tuberculosis.

A major factor in the emergence of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new study suggests disinfectants may be part of the problem, though more research is needed to firm up the link.

"We need to investigate the effects of using more than one type of disinfectant on promoting antibiotic-resistant strains," Fleming said. "This will increase the effectiveness of both our first and second lines of defense against hospital-acquired infections."

Fleming also stressed the importance of studying the environmental factors that might promote antibiotic resistance.

Came across this off yahoo news from Michelle Crouch, Readers Digest magazine.  There are some really good points to remember which helps you practice being nice or your food could pay the price, ha,ha.  I disagree with a couple points ordering water that isn't drank, calling a person to refill my drink,  and staying longer after you eat.  1st off if we order water for everyone that is just a redundancy of what should already be ordered by our table person.  i personally do not like to see waisted water because there are a lot of starving plants in the world.  If I'm getting your attention to fill my drink well your not doing your job.  One of the top jobs is to make sure all drinks are NEVER empty and should be topped off before that is even the case.  When we come in and are paying we are playing for all the costs of this place from wages, rent, fixed, and non fixed costs, etc.  If we want to come in and eat, then do our catching up or business or people watch that is our right.  Common sense says to leave if they are closing is the exception to the rule.

By Michelle Crouch, Reader's Digest

What would two dozen servers from across the country tell you if they could get away with it? Well, for starters, when to go out, what not to order, what really happens behind the kitchen's swinging doors, and what they think of you and your tips. Here, from a group that clears a median $8.01 an hour in wages and tips, a few revelations that aren't on any menu.

PLUS: 20 More Secrets Your Waiter Will Never Tell You

What we lie about
1. We're not allowed to tell our customers we don't like a dish. So if you ask your server how something is and she says, "It's one of our most popular dishes," chances are she doesn't like it.
-Waitress at a well-known pizza chain

2. On Christmas Day, when people ask why I'm there, I might say, "My sister's been in the hospital," or, "My brother's off to war, so we're celebrating when he gets back." Then I rake in the tips.
-Chris, a New York City waiter and the founder of bitterwaitress.com

3. If you're looking for your waiter and another waiter tells you he's getting something out of the stockroom, you can bet he's out back having a quick smoke.
-Charlie Kondek, former waiter at a Denny's in Central Michigan

PLUS: 7 Funny Restaurant Customer Stereotypes

4. If someone orders a frozen drink that's annoying to make, I'll say, "Oh, we're out. Sorry!" when really I just don't want to make it. But if you order water instead of another drink, suddenly we do have what you originally wanted because I don't want to lose your drink on the bill.
-Waitress at a casual Mexican restaurant in Manhattan


What you don't want to know
5. When I was at one bakery restaurant, they used to make this really yummy peach cobbler in a big tray. A lot of times, servers don't have time to eat. So we all kept a fork in our aprons, and as we cruised through the kitchen, we'd stick our fork in the cobbler and take a bite. We'd use the same fork each time.
-Kathy Kniss

6. If you make a big fuss about sending your soup back because it's not hot enough, we like to take your spoon and run it under really hot water, so when you put the hot spoon in your mouth, you're going to get the impression - often the very painful impression - that your soup is indeed hot.
-Chris

7. I've seen some horrible things done to people's food: steaks dropped on the floor, butter dipped in the dishwater.
-Waiter at a casual restaurant in the Chicago area

PLUS: 25 Tips to Order Healthy Choices at Any Restaurant

What you're really swallowing
8. If your dessert says "homemade," it probably is. But it might be homemade at a bakery three miles away.
-Charity Ohlund

9. I knew one guy - he was a real jerk - he'd go to Costco and buy this gigantic carrot cake for $10 and tell us to say it's homemade. Then he sold it for $10 a slice.
-Steve Dublanica, veteran New York waiter and author of "Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip - Confessions of a Cynical Waiter"

What drives us crazy
10. Oh, you needed more water so badly, you had to snap or tap or whistle? I'll be right back ... in ten minutes.
-Charity Ohlund

11. We want you to enjoy yourself while you're there eating, but when it's over, you should go. Do you stay in the movie theater after the credits? No.
-Waiter at a casual restaurant in the Chicago area

PLUS: 7 Lucky New Year's Eve Foods

12. My biggest pet peeve? When I walk up to a table of six or seven people and one person decides everyone needs water. I'm making a trip to deliver seven waters, and four or five of them never get touched.
-Judi Santana, a server for ten years

What we want you to know
13. Sometimes, if you've been especially nice to me, I'll tell the bartender, "Give me a frozen margarita, and don't put it in." That totally gyps the company, but it helps me because you'll give it back to me in tips, and the management won't know the difference.
-Waitress at a casual Mexican restaurant in Manhattan

14. If you're having a disagreement over dinner and all of a sudden other servers come by to refill your water or clear your plates, or you notice a server slowly refilling the salt and pepper shakers at the table next to yours, assume that we're listening.
-Charity Ohlund

What tells us you're trouble
15. I get this call all the time: "Is the chef there? This is so-and-so. I'm a good friend of his." If you're his good friend, you'd have his cell.
-Chris

16. The strangest thing I've seen lately? A man with a prosthetic arm asked me to coat check it because the table was a little bit crowded. He just removed his arm and handed it to me: "Can you take this?"
-Christopher Fehlinger

PLUS: 12 Funny Cartoons About Food

17. We always check the reservation book, scan the names, and hope for someone recognizable. I'm happy if the notes say something like "Previous number of reservations: 92." If they say something like "First-time guest, celebrating Grandma's 80th birthday, need two high chairs, split checks, gluten allergy," then I start rummaging through my pockets for a crisp bill for the hostess and I make sure to tell her how much I love her hair fixed like that.
-Charity Ohlund

How to be a good customer
18. Use your waiter's name. When I say, "Hi, my name is JR, and I'll be taking care of you," it's great when you say, "Hi, JR. How are you doing tonight?" Then, the next time you go in, ask for that waiter. He may not remember you, but if you requested him, he's going to give you really special service.
-JR, waiter at a fine-dining restaurant and author of the blog servernotslave.wordpress.com

19. Trust your waitress. Say something like "Hey, it's our first time in. We want you to create an experience for us. Here's our budget." Your server will go crazy for you.
- Charity Ohlund

What you need to know about tipping
20. If you walk out with the slip you wrote the tip on and leave behind the blank one, the server gets nothing. It happens all the time, especially with people who've had a few bottles of wine.
-Judi Santana

I received an email with an update to save money on energy for the winter time.  This is something most people already know but have forgotten.  It is also new for some.  Just wanted to pass it on.

4 Essential Steps to Conserve Energy and Save Money Through the Winter

(ARA) Now that winter has arrived, it's important to take these four steps to improve your home's energy efficiency - they'll save you money and keep you warm, all season long.

1. Insulate

Insulating areas such as attics, basements and crawlspaces can make your home more comfortable and lower your energy bills.

2. Seal your windows

Use silicone caulk to seal air leaks or place shrink wrap film over drafty windows to help reduce energy loss.

3. Have your furnace inspected and clean your HVAC system

"Having your HVAC system inspected and cleaned can extend the life of your furnace and can even make it run up to 20 percent more efficiently" says Aaron Marshbanks, board member at NADCA - The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance & Restoration Association. "Having your system cleaned can also save up to 30 percent in energy costs and the increase in air flow usually translates into increased comfort."

4. Change filters regularly

Once you have a clean HVAC system, it's crucial to change your furnace filters regularly. Change your furnace filter once a month to keep your system running at peak performance.

For more information on how to winterize your home, visit NADCA.com.

Here is some great info for hooking up facebook with your web sites.. enjoy.

If you belong to Facebook you will want to increase your networking power by letting people know you're there and by giving them a link to your Facebook page. One way to do this is to make a Facebook badge and display it on your blog or website. Here is how.

Things You'll Need:

• A Facebook account
• A place to display your Facebook badge

1. Step 1

   Become a member of Facebook if you are not already registered (see link in Resources below).

2. Step 2

   Sign in to your Facebook account.

3. Step 3   Facebook Menu

   Find the Profile link in the menu at the top of the page. Click Profile.

4. Step 4

   On the Profile page, scroll down. Watch the column on the left until you see a link saying, "Create a Profile Badge." Click Create a Profile Badge.

5. Step 5   Badge Options

   On the badge page you'll find that you have several choices of ways to link to your Facebook page. You can make a custom badge, use a template or just create a simple HTML link. If you choose to use a template you can create a photo badge, a signature badge or a blog badge.

6. Step 6

   Click Create Badge to get started.

7. Step 7   Choose Your Options

   Make decisions about how you want the badge to appear. If you know that your site will support JavaScript, you can choose that option. (My Wordpress blog won't allow JavaScript, so I choose the Image option.) Complete the settings in this window and click Save.

8. Step 8   Here's the Code

   Facebook gives you the HTML code (or JavaScript, depending on your choices in the previous step) to add your badge to a blog or website. There is an edit option on the badge, as well as the option to delete it. Just below the badge code you will find the options to create a Custom Badge.

9. Step 9

   Copy the information provided and use it on the site of your choice to help people find your Facebook Profile.

By Virginia DeBolt
eHow Contributing Writer

I have to say coming into real estate from with a teaching background has been easy in regards to working with pepole and connecting with my network of people here in Chico.  I have had a nice success rate of my network of friends sending me referrals.

http://www.eJACKSONgroup.com

I've been an active diver for over 15yrs now... received my 1st of 2 certifications for diving... SSI and PADI.  The past 10years we have been diving ScubaClub their for around 8yrs...amazing place from the food to the people and the diving.  I have all kinds of new friends from the place. 

"GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers dropped back, set his feet and prepared to release a routine slant pass when he heard the squeaky voice from behind the fence. The fourth-year quarterback paused during an individual drill late in the Green Bay Packers' training camp practice Tuesday afternoon and spied a little boy, maybe 6, among the hundreds of spectators lining the Oneida Street side of Clarke Hinkle Field.

"We don't love you," the kid said. "You suck.""   By Michael Silver, Yahoo! Sports

Football is right around the corner and there is a lot of wow going on in GB... One game away from the Biggest Game in Sports and Favre retirement only to un-retire.  Before we judge him... how many times have u sat in line at Burger Kind and said I want a number 3.... no... #4... no... #3 I'm sorry I just can't make up my mind today... I know... but the point of that is No person is perfect and we all change our minds all the time many times... So What... He loves the game and he was one of the top QB's and really he is great to watch and listen to when he plays and talks...I'm a Steelers Fan but Favre is good for the game... I feel that Favre needs to go to another team because the Pack has to build for the future with the new young kid out of Chico CA... Visit my web site to find out more about Chico CA.www.ChicoKW.com  I'm also proud to say I coached Aaron Rodgers when he was a frosh-man and sophomore in High School.  I was the offensive Line coach but I did get a nick name from him and his friends"Squats"... pretty cool... I loved to do deep squats and I felt it was the core to football strength along with power cleans.   But back to my story.... Aaron is a good kid and the fans really need to back him.  Every person is only human and we can only take so much and hide so much... The fans need to be 100% behind Aaron makes things a lot more easy when people are on your side.... If any of you are pack fans support Aaron, and keep on loving Favre... u can do both... they need it.