Currently, there are over 12 million vegetarians living in the United States, a number that is growing by leaps and bounds each year. While people committed to a vegetarian diet used to be relatively few and far between, these days vegetarianism is everywhere you look. College students and Hollywood celebrities alike are jumping on the vegetarian bandwagon. Why? Well, here are 5 good reasons that someone like yourself might want to consider a vegetarian diet.
1. For the animals. This one seems obvious, but sadly for a lot of people, it's not. Animals raised for food today are not raised on picture-perfect family farms like you might think, but are instead reared in an agricultural system that includes drugs, antibiotics, cages, intensive confinement, and dirty slaughterhouses. Dairy cows and egg-laying hens don't have it any better than animals raised for meat, either. A quick look at the websites of PETA or the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will show you everything you need to know. It is estimated that by going vegetarian, a single person will save the lives of 95 animals annually. If you love animals, adopting a vegetarian diet is one of the best things you can do to help them.
2.For the environment. This one might not be as obvious to people as the first one was. But a diet filled with meat, eggs, and dairy is a huge burden on the planet as well as a tremendously inefficient use of our natural resources. It takes over 5,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat, compared to 25 gallons for a pound of wheat. Over 80% of the agricultural land in America is used to grow food that we feed to farmed animals. These same farm animals produce over 130 times the amount of excrement as the entire human population in America each year, which ends up polluting our lands and waterways.
Clearly, our environment would be better off if everyone were to adopt a vegetarian diet. Forget about the hybrid car. If you're serious about reducing your environmental foot print, going vegetarian is the place to start.
3. For your health. Many people don't know just how much healthier vegetarians are compared to their meat-eating counterparts. In studies of vegetarian diets, it has been found that vegetarians tend to weigh less, have lower cholesterol , live longer, and have fewer serious diseases than those who eat meat. Nearly every major health organization in the world has gone on record as saying that one of the keys to good health is a diet that is rich with fruits and vegetables. Now with the recent "Mad Cow Disease" and e-coli scares, it seems like the smart thing for anyone who is really concerned about their health to do is to stop eating meat and other animal products.
4. For human rights. This is where I start to lose some people, but the fact of the matter is that a diet based on animal products is likely to be contributing to human suffering in other parts of the world. The meat industry is notorious for abusing its workers. From hiring illegal immigrants (who are afraid to complain) to denying valid workers' compensation claims, a quick search on Google will reveal the many atrocities of the American meat industry.
Beyond American workers, however, a meat-based diet actually contributes to hunger and starvation problems in third world countries. In a world where over 26,000 children die each day from starvation, most people are content to eat meat, which means feeding 16 pounds of grain to an animal to produce a single pound of meat. If we took all the perfectly good food we were feeding to farmed animals and started feeding it to the people who need it, world hunger could be a thing of the past.
5. It's the trendy & cool thing to do. This might not be the most important reason, but the fact of the matter is, more and more people are choosing a vegetarian diet each day. From Hollywood celebrities like Richard Gere, Alicia Silverstone, and Pamela Anderson, to countless high school and college students, it seems like you can't go anywhere these days without hearing more and more about vegetarianism. Some of the hottest restaurants in the world right now exclusively serve vegetarian and vegan cuisine. And why not...it tastes great, is good for you, and is amazingly easy to prepare!
If you've been thinking about going vegetarian, there's never been a better time. There are more vegetarian dining options than ever before, and if you need any information, the web is chock full of vegetarian-focused websites. Even if you can't give up eating meat completely, adding a vegetarian meal to your diet every now and then could have more benefits than you might think.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Take a Trip Down Memory Lane to Your Local 'Recollections' Scrapbooking Store
I've been scrapbooking for a while now and as my fellow scrappers know, there is no shortage of places to buy supplies. There's craft stores, Wal-Mart, specialty scrapbook stores, and even direct sales companies that have consultants that will allow you to shop from home. Everyone sells the same basic stuff, like scissors, papers, albums, stickers, etc., and you have to do something really special to set yourself apart in the world of scrapbooking.
A few weeks ago, I came across a store that did just that. I was recently talking about scrapbooking with my aunt, when her eyes lit up and she told me about "her new favorite store," which was apparently a recently-opened scrapbooking store in Columbia, Maryland. She got so excited that she insisted on getting in the car right then and taking me there.
I wasn't expecting much....I have been in scrapbooking stores before and as I stated earlier, they all seem pretty much the same to me. After a short drive, we arrived at a store called "Recollections," and as soon as I stepped inside, I knew just why my aunt had gotten so excited. The place was huge, with aisle after aisle of the cutest stickers, papers, and other scrapbooking accoutrements that you've ever seen.
Besides for offering one of the biggest assortments of scrapbooking supplies you'll find under one roof, what really sets Recollections apart is the work studio. Each Recollections location has a work studio where you are free to go and work on your albums during store hours, free of charge. You can use all of the paper cutters and die-cut machines for free, and you can "start a tab," use all the supplies you need, and pay for them at the end.
The studio also features computers so you can scan & print photographs, as well as print words & titles for your albums. There is a small kitchenette off the work studio where they have some vending machines and a refrigerator, so you can bring lunch or grab a snack without interrupting your work on your albums too much. Plus, each location offers a variety of classes and "crop" sessions that are open to the public, which is a great way to meet other people interested in scrapbooking.
I've always found the staff at Recollections to be very friendly, and always willing to help out when you need them to. They've taken the chance to get to know me, and always ask me about my albums and how they're coming along. The prices are very competitive to other scrapbook retailers, but the service & amenities are second to none.
So far, Recollections only has locations in four states (Arizona, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia), but they just started in 2003 and are looking to expand into other areas soon. If there is a Recollections store in your area, you should definitely stop by and check it out. If you're anything like me, you won't want to shop for your scrapbook supplies anywhere else.
A few weeks ago, I came across a store that did just that. I was recently talking about scrapbooking with my aunt, when her eyes lit up and she told me about "her new favorite store," which was apparently a recently-opened scrapbooking store in Columbia, Maryland. She got so excited that she insisted on getting in the car right then and taking me there.
I wasn't expecting much....I have been in scrapbooking stores before and as I stated earlier, they all seem pretty much the same to me. After a short drive, we arrived at a store called "Recollections," and as soon as I stepped inside, I knew just why my aunt had gotten so excited. The place was huge, with aisle after aisle of the cutest stickers, papers, and other scrapbooking accoutrements that you've ever seen.
Besides for offering one of the biggest assortments of scrapbooking supplies you'll find under one roof, what really sets Recollections apart is the work studio. Each Recollections location has a work studio where you are free to go and work on your albums during store hours, free of charge. You can use all of the paper cutters and die-cut machines for free, and you can "start a tab," use all the supplies you need, and pay for them at the end.
The studio also features computers so you can scan & print photographs, as well as print words & titles for your albums. There is a small kitchenette off the work studio where they have some vending machines and a refrigerator, so you can bring lunch or grab a snack without interrupting your work on your albums too much. Plus, each location offers a variety of classes and "crop" sessions that are open to the public, which is a great way to meet other people interested in scrapbooking.
I've always found the staff at Recollections to be very friendly, and always willing to help out when you need them to. They've taken the chance to get to know me, and always ask me about my albums and how they're coming along. The prices are very competitive to other scrapbook retailers, but the service & amenities are second to none.
So far, Recollections only has locations in four states (Arizona, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia), but they just started in 2003 and are looking to expand into other areas soon. If there is a Recollections store in your area, you should definitely stop by and check it out. If you're anything like me, you won't want to shop for your scrapbook supplies anywhere else.
Good Things Come to Those Who Complain
Have you ever had a bad experience when dealing with a company? Chances are you have. Maybe the fast-food joint forgot to put one of your items in your bag at the drive through. Maybe you went to a store and couldn't find any help or experienced an unacceptably long wait. Maybe a staff member was just down right rude to you.
Whatever the case may be, most people just "grin and bear it," accepting these inconveniences as one of life's little hassles. But, if you're willing to speak up and share your experience with the company, you may be compensated for your trouble. That's right...many people already know this, but if you take the time to write a letter of complaint to the corporate headquarters, you will almost always receive a letter of apology in response, usually in addition to some sort of refund, gift certificate, coupon, etc.
Some people would say that it's not worth the time or effort to sit down and actually send a letter to a company, but I disagree. The letter does not have to be very long, just a paragraph or two. Briefly explained exactly what happened, and why you were upset. Include the date and time of your experience, if available, and if you remember the names of any staff involved, be sure to include those two. You don't need to ask for any sort of compensation--just let the company know that you are unhappy and that you will remember this experience in the future when deciding where to do business.
You can send an actual "snail mail" letter if you prefer, but in today's online world, it is usually cheaper and easier to send an e-mail. Just go to the company's website and look for the "Contact Us" button or a corporate e-mail address. Usually, once you send your letter or e-mail, the company will respond within a couple of weeks. If you include your phone number, you will likely get a call from a company representative to offer an apology. In any case, as long as you provide your mailing address, you will almost always receive some sort of small "token of apology," usually a gift card or a coupon.
You might be surprised at the value of these. I had an unpleasant experience at a casual dining restaurant, wrote a letter, and was promptly mailed a $75 gift card, even though the value of our original meal was only $37. I've received coupons for free meals, free products, and even free oil changes. These things can really start to add up. Plus, these gift cards and coupons are for companies you already do business with, so you're sure to use them.
One last thing...don't take advantage of the willingness of these companies to try to make things right. Only write a letter if you've truly had a bad experience, and don't "nit-pick" just to get free stuff. But if you've had a bad experience, it can certainly be worth it to take the time to let the company know. Not only might you score some free stuff, but you're also letting the company know where they can improve so hopefully you won't have a repeat of your bad experience.
Whatever the case may be, most people just "grin and bear it," accepting these inconveniences as one of life's little hassles. But, if you're willing to speak up and share your experience with the company, you may be compensated for your trouble. That's right...many people already know this, but if you take the time to write a letter of complaint to the corporate headquarters, you will almost always receive a letter of apology in response, usually in addition to some sort of refund, gift certificate, coupon, etc.
Some people would say that it's not worth the time or effort to sit down and actually send a letter to a company, but I disagree. The letter does not have to be very long, just a paragraph or two. Briefly explained exactly what happened, and why you were upset. Include the date and time of your experience, if available, and if you remember the names of any staff involved, be sure to include those two. You don't need to ask for any sort of compensation--just let the company know that you are unhappy and that you will remember this experience in the future when deciding where to do business.
You can send an actual "snail mail" letter if you prefer, but in today's online world, it is usually cheaper and easier to send an e-mail. Just go to the company's website and look for the "Contact Us" button or a corporate e-mail address. Usually, once you send your letter or e-mail, the company will respond within a couple of weeks. If you include your phone number, you will likely get a call from a company representative to offer an apology. In any case, as long as you provide your mailing address, you will almost always receive some sort of small "token of apology," usually a gift card or a coupon.
You might be surprised at the value of these. I had an unpleasant experience at a casual dining restaurant, wrote a letter, and was promptly mailed a $75 gift card, even though the value of our original meal was only $37. I've received coupons for free meals, free products, and even free oil changes. These things can really start to add up. Plus, these gift cards and coupons are for companies you already do business with, so you're sure to use them.
One last thing...don't take advantage of the willingness of these companies to try to make things right. Only write a letter if you've truly had a bad experience, and don't "nit-pick" just to get free stuff. But if you've had a bad experience, it can certainly be worth it to take the time to let the company know. Not only might you score some free stuff, but you're also letting the company know where they can improve so hopefully you won't have a repeat of your bad experience.
Are You Depressed or Do You Have Bipolar Disorder?
Millions of Americans suffer from depression. Perhaps you or a loved one have been diagnosed with, or sought medical treatment for depression. Although medicine can help, the right diagnosis needs to be made in order for treatment to be effective. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to tell the difference between depression and bipolar disorder.
In fact, it is not uncommon for people with bipolar disorder to initially receive a misdiagnosis of depression. Even medical professionals have a hard time telling these two conditions apart. Luckily, if you take a little bit of time to educate yourself about the features that distinguish these diseases from one another, you can make sure that you receive the proper diagnosis and you will soon be on your way to recovery.
Bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic depression, is a mental illness characterized by unusual highs and lows in a person's mood. People with bipolar disorder experience periods when they feel tired, down, and just generally depressed. These periods can last for many months or even years, which is why they are often initially diagnosed with depression.
The flip side to this, however, is that bipolar people also have periods known as ''mania'' where they feel unusually good or energetic. During these manic periods, people find that they don't need as much sleep as normal. They will usually be more talkative and outgoing than usual, and may also be more interested in spending money or engaging in sexual activity. The longer that bipolar disorder goes untreated, the worse the mania can get. People experiencing severe mania may suffer from feelings that they are invincible or even hallucinations, either of which could lead to dangerous or suicidal behavior.
It is these manic periods that really make the difference between a diagnosis of depression and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Often, bipolar individuals have periods of feeling "normal" between mania and depression. And since people are much more likely to ask for help when they're feeling bad than when they're feeling good, these manic periods often go unreported when they finally seek treatment.
So, what does all of this mean to you? Well, if you've been feeling ''down" or depressed, I would certainly encourage you to talk to your doctor. But before you do, ask yourself some basic questions. Has there ever been a period of time in your life where you've felt unusually "good," "up," or "happy?" A period where you needed less sleep than normal? Perhaps you were more interested in sex or shopping than normal? Was there a time when you were reckless, or ran up a lot of debt and/or got in trouble with the law?
If the answer to any of these questions is "Yes," be sure to tell your doctor, even if he/she doesn't specifically ask. If you're not sure, ask your doctor point-blank if they think you could be bipolar. Many of the medicines used to treat depression can actually make bipolar disorder worse, so make sure you get the right diagnosis the first time.
In fact, it is not uncommon for people with bipolar disorder to initially receive a misdiagnosis of depression. Even medical professionals have a hard time telling these two conditions apart. Luckily, if you take a little bit of time to educate yourself about the features that distinguish these diseases from one another, you can make sure that you receive the proper diagnosis and you will soon be on your way to recovery.
Bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic depression, is a mental illness characterized by unusual highs and lows in a person's mood. People with bipolar disorder experience periods when they feel tired, down, and just generally depressed. These periods can last for many months or even years, which is why they are often initially diagnosed with depression.
The flip side to this, however, is that bipolar people also have periods known as ''mania'' where they feel unusually good or energetic. During these manic periods, people find that they don't need as much sleep as normal. They will usually be more talkative and outgoing than usual, and may also be more interested in spending money or engaging in sexual activity. The longer that bipolar disorder goes untreated, the worse the mania can get. People experiencing severe mania may suffer from feelings that they are invincible or even hallucinations, either of which could lead to dangerous or suicidal behavior.
It is these manic periods that really make the difference between a diagnosis of depression and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Often, bipolar individuals have periods of feeling "normal" between mania and depression. And since people are much more likely to ask for help when they're feeling bad than when they're feeling good, these manic periods often go unreported when they finally seek treatment.
So, what does all of this mean to you? Well, if you've been feeling ''down" or depressed, I would certainly encourage you to talk to your doctor. But before you do, ask yourself some basic questions. Has there ever been a period of time in your life where you've felt unusually "good," "up," or "happy?" A period where you needed less sleep than normal? Perhaps you were more interested in sex or shopping than normal? Was there a time when you were reckless, or ran up a lot of debt and/or got in trouble with the law?
If the answer to any of these questions is "Yes," be sure to tell your doctor, even if he/she doesn't specifically ask. If you're not sure, ask your doctor point-blank if they think you could be bipolar. Many of the medicines used to treat depression can actually make bipolar disorder worse, so make sure you get the right diagnosis the first time.
If You Have Stinky Feet, Try the Odor Neutralizing Foot Spray or Deodorizing Foot Powder by Avon
I have something a little embarrassing to tell you. At first I was almost too self-conscious to write this article but then I thought, "Hey, we're all friends here at Associated Content, right?" So here it goes...my feet smell bad. Sometimes they smell really bad. For a while I just thought it was a matter of replacing my shoes a lot and washing my feet a lot, neither of which are horribly convenient.
Then, I was flipping through an Avon catalog that my representative gave me, and I noticed that they offered two products that we're supposed to help with foot odor: a "Deodorizing Foot Powder" and an "Odor Neutralizing Foot Spray." They were running some sort of a 2-for-1 special, so I went ahead and ordered both products.
I was excited when the products arrived and I was anxious to put them to the test. The labels on both products say that they can be used either directly on the feet or on the shoes. I decided that I would try the Foot Spray first.
When I sprayed the Foot Spray directly on my foot, I immediately noticed a pleasant, cooling sensation from the spray. Even if it didn't help with the odor, this would be a nice treat after a long day. However, the foot spray did not fail to eliminate my foot odor, leaving my feet with a clean, albeit slightly mint smell (probably from the Menthol that is an active ingredient). When I sprayed the Foot Spray on the insides of my shoes, however, I wasn't so impressed.
I had allowed my shoes to dry completely from any moisture that they had accumulated during the day, as the label instructed, then sprayed just a small amount on the insides of my shoes. I found that the spray didn't do that much to reduce the foot odor on the insides of my shoes, but even worse, my shoes were damp for the next 3 hours! I followed the instructions to the letter, but I guess the spray just isn't designed to dry very quickly on fabric.
I decided to then give the foot powder a try. The next day, I came home and sprinkled the powder on my feet. Unlike the spray, there was no tingly, cooling sensation and I found that the powder made my feet feel dry and didn't help that much with the odor. However, I sprinkled a fairly liberal amount of the powder in my shoes, and instantly, you could tell that the odor had almost completely diminished. As an added bonus, the next day, my feet were noticeably drier and smelled better after a long day. I guess the excess powder helped to absorb some of the moisture and odor that normally would have accumulated all day.
So, my recommendation would be to try them both. Avon is usually running some sort of a sale on their Foot Works line, and you should be able to pick up both products for less than $10. The foot spray is great for your feet, and the powder will work wonders for your shoes. Though neither product is great for both as claimed, together they seem to be a winning combination.
Then, I was flipping through an Avon catalog that my representative gave me, and I noticed that they offered two products that we're supposed to help with foot odor: a "Deodorizing Foot Powder" and an "Odor Neutralizing Foot Spray." They were running some sort of a 2-for-1 special, so I went ahead and ordered both products.
I was excited when the products arrived and I was anxious to put them to the test. The labels on both products say that they can be used either directly on the feet or on the shoes. I decided that I would try the Foot Spray first.
When I sprayed the Foot Spray directly on my foot, I immediately noticed a pleasant, cooling sensation from the spray. Even if it didn't help with the odor, this would be a nice treat after a long day. However, the foot spray did not fail to eliminate my foot odor, leaving my feet with a clean, albeit slightly mint smell (probably from the Menthol that is an active ingredient). When I sprayed the Foot Spray on the insides of my shoes, however, I wasn't so impressed.
I had allowed my shoes to dry completely from any moisture that they had accumulated during the day, as the label instructed, then sprayed just a small amount on the insides of my shoes. I found that the spray didn't do that much to reduce the foot odor on the insides of my shoes, but even worse, my shoes were damp for the next 3 hours! I followed the instructions to the letter, but I guess the spray just isn't designed to dry very quickly on fabric.
I decided to then give the foot powder a try. The next day, I came home and sprinkled the powder on my feet. Unlike the spray, there was no tingly, cooling sensation and I found that the powder made my feet feel dry and didn't help that much with the odor. However, I sprinkled a fairly liberal amount of the powder in my shoes, and instantly, you could tell that the odor had almost completely diminished. As an added bonus, the next day, my feet were noticeably drier and smelled better after a long day. I guess the excess powder helped to absorb some of the moisture and odor that normally would have accumulated all day.
So, my recommendation would be to try them both. Avon is usually running some sort of a sale on their Foot Works line, and you should be able to pick up both products for less than $10. The foot spray is great for your feet, and the powder will work wonders for your shoes. Though neither product is great for both as claimed, together they seem to be a winning combination.
Review of Vonage V-Phone Device
Recently, I took a job working from home answering telephone calls for various companies. My new job required me to have a second phone line installed, so naturally I called Verizon (my current local phone company) and asked them to come out and add a line to my home. Of course they were more than happy to do this...for a $96 installation fee and $24.99 a month for the phone line. The prices seemed a little unreasonable to me, so I decided to shop around.
It quickly became apparent that one of the many "internet phone companies," that utilize VoIPtechnology, would be much cheaper than going with Verizon. I did some reading online and finally settled on Vonage as my provider...now the only thing left to do was to pick the device that I would use to access the Vonage service.
Traditionally, Vonage customers get a "phone adapter" that plugs into their high-speed modem and has a jack which you plug a traditional phone into. I also saw on their website that they offered a newer, more portable device that allows you to talk using Vonage, called the "V-Phone." The current retail price for the Vonage V-Phone is $39.99.
Basically, the V-Phone is a simple USB dongle, much like the USB hard drives that everyone seems to have on their key chains these days. The V-Phone comes pre-loaded with the Vonage Talk software, has a 2.5 mm headphone jack, and also has 250MB worth of storage space that you can use however you wish.
After activating your Vonage service (which I did at the store when I bought the V-Phone, but can also be done over the phone or online), your V-Phone is assigned a phone number. To use the Vonage service, just pop the V-Phone device into any available USB port on your high-speed internet connected computer. After a few moments, your computer will recognize the device and the Vonage software will load, after which a familiar telephone keypad will appear on your computer screen.
Now, just plug any standard microphone headset (the V-Phone comes with a microphone headset, but I use the same headset that I use for hands-free operation on my cell phone) into the V-Phone device and you are ready to start talking. To make a phone call, just dial a number using the keypad on the computer screen and click the "call" button. The Vonage V-Phone also has a "Contacts" feature that allows you to store and dial your frequently called phone numbers.
Receiving a call is just as easy. Anyone in the world can dial your Vonage number, and assuming your V-Phone device is plugged in, your computer will alert you to the incoming call with both sounds and an on-screen message. If you're computer is off or your V-Phone is unplugged, you can set the calls to go straight to voicemail, or ring any other number you wish.
The sound quality with the V-Phone is amazing. As I mentioned earlier, I take customer service calls for some big companies, and I have never had a problem with audio quality with this device. Most of my friends and family are shocked when I tell them we're talking on an internet connection, because it is just as clear, if not clearer, than traditional phone lines.
The V-Phone device also offers a few other advantages. First off, the V-Phone doesn't actually install any software on the "host" computer, so you don't have to worry about littering computers that other people own with software they don't want or need. With the V-Phone, I can use my Vonage phone line from pretty much any computer with high-speed internet access. If I take my laptop to a hotel or Starbucks, I can just plug in my USB device and talk on the phone. With the traditional Vonage phone adapter, I can't use my service unless I have an actual modem to plug my phone adapter into and a phone to plug into the adapter. It seems much easier to travel with this device. I also find that I use the generous 250MB of storage space quite often to transfer my audio and picture files from computer to computer, something other Vonage devices just can't do.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with my Vonage V-Phone, or the Vonage service. My activation fee with Vonage was waived because of a promotion, and I pay just $14.99 a month for my phone line, which is at least ten dollars cheaper than Verizon. If concerns about VoIP being difficult to use or having poor-quality audio have prevented you from jumping on the "internet phone bandwagon," the Vonage V-Phone might be the perfect starter device for you.
It quickly became apparent that one of the many "internet phone companies," that utilize VoIPtechnology, would be much cheaper than going with Verizon. I did some reading online and finally settled on Vonage as my provider...now the only thing left to do was to pick the device that I would use to access the Vonage service.
Traditionally, Vonage customers get a "phone adapter" that plugs into their high-speed modem and has a jack which you plug a traditional phone into. I also saw on their website that they offered a newer, more portable device that allows you to talk using Vonage, called the "V-Phone." The current retail price for the Vonage V-Phone is $39.99.
Basically, the V-Phone is a simple USB dongle, much like the USB hard drives that everyone seems to have on their key chains these days. The V-Phone comes pre-loaded with the Vonage Talk software, has a 2.5 mm headphone jack, and also has 250MB worth of storage space that you can use however you wish.
After activating your Vonage service (which I did at the store when I bought the V-Phone, but can also be done over the phone or online), your V-Phone is assigned a phone number. To use the Vonage service, just pop the V-Phone device into any available USB port on your high-speed internet connected computer. After a few moments, your computer will recognize the device and the Vonage software will load, after which a familiar telephone keypad will appear on your computer screen.
Now, just plug any standard microphone headset (the V-Phone comes with a microphone headset, but I use the same headset that I use for hands-free operation on my cell phone) into the V-Phone device and you are ready to start talking. To make a phone call, just dial a number using the keypad on the computer screen and click the "call" button. The Vonage V-Phone also has a "Contacts" feature that allows you to store and dial your frequently called phone numbers.
Receiving a call is just as easy. Anyone in the world can dial your Vonage number, and assuming your V-Phone device is plugged in, your computer will alert you to the incoming call with both sounds and an on-screen message. If you're computer is off or your V-Phone is unplugged, you can set the calls to go straight to voicemail, or ring any other number you wish.
The sound quality with the V-Phone is amazing. As I mentioned earlier, I take customer service calls for some big companies, and I have never had a problem with audio quality with this device. Most of my friends and family are shocked when I tell them we're talking on an internet connection, because it is just as clear, if not clearer, than traditional phone lines.
The V-Phone device also offers a few other advantages. First off, the V-Phone doesn't actually install any software on the "host" computer, so you don't have to worry about littering computers that other people own with software they don't want or need. With the V-Phone, I can use my Vonage phone line from pretty much any computer with high-speed internet access. If I take my laptop to a hotel or Starbucks, I can just plug in my USB device and talk on the phone. With the traditional Vonage phone adapter, I can't use my service unless I have an actual modem to plug my phone adapter into and a phone to plug into the adapter. It seems much easier to travel with this device. I also find that I use the generous 250MB of storage space quite often to transfer my audio and picture files from computer to computer, something other Vonage devices just can't do.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with my Vonage V-Phone, or the Vonage service. My activation fee with Vonage was waived because of a promotion, and I pay just $14.99 a month for my phone line, which is at least ten dollars cheaper than Verizon. If concerns about VoIP being difficult to use or having poor-quality audio have prevented you from jumping on the "internet phone bandwagon," the Vonage V-Phone might be the perfect starter device for you.
ChapStick Versus Blistex - a Closer Look at Two Popular Lip Treatments
We all get chapped lips. It's one of life's little inconveniences that happens to all of us sometimes. When your lips are chapped, there are lots of different products available to help you feel better, and sometimes it can be hard to make the right choice. In this article, I'll provide a detailed comparison of ChapStick and Blistex, two of the most popular lip treatments on the market.
In terms of price, a quick check of drugstore.com revealed a tube of Blistex selling for $1.81 and a tube of ChapStick for $1.99, making ChapStick just a little bit more expensive. The whole reason I had to check a website, though, is because like most people, I don't necessarily do a whole lot of comparison shopping for lip treatments. Chances are good that the negligible price difference between these two items won't be a big factor in choosing one over the other.
In terms of taste, ChapStick comes in a wide variety of flavors (my favorite happens to be cherry), whereas Blistex just comes in ''Original", which has a slightly medicinal, menthol taste. This is where ChapStick wins the competition, hands down. While the taste of Blistex isn't all that bad, it certainly isn't very good, either. ChapStick, on the other hand, tastes so good that you almost want to eat it.
If your lips are dry and just tend to need a little moisture, both products work well. I find that Blistex tends to provide relief a little quicker, but ChapStick is thicker and stays on your lips longer. It is important to note that most ChapStick contains a bit of color, whereas Blistex goes on clear. This is important for guys especially, because too much red Chap Stick can make it look like you're wearing lipstick. Many women enjoy this hint of color, however, and is one of the reasons that they choose to apply a lip product in the first place.
It is when your lips are feeling really chapped and sore that Blistex really starts to shine. Sometimes, especially during the colder winter months, my lips get so chapped that they're almost raw. During these times, I want a lip treatment that really packs a punch and will work for an extended period of time. ChapStick might provide partial relief for horribly chapped lips, but that relief is bound to be short lived, forcing you to reapply the product quite often.
When you apply Blistex, however, you immediately feel a cool, tingling sensation that lets you know the product is working. This sensation helps to provide immediate and complete relief for even the worse case of chapped lips. The relief lasts for a nice long while, too, and you wont feel the need to constantly be reapplying Blistex. When I use this product, my chapped lips actually start to get better and heal over time. ChapStick, on the other hand, may relieve some of the discomfort of painfully chapped lips but never really seems to get to the ''root" of the problem.
As a guy, I might like to use ChapStick sometimes, but I can see it being a ''must carry" item for lots of women (at least the ones that I know). But when I have a really bad case of sore, chapped lips, I'll definitely choose Blistex over ChapStick any day of the week. At less than two dollars each, it probably wouldn't hurt to keep a tube of each product on hand. Give those lips of yours a little tender loving care every now and then. Your lips (and maybe even your Friday night date) will end up thanking you.
In terms of price, a quick check of drugstore.com revealed a tube of Blistex selling for $1.81 and a tube of ChapStick for $1.99, making ChapStick just a little bit more expensive. The whole reason I had to check a website, though, is because like most people, I don't necessarily do a whole lot of comparison shopping for lip treatments. Chances are good that the negligible price difference between these two items won't be a big factor in choosing one over the other.
In terms of taste, ChapStick comes in a wide variety of flavors (my favorite happens to be cherry), whereas Blistex just comes in ''Original", which has a slightly medicinal, menthol taste. This is where ChapStick wins the competition, hands down. While the taste of Blistex isn't all that bad, it certainly isn't very good, either. ChapStick, on the other hand, tastes so good that you almost want to eat it.
If your lips are dry and just tend to need a little moisture, both products work well. I find that Blistex tends to provide relief a little quicker, but ChapStick is thicker and stays on your lips longer. It is important to note that most ChapStick contains a bit of color, whereas Blistex goes on clear. This is important for guys especially, because too much red Chap Stick can make it look like you're wearing lipstick. Many women enjoy this hint of color, however, and is one of the reasons that they choose to apply a lip product in the first place.
It is when your lips are feeling really chapped and sore that Blistex really starts to shine. Sometimes, especially during the colder winter months, my lips get so chapped that they're almost raw. During these times, I want a lip treatment that really packs a punch and will work for an extended period of time. ChapStick might provide partial relief for horribly chapped lips, but that relief is bound to be short lived, forcing you to reapply the product quite often.
When you apply Blistex, however, you immediately feel a cool, tingling sensation that lets you know the product is working. This sensation helps to provide immediate and complete relief for even the worse case of chapped lips. The relief lasts for a nice long while, too, and you wont feel the need to constantly be reapplying Blistex. When I use this product, my chapped lips actually start to get better and heal over time. ChapStick, on the other hand, may relieve some of the discomfort of painfully chapped lips but never really seems to get to the ''root" of the problem.
As a guy, I might like to use ChapStick sometimes, but I can see it being a ''must carry" item for lots of women (at least the ones that I know). But when I have a really bad case of sore, chapped lips, I'll definitely choose Blistex over ChapStick any day of the week. At less than two dollars each, it probably wouldn't hurt to keep a tube of each product on hand. Give those lips of yours a little tender loving care every now and then. Your lips (and maybe even your Friday night date) will end up thanking you.
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