How Does Chemotherapy Affect Appetite

General Loss of Appetite

Chemotherapy causes a loss in appetite due to a number of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, pain and diarrhea. Chemotherapy also causes a sore throat and dry mouth, which may make eating and swallowing difficult or painful. Long-term loss of appetite may result in significant weight loss and a reduction in muscle mass. This complication may interfere with treatment, decrease the body's ability to fight off infection, and cause general weakness that may trigger additional loss of appetite. A doctor or dietitian may be able to assist in creating a diet plan that will improve your appetite and correct any nutritional deficiencies.

Altered Taste Perception

Taste perception may be altered by chemotherapy treatment, especially when combined with radiation therapy. This change in taste is generally temporary and occurs due to changes in the taste buds on the tongue. Some chemotherapy patients complain of a constant metallic taste that makes eating unpleasant, while others claim foods are too sweet or too bitter. This change in taste perception often makes eating difficult, resulting in weight loss. Some chemotherapy patients notice that the expectation that foods may taste odd decreases their desire to eat even more than any actual changes in taste.

Nausea and Vomiting

Two of the most common side effects of chemotherapy are nausea and vomiting, both of which can have profound effects on appetite. Frequent vomiting makes eating impossible, while sporadic vomiting or nausea may result in a complete loss of appetite. When vomiting is severe, the lining of the stomach and esophagus may become irritated and inflamed. This creates a situation where future vomiting episodes become more likely as the stomach is unable to handle the intake of solid foods. Vomiting may also interfere with pain control by making it difficult to take or tolerate pain medications. Increased pain may also reduce appetite. Medications are available to treat the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, but they are not effective for all people.

Mouth and Throat Ulceration

Mouth ulcers are a frequent and painful side effect of chemotherapy, but this symptom typically lasts for only a few days to a week following treatment. However, malnutrition and overall poor health may increase the time needed for recovery. The symptom severity of mouth sores and ulcers caused by chemotherapy may range from mild discomfort to significant pain. Eating may become impossible, and the fear of pain associated with chewing and swallowing may result in loss of appetite and a reluctance to eat. Corticosteroids may be prescribed in severe cases, especially when appetite is affected to the point that malnutrition becomes a risk.

Breast Lift Pros & Con

Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a procedure in which a woman's sagging breasts are lifted and reshaped. Most women decide to have the surgery done to restore breast size and/or shape because of pregnancy, nursing, aging or muscle atrophy. In 2005, there were 92,740 breast lifts performed according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Doctor Choice

Keep in mind many factors when choosing a surgeon. It is generally suggested to use an ASPS member surgeon to ensure that he has been trained in all plastic procedures including breast lifts, has completed at least five years of surgical training and two years in plastic surgery, is bound by a strict code of ethics, and only operates in accredited medical facilities. It's also important that you have a comfort and trust level with the doctor.

Procedure

The breast lift procedure lasts from 1 to 3 hours. The surgeon makes several incisions at various points around the breasts. The excess skin from the lower section of the breast is then removed, and the areola, nipple and underlying breast tissue are pulled to a higher position. The skin surrounding the areola is then collected and drawn down to reshape the breast. The incisions are then sutured and bandaged.

During the days following surgery, the patient feels a manageable amount of pain, which can be eased with medication. Bandages and/or surgical bras might need to be worn for several days as tenderness and swollen breasts can last a few weeks. Within the first two weeks, the stitches are removed in gradual stages.

Cost

The cost of a breast lift surgery is based on the type and extensiveness of the procedure. Generally, most procedures will cost between $3,000 and $5,000, but this does not include pre-operative lab fees and post-operative costs such as drug prescriptions. An expensive surgery does not necessarily mean a more skilled surgeon is performing the operation. Ask for patient referrals and testimonials before selecting a doctor.

Pros

The benefits of having a breast lift include immediate improvement of breast shape and size, appearance restoration and, in most cases, more self-confidence. Depending on the case, other benefits could be improved posture and/or spinal health.

Cons

Aside from common surgical risks such as procedure complications and severe blood loss, a breast lift operation can leave permanent scars on the patient's chest. Fortunately, most scars lighten in color over time and can be covered by a bra or bathing suit. Some patients may lose some or all nipple sensitivity, but this normally subsides with recovery. The effects of the breast lift might diminish over time because of gravity and the age of the patient.

Exercise Equipment For Paraplegics

Paraplegics have plenty of exercise options

Paraplegics are by no means incapable of getting quality workouts. While they have certain limitations in regard to mobility, both home and gym-based equipment exist to help wheelchair bound folks engage in regular cardiovascular and strength training exercise.

Ergometers

Also known as armogometric machines, these simple devices can be mounted on nearly any flat surface. Exercisers place their hands on the machine's pedals and use their arms in a bicycling motion to "pedal" against a variable resistance.

Superman Bike

Developed in conjunction with the late Christopher Reeve of Superman fame, the "Superman Bike" aids both paraplegic and quadriplegic patients. The exerciser has his limbs fastened into an exercise bike and electrodes are attached to main muscles groups. The electrical current stimulates muscle contractions.

Free Weights

Many paraplegics choose free weights for upper body workouts. Due to their accessibility, dumbbells, whether set weight or adjustable, can be used for many exercises without having to transfer to a piece of cable-loaded equipment.

Cable Loaded

Conversely, cable-loaded equipment available in most commercial gyms and health clubs help prevent accidents by setting the range of motion. Upper body machines like the chest and shoulder press and back rower can be used once the exerciser transfers himself from the chair to the machine.

Resistance Equipment

Similar to free weights, resistance-type equipment, such as strap-on wrist weights and flexible resistance bands can be used nearly anytime and anywhere. Exercisers can remain seated without having to transfer to a machine. Such equipment is inexpensive and requires little know-use it.

Face Lift Complications

Face-lift surgery is a cosmetic procedure designed to give an individual a more youthful appearance by realigning some of the skin and muscle tissue of the face and neck to reduce signs of aging. Results usually last five to years; however, some individuals, particularly those over the age of 65, may require a second procedure before seeing any noticeable results.

Cosmetic surgery is safe, as millions of procedures are performed every year. But face-lift surgery brings with it more potential risk, pain and discomfort than a neck, eye, or brow lift, which are less difficult. It is important for a patient to follow the surgeon's instructions regarding preoperative, as well as postoperative, care.

Complications

Complications can bring about slow healing, abnormal scarring, discomfort, inconvenience or permanent deformity. However, problems are usually seen much more frequently in smokers. One study concluded that smokers are 1,500 percent more likely to experience complications from surgery, particularly healing of the skin. Individuals are strongly advised to quit smoking at least one month prior to surgery and for a month after the procedure.

Hematoma

Hematoma is the accumulation of blood under the skin, which can require surgical removal. This condition can make the skin very red, extremely swollen and painful to the touch. Some light bleeding is to be expected after surgery, but when it becomes excessive or uncontrolled a dangerous condition exists and must be treated immediately to halt the flow of blood and remove it from under the skin.

Infection

Infection after face-lift surgery is not common but does occur in a small percentage of patients. It is a serious risk and can occur in a specific area of the face, causing redness, sensitivity and swelling. This condition can be remedied with antibiotics. If the symptoms are severe, a second surgery may be required.

Scarring

Although surgeons always try to hide incisions from sight behind the ears, along the hairline or beneath the chin, some scarring is usually inevitable. Over time, the scars blend into the skin, flatten into a very thin unrecognizable line, or disappear completely. Individuals with darker skin tones may experience a greater risk of noticeable scarring, which can be raised or either lighter or darker in color. This should be discussed with the surgeon before surgery.

Nerve Damage

The face-lift procedure may cause damage to the nerves that control the facial muscles, but this condition usually heals itself. Individuals may feel a numbness or tingling sensation around the incisions on the face, or experience weakness in facial muscles. It may be several weeks or months before full control of facial movements and expressions are regained. Injury to the nerves that control these muscles is usually temporary.

Group Coordinator Job Description

Group Coordinator Job Description

A group coordinator, also referred to as a group reservations coordinator, coordinates guest accommodations at a hotel or convention center for groups needing a large number of sleeping rooms.

Education

A high school diploma or GED is preferred for these occupations.

Qualifications

Qualifications include excellent computer and typing skills, good customer service skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities. Employers often provide on-the-job training for this occupation.

Responsibilities

Coordinating guest accommodations includes speaking with customers to schedule reservations, understanding the needs of guests and preparing the appropriate contract and billing information for the group reservation. These professionals work with guests until the time they arrive to ensure quality services are provided.

Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that group coordinators and related occupations will experience little or no job growth between 2008 and 2018, due to the increasing use of Internet travel and accommodations scheduling.

Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a national average salary of $30,570 per year for these and related occupations in May 2008.

Alkaline Foods For Canines

Feeding your pet a well-rounded diet will keep him healthy and happy for life.

Like humans, the canine body functions best at a slightly alkaline cellular pH. The pH of something refers to how much hydrogen is present; for instance, something with a high pH is considered acidic (e.g. vinegar) and something with low pH is basic or alkaline (e.g. baking powder). The foods your pet eats determine his pH level.

Health Benefits

The kidneys, lungs and liver all work to naturally eliminate toxic acids from the body; however, consuming too much acidic food stresses these organs. Feeding your dog more alkaline foods will help balance his pH and protect him from diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, kidney failure and cancer. Acidosis, or the condition of being too acidic, also makes it difficult for your dog to absorb nutrients and minerals in his diet, and decreases the energy production of cells.

Types of Alkaline Foods

You might be surprised at how many dogs enjoy raw vegetables.

In general, fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent alkalizing foods. Many dogs enjoy broccoli, carrots, peas, and pumpkin (pure canned or cooked fresh) both alone or mixed with other food. When choosing grains, go for the whole grain options, which are less acidic than processed ones. Try integrating alkaline foods into your dog's diet gradually. Put some raw broccoli on top of his kibble, or mix pureed pumpkin into wet food.

Acidic Foods to Avoid

Lamb is a less acidic alternative to beef.

Most commercial dog food is high in meat and gluten, which means that it is also highly acidic. For this reason, either purchase more alkaline dog food (read the ingredients label and look for vegetables, certain meats, and whole grains) or switch to a home-cooked diet. Meat, particularly red meat, is acidic, and should not comprise the majority of your dog's caloric intake. However, a moderate amount of turkey, chicken and/or lamb is healthy when balanced with whole grains and alkaline fruits and vegetables. In addition, beans and dairy produce are also acidic; moderate them in your dog's diet.

Health Risks

Increasing the alkalinity of your dog's diet shouldn't pose any major health risks. However, when you look for fresh foods to give your pup, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states that you should never feed dogs avocados, chocolate, coffee, macadamia nuts, onions, raisins, grapes, salt, yeast dough or garlic

Breakfast Foods That Are Good For Iron

Eggs are a popular breakfast food that provide a healthy dose of iron.

Women between the ages of 19 and 50 require at least 18 mg a day of iron. Men require less iron each day, only 8 mg. Iron is found in many foods, including meats, grains, fruits and vegetables, but meat sources provide iron the body can easily absorb. For the best iron absorption at breakfast, combine meat and vegetables or grain sources.

Cereals and Grains

Most cereals you eat for breakfast are fortified with iron; half a cup contains 18 mg, which meets the average woman's needs for an entire day. Cereals are a quick and simple option for breakfast, and may be eaten dry throughout the day as a healthy, iron-rich snack. Whole grains like oatmeal and whole grain toast also contain iron.

Eggs and Meat

Eggs are high in iron, and may be cooked in a variety of ways to satisfy any appetite, from scrambled to sunny side up. Pair eggs with a grain to increase your iron consumption. Red meats like beef are also high in iron, so enjoy steak and eggs for an iron-rich breakfast. Turkey also contains iron, so try turkey bacon in place of regular bacon to reduce fat and calories.

Vegetables and Fruits

Many vegetables offer good sources of iron, and make an excellent addition to any breakfast. A medium potato with the skin contains 2.35 mg of iron. One half cup of spinach contains 2 mg of iron; try spinach in an omelet for a complete source of protein. Artichokes, asparagus and broccoli are also high in iron.

Dried fruits contain iron; one quarter of a cup of dried peaches contains 1.6 mg of iron. Prunes and raisins are also good choices. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, so include oranges, strawberries, pineapple or grapefruit in your breakfast meal. Orange juice is also a good choice.

Things to Avoid

Tea and coffee dramatically reduce the amount of iron your body absorbs. If you are trying to increase your iron intake, avoid drinking these common breakfast beverages. Drinking too much milk may also decrease iron absorption, so avoid over-consumption.

Corporate Party Game Ideas

Get all employees involved in a corporate party.

Many corporate parties are designed to relieve stress from the everyday workplace, as well as build co-worker relationships. When planning a corporate party, be sure to include a variety of exciting party games to get guests involved in the party and prevent boredom. These games will also introduce any unfamiliar faces and give everyone a chance to make new friends. Does this Spark an idea?

Pass the Hat

Divide players into even teams and have them stand in a circle. Give each circle a hat and have one player put the hat on. The object is to pass the hat all the way around the circle without using your hands. When you say, "Go," the player with the hat must pass the hat to the player next to him without using any hands. The first team to get the hat all the way around the circle wins the game.

Stolen Items

Before the party starts, remove one item from several employees' desks and hide them in a large brown sack. Give each player a sheet of paper and a pen. Take one item out of the sack at a time and have the players write down which employee's desk they think the item came from. At the end of the game, the person with the most correct answers wins a prize.

Office Scavenger Hunt

Create several scavenger hunt lists with items, such as a stapler, roll of toilet paper, bottle of water, candy bar, notepad, pen and any other office items. Each list should have 20 items on it. Divide the players up into teams of four or five and give each team a list. When you yell, "Go," the teams must run around the office building and gather at least 15 of the 20 items on their list. The first team back with all 15 items wins the game.

Co-Worker Trivia

Before the party, have each employee send you three interesting facts about themselves through email. Tell employees to make sure the fact is something they have shared with co-workers in the past. Write all the facts down with the corresponding employee. Give each player a pen and a sheet of paper. Read aloud some of the facts like, "This person is in the Marines," or, "This person moved here from Alaska." Players will write down which employee they think it is on their piece of paper. The player who gets the most questions correct wins a prize.

Gastric Sleeve Vs Lapband Surgery

Bariatric surgery is becoming a more and more popular weight loss option for people who don't succeed with diet and exercise alone.

Lap-Band, What Is It?

The Lap-Band is the trademarked name of one kind of adjustable gastric banding. Surgeons operate laproscopically to attach a band around the top part of the stomach. The size of the band can be adjusted by injecting or removing sterile saline solution through a port just under the skin.

Gastric Sleeve, What Is It?

Gastric sleeves, also known as sleeve gastrectomies, are surgeries performed to remove part of the stomach. The surgeon removes about 75% of the patient's stomach, leaving a tube going from the esophagus to the intestines.

Similarities

Both types of surgery are usually performed with a laproscope so there is no large incision. The intestines are not affected so there are no issues with the absorption of nutrients.

Differences

The Lap-Band is adjustable and even reversible, by removing the band, while the gastric sleeve is permanent since part of the stomach is removed. Gastric sleeve surgery is usually performed on people with very high body mass indexes as a first step before another type of bariatric surgery is performed.

Conclusions

While both types of weight loss surgery are restrictive in nature they are used in very different cases. Gastric sleeve surgery is used as a first step for the morbidly obese patients to lose weight prior to another type of surgery to complete the weight loss process. Lap-Band surgery is used on patients with lower levels of obesity.

Alpha Waves & Migraines

Migraine is a recurrent, episodic, genetic, neurological disease.

Over 26 million people in the U.S. are affected by migraines each year. Long ago, migraines were believed to be a concentration of evil spirits within the brain, and common cures ranged from drilling holes through the skull to inserting garlic cloves into incisions in the temples of the migraine sufferer. Thanks to years of scientific advancement, today's scientists and doctors have determined migraines to be a neurological disorder with no known cause or cure, although there are hundreds of treatments prescribed daily. One type of treatment involves alpha waves.

History of Brainwaves

An EEG machine amplifies, records and graphs the brain's electrial activity.

Austrian psychiatrist Dr. Hans Berger discovered the existence of electrical waves in the brain in 1908. Because they were the first electrical waves discovered in the brain, Dr. Berger called them "alpha" waves. After his discovery, Dr. Berger invented the electroencephalograph (EEG) machine, which amplifies, records and graphs the electrical activity of the brain. Parapsychologist Jose Silva of Laredo, Texas, discovered the ability of people to learn to control the level of their own brainwaves in the 1940s.

Alpha Wave Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation

An imbalance in serotonin levels may influence mood in a way that leads to depression.

Ongoing studies have found that alpha-wave stimulation activates particular groups of nerve cells in the brain stem, causing them to produce the chemicals serotonin and acetylcholine. This chemical production causes a sort of chain reaction by inducing further chemical activity in the nearby nerve cells, traveling to nerve cells farther away in the body via nerve pathways. Changing the electrical and chemical activities of certain brain-stem nerves appears to amplify activity in some neurological systems, while diminishing activity in others. This modulation occurs as a result of an electrical activity pattern in the brain known as an alpha state.

Alpha State

Artists are plentiful alpha producers.

An alpha state is defined by the rate of electrical vibrations in the brain. The beta state, or normal waking rate, is 13 to 30 cycles per second, while the alpha state slows brainwaves down to between 8 to 12 cycles per second. An alpha state is an intensely pleasurable, relaxed state of consciousness essential to stress reduction. When in the alpha state, the conscious mind is relaxed and healing takes place. In 1958, Joe Kamiya, a teaching psychologist at the University of Chicago, began experiments on brain-wave frequencies. "'[The alpha state's] pleasure may come from the fact [it] represents something like letting go of anxieties," says Kamiya.

Alpha Biofeedback

Increased alpha activity is associated with a state of relaxation.

According to Mosby's Medical Dictionary, alpha biofeedback is a procedure in which a person is presented with continuous information, usually auditory, on the state of his brain-wave pattern, with the intent of increasing the percentage of alpha activity. This is done with the expectation that it will be associated with a state of relaxation and peaceful wakefulness.

Alpha Rhythms

Depression often accompanies migraine and can be treated with alpha stimulation and biofeedback.

An alpha rhythm is a pattern of smooth, regular electrical oscillations in the human brain that normally occur when a person is awake and relaxed. Alpha rhythms created by stimulation and biofeedback are accompanied by calmness, relaxation and increased mental focus. Alpha rhythms have a frequency of 8 to 13 hertz. The neurological mechanisms occurring during the alpha state appear to decrease stress, reduce agitation, stabilize mood and regulate both the sensations and perceptions of pain, all of which are associated with migraines.

A single alpha-rhythm treatment can produce positive results, and repeated treatments have shown increases in the relative strength and duration of these effects. Some cases have even shown permanent and stable positive results.

During treatment, current is applied via electrodes clipped to the ear lobes. This treatment is administered on an as-needed basis. Partnered with biofeedback, the patient learns to control her own alpha rhythm as a result of controlling computer-generated bells or music. Alpha stimulation and biofeedback continue to be researched regarding benefits to patients experiencing pain, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders, all of which can accompany migraines.

Health Insurance Customer Service Job Description

Health Insurance Customer Service Job Description

Health insurance companies offer toll-free numbers to answer questions from subscribers who have questions about issues like coverage, claims denials and out-of-pocket expenses. Customer service representatives handle these inquiries for health insurance companies.

Function

Health insurance customer service representatives answer phone calls and use computers to find the answers to clients' inquiries. Some health insurance companies also require customer service representatives to handle online inquiries from customers, such as emails.

Environment

The call centers in which customer service representatives work are typically loud, busy places with many representatives talking at one time and calls coming in continuously. Because representatives often handle complaints and angry customers, their work may become stressful or emotionally draining.

Requirements

Success as a representative requires empathy, problem-solving skills and multi-tasking ability. Typing skills and the ability to learn and use software programs such as databases and email are also necessary for work in this field.

Education and Experience

While a high school diploma or GED is the typical education requirement for all customer service jobs, health insurance companies may look for representatives with an associate's or bachelor's degree in computer science, English or business. Previous experience working with health insurance is also attractive to employers.

Compensation

As of December 2009, health insurance customer service representatives averaged annual salaries of $43,000, according to Indeed.com.

Air Travel Risk After Surgery

Air travel may not be safe after certain surgeries.

Airlines take precautions to make travel as safe as possible, but individuals who have recently had surgery may have concerns. Physicians and patients should discuss possible complications.

Cabin Pressure

The difference between the air pressure at ground level and in an airplane cabin can cause an expansion of air in body cavities. The Merck Manual states that air travel is not advised within 10 days of chest or abdominal surgery, due to this pressure.

Low Humidity

The extremely low humidity of airplane cabins can cause dryness of the nasal cavities and eyes. Air travel may not be recommended after eye surgery.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep Vein Thrombosis, a blood clot causing pain and swelling, is a concern during flight. Dr. Alan Matarasso, said air flight after surgery can increase the risk of DVT.

Exposure to Communicable Diseases

Stress, due to surgery, can lower the effectiveness of the immune system. With a weakened immune system, individuals may catch illnesses from others on the plane, impacting their recovery.

Spinal Anesthesia

If spinal anesthesia was used during surgery, prolonged sitting during flight can increase the risk of severe headaches. Passengers have reported this problem up to seven days following surgery, according to the Aerospace Medical Association.

Distance from Surgeon

Complications after surgery may necessitate seeing the surgeon quickly. The University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine advises patients not to fly for approximately two weeks after heart surgery, in case problems arise.

Do A Standing Abs Workout

You don't have to always do floor crunches to get an effective abdominal workout. Standing abs workouts are also a great tummy toner. They can improve your posture and you don't have to worry about neck strain like you would if you did the floor exercises. Follow some of the common standing abs workouts below to get started.

Instructions

1. Do the "canoe" standing exercise. Keep your feet 2 or 3 feet apart from each other while bending your knees slightly and leaving your hips still. Clasp your hands in front of your chest, then "paddle" backward by bringing them down to your left hip. Move your hands back to your chest, then repeat the same motion by paddling toward the right hip.

2. Lunge your right foot forward with the left foot behind it to do the standing crunch. Raise your arms overhead. Then, straighten the right leg while lifting the left knee toward your chest. Pull your elbows toward the knee to form a crunch, then repeat the movement for the opposite side.

3. Align your shoulders with your hips while standing, then lift your right arm up and extend the opposite leg to the side. Raise your left knee and lower your right elbow toward it in a diagonal motion. This is the standing version of the oblique crunch, or the knee-cross crunch. Repeat this move by using the opposite elbow and knee.

4. Go back to your standing position to perform the side imprint workout, which is sometimes used in Pilates. Lift your right leg sideways toward your hip while standing on your left leg. Make sure that you point your toes outward. Squeeze or crunch together your right elbow and right knee, then repeat on the left.

5. Place your left foot in front of you and the right foot behind it to do the lunge run. While keeping the left knee bent in front, lift the right knee toward your chest. Swing your arms so that it looks like a running motion. Repeat the same move by lifting your left knee while keeping the right knee bent in front of you.

6. Practice the double arm reach. As in Step 1, stand with your legs 2 or 3 feet apart and clasp your hands. Form a plie stance while pulling in your abs, and keep your clasped hands toward the floor. Push up with your feet and raise your arms to the right, then repeat the exercise, but raise your arms to the left.

Do A Good Interview

If you are either just out of college, changing careers or working contract, you have to go to interviews to get a job or to get your next assignment. Having been in Human Resources and Recruiting, I have seen a lot of what not to do. Some are basics that one might think "everyone knows that!" but sometimes people forget the basics too.

Instructions

1. Do not arrive late: Prepare yourself for circumstances that may be out of your control, like a traffic jam, so try and leave a bit early. If you see that you are running late, call 20 minutes prior to your interview time and let your interviewer know the situation.

2. Dress for success: It doesn't matter if the job descriptions say it's a business casual environment; wear a suit to your interview. Make sure you look clean and neat.

3. Don't be cocky: Confidence is good, but cockiness is a turnoff, thinking that you are better than your interviewer will show, and it will worsen the situation. On the other side of the coin, don't be too insecure either. Be confident in your knowledge about getting the job done without overstepping boundaries.

4. Bring a resume with you: Even if they have one, it is always good to have one to three handy, as if the interview may go very well and you may meet with more than one person. Also make sure that your resume is error-free. And please do not pull out your resume from your bra!

5. Don't talk about your other businesses: If you have a construction company or worse if you have a website that gives Playboy look meek on the side but you are interviewing with an Oil & Gas company do not bring it up. It shows you are not interested in the position and the company and it is unprofessional.

6. Don't badmouth your past employers: If you do this, your potential new employer may question what you may say about them; it doesn't matter how well or bad terms you left.

7. Have a positive attitude: This shows excitement and interest in the position. If you have a bad attitude, the interviewer is going to think that you may be even worse if you get the job and bring everyone down. When it comes down to the interviewer may go with the person that had a better attitude even if their skills weren't as good.

8. Have Manners: Always be polite, say thank you, please and excuse me and don't burp in the interview or chew gum, it is plain rude.

9. Do your homework: Research the company and have at least one to three questions. Questions show interested in the company.

10. Do not ask the interviewer out: this will not get you the job and it is inappropriate.

Basic Colon Cleanser Detox

One of the most basic colon cleansers is epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), a saline laxative. Adding a small amount to plain water and drinking it will clear the bowels in less than six hours for most people.

Using epsom salts in this way is a common way to clear the bowel for a more complex colon detox that might extend for several days or weeks.

Epsom Salts Safely

It's best to do this colon cleanse either at the beginning of the day when you plan to be at home all day, or at the end of the day. Plan ahead by reducing the amount of food you eat for about two to three days before you cleanse your colon.

Dissolve 2 to 4 tsp. of epsom salts in 8 oz. of water or very diluted orange juice (to cut the taste). Stay near a bathroom as the salts will produce a thorough emptying of the colon.

Stay Hydrated and Rest

It's important to not plan on going to work as nomal before undergoing even a basic colon cleanse. Everyone will have a different experience, but most people who use epsom salts do not want to be far from home, as they will have the urgency to have several bowel movements for the next six hours or so.

Hydrate with plain water that is not iced to keep your stomach calm. As you continue to cleanse, keep replacing the water you lose.

Take Probiotics to Replenish Stomach Flora

Every time you undergo a colon cleanse you also remove much of the stomach acid, or hydrochloric acid (HCl). Take probiotics such as acidophilus acidophilus or bifidus found as supplements or in yogurt made from live cultures.

If you are allergic to dairy, you can consume non-dairy, vegetarian supplements. Doing this will help ease the transition to eating solid foods the next day.

Do A Corn Maze

Walking through a corn maze is fun, but can be confusing.

Navigating your way through a maze can be difficult enough on paper or on your computer screen, but walking your way through a corn maze can be even more challenging. Farms across the U.S. may look to make extra money by creating a maze for visitors to stroll through once the fields have been harvested and they can afford to cut down the stalks. If you like puzzles and love the outdoors, find your way to the nearest corn maze and spend a few hours traipsing through the fields.

Instructions

1. Check in with the person running the corn maze. He will likely provide you with a map of the maze you can refer to in case you get too turned around and an estimate of how long it takes to complete the maze. He'll also tell you the rules of the maze, such as whether you can bring in food and drinks and what other items you're allowed to carry with you.

2. Enter the maze and follow the wall of corn. By harvest time, cornstalks may reach 7 or 8 feet high; you won't be able to judge where you are while in the maze. Take note of any bridges or place markers the maze's designer erected along the path.

3. Make only right or left turns unless you reach a dead end. The idea behind this strategy is that it should lead you in a circle back to the entrance. If you find yourself lost, refer to the map to help you find your way out of the corn maze.

Download Youtube Songs Onto Itunes

Download YouTube Songs Onto iTunes

Converting a file from YouTube to an MP3 file is not as difficult as some might think. YouTube files are called flv files. Because they are audio and video files, to save them as mp3 files, the video must be stripped and the audio must be saved. Fortunately, there is a free program online that will do this for you.

Instructions

1. Go to YouTube.com and find the file that you want to convert. The file can be anything from a music video to a lecture in a college classroom. The only prerequisite is that there must be audio. When you have found the right video, click on the address bar and select "Ctrl+C" to copy the URL address.

2. Type into your browser the site, www.flvtomp3.com. Wait for the page to load. At the top of the page, make sure the button next to the words "By URL" are selected.

3. Paste the website address that you copied in step 1 into the text box on the page. Paste the text by either selecting "Ctrl+V" or by right-clicking and choosing "Paste" from the menu that appears. Click "OK" at the bottom of the page next to "I Accept the Terms."

4. Be patient as the next page opens and begins to load. A status bar at the top of the page will show the status of the file being downloaded. Once the status bar says "Status Complete," click on the "Convert" button on the bottom of the page.

5. Wait for a window to open that asks you what you want to do with the downloaded file. In this window, click the circle next to "Open File." Then click on the drop box in the window and select iTunes from the list. Click "OK." The iTunes program will open, and the song will begin to play.

Download Virtual Dj Sound Effects

Download effects for Virtual DJ

DJs of any skill level have surely heard of Virtual DJ. VirtualDJ is computer software dedicated to music mixing for DJs. It includes all the professional features of an an actual turntable. Advanced DJs in search of adding a unique flair to their mixes may seek to do so with special effects. Downloading new sound effects to Virtual DJ is fairly simple task with very few steps.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Visit Virtual DJ's webpage dedicated to sound effectsand enter the website (link found in Resources) into your navigation bar.

2. Browse the different effects located on the web page. Select the desired effect by clicking on it once.

3. Purchase and download the effect. Follow the instructions given on the Virtual DJ website after the purchase is made. Download the file to the location of your Virtual DJ effects folder in the personal computer. The effects folder is located in C:/Program Files/Virtual DJ/Plugins/SoundEffect

Download Music Using Itunes

Download music using iTunes

The iTunes software does more than just hold music files saved in folders on your computer. The program is also utilized to download music files. These songs can be played with the iTunes audio player, or even transferred onto different iPods you have purchased. Buying albums from the iTunes Store can be cheaper than spending money at a conventional music store. Doing so also lets you acquire new music without leaving the couch.

Instructions

1. Open iTunes.

2. Click the "iTunes Store" option that's located inside the left column of the program. The program will access the iTunes Store, which will open in the middle of iTunes.

3. Click the arrow inside of the "Music" tab at the top of iTunes. A menu will open beneath the "Music" tab.

4. Choose one of the music categories inside the menu. Songs and albums inside the category will be listed in iTunes.

5. Click the song or album you want to download. The album will appear inside the iTunes Store. If you clicked a song title, the album that the song is on will open inside the iTunes Store.

6. Click the "Buy" or "Free" button to the right of the iTunes song. To download the entire music album, click the "Buy Album" or "Download Album" button located beneath the album title. A box will appear.

7. Type your iTunes Store account email and password inside the box.

8. Click "Download" in the box. The iTunes music will be downloaded. If the music wasn't free, your account will be charged the price for the song or album.

Dj Mix Tape Sound Effects

Mix tape sound effects help DJs establish themselves.

The mix tape has become a staple of hip hop music over the last 30 years. The mix tape DJ has been around almost as long as the mix tape itself. Notable mix tape DJ's specialize in releasing music from one artist or various artists on what is known as a mix tape that has some of that DJ's signature sounds and styles throughout the record. Some notable hip hop mix tape DJ's with distinctive sounds and sound effects are DJ Clue, famous for his name dropping with reverb, DJ Funkmaster Flex, known for "dropping a bomb on it," and DJ Khaled, known for his signature line, "we the best."

Word play

Many mix tape DJs like to use pre-programmed signature phrases throughout their mix tapes. This can include using an application such as ProTools or Fruity Loops to record their voice saying their signature phrase and then adjusting the sound effects. This can be done by adding reverb, slowing it down, speeding it up or using an effect known as "chopping and screwing," which involves cutting the words up with brief pauses and slowing the voice down to make it sound deeper and lower. Another popular effect, most notably used by DJ Clue, is using an echo effect to a phrase, dragging it out and letting it transpire over the music on the mix tape.

Bombs and Guns

Another sound effect genre involves using the sounds of weapons. The most famous user of this effect is DJ Funkmaster Flex from New York City who is known for "dropping a bomb" on a song. In this case, he uses the sound effect of a bomb exploding at the beginning of a new and upcoming song as well as right after a very clever or important verse of the song. Flex is also know for "running it back" after "dropping a bomb on it," which means after a verse that is particularly important he will use the turntable to rewind the song after the bomb sound effect is used so that the audience can hear the line again.

Another sound effect used a great deal is the sound of a gun. This can include single shot sounds, full machine gun round sounds, or in many cases simply the sound effect of a gun being loaded and cocked.

Horns, whistles, sirens

Mix tape DJs have also found a great use for some of the most common sounds found in city areas to enhance a song or let their presence be felt in a song. Using the sound of car horns, police or official whistles and, more commonly, air raid sirens or police sirens, mix tape DJs show urgency or importance in a song. DJ Craig G is famous for using the air raid siren sound effect as a way to alert his audience that a new song is beginning or an important part of song is about to happen or just happened. DJs can use these sound effects also to add pacing to songs or as transitions between songs.

Donate Plasma In San Antonio

For those that are healthy enough to do so, donating plasma can help save lives.

Donating whole blood is the most common practice when people opt to participate in blood drives. Needed just as much for medical purposes is blood plasma. Though roughly the same procedure is used for extracting plasma, only the plasma is extrapolated from the blood while the remaining blood products are returned to the donor. In San Antonio, donating plasma is made an easy process due to multiple locations throughout the city that accept plasma donations.

Instructions

1. Locate a plasma donation center in San Antonio by contacting the San Antonio chapter of the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross in San Antonio utilizes the services of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center for all blood and plasma donations. The five locations in San Antonio for plasma donation are all operated by the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center. Donations are accepted at the main headquarters of the Blood & Tissue Center, located adjacent to Interstate 10. Additional plasma donation locations are located on First Park Ten Boulevard, Loop 1604 West, Culebra Road, Military Drive, Village Drive and in the Oak Hills Medical Center on Louis Pasteur Drive.

2. Make sure that you meet the minimum health and age requirements to donate plasma in San Antonio. You must weight a minimum of 110 pounds, be at least 17 years of age at the time of donation and be in overall good health. You must be free of diseases and conditions such as AIDS, cancer, asthma and hepatitis. Know that you may donate plasma if you are 16 years of age provided written parental consent is provided.

3. Call the main headquarters of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center to verify that new donors are being currently accepted. Contact one of the six donation locations in San Antonio and schedule an appointment. Let the agent know if you will be using San Antonio's public transportation, VIA Metropolitan Transit, and ask which stop is closest to the location. Write down the date and time of your appointment.

4. Arrive before your scheduled donation time in order to allow enough time to fill out paperwork. Take a form of identification along that proves you name, address and age. Use your Texas state issued drivers license as a form of identification if available. Know that without identification you will not be allowed to donate plasma. Contact the South Texas Blood & Tissue collection center you will going to before your scheduled appointment. Verify that the identification you have available to bring is acceptable for donor verification.

Donate A Liver For A Hepatitis C Patient

One of the leading reasons for liver transplantation in the U.S., hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease spread when infected blood enters the body, most commonly through intravenous drug use. It is a serious disease than can result in long-term health problems, or even death.

Most liver transplants use the entire liver from a deceased donor for the transplant, but live donor transplantation, which uses a portion of the liver from a living donor, is becoming more popular. Becoming a living donor for a hepatitis C patient can be very rewarding, but it can be a complicated process.

Instructions

Determine if you are a good potential donor

1. Contact a reputable hospital with a well-run living liver donation program. The United Network for Organ Sharing is the non-profit organization that governs organ transplantation in the United States.

2. Make sure you are in good physical health, and not pregnant or overweight. You must refrain from smoking for at least six weeks prior to the surgery.

3. Be confident that you are willing to undergo major surgery, and endure the pain of surgical recovery. The hospital organ donor coordinator will talk to you to make sure that you have not been coerced into donating your liver.

4. Undergo a battery of evaluation tests to determine your organ's compatibility with the patient.

The Operation

5. Bank blood for yourself in advance of the surgery, just in case you need blood either during or after the donation surgery.

6. Arrive at the hospital for your surgery and check in with the donation coordinator.

7. Be prepped for surgery. The removal of the donated liver portion and its transplant into the hepatitis C patient occur at the same time, and can take between six to 12 hours.

Post-Operative Recovery

8. Stay in the intensive care unit for 24 hours, and in the hospital for five to seven days. You will probably be able to walk two to three days after the donation.

9. Recover at home for one month. After that time, you may begin to return to your daily activities, including work, on a part-time basis, for another two to four weeks.

10. See your doctor regularly after the donation, to ensure that there are no post-operative complications.

How Does Acupuncture Work For Allergies

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient healing tradition started in Asia thousands of years ago. It is one of the core parts of Chinese traditional medicine, which seeks to balance the body's yin and yang to achieve and maintain health. Two inseparable human aspects, yin is the passive principle and yang is the active principle. Imbalance of these properties results in vital energy, known as qi, being blocked and causing disease. To unblock energy, ultra-thin metal pins are inserted in points on the body that connect to meridians, the channels through which qi flows. According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, there are between 14 and 20 meridians that create a network of channels throughout the body that are accessed by over 2,000 acupuncture points. Depending on the ailment, specific points are stimulated, allowing energy to flow again, balancing the yin and yang and improving health.

Allergy Practices

Acupuncture's treatment of allergies differs from treatment with Western medicine in that Western medicine tends to focus more on the symptoms--runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes--rather than diminishing the body's reaction to allergens. With acupuncture, symptoms are treated when they occur, but allergies are not forgotten once the symptoms dissipate. When there are no symptoms, the focus changes to strengthening the immune system so that next year allergy sufferers will not be as sensitive to the environment. Diagnosis and treatment in Chinese medicine are individualized. Acupuncturists follow the patient's pattern of suffering and differentiate the nature of the allergy as either heat or cold. Once this diagnosis has been made, specific pressure points are stimulated relative to the type of allergy in order to relieve symptoms and strengthen the body.

Effectiveness

In a study published in "Allergy" magazine, people who received acupuncture for their allergy symptoms benefited from the practice. When compared to the control group, their physical activity increased, psychological wellness improved and allergy symptoms related to the eyes and nose were less severe. Individuals involved in the study received 20-minute acupuncture treatments for six weeks. Pressure points stimulating the gallbladder, liver, large intestine and lung meridians were stimulated as well as meridians determined by personal needs, and they were given herbal supplements. As with any medical procedure, those interested in receiving treatment should consult their primary doctors first. Though complications are rare, infection and organ punctures can occur when practitioners are not trained properly. Acupuncturists should be state-certified, use a fresh, packaged needle at each acupuncture point and sterilize all injection sites with alcohol.

Dj For Free

The basics of DJing are simple but becoming a master takes practice.

Becoming a DJ for free is quite easy using free DJ software. The software allows the DJ the same functionality of a mixer, turntables and effects without having to physically own them. There are several popular free DJ software programs, including Mixxx, Virtual DJ, UltraMixer and Kramixer. The programs offer similar functionality and can mimic all real DJ equipment can. This allows the amateur DJ to mix great music professionally at parties and events.

Instructions

1. Download a free copy of a DJ program.

2. Install the DJ software on the computer.

3. Open the software program. All the free DJ programs have very similar interfaces and functionality. The program will have a mixer, two turntables, or decks, effects panel, volume controls and other tools. The program will also have a library or playlists where music files are stored and accessed.

4. Import music files into the program. The files can be dragged in or imported using that function. Drag two files into the two decks of the program. These files will be part of a mix.

5. Slide the fader 100 percent to the first track. Play the track. Experiment with the effects and tools of the program. Start playing the second track and slide the fader over to the second track slowly. This is mix tracks. Practice mixing tracks and learn the intricacies of each program and your skill as a DJ will improve.

6. Create a mix. A mix is a selection of tracks the DJ mixes together. The mix will be used to market the DJ's talents. A good mix will help the DJ acquire work. Create mixes for different audiences and genres. The mix should be between a half hour to an hour.

7. DJ at parties and for friends. Tell the world you are a DJ and start practicing your skills every chance you get. DJing at parties will help you get exposure.

8. Copy the mix to CDs. Distribute the mix to club promoters and club owners where you want to play. If they like the mix they may book you. Talk to other DJs and ask for advice and see if they can help get you a gig. Create a website or post the mixes online so that others can sample your skills.

Check Nat Settings On A Playstation 3 & Linksys

Routers direct Internet traffic to the correct devices in your home.

NAT stands for "Network Address Translation." If you have multiple Internet devices connected to a single router, NAT will allow online servers to contact each of them using a single IP address. The router will then properly handle and assign the traffic to each individual device. If your NAT settings are improperly configured when using a PlayStation 3 to play games online, you may experience drop-outs and problems with voice chat. There are three basic types of NAT setting: Type 1, 2 or 3. Type 2 is the correct setting for online gaming.

Instructions

1. Open a web browser on the computer, type 192.168.1.1 into the address bar and press enter. This will access the Linksys configuration page. You will be prompted to enter the administrator username and password. Enter them in the relevant onscreen text boxes, then press "OK."

2. Start the PlayStation 3 and navigate to the Settings menu at the far left of the XMB toolbar. Select "Network Settings," then "Internet Connection Test" and the console will perform some diagnostics, then return the results. Your current NAT setting can be seen at the bottom of the list. If your NAT is listed as Type 2, then you don't need to do anything else.

3. Press the circle button to go back a step and select "Internet Connection Status." This will show your current IP address, subnet mask and default gateway values. Write them all down and press circle again to return to the Network Settings menu. Select "Internet Connection Settings," then "Custom," followed by "Manual." You will be presented with a grid for entering IP address, subnet mask and default gateway values. Enter the ones you wrote down earlier and press OK.

4. Return to the computer again, to the "Port Forwarding" screen. This screen allows you to open specific ports on the router and assign them to specific devices. You will need to set six of these fields. In the first row, type 80 in both the start and end fields, select TCP from the drop-down box and the last two digits of your PlayStation's IP address in the IP field. Click the check box to enable. Repeat this on the row beneath, but enter 443 in the start and end fields.

5. Create another row below and enter 5223 in the start and end fields and select "Both" from the drop-down box. Keep all the other settings the same. Finally, create three more rows, with start and end values of 3478, 3479 and 3658. Select "UDP" from the drop-down box for these rows. Click "Save Settings" at the bottom of the screen and run the "Internet Connection Status" on the PlayStation 3 again. It should now display a Type 2 NAT setting.

Dislodge Food Stuck At The Back Of The Throat

The Heimlich maneuver can help dislodge food.

The act of swallowing requires the work of about 50 nerves and muscles, according to the Mayo Clinic. The swallowing process can be obstructed if a large piece of food gets stuck in your throat. This can be anything from a sizable piece of meat to a chicken or fish bone. Signs that something is stuck at the back of the throat include gagging, lack of oxygen, vomiting and the inability to speak. Properly chewing your food before swallowing can prevent discomfort or chocking.

Instructions

1. Stay calm when you or someone in your presence begins gagging or choking. If needed, administer the Heimlich maneuver. Stand behind the victim and make a fist with one hand. Place the thumb of your fist above the victim's belly button and below the breastbone. Cover your fist with your other hand. Thrust upward and inward with your fists to compress the lungs. Keep thrusting until the food dislodges.

2. Dissolve the food with water. Fill a cup with hot water that is not too hot to burn your mouth. Sip the hot water. Your may dissolve the food upon the first sip or several sips later.

3. Dislodge the food that's stuck by consuming large amounts of liquid or big pieces of food. Fill a cup with cold water and gulp it down. Gargle with vinegar if it's a fish bone that is stuck in your throat. Vinegar will soften the bone. Eat a large piece of bread or potato to push the food down.

4. Open your mouth wide to see whether you can reach the piece of food with your fingers.

Disinfect A Pessary

Your doctor will show you use your pessary.

Pessaries are devices inserted vaginally to help support a prolapsed uterus, bladder or vagina. They are donut-shaped and may be plastic or rubber. Some women who experience urinary incontinence may find relief with a pessary. Your doctor may instruct you to wear it for a week, two weeks or a month, before removing it. Other women find that they are more comfortable removing it every night. Disinfect your pessary each time you remove it. Your doctor may recommend a specific cleansing solution; However, most women disinfect their pessaries using ordinary soap and water.

Instructions

1. Hold the pessary under warm, running water for several seconds to rinse it.

2. Apply a dime-size amount of soap to a washcloth. The type of soap you use is not important.

3. Scrub the entire pessary with the soapy washcloth gently.

4. Rinse the pessary thoroughly with warm water.

5. Dry the pessary with a lint-free towel.

6. Scrub your hands well with soap and water.

Disinfect An Endoscope

Technician Prepared for Endoscope Sterilization

An endoscope is a flexible tube equipped with a light and a camera that is passed through the gastrointestinal tract by a physician. Most often used for colonoscopies, it also allows the physician to take tissue samples, stop bleeding and remove polyps non-surgically. Endoscopes are sophisticated, durable instruments that are re-used. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has established strict reprocessing and infection control guidelines, which has reduced the risk of infection transmission to 1 in 10 million. Statistics have shown that infection is typically due to breach of these established protocols.

Instructions

Pre-Cleaning

1. Familiarize yourself with manufacturer's instructions. Each endoscope requires a specific FDA approved enzymatic detergent, has a pre-determined soak time and has specifically designed cleaning adapters. This ensures that the device is properly disinfected without damage.

2. Obtain gloves, gown, eyewear and respiratory protection device. Wear during entire cleaning process. These protect workers from exposure to biohazards or harsh chemicals.

3. Remove all biomaterial from the endoscope and its parts by wiping it down with manufacturer-approved detergent and cloths. This should be done as soon after the procedure as possible. When this biomaterial is not removed immediately after a procedure, it will dry and harden, This material will be a barrier that will prevent the penetratration of disinfecting agents and may inactivate them. Patient biomaterial is a nutrient source that will promote the growth of potentially pathogenic organisms.

Mechanical Cleaning

4. Disassemble endoscope completely, if not done during pre-cleaning.

5. Obtain enzymatic detergents as recommended by the manufacturer. Dilute and mix per instructions.

6. Place detergent in a basin measuring at least 16 by 8 inches. Submerge endoscope and its parts in detergent completely. Add additional diluted detergent or disinfectant if it is not.

7. Set timer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Failure to soak long enough will prevent the detergent or disinfectant from fully removing biomaterial. Oversoaking may lead to endoscope damage.

8. Remove endoscope and its parts from the basin after the exact manufacturer's recommended soaking time. Studies indicate that mechanical cleaning alone reduces the bioburden by an average of 99.99 percent.

9. If using an automated endoscope reprocessor, follow the manufacturer's instructions for loading the endoscope into the basin.

Cleaning the Channels

10. Use the manufacturer designed cleaning adapters according to instructions to clean channels. These tools have been properly validated. Failure to use them will result in incomplete disinfection.

11. Use the specially designed cleaning brushes to clean channels. Some endoscopes have unique channels such as an auxillary water jet channel that must be cleaned with specialty brushes.

12. Ensure that the brushes make contact with the channel surface. Failure to do so will prevent removal of all biomaterial.

13. Rinse the endoscope thoroughly with fresh water. Residual detergent may react with and

inhibit the disinfectant or sterilant solution. This reaction may also result in insertion tube staining

or peeling.

14. Discard all water used for soaking or rinsing in a safe way. Do not reuse any of the water.

Disinfection/Sterilization

15. Disinfect the endoscope with an FDA-cleared, high-level disinfectant according to manufacturer's instructions. The exposure time and temperature for disinfecting varies among the manufacturers. This step is is listed as a requirement in all guidance documents.

16. Rinse the endoscope and flush the channels with sterile, filtered or tap water to remove disinfectant. Discard rinse water. Failure to thoroughly rinse the disinfectant can result in adverse reactions in patients and potentially anaphylaxis.

17.Flush the channels with 70 to 90 percent of ethyl or isopropyl alcohol.

18. Dry the endoscope using forced air. This greatly reduces the possibility of recontamination of the endoscope by waterborne microorganisms.

19. Hang the endoscope vertically to store. Remove caps, valves and other detachable components according to manufacturer's directions.

Disable A Screen Saver In Safe Mode

Safe mode is a diagnostic mode of your computer that allows limited functionality of the operating system. A number of drivers, services and third-party applications are reduced in limitation or stopped entirely from operating in safe mode. With few components and applications running, technicians and users are able to troubleshoot, diagnose, find and eliminate problems more quickly and easily. If you cannot disable your screensaver in normal mode and think it might be caused by a running service or process, then getting your computer in safe mode and disabling it will give you some insight as to what may be causing it.

Instructions

1. Shut down and start up your computer while repeatedly tapping the "F8" key on your keyboard. This will load you into the "Windows Advanced Options" screen.

2. Select "Safe Mode" in the list of options and press "Enter" on your keyboard.

3. Click "Yes" to continue loading into safe mode when prompted to do so. You should now be in safe mode.

4. Right-click on an empty area on your Windows desktop and choose "Personalize."

5. Click on "Screen Saver."

6. Choose none from the screen saver list to disable your screen saver in safe mode.

7. Restart your computer to boot up into normal mode.

Differentiate Food Poisoning From Stomach Flu Symptoms

Whether it is the stomach flu or food poisoning, you are most likely miserable. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two illnesses, as both bring on vomiting, diarrhea, chills, dizzyness and dehydration. But stomach flu is gastrointestinal and caused by various virus strains, while food poisoning is mostly the result of edibles that were prepared or handled incorrectly.

Instructions

Identifying the Illness

1. Make a list of what you ate recently. Did you eat something or someplace you usually don't? Are others who ate what or where you did also ill? If the answer to any of these is "yes," you may have food poisoning.

2. Know your acquaintances. Have you been around someone at work or in your family who is ill? Is a virus going around the office or your children's school? Have you avoided washing your hands regularly? If the answer to any of these is "yes," you may have stomach flu.

3. Know the symptoms. Do you have respiratory problems including sneezing, congestion of the chest or head or coughing? These symptoms can (but do not always) accompany the stomach flu. If the answer is "yes," then you most likely have stomach flu.

On the other hand, if most of your symptoms involve your intestines, are you experiencing more diarrhea than any other symptoms? If the answer is "yes," then you might have food poisoning.

4. Be aware of the length of the illness. Many flu virus strains last 24 to 36 hours. The most severe complication is usually just dehydration. In food poisoning cases, there is the possibility of other damage to the body. If you are ill for a long period of time and feel worse instead of getting better, see your doctor. She can run tests that would be more accurate in diagnosing the cause of the illness.

Diet And Lose 10 Pounds In A Week

Losing 10 pounds in a week requires determination.

Loosing 10 pounds in one week takes a lot of willpower and determination. Even though losing so much weight that fast is not recommended, it is entirely possible. Sticking to a strict diet can help you succeed in losing the weight. The diet will help you shed excess fat quickly without using any risky diet pills or supplements. Loosing 10 pounds in a week is equal to burning 35,000 calories in a week or 5,000 calories in a day. Therefore, it is very important to stick to your diet to achieve your ideal weight.

Instructions

1. Drink a liquid diet. A lemonade diet, which is made up purely of liquid, will help you lose a lot of weight in a short period of time. Purchase your ingredients at any local grocery store. Gather one quart of spring water, four large lemons, a half a cup of maple syrup and half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Squeeze the lemon juice into the spring water and add the maple syrup and cayenne pepper and mix thoroughly. Adjust the taste of the mix according to your personal taste. Place the liquid mix in the refrigerator to cool. Drink whenever you feel hungry and carry it wherever you go, to avoid cheating on your diet.

2. Eat fresh vegetables, lean meats, and other high protein foods. If you cannot do a liquid diet, then go on a strict vegetable diet. Eat vegetables including green beans, broccoli, snow peas, leafy greens, chicken, fish, lean beef, and opt for wheat gluten flour for baking purposes. If you feel like eating other vegetables such as corn, carrots, or even fruits, you can eat them but no more than one serving per day. Also increase fiber in your diet. Incorporate fiber gradually as too much fiber at one time may lead to bloating, cramps, and gas. Make sure to drink plenty of water as it helps your body digest the fiber more efficiently. Drink approximately 16 ounces of water prior to each meal. Drinking water will help you eat less but still keep you full.

3. Make some overall changes to your diet. Do not eat any sugary snacks as they will be stored as fat in your body. Foods to avoid include foods high in carbohydrates, such as sodas, noodles, breads, rice and food made from white flour. In addition to foods to avoid, make sure to avoid large meals. Eat fix to six small meals per day and make sure that each meal is no more than 400 calories. Each meal should preferably have a serving of protein, vegetable, and grain.

Diet After A Heart Surgery

If you're a heart surgery patient, your doctor has probably explained that it's important for you to eat a healthy diet. Find out what kinds of things heart patients should include in their diet. Also, learn about balance calories with exercise and what questions to ask before you start exercising after surgery.

Instructions

1. Immediately after your heart surgery, ask your doctor and/or dietitian about what you can eat and how much you can eat. Be sure to follow their specifications for your post-surgery diet to the letter.

2. After you've returned to work and other normal activities, you'll need to make a total lifestyle change your top priority. Clean out your pantry and start from scratch. Pitch the salty, fatty and sugary snacks. If you have congestive heart failure, you'll want to pitch the alcohol, too. It can damage your heart muscle and increase the chances of an abnormal heartbeat.

3. Fill your pantry and refrigerator with the following heart-healthy foods: unprocessed foods with no labels (fresh vegetables, fruit), low-fat protein products (soy protein, low-fat peanut butter, dry beans), salt-free seasonings and herbs, low-sodium canned goods, non-fat or low fat dairy products, healthy fats (olive oil, fatty fish like salmon, nuts) and water. How are you feeling so far about your new heart surgery patient diet?

4. Prepare your meals by pan-searing in healthy fats, broiling, baking or slow roasting. Find out how many calories you need each day. Schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian to find out this important number.

5. Ask your dietitian about incorporating a multivitamin into your post-heart surgery diet. Vitamin C is especially important for you. Heart patients that get the flu are at greater risk of heart attack.

Diagnose Network Slowness

Upgrade network equipment to speed up network connections.

A slow network, particularly when accessing network drives, impedes your ability to work. This can be a frustrating experience especially when you are working under a deadline or trying to connect with other users for urgent work. It is important to realize that there is no one way to diagnose network slowness. Sometimes upgrading to a high-speed Internet may be your only option if you are using a dial-up connection. If you already have a high-speed connection, you have more options to diagnose a slow connection.

Instructions

1. Disconnect the power cords from your modem and router. Wait for about 10 seconds, and then plug them back in. A restart can boost the speed of your slow network connection.

2. Upgrade your modem and router if either or both are more than five to six years old. Cable modems and wireless routers are available in almost all electronics stores. You may also choose to buy networking equipment online or from your Internet service provider.

3. Clear your Web cache. Click the "Start" menu and choose "Control Panel." Click to switch to "Classic View." Double-click "Internet Options." Click the "General" tab. Click the "Delete" button under "Browsing History." Check "Temporary Internet files" and "Cookies." Click the "Delete" button.

4. Remove "Remote Differential Compression" to stop transferring data over network in a compressed format. Click the Start menu and choose "Control Panel." Click "Programs." Click "Turn Windows Features On or Off" under "Programs and Features." Click to clear the check-box next to "Remote Differential Compression" and click "OK."

5. Update your network adapter driver. Click the "Start" menu and type "Device Manger" (without the quotes) in the search box. Press the "Enter" key. Scroll down and locate "Network Adapters." Right-click your wireless network adapter and choose "Update Driver Software."

6. Use a wired connection (as opposed to a wireless connection) to diagnose network slowness. A wired connection transmits more data while connected to a network.

7. Choose a faster Web browser to browse the Internet. Google Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox offer better browsing speeds than Internet Explorer. All browsers are free to download.

8. Right-click the "Network" icon at the bottom right corner of the screen and choose "Diagnose and Repair." Windows will find errors in your network connection and fix such errors automatically.

Diagnose Duodenal Ulcer

Diagnose Duodenal Ulcer

A duodenal ulcer is a well-defined break in the mucosa of the duodenum, usually less than 1 cm. These ulcers almost always occur in the first part of the duodenum and may penetrate the muscularis propria. Duodenal ulcers are found in up to 15 percent of the population and should be diagnosed promptly because the complications can be serious. The following steps will show diagnose duodenal ulcers.

Instructions

1. Expect presenting symptoms of a duodenal ulcer to cover a wide range, from completely asymptomatic to a gastronintestinal hemorrhage. The most common symptoms are a sharp burning epigastric pain that may radiate to the back and inappropriate feelings of hunger. Belching and bloating are also experienced in 20 to 40 percent of cases.

2. Observe tenderness over the epigastrum during a physical examination. This is usually the only physical finding in cases without complications, although it is not characteristic for a duodenal ulcer.

3. Conduct non-specific laboratory studies to eliminate other diagnoses. A complete blood count, liver functioning tests and measurement of amylase and lipase levels are routinely run in cases involving upper abdominal pain.

4. Perform more specific non-invasive tests to detect Heliobacter pylori, a common cause of duodenal ulcers. A breath test for urea, a waste product of Heliobacter, may be done as a preliminary test. The presence of Heliobacter may then be confirmed with an enzyme-linked immunoassay for Heliobacter pylori antibodies.

5. Confirm a diagnosis of a duodenal ulcer with an endoscopy of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. This procedure is invasive and may require sedation, but is the most sensitive test available.

Convert A Rock Band Ion Drum Kit To Electronic Drum Kit

Convert a Rock Band Ion Drum Kit to Electronic Drum Kit

The Ion Drum Rocker is a third-party drum controller designed for use with Rock Band 2. The Ion drum kit is designed to allow it to be converted to an electronic drum kit with only three additional parts. This gives Ion Drum Rocker users a relatively inexpensive, if somewhat limited, option for playing a real drum kit. It is a decent entry-level choice for beginning drummers.

Instructions

1. Plug the orange cable from the Ion Drum Rocker pedal into the "Footswitch" port on the back of the Alesis DM5 drum module. The pedal from the Ion drum kit is not designed to be used as a bass drum pedal as part of an electronic drum kit. It can be used for a footswitch to alter some settings during use, such as changing the hi-hats from the open to closed position.

2. Plug the yellow cymbal cable into the port for trigger 1, the "Hi Hat" port. This will cause the yellow cymbal to play the hi-hat sounds during use.

3. Plug the 1/4-inch instrument cable into the electric bass drum pedal. Plug the other end of the cable into the trigger 2 "Kick" port.

4. Plug the red cable into the trigger 3 "Snare" port. This will cause the red drum pad of the Ion Drum Rocker to play the snare drum sounds.

5. Plug the yellow cable into the trigger 4 "Tom 1" port.

6. Plug the blue cable into the trigger 5 "Tom 2" port.

7. Plug the green cable into the trigger 6 "Tom 3" port.

8. Plug the green cymbal cable into the trigger 7 "Ride Cym" port. This will cause the green cymbal of the Ion drum kit to serve as the ride cymbal of the electronic drum kit.

9. Plug the main output port on the drum module to the speaker using a speaker cable.

Develop Phonemic Awareness In Preschoolers

Phonemic awareness is the ability of a person to hear, identify and manipulate the individual sounds of their language. These individual sounds are called phonemes. For example, the phonemes in the word "shot" are "sh," "o", "t." Good phonemic awareness is critical for developing reading and writing skills. There are some easy activities that you can incorporate into your preschooler's day to help develop phonemic awareness in your child.

Instructions

1. Sing songs that focus on sounds of letters such as "Do You Hear the Way Sounds Ring" to begin to develop phonemic awareness in your child.

2. Use letter books or an alphabet chart. Go through it each day and label the letter and then make the sounds that goes with it. When pointing out vowels model the short vowel sound first.

3. Introduce the long vowel sound as the child becomes more familiar with the short vowel sounds.

4. Point out everyday sounds in their environment and how these sounds are similar to letter sounds. "The fly goes zzzzz just like the letter z," or "snakes make an s sound," are good examples.

5. Provide alphabet flash cards and pictures of objects that start with these sounds. If your child finds a picture of a pig say the word "pig" with her and then see if she can find the letter "p" to go with it.

6. Talk about what sound their name starts with to develop phonemic awareness in a personalized way. For example "Your name starts with the letter k; k for Katie!" Once she becomes familiar with her name start saying other people's names and talk about what sounds these names begin with.

Develop A Workout & Diet Plan

When it comes to taking affirmative actions to improve your health and fitness, the first step is always the hardest. With some desire and dedication, however, anyone can design a basic program to begin the quest towards your ideal physique. Your first goal should be to design diet and workout plans with which you can live for a reasonable amount of time. As you grow more accustomed to a lifestyle of fitness, you can take additional steps to bolster your results.

Instructions

Diet Plan

1. Choose a strategy with which you can live for at least 12 to 16 weeks: Do not choose a low-carb diet if you have already tried and failed to successfully complete one a dozen times -- choose a diet strategy to which you know you can adhere, whether that means high-protein, low-carb or low-fat.

2. Place a daily caloric limit on yourself: This can vary somewhat depending on your current weight. Between 1,500 and 2,000 calories is a good starting point.

3. Aim to consume foods from natural sources: Avoid processed and pre-packaged foods of all kinds. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat meats. Eat up to your caloric limit each day; track this with a food journal to get yourself used to the concept of dietary discipline.

4. Aim for weight loss of one to two pounds per week: If you are not meeting your goal (either by losing weight too slowly or too quickly), adjust your daily calorie limit upwards or downwards by 200 to 300 calories per day.

Workout Plan

5. Engage in fitness activities that you find fun and engaging: This may be walking, jogging, cycling, aerobics, swimming, weight training, yoga, pilates or something else. If you grow bored of an activity, alter your workout strategy before you begin to view training as a chore, as opposed to something entertaining, satisfying and productive.

6. Set conservative goals for your training sessions, and do everything in your power to never miss a workout.

7. Once you build your physical endurance and your self-confidence, increase your workouts gradually but steadily in frequency, duration and intensity: Constant incremental increases in difficulty will keep the body progressing towards your ideal physique.

Develop A Nursing School Recruitment Plan

Attract future nurses by marketing to individuals already in a health care career track.

According to Heather Janiszewski Goodin, the United States is already experiencing a shortage of qualified registered nurses and is projecting a 20 percent deficit for this position by the year 2020. Even with this shortage for a job with a national median wages at $30 an hour with just a two-year degree, programs struggle to place the many qualified applicants into degree programs or to attract qualified candidates. Recruiting qualified nursing candidates to a nursing school requires marketing to the right audience and offering flexible course scheduling.

Instructions

1. Search for and identify your key audience marketing audience using the internet or telephone books to identify the adult education facilities, community and technical colleges, vocational colleges, universities and health care employment facilities in your area.

2. Contact the universities as well as community, technical and vocational colleges in your region that offer a degree or certificate in nursing science to determine the number of applicants they receive for the program and the number of new admissions they have each semester or academic year. Because many colleges have competitive enrollment options, these may be sources for recruitment if they turn away qualified applicants. According to Kathy Jacques of Central Maine Medical Center's College of Nursing and Health Professionals, "It's common knowledge that (our school) receives 270 applications each year, we accept eighty, and we enroll about sixty-eight." That means 190 students who apply for the school and go unaccepted that may turn out to be qualified for your program.

3. Create a relationship with the local health care facilities in your area. Nursing education requires clinical rotations or practice providing care while under the supervision of a professional health care practitioner. If you are crafting a new educational program, you will need to make arrangements with local health care providers to offer clinical study to your nursing students.

4. Contact the human resources department at your local hospitals and health care facilities to discuss the possibility of sharing resources. Individuals who work in a health care facility have already expressed an interest in the health care field. Certified nurse's aides, phlebotomists, medical coders and medical office administrative staff, for example, may be interested in advancing their careers. Many health care facilities offer tuition reimbursement to their employees should they choose to further their education in the field.

5. Plan to contact your marketing audience at least six months prior to the application deadline for your school, since many nursing programs require prerequisite course work in science and math, a criminal background check, official high school transcripts and letters of recommendation before acceptance. These things can take time for a student to acquire.

Guidance & Counseling Techniques

Always listen and never judge when counseling.

We are all counselors in one way or another. We help our friends and family when they need advice or support. Counseling skills are useful for all people to know because they can be used to help others. There are many specific skills that most counselors use to help a person. Counseling and guidance techniques may vary depending on the person in need. For example, marriage counseling will be much different from child counseling. But some skills are common to all counseling.

Goal Setting

An important but often overlooked aspect of counseling is goal setting. Goals help give patients something strive for and this changes old behavior patterns. In guidance, goal setting is normally figuring out what sort of future the person wants and then working backwards to develop an actionable plan to get there. In general counseling the goals may be less tangible than in career counseling, for example. For example, a patient's goal may be to increase his confidence. Actionable steps can still be taken but must be sensitive to the patient's current life situation.

Taking Stock

Many times people who are seeking guidance and counseling are at a crossroads in their life. Choices can seem overwhelming. It is important for these people to take a moment, pause and take stock of where they are. Ask the patient to give their history of what brought them up to the present moment. The words they use to describe their lives will give valuable insight into how they see the world and themselves.

Non Judgment and Listening Skills

Most people just want someone to listen to them. It is very important for a counselor not to interrupt the patient, even if they have something to add. Write down the thought and wait until the patient is done. Of course, if the patient repeats themselves they can be directed to come back to something else. A non-judgmental attitude is essential. This will build trust and make the patient feel safe and respected. Patients need a person to listen and not judge them.

Patients Solve their Problems

Most patients know the solutions to their own problems but have an unconscious block that is preventing them from seeing the solution. The role of the counselor is to lead the person to the best solution. The person needs to feel like he has created or co-created the solution in order to accept it. For example, a woman in an abusive relationship may unconsciously know she must break off the relationship but in the interim she is still with the abuser. The counselor must help the woman discover all the reasons why she should leave the relationship.

Determine Medicaid Spend Down

Determine Medicaid Spend Down

Medicaid is a state-operated, federally- and state-funded health insurance program for certain low-income populations, including the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women and children. A Medicaid spend down is the amount that an individual must pay toward his medical bills each month prior to Medicaid covering medical costs. Spend down rules vary among state Medicaid programs.

Instructions

1. Determine whether or not you are required to pay a spend down. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you do not have to pay a spend down. If you receive earned income over state-specific limits, you are also excluded from paying a spend down.

2. Contact your local or state Medicaid office to obtain spend down figures based on your specific Medicaid classification. Spend down figures vary depending on the state you reside in, whether or not you are elderly, and other factors, such as your specific type of Medicaid, sources of income and resources.

3. Add up your total monthly income. Subtract the spend down figure from Step 2 from your monthly income. This figure is your monthly spend down. You must pay this amount out-of-pocket for medical expenses prior to Medicaid covering any medical costs. For example, if you receive $1,000 per month in Social Security disability and the spend down figure is $690, you must pay the first $310 in medical costs each month prior to Medicaid covering your medical costs.

Design Your Own Myspace Music Album Cover

Design your own MySpace music album cover.

If you're an aspiring artist or band, MySpace can serve as an invaluable promotional tool. Millions of users access MySpace every day, and its music section is immensely popular. MySpace users (and even those who are not members) access its music section to listen to music by their favorite artists and to discover new music as well. If you want to get your music noticed on MySpace, though, you need to design a MySpace music album cover that will grab people's attention.

Instructions

1. Launch your image-editing program, which can be something simple like Microsoft Paint (for Windows users) or Image Editor (for Mac users).

2. Size your template to 140 pixels by 140 pixels, which is the size of MySpace music album covers.

3. Utilize the tools within the image-editing program--such as "Draw," "Fill," "Airbrush" and "Paintbrush"--to add color and design to your MySpace music album cover. Use the "Text" tool to add text to your album cover, containing the name of the album and the band.

4. Save your MySpace music album cover as a .jpeg file.

Design A Walkin Shower

Design a Walk-In Shower

Whether you are building a new home or remodeling your present bathroom a walk-in shower is a luxurious addition to any bathroom. A walk-in shower will add value to your home dollar for dollar. Walk-in showers can be prefabricated glass enclosures or made of marble or tile. There are a few things you will need to consider when designing your walk-in shower. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Spend some time touring homes to get an idea of what you would like to implement in your shower. You can do this by attending home tours, open houses, and model homes. This is a large investment and you want to do it right.

2. Determine the size. A nice roomy shower is the best part of having a walk-in shower. Make sure you provide a lot of elbow room and even room for two! You will need to add space for a bench if desired. Room dimensions will also determine how much space you will use.

3. Hardware options. How many shower heads do you want and what type? Many options are available including rain, dual, hand held, steam, etc. Many homeowners are choosing multiple types combining one or more large heads with a hand held and adding steam or rain plates. You will also need to choose the metal that will complement the decor of your bathroom.

4. Do you want tile, glass, cultured stone, marble? Decor style, price and cleaning ease will help you decide some of these options. Will you want a shower door, curtain or open doorway? Do you want your shower more enclosed or wide open? These are all personal preferences.

5. Accessories. Make sure you add elements that will make your shower convenient and luxurious such as shelving, caddies, music, lighting, benches, ventilation. Choose green options for water savings.

6. Make a list of wants and needs. Start researching and get bids to get the best deal for your money. If you are contracting this project out, find a builder that will contribute his expert advice and implement your ideas so that you get the walk in shower you desire.

Design A Quartersleeve Tattoo

Design a Quarter-Sleeve Tattoo

Like full- and half-sleeve tattoos, quarter-sleeve tattoos consist of a tattoo that wraps completely around a person's arm and covers a portion equal to a quarter of the entire arm. Typically, quarter-sleeve tattoos are done on the very upper part of the arm, from the shoulder to the bicep, which makes it easy to cover with a short-sleeved shirt. Some tattoo enthusiasts, however, will place a quarter-sleeve in a different area of the arm. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Decide on placement for your quarter-sleeve tattoo. If you go with the typical upper arm placement, you will have what's considered a true quarter-sleeve. If you have existing work in the area that will form your quarter-sleeve, add smaller pieces to fill space or add a background.

2. Think about the theme you'd like to use for your quarter-sleeve tattoo. If you're starting from scratch, then you may simply start with a large animal that you like or that has meaning to you, such as a dragon, tiger, bear or panther. If you like oriental tattoos, then you might enjoy a large koi fish or lotus flower. A background can then be added to the piece to complete the picture. Good backgrounds can include flames or smoke, water, wind bars or swirls.

3. Piece together smaller individual tattoos if you'd prefer to do the piece a little at a time or if there are several different designs you'd like used in the overall piece. When piecing tattoos together, you should still stick with a central theme, so the sleeve doesn't have a completely random look to it.

4. Talk to a tattoo artist and have the entire tattoo drawn out on paper. If you have some artistic flair of your own, you may want to draw the piece yourself and take it to a tattoo artist to clean up and get her opinion on how the design will look. If you have preexisting tattoos that may need to be covered, keep these in mind when designing the quarter-sleeve.

5. Be prepared for the time commitment involved. A quarter-sleeve tattoo, especially one you want to do from start to finish in one sitting, may take several hours depending on the design. People find their threshold for pain tolerance sometimes lessens the longer they sit in the tattooist's chair. If you need more than one session to complete your quarter-sleeve, be patient and make sure the previous work is completely healed before beginning again.

Design A Diamond Wedding Band

With a little research and the help of a professional jeweler, you can design a beautiful diamond wedding band.

A wedding band is a symbol of an eternal bond. You should get one you love and will enjoy wearing. That might mean designing your own, if you can't find one to suit your tastes. Diamond bands are popular with men and women. While the task of designing a diamond wedding band might seem daunting, you can create the wedding ring of your dreams. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Visit a Jeweler

1. Learn what you like. Find out what kinds of rings appeal to you. Look through jewelry stores and bridal magazines. Check out your friends' rings. You will likely learn that you have a particular style in mind. Maybe you want a thin gold band with three brilliant-cut diamonds, or perhaps you would prefer a broad platinum band with a single Tiffany-cut diamond. Doing your research will help you narrow your choices when you are surrounded by all the sparkle and shine in the jewelry case.

2. Make an appointment with a reputable jeweler. Get recommendations from friends, family and coworkers. They can tell you about jewelers in your area that they trust.

3. Arrive at your appointment with the jeweler with ideas and an open mind. The jeweler will want to see what types of rings interest you, but he might suggest new ideas that you had not considered.

4. Share your budget with the jeweler. Keep a price point in mind to help the jeweler better guide you through the design process.

5. Make your selections. The jeweler will assist you in deciding the number, shape and size of the diamonds in the ring. He will also help you choose a metal for the band. Common choices are white gold, yellow gold, platinum and titanium. You will also need to decide on the band's width, which is usually based on personal preference and finger size.

6. Learn what size ring you need. Traditionally, wedding bands fit the fourth finger of the left hand. The jeweler will be able to tell you what size you need.

7. Wait for the jeweler to contact you with sketches of ring choices for you to consider. Sometimes the jeweler can email these to you, and other times he will ask you to come to the store to see them.

8. Choose the design you like. You will be able to discuss minor changes and adjustments with the jeweler. Once you've selected a design, all that's left is to wait for the jeweler to call you when it is ready.

Design Online

9. Locate jewelry stores online, such as Blue Nile, that offer interactive design for custom rings.

10. Navigate to the interactive jewelry designer on the site. Sites like Blue Nile will show you the ring as you select options.

11. Select the number, size, shape and cut of your diamonds. The cut of a diamond alters how the stone reflects light. The same diamond can look completely different depending on which cut you choose, so experiment with different ones.

12. Choose your setting. It can be broad or narrow, simple or decorative. You also have a choice of metal, so it pays to try out different settings before deciding on one.

13. Purchase your ring. When you are happy with the ring you have designed, jewelry sites make it easy to place your order with them. They usually show you the cost of the ring as you design it, so you can see immediately if your selections are within your budget. You may either order your ring from the website, or print out the specifications of the ring and take them to a trusted local jeweler to create.