Cure Gall Stones

Gallstones are a source of pain and discomfort for many people. They are created when bile from the liver crystallizes and forms hard stones due to an over-abundance of fat and toxins. This is a common problem, and many people do not even know they have gallstones until they reach a certain size and begin to cause pain. Many doctors feel that removing the gallbladder is a quick fix, however removal doesn't eliminate all problems and symptoms, and this surgery can cause more problems down the line.

Instructions

1. Start with a gallbladder flush. There are natural treatments that can be tried before resorting to surgery. The first thing some nutritionists recommend is trying a gallbladder flush. This involves drinking a concoction of different ingredients, some of which include apple juice, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and ginger root. There are several different recipes for gallbladder flushes that can be recommended by a nutritionist or found online. The process of this flush is thought to help remove some or all of the existing gallstones.

2. Add herbal supplements to your diet that are known to increase gallbladder function and help break down bile. Two of these are A-F Betafood and Choline. The A-F Betafood can also be taken when a gallstone attack flairs up to start to relieve the pain. One tablet should be taken every 30 minutes to an hour until the pain subsides.

3. Eat peanut butter. Along with many other healthy benefits, there are studies that show eating peanut butter can reduce the risk of developing gallstones. Although peanut butter contains a high amount of fat and calories, research shows that adding small but consistent amounts to your diet can be beneficial.

Avoid Dangers In Spray Painting

Wearing safety equipment is one way to avoid the dangers of spray painting.

Spray painting is a quick way to add an attractive finish to objects both large and small. This form of painting can have some dangerous effects on your skin, eyes and respiratory system, which is why you must take precautions before beginning any spray-painting project. You can ensure your safety during the process with pre-planning and some inexpensive safety equipment.

Instructions

1. Put on safety goggles to protect your eyes from any stray paint droplets. The aerosol pressure that sprays the paint projects thousands of droplets of paint out of a hole no bigger than a needle point. These droplets commonly spray outward, which is why protecting your eyes (and eye sight) from errant spray is crucial.

2. Wear rubber gloves while preparing to paint as well as when painting. Rubber gloves will keep your hands clean and protect them from irritation caused by any cleaning products used and paint exposure.

3. Wear a face mask any time you are working with spray paint. As stated in step 1, thousands of airborne paint droplets spew forth through a tiny hole in the spray paint can. The droplets fly in all different directions. Breathing in the paint or the fumes can cause breathing problems, throat irritation and dizziness, all of which can be avoided simply by wearing a mask.

4. Hold the spray paint can away from your body, and make sure the tip is pointed outward before spraying. Never spray back toward your body or toward another person.

5. Work in a well-ventilated area to prevent respiratory problems and dizziness. If you're painting indoors, open all of the windows in the room.

Albuterol Used For Weight Loss

Albuterol is a non-steroidal medication used to treat asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Although it is not a steroid, is does have a stimulant affect similar to many steroids used in fat loss. As a result, websites are promoting the use of Albuterol for weight loss. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using Albuterol for this purpose as it may have serious health risks. Albuterol is not a controlled drug but can still be abused and is still a prescription medication.

Stimulant Effect

The reason Albuterol is used for weight loss is because of the stimulatory affect it has on your metabolism. It raises blood pressure, heart rate and helps the body burn fat. Bodybuilders and wrestlers use Albuterol during the "cutting phase" when they are trying to drop pounds fast to make weight cut-offs.

Risks

Using Albuterol for weight loss is not an approved use for this medication. As a result, you may experience worsening asthma symptoms. People who are abusing Albuterol may also become edgy and jittery.

There are serious medical concerns to be aware of if you choose to use Albuterol other than intended. Tachycardia, a very fast heart rate, is one possible side effect, as is high blood pressure. You are increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke if you ignore these symptoms. Albuterol is not recommended for people with thyroid conditions or who have epilepsy or diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your Albuterol use and look for alternatives for weight loss that will not increase other health risks.

Gallbladder Surgery Infection

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped non-vital organ beneath the liver on the right side of the abdomen. The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver until it is used in the small intestine to help digest fatty foods. When bile cannot travel through the tubes leading to the small intestine (bile ducts) due to inflammation or infection, surgical removal of the gallbladder may be recommended. Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, a cholecystectomy, is a procedure in which the gallbladder is removed through several small abdominal incisions. During the more invasive open cholecystectomy, the gallbladder is removed through one large incision. Both procedures are performed under general anesthesia in a hospital setting. Risks such as infection are rare, but do occur.

Precautions

Both exposing your body's organs to the air and inserting foreign objects into your body increase the risk of an infection. To help prevent the possibility of infection, antibiotics may be prescribed for several days prior to surgery. Antibiotics may also be supplied via IV prior to and during the course of the surgery itself. Additionally, sterilization of medical instruments, gowns and masks; thorough hand scrubbing; and shortened hospital stays all minimize exposure to bacteria and viruses that may cause an infection.

Initial Hospitalization

The laparoscopic gallbladder surgery procedure is generally performed on an outpatient basis. Patients usually remain in the hospital for several hours to ensure they tolerated the surgery well and there are no initial problems due to infection or adverse reactions to anesthesia. Discharge is later the same day with instructions for self-care and monitoring. Open cholecystectomy patients will remain in the hospital for up to six days for a longer period of monitoring and supervised recovery.

Pain

Some pain is normal after gallbladder surgery due to organs being shifted and gas entering the body during the surgery. Pain tolerance varies on an individual basis and is monitored with a comparative pain scale. Pain medications are supplied as needed, ranging from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen to narcotic pain relievers. Contact your health care provider if pain does not begin to subside after a few days, or if it begins to worsen. This could be indicative of remaining gallstones or some type of internal infection.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs due to infection, occurs occasionally after any type of surgery, but most particularly abdominal surgery. It is the most common fatal infection acquired in a hospital. Pneumonia is characterized by shallow breathing and retention of mucous, and the ensuing impaired ability to cough while healing from the surgery itself. To keep your lungs functioning well and minimize the risk of pneumonia, your health care provider may have you perform deep breathing exercises or breathe into an incentive spirometer.

Incision Site

The incision from your gallbladder removal is generally closed with surgical staples, stitches or steri-strip adhesive skin closures. A follow-up appointment is then scheduled approximately a week to 10 days after the procedure to remove the staples or stitches, or to check on the progress of the steri-strips. It is important to keep the incision dry and clean to prevent infection until the sutures have fully healed. TAking a shower is usually permitted, but immersing the wound in water during a bath is not permitted while the wound is open. Change bandages as instructed in your discharge paperwork. Learn to recognize the difference between normal drainage and the type of pus-filled drainage that indicates the development of an infection. Contact your physician immediately if the drainage develops a yellow color and thicker consistency.

Bile Duct Injury

Bile ducts are tubes leading from the liver into the gallbladder and from the gallbladder into the small intestine. Surgical instruments occasionally cause injury to the bile ducts during gallbladder removal. Even a small nick in one of the ducts can cause bile leakage. If bile leaks into the abdomen, there is the possibility of developing a serious and painful infection. Contact your physician immediately if your pain does not subside after a few days or begins to worsen. Treatment for injured bile ducts varies depending on the location and nature of the injury, but typically involves pain management and antibiotics.

Pancreatitis

An additional risk of gallbladder surgery is the development of pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, due to infection. Symptoms of pancreatitis include pain, fever, jaundice, nausea and vomiting. Treatment for pancreatitis involves restoring the body's electrolyte and fluid balance, and managing the resulting pain.

About Juice Fasting

Juice fasting has become quite popular as a method to achieve quick weight loss. However, fad diets are only one aspect of juice fasting. People throughout the world undertake juice fasts for a number of reasons, including religious observances, alternative healing and as a way to break unhealthy addictions. Due to the popularity of fad diets, juice fasting has garnered a reputation as being unhealthy and potentially dangerous; done correctly, however, juice fasting can be a safe cleansing ritual.

History

Fasting has been employed as a cleansing ritual by many religions and cultures since the beginning of recorded history. One of the first accounts of fasting is in the Old Testament of the Bible, when Moses fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Since that time, Eastern and Western religions alike have developed traditions of fasting (either on water or juice) to purify the spirit and allow the faster to come closer to spiritual enlightenment. Alternative medicine practitioners also advocate juice fasting, as they believe it allows the body to rid itself of toxins and to focus all of its energy on healing and cell regeneration instead of digestion.

Types

There are many plans and recipes for juice fasts available today. Some juice fasts, like the infamous Master Cleanse, involve drinking nothing but lemon juice diluted with water and flavored with maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Other juice fasting plans allow for much greater variety, leaving it to the faster to decide what fruits and vegetables she would like to juice and consume. Most reputable juice-fast plans recommend supplementing with vitamins and/or minerals, to make sure that proper nutrition is maintained.

Warning

There are also juice fasts that are commercially marketed as diets, requiring fasters to purchase a bottle of "special" juice (typically at a high cost), which is then diluted by the faster and consumed as directed. These fasts often promise extremely quick and "easy" weight loss, but unfortunately they rarely deliver as advertised.

Benefits

Proponents of juice fasting claim that by allowing the body to take a break from digestion, the body is better able to expel toxins and other waste. Vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables may be more readily absorbed by the body during a juice fast, which they believe makes a juice fast an effective preventative measure or remedy for various illnesses, including colds, flu and even cancer. Juice fasting may be helpful in breaking destructive eating habits by forcing the faster to make good food choices or suffer unpleasant consequences. Many fasters report that after the initial hunger and discomfort subside, they experience high energy levels and are able to concentrate better and focus more clearly. A juice fast is by definition a low-calorie diet, which can contribute to weight loss in the short term.

Considerations

Juice fasting is not without side effects, some of which may be unpleasant. Constipation is a common issue, since juice contains no fiber. Extreme hunger, lightheadedness and blood-sugar swings may result as well. Highly acidic juices, like citrus and tomato, can cause acid reflux if consumed in excess. While it is advisable for anyone to consult with a doctor before attempting a juice fast, it is especially important for pregnant women, diabetics, underweight individuals and anyone with a serious disease or immune disorder as juice fasting can adversely affect the blood sugar and possibly interact with certain medications.

Fastest Way To Lose 50 Pounds

One of the most common goals in today's society is to lose weight. Often people try to look for easy ways to shed pounds and turn to fad diets, pills and even surgery. However, the best and fastest way to lose a lot of weight is to increase your metabolism through proper dieting and exercise. The mixture of cardiovascular activity, and correct nutrition and eating habits will not only help you cut weight, but will also help prevent you from gaining weight in the future.

Diet and Nutrition

Although it seems counter-intuitive, skipping meals to decrease your caloric intake can actually have a negative effect on your dieting goals. Instead, you should eat small meals more often. This will effectively help you speed up your metabolism. An increased metabolism helps break down the food you intake rather than store the extra calories as fat. By eating a small meal every two hours, you are forcing your metabolism to stay active for the entire day, but not providing your body too much food to handle. In addition, this will prevent you from being hungry, which can often lead to overeating.

Along with changing your eating pattern, you need to decrease your total caloric intake as well as provide your body with proper nutrients. The key is to check the label of all the food you put in your body. Avoid food with saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and simple carbohydrates. Instead, look for food that is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. An example of a healthy, small meal is half a turkey sandwich, or a cup of yogurt with a banana. Other food that is good to eat includes all kinds of fruit, vegetables, lean meats, fish, unsalted nuts, egg whites, wheat grains and oatmeal.

Exercise

In addition to eating properly, it is important to establish consistent activity in your daily routine in order to burn calories, burn fat and speed up your metabolism. Exercise is the best way to jump-start your metabolic rate. Aerobic exercise is the most common form of cardiovascular training to lose weight. This consists of increasing your heart rate and keeping it elevated at a fixed rate for a prolonged period of time. Running, biking and swimming are all effective methods of aerobic training. Start with a 5-minute warm-up phase, then pick a pace that is difficult, yet possible to maintain for the duration of your workout. Aim to exercise for 15 to 45 minutes a day. For best results, participate in cardiovascular training three to four times a week.

If you are first starting out and do not feel comfortable participating in aerobic training, there are other ways for you to start being active. Look for regular routine things you can do to increase constant movement. For example, when you drive to the store, park as far away as you can in order to walk further. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator. In addition, you can start walking your dog, or simply taking long walks as a replacement for aerobic training.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is a popular weight loss procedure for morbidly obese people unable to lose weight with diet and exercise alone. The procedure offers a way to lose a significant amount of weight, but is only successful if lifestyle and diet modifications are made in the months and years following surgery.

Roux-en-Y Bypass

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB) is the most common type of bypass surgery. During this open surgical procedure, a small, walnut-sized pouch is created at the top of the stomach and held in place by staples or vertical banding. Because the stomach pouch is so small, you will only be able to eat small amounts at a time. After the pouch is made, your surgeon will attach part of the small intestine directly to the pouch, allowing the food to bypass the rest of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine, which will reduce your ability to absorb calories. You will probably need to stay in the hospital three to five days following surgery.

RGB can also be done laparoscopically through small incisions in the abdomen. A flexible tube with a camera attached is inserted through one of the openings, allowing the doctor to see the stomach and perform the surgery. If you have laparoscopic RGB, you will have a shorter recovery period and hospital stay.

Extensive Gastric Bypass

Extensive gastric bypass is a more complicated form of the surgery in which the lower part of the stomach is removed. The remaining part of the stomach is then attached to the small intestine. This procedure is not used very often because it is more likely to cause nutritional deficiencies.

Risks

Over time, the stomach pouch can stretch and can even eventually reach its pre-surgery size. If a vertical band is used to form the pouch, there is a possibility that the band can disintegrate over time, causing the stomach to revert to its original size. Staples can also break down over time. Nutritional deficiencies or leaking of stomach contents in the abdomen can occur in some cases. Patients are usually advised to take nutritional supplements to prevent deficiencies.

In some patients, dumping syndrome is problem. This occurs when the contents of the stomach move through the small intestine too quickly causing weakness, nausea, faintness, diarrhea and sweating. Following gastric bypass surgery, you may also develop a hernia at the incision, gallstones, intolerance to some foods, blood clots in the legs or kidney stones. As with any major surgery, complications can occur that result in death.

Benefits

You can expect to lose approximately 70 percent of your excess weight in the first two years following surgery if you follow your doctor's recommendations for diet and exercise. When you reach a healthy weight, you will reduce your risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. Losing weight may provide some relief of symptoms associated with being overweight, such as sleep apnea, shortness of breath, urinary problems and heartburn. Without the extra weight, you may feel less joint and back pain. Some people with high blood pressure may be able to eventually discontinue medication after weight loss.

Life After Surgery

After surgery, you will have to carefully monitor what you eat and how much you eat. A few days after surgery, you will be started on a liquid diet, followed by the introduction of pureed and soft foods. After about three months, you will be able to resume eating regular food, although your meals will be much smaller than usual. If you eat too much or eat your meal too quickly, you many vomit or feel pain under the breastbone. Doctors recommend that you eat high protein foods and eat and drink slowly to prevent dumping syndrome. Chewing food thoroughly is important because large pieces of food can block the opening between the stomach and the small intestine. You will need to limit high fat or high sugar foods to prevent weight gain, avoid snacking, get regular exercise and take vitamins.

Fruity Loops Studio 7 Instructions

Fruity Loops Studio 7 Instructions

Fruity Loops 7 is a program that allows musicians to stretch the limits of their musical imagination. As a virtual sequencer and workstation, it can help a put together musical compositions, loops and various pieces of sounds called "samples." Fruity Loops 7 started as a workstation exclusively for DJs, but has grown into a software product that musicians use frequently to strategize, design and develop recording projects.

Pattern Sequencer

In any recording session, the first instruments that should be recorded are the bass guitar, drums and rhythm guitar. These instruments are set up in the Fruity Loops 7 pattern sequencer control area. The pattern sequencer is instrumental in developing the "groove" or beats of a song. Put one instrument per pattern sequencer in Fruity Loops 7. This allows for better control over the instrument during the mixdown phase of the recording.

Mixer Assignments

In Fruity Loops 7, assign instruments to a mixer channel through the pattern sequencer. This is the concept of "routing" a sound to a virtual mixing panel that has infinity of mixer channels with one master channel. If a composition is to be mixed and mastered in Fruity Loops 7, ensure each channel peaks at -3db with room or headroom to add equalization and effects up to 0db.

Playlist Grid

Fruity Loops 7 provides access to various sounds, loops and virtual instruments that can be added in playlist grid mode. Playlist grid mode is created by taking various instrument patterns created with the pattern sequencer and inserting them into a playlist grid. Use the playlist grid to put the song together.

Consideration for Midi

Add any direct recording of sounds to a composition using MIDI technology. While a composition is being played through the playlist grid, you can add external instruments such as a guitar, keyboard or vocal through MIDI channels by direct plug-in into the computers' sound card. A rule of thumb is to finish all basic patterns before using MIDI to enhance a composition.

Rendering Files (32, 25 and 16 Bit)

Fruity Loops 7 composition files can be integrated for use into other digital workstations and virtual music workstations through "rendering." Rendering is the process of creating group or individual "WAV" files from the playlist grid or pattern sequencer modules. Files can be rendered as 32-bit files, 24-bit files or 16-bit files. A recording created in Fruity Loops 7 as a 32 or 24 bit recording can also be resampled into a 16-bit WAV file.

Mastering Process

Mastering is the process of equalizing a collection of songs so they have the same volume. In Fruity Loops 7, several plug-ins are available for mastering a song. Plug-ins can be loaded into the master channel or can be used with a combination of Fruity effect plug-ins to bring the desired level of sound to a recording. Leave "headroom" ranging from -3db to -6bd for room to add mastering effects on the main mixer channel.

How Long Is Recovery From Wisdom Teeth Extraction

How Long Is Recovery From Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

After Extraction

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are large teeth in the back of the jaw. Wisdom teeth tend to become impacted, meaning they come in at an angle or with insufficient room so that they put pressure on other teeth and harm tooth alignment. This prompts many people to get wisdom teeth removed, either to eliminate an impacted tooth, or as a precaution against future problems. After the surgical removal of the teeth, the initial recovery of the patient involves overcoming the affects of drugs and sedatives administered during the operation, and controlling swelling. The first 24 hours after the extraction are critical for the healing process. Any instructions given by the surgeon, such as avoiding certain foods, cleansing the mouth and using ice or gauze, should be strictly followed.

Short-term Recovery

The first week of recovery after wisdom tooth extraction often determines the length of the recovery time. Bleeding of the extraction sites should stop after the first day, but saliva may continue to be slightly red or pink. Swelling of the jaw area is likely to continue for a few days, and there will likely be significant soreness and low mobility in the jaw area for the first week. It is possible that the surgeon may have used sutures to stitch up the extraction sites of the teeth. It is important not to disturb the extraction sites by eating hard foods, or it can slow recovery time. Usually after a week patients will have recovered enough to resume normal activities. The main complication which can hamper recovery is a dry socket, which occurs when the blood clot in the healing extraction site comes out. This can cause pain and will slow the healing process, as a new clot will have to form.

Long-term Recovery

After a week most patients of wisdom tooth extractions can function normally, though certain hard foods may have to be avoided or chewed with care. Doctors may recommend certain precautions, such as bathing the mouth in warm salty water for longer than the first week. You should also avoid blowing or sucking strongly for a couple weeks just in case, as it can dislodge blood clots from your sockets. Even after the extraction site has healed after a week or two, holes will remain in the jaw which can take six months or more to completely fill in with new tissue. Your dentist may give you a special water syringe to flood the recesses in your jaw with water in order to clear out any food particles that get in them. The holes should not affect any normal daily activities.

About Free Liver Cleansing Diets

Many people roll their eyes when they think of liver cleansing diets as though they're a fad or something. But to maintain a liver cleansing diet is merely to take care of yourself and to watch out for your health. Many companies charge a lot of money to assist you in this diet, but you can follow a free diet just as easily.

Function of the Liver

The liver is a vital organ necessary for the detoxification of the body. You can think of it as a large filter, making sure bad substances are flushed out of your body. It's also responsible for proper metabolism and digestion as it produces bile, a necessary substance that aids in the breaking down of food. If the liver is not healthy, more toxins are allowed to accumulate in the body, bringing about illness and even serious diseases.

Benefits of Liver Cleansing Diets

Going on a liver cleansing diet is actually something most people can benefit from. Some of the most notable benefits include improved immunity, appetite, and a reduction of depression symptoms. It can also improve conditions such as hepatitis C and acne rosacea and make it easier to lose weight. By following a liver cleansing diet, you can ensure that your entire body will be healthier.

Who Should Consider Liver Cleansing Diets

While anyone can benefit from a liver cleanse diet, some could use it more than others. Such people include those who are overweight or obese, those with gall bladder disease, heart disease, liver disease, high cholesterol or blood pressure, and digestive issues. Likewise, those with allergies, migraines, hormonal problems and fatigue or those who have consumed large quantities of alcohol in the past would notice significant health improvements by going on this diet.

Do a Free Liver Cleanse

Going on a liver cleanse diet can be costly. Some people hire others to concoct recipes and special programs for them, but there is plenty of free information available to start your own liver cleanse diet. A few rules you should follow include drinking plenty of water each day, eating only when you have the urge to eat, reducing the amount of sugar in your diet, eating numerous fresh foods including raw fruits and veggies, and avoiding processed foods, saturated fats and those that lead to allergic reactions. You can also benefit your liver by eating beans and legumes as alternate forms of protein rather than meat all the time. Drinking a laxative tea occasionally can also be beneficial.

Broadcast On The Internet With 2 Microphones

Mackie, Yamaha and Soundcraft are three popular manufacturers of mixing consoles.

If you would like to connect more than one microphone to your computer, you need to use a mixing console. Although both analog and USB microphones are available on the market, it is not possible to use the two at the same time. When using the mixing console, each microphone should occupy its own independent track, which allows you to control volume, equalization and other elements such as compression and gain, depending on your mixing console. Small mixing consoles with one to four channels are available both online and at most music stores.

Instructions

1. Connect the mixing console to the computer’s microphone jack using the quarter-inch to eighth-inch cable. Plug the eighth-inch cable into the computer’s microphone jack, and plug the quarter-inch cable into the mixer’s main output jack. Depending on your mixer, you may need to substitute the quarter-inch to eighth-inch cable for a RCA or XLR to eighth-inch cable.

2. Pull the master volume fader on the mixing console all the way down. Move the faders for each microphone to the "0dB" position.

3. Ensure that your computer speakers are turned up to a normal volume.

4. Connect each microphone to its own track on the mixer using the XLR cables.

5. Open your Internet broadcasting software. Open the preferences window and select "microphone" as the audio source.

6. Adjust the master volume on the mixing board to the desired level of the overall broadcast, and then adjust the volume levels of the individual microphones using their channel fader.

Drop My Health Care To Get On My New Husband'S Plan

Insurance provides reduced-cost healthcare.

Many companies only allow individuals to make changes to an insurance policy once per year. Unless you married him within the past two months, you may have to wait until this time at his company before you can get on his plan. The same will apply for your current insurance company. You may experience a lapse in coverage or the burden of paying two insurance premiums until you can drop your own insurance plan.

Open Enrollment

Typically, you can only change your insurance plan during open enrollment, a period that generally happens just once a year in work places. During this time, you may make changes to a current insurance plan, obtain insurance or drop it altogether. Open enrollment for each company may happen at different times of the year. For example, your spouse may have open enrollment in March, while your company's open enrollment may not occur until November.

Life-Changing Events

Exceptions to open enrollment can occur if you experience any life-changing events that substantially change your health care needs. These could include marriage, the birth of a child, separation or divorce. When such events occur, you have a certain amount of time to notify your workplace so that changes to your insurance may happen immediately. If you and your new spouse are recently married, he will have a certain amount of time, usually 30 to 60 days, to add you right away. Additionally, if you and your spouse are expecting a child, he can immediately make changes to his insurance plan to cover his new dependents, both you and the child.

Loss of Job

If you lose your job before husband's open enrollment period, you may choose to continue paying your premiums to keep your current insurance. In this instance, the open-enrollment period to drop your insurance when you enroll on your husbands insurance may not apply. You may also elect to drop your own insurance altogether and wait for your husband's open enrollment period to become included on his insurance. Check with your insurance company after loss of employment to determine your options for dropping the insurance when you no longer need it.

Medicaid

You are allowed keep Medicaid while having a secondary insurance policy from your husband's employer. Medicaid can assist in covering expenses your new insurance may not cover. Read your husband's insurance handbook and compare it with your current Medicaid insurance to determine whether keeping it will help save money. If not, contact the Medicaid office within your county to drop your Medicaid insurance once you are on your husband's insurance plan.

Medicare

You may make changes or voluntarily drop Medicare through an open enrollment period determined by your Medicare provider. Similar to Medicaid, Medicare may help to reduce certain expenses your new insurance may not cover. Upon reviewing your new insurance handbook, contact your local Medicare office to determine when you can make changes or drop your Medicare altogether.

Government Fbi Jobs

Some FBI employees serve as field agents who investigate various crimes.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, is the domestic law enforcement agency of the federal government. The FBI investigates and prosecutes various domestic crimes ranging from drug trafficking to domestic terrorism. Various career positions can be pursued within this agency, which accepts applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise.

Special Agent

The special agent job with the FBI is the entry-level position with the agency for most people. Special agents are the field agents in the bureau who investigate crimes and enforce federal laws. The FBI jobs website notes that special agents may serve in a variety of capacities, working as counter-terrorism experts, cybercrime investigators, investigating civil rights violations and even looking into white-collar crime. This position gives many people an opportunity to complete investigative field work in an area that interests them. The bureau accepts applications for this position from people between the ages of 23 and 37 who have a 4-year college or university degree. Candidates must also have 3 years of professional work experience. All applicants must have a background in one of five basic categories: accounting, law, language, computer science or information technology. After being accepted based on these background qualifications, applicants are then placed into a pool of candidates and prioritized for further employment based on the current needs of the bureau. So, an applicant with an accounting background who is deemed qualified may or may not be hired immediately, depending on whether or not the bureau currently needs accountants. Applicants must also pass a background check and meet the physical requirements for the position. Pay varies according to which government scale category you qualify for, but the website PayScale.com notes that the average salary for an FBI agent was between $52,770 and $105,140 as of September 2010.

Linguist Positions

Another field in which the FBI regularly hires applicants is that of linguistics. Applicants with backgrounds in various foreign languages can obtain employment with the FBI to translate sensitive material that may have ramifications for national security. Linguist careers with the FBI are not limited to terrorism-monitoring activity, however. The bureau notes that linguists may work in foreign counter-intelligence, drug trafficking and other interstate criminal activity. Linguists must hold a professional level of proficiency in both English and one of more than 100 other possible foreign languages. Linguists can serve as special agents who work in counter-terrorism initiatives or work on a contract basis simply translating for the bureau as needed. Applicants must be able to pass a foreign language proficiency exam and be able to pass all FBI background and security clearance checks. Pay can vary by position. Contract linguists are paid by the hour, according to their level of expertise. Linguists who work as special agents are paid according to special agent salary ranges.

Hostage Rescue Team

Another important field of employment in the FBI is in the area of hostage rescue. The hostage rescue team within the FBI provides counter-terrorism measures for the bureau, and members are trained specifically in the area of hostage rescue in the event that a hostage situation should arise. To be admitted to the hostage rescue team, applicants must first meet all of the requirements of the special agent position and be hired as such. Applicants must be recommended for the position by the agent in charge of their supervision. Those with 3 or more years of tactical team experience as SWAT team members or with military experience are the most likely to be hired for this type of position. The program is highly selective and requires an additional physical fitness test beyond the special agent physical requirements.

About Liquid Fasting Diets

Liquid fasting diets have recently come back into fashion with the advent of sports and nutritional drinks. Not only do liquid fasting diets help you jump-start a weight-loss program, but they can seriously affect your weight quickly, which helps you build momentum that can enable you to sustain a long-term weight-loss program. In order to do a liquid fasting diet correctly, you must understand exactly how they work and what effect they can have on your health.

History

In the late 1970s, liquid diets started to fall out of favor with dietitians and physicians not because they did not get rid of pounds, but because long-term, careless usage led to serious malnutrition. However, they continued to be popular simply because they worked throughout the 1980s. However, as other diet trends came onto the scene, liquid diets got less and less attention, and experienced a serious "lull" for the next decade or so. Fortunately, with the advances in nutritional science, you can now go on a liquid fasting diet and see great results without risking your health--if you follow the rules.

Function

In order to lose 1 lb., you have to cut about 3,500 calories from your diet. Liquid fasting diets help with this because they are low calorie and help you control your intake of calories by simply outlawing solid foods. This can result in dramatic and immediate weight loss if you stick to the program.

Effects

Liquid fasting diets see great results because you can lose 3 to 4 lbs. or more in under a week the first week on the diet. However, you will also experience a decrease in energy because you have cut your calories so dramatically. After the first week, your body may begin to adapt to the shortage, so most liquid fasting diets are intended to be short-term regimens.

Considerations

Before beginning a liquid fasting diet, determine exactly what you will be losing--other than solid food. For example, check to see if you need to take additional vitamin supplements to ensure you are getting enough vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients. Also make sure that you are doing the diet at a time when you can stick to the plan. Otherwise, you may find that you have just added a liquid supplement to your caloric intake rather than cutting serious calories.

Types

Liquid fasting diets come in many varieties. Some are "shake" diets, which means that you drink a nutritional shake several times a day in place of a meal. Others are literal "juice" diets that do not have a lot of nutritional value and are not much different than drinking water. Long-term liquid fasting diets should not keep you solely on liquids but should eventually work solid food back into your daily routine.

Warning

It is very important that you do not continue a liquid fasting diet past the recommended time. If you do so, you risk your physical health. You can develop cramps, nausea, dental complications and serious malnutrition over time.

Lose 30 To 40 Pounds In 3 Weeks

Counting calories leads to counting pounds.

Losing 30 to 40 pounds in a span of three weeks can be a difficult task to complete. Health professionals advise that losing weight in short intervals can be dangerous to your liver, kidneys and heart. However, there are ways to accomplish it that incorporate dieting, exercise and sleep. When beginning any type of regiment or schedule, be sure to consult a physician. This is especially important if losing 30 to 40 pounds is more than 10 percent of your current body weight.

Instructions

Diet

1. Institute a caloric-restriction diet, not to fall below 2,000 calories per day as that conflicts with what your body needs for basic, autonomic functions.

2. Plan meals so that you are eating no more than 450 calories per meal for no more than five meals in a day.

3. Replace junk food with fruits and vegetables.

4. Replace red meats and pork with fish and chicken.

5. Replace soda and high-sugar drinks with water.

Exercise

6. Institute a workout regimen.

7. Plan to exercise in smaller workouts over the course of a day. For example, include a morning workout, an afternoon workout and a night workout.

8. A morning workout should consist of cardiovascular activity for 20-30 minutes and 20-30 minutes of weight training.

9. An afternoon workout should consist of light cardiovascular activity for 20-30 minutes.

10. A night workout should consist of light cardiovascular activity of 20-30 minutes and 20-30 minutes of light weight training.

How Does The Breathing Process Work

How Does the Breathing Process Work?

Oxygen Enters the Body

When you take a breath, oxygen is moved in through the nose and into the trachea, or windpipe. The trachea splits into two tubes, or bronchi, which connect to the lungs, then branches out into smaller bronchioles. As the lungs expand and take in air, the diaphragm -- a muscle beneath the ribs -- contracts, reducing pressure in the chest cavity and creating suction.

Air Moves Through the Lungs

Once inside the lungs, oxygen travels from the bronchioles to millions of tiny capsules, or sacs, called alveoli. Inside the alveoli, oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide. The new oxygen is transported by red blood cells in the arteries throughout the body, where tissues use the oxygen for energy.

Carbon Dioxide is Expelled

In the process of using the oxygen, the body's cells create carbon dioxide, which the body cannot use. The carbon dioxide is moved by the blood inside the veins back to the lungs, where it is exchanged in the alveoli. When you exhale, the carbon dioxide is moved from the lungs, up through the trachea and out of the nose and mouth.

Alternatives To Gastric Bypass Surgery

Alternatives to Gastric Bypass Surgery

After many failed attempts at losing weight, some people feel that gastric bypass surgery is their only option. Despite feelings of hopelessness, there are alternatives to surgery. These alternatives are not only safer, they also provide the necessary components needed for long term lifestyle change and weight loss success. A combination of alternatives can help you safely lose weight for good.

Types

Several alternative methods can be combined to result in successful weight loss.

Therapy sessions with a trained psychologist who has experience working with obese patients and a support group with peers struggling with weight issues can be very helpful.

Biofeedback is a technique that involves the analysis of physical responses to stress and their control to change behavior. Guided imagery has also been successful as a way to reduce stress and ultimately change the behaviors associated with it. Naturally, these alternatives are more successful for weight loss when combined with a balanced, healthy diet, reduced caloric intake and regular physical activity.

Function

Obesity can result from emotions related to past events. Psychotherapy enables a patient to discover and treat the underlying causes of overeating that leads to obesity. The sessions serve as a support system to facilitate long term change. In addition, overeating results from stress and emotional factors related to our response to stress.

Biofeedback involves using a non-invasive machine that allows you to determine and control your physical responses to stressful situations such as increased heart rate, blood pressure and tension. By controlling your response to stress, you can reduce the need to overeat as a method for coping.

Guided imagery helps calm the mind and reduce stress. A physical guide or a tape recording leads participants to imagine details of a specific item. This practice enlightens the senses, encourages focus and reduces negative response to stress which can reduce emotional eating.

Benefits

The major benefit to choosing an alternative to this surgery is safety. Obesity comes with great risks, but the surgery itself carries the risk of many complications, including death. In addition, for the surgery to be successful lifestyle habits must still be changed. By combining alternatives that address emotional issues with necessary changes in diet and activity, patients can be successful at losing weight without the risk of the surgery.

Prevention/Solution

Weight gain is much more than a physical problem. Mental and emotional factors play a role in the overeating that results in morbid obesity. Practicing alternative medicine techniques can solve the problem of obesity and prevent weight gain from reoccurring. While many who have the surgery lose weight, many also regain the weight because they fail to conform to the requirements involving eating patterns and increased activity necessary after surgery. It is less expensive and less dangerous to approach the problem from a lifestyle and psychological perspective before turning to surgery as a solution.

Considerations

It is important to seek the advice of an objective medical professional when making a decision about gastric bypass. Some cases of obesity are life threatening and may require immediate, drastic changes. A medical professional who will not be financially benefiting from the surgery should evaluate your unique condition and assess the approach you need to take to lose weight and keep it off. It is also important to seek alternative treatments from certified health professionals. Techniques such as biofeedback and guided imagery provide the most benefit when administered by a qualified individual.

About Laptop Cooling Pads

Excessive heat inside a laptop can easily damage important components and shorten the life of the computer. Overheating is avoidable, however, through the use of a laptop cooling pad. Cooling pads are not very expensive, and using them may save you a lot of money in the end.

Types

The two main types of cooling pads are pads that use fans and pads that do not. Cooling pads that use fans to dissipate heat may have two, three or four fans. These cooling pads are constructed of aluminum, plastic or a combination of the two materials. Laptop cooling pads that do not use fans are constructed of plastic, aluminum or special heat-dissipating materials.

Features

Cooling pads that use fans to cool require either an electrical outlet or batteries; however, most cooling pads simply plug into the laptop's USB port.

Several models of laptop cooling pads do not have fans, and these models do not require a USB port or any other power supply. Instead of dissipating heat via fans, some of these cooling pads are made of special materials that distribute the heat. Other fanless models help keep a laptop cool by elevating it slightly so that there is more airflow beneath it. Some elevating models are adjustable so you can angle the keyboard for easier typing.

Benefits

Because laptop cooling pads prevent laptop computers from overheating, your laptop will be less likely to crash or suffer heat-related damage. Cooling pads are relatively inexpensive; the cost is easily offset by the years the pads may add to the life of your laptop computer.

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Warning

When laptops overheat, it can damage the laptop's hardware, the table or desktop the laptop is on, or become unpleasantly warm if you are holding the laptop on your lap. In addition, although it is rare, some laptops have even caught fire after the batteries got too hot. Even if you use a laptop cooling pad, you should not leave laptops turned on unattended for long periods of time.

Considerations

Size matters when it comes to laptop cooling pads. If your notebook is a larger model, make sure you get a large enough cooling pad so that your laptop does not overhang the pad.

When choosing a laptop cooling pad, keep in mind what surface you usually place your laptop on. Most cooling pads work well on any surface, and many are for lap use, but some less flexible models may make you feel uncomfortable if used on your lap.

Funny Secret Sister Gifts

Surprise your secret sister with gifts that tickle her funny bone.

A secret sister program allows groups to buy gifts for one another, anonymously. A well-written card can lift her spirits, but a funny gift will make her giggle. Inject some humor into her day by giving her laugh-aloud presents. Lighthearted gifts can also lift her spirits during times of sadness or grief. Does this Spark an idea?

Funny Stationery

Surprise her with a set of humorous postcards she can send to her friends. Popular choices feature humorous pets, like dogs wearing costumes or cats performing antics. A set of notepaper and envelopes featuring funny characters is a nice gift. Choose notepaper that has smiley faces watermarked on each page. Yellow is a particularly cheerful color.

Give a cube of sticky notes that have jokes printed on them. She will laugh every time she uses them.

Novelty pens are practical and funny. Give her a lipstick pen that has a removable cap. The lipstick portion is actually the cap that hides the ink pen. Choose a lipstick with a red cap. Match-shaped pencils look like matchsticks with red eraser tips.

Joke Calendars

Paper desktop calendars are ideal for using at home or at the office. For a secret sister, give her a calendar that is both inspirational and humorous. Subjects like "funny things kids say" are suitable for women who are moms. Select a perpetual calendar that never expires. Wall calendars showing children dressed up like grown ups are comical, too. A cheerful, wooden desk calendar in the shape of an apple is a good gift for a teacher or apple lover. For a funny touch, choose an apple with a cartoon worm sticking out of it. The date, day and month are block letters displayed on top of the apple. Have her apple personalized by putting her name on the front.

Vintage Cartoons

Give her a vintage cartoon collection on DVD. Old black-and-white cartoons featuring Betty Boop and Popeye are clean, classic choices. Bugs Bunny, Woody Woodpecker and Porky Pig are cartoon films she can enjoy with her whole family. Alternatively, give a DVD of funny videos from weddings or sporting events. Add some popcorn and bottled sodas to a large wicker basket. This will make your gift perfect for a comedy night at home. Top it off with a bow covered with smiley faces.

Difference Between Lapbands

A Lap-Band procedure is a type of gastric banding bariatric or weight-loss surgery. The outpatient operation is a less invasive choice compared to other bariatric procedures. Patients who undergo gastric banding surgery typically lose up to two-thirds of their excess pounds within two years of their procedures, according to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery.

Gastric Banding Patients

According to the National Institutes of Health, ideal gastric banding candidates have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. Those with a BMI of 35 to 39 also can consider the weight loss surgery if they have other obesity-related health problems. Such conditions include high cholesterol and diabetes. Surgeons also may want background on prospective patients' weight history, including how and why they failed to lose weight on their own.

Gastric Banding Surgery

Gastric banding surgery restricts the amount of food a person can consume by decreasing the size of her stomach. During the operation, a surgeon wraps an inflatable, silicone band around the top portion of a patient's stomach with laparoscopic surgery. The band is attached to a port, which is placed beneath the skin. Post-surgery, patients and surgeons will meet for several follow-up band adjustments. During these visits, the surgeon tightens or loosens the gastric band as needed by injecting saline into the port.

Types of Gastric Bands

Patients who undergo gastric banding surgery in the United States may choose between one of two types of bands. Those are the Lap-Band System and the Realize Band. More than 450,000 people who have had gastric banding surgery have chosen the Lap Band, while about 100,000 patients have opted for the Realize Band, according to the products' Web sites, www.lapband.com and www.realize.com.

Recovery Time and Weight Loss

Most gastric banding patients must follow a liquid diet for the first two weeks after surgery. Over time, they may begin to consume solid foods again. People typically begin to lose weight after their first band adjustment. On average, patients need approximately six weeks of recovery time before they can begin having these adjustments, according to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery.

Eating After Surgery

The portion sizes that Lap Band and Realize Band patients can eat after surgery varies from person to person. Many patients report that their stomachs can hold only between a quarter-cup to a cup of food per meal. Additionally, some doctors recommend patients refrain from drinking anything while eating, as this may cause nausea or vomiting. Other surgeons may suggest certain nutrition and exercise plans based on a patient's individual health goals.

Hip Replacement Surgery In The Elderly

Hip fractures most commonly occur in the elderly, and one of the most common procedures used to fix a hip fracture is hip replacement surgery. Age is one of the largest factors that must be taken into consideration when deciding on the proper course of action.

What is Hip Replacement?

Hip replacement surgery involves replacing both ends of the damaged hip joint by placing a metal ball on top of the femur and lining the pelvic bone with a metal shell and a plastic coating.

Significance

The hip joint takes more stress than any other joint in the body and is prone to wear and tear injuries such as fractures. The more wear and tear that a joint accumulates, the more likely an injury is.

Elderly Risks

Elderly patients choosing to undergo hip replacement surgery are more prone, due to their advanced age, to blood clots, heart attacks, and confusion immediately following the surgery.

Hip Replacement over Hip Reconstruction

In the elderly, hip replacement surgery is usually preferred over hip reconstruction surgery, because the success rates are higher and there will be less wear and tear placed on the hip joint.

Breathing

Many doctors will have their elderly patients practice proper breathing techniques prior to surgery to help them ward off chest congestion due to reduced activity post-surgery.

Hip Replacement Infection Symptoms

Hip Replacement Infection Symptoms

If you are living with chronic hip pain, you may be considering hip replacement surgery. Having your hip replaced may allow you to return to activities that were once too painful to do. While most hip replacement surgeries go well, there is always the chance of infection. Knowing what signs to look for and taking steps to prevent complications will help you to avoid and manage any infection that may occur.

Identification

In hip replacement surgery, the damaged part of the joint will be removed and the joint surfaces will be prepared. A metal, ceramic or plastic ball and socket replacement will then be put in.

Occurrence of Infection Symptoms

The good news is that only two percent of patients who undergo a total hip replacement develop an infection. Symptoms of an infection can occur when bacteria from a dental procedure, urinary tract infection or a skin infection take hold in the prosthesis.

Common Signs of an Infection

If you develop an infection from hip replacement surgery, you may experience chills or a fever that is above 100 degrees. Other signs to watch for include your hip pain getting progressively worse, along with a loss of mobility.

Other Symptoms

As an infection gets worse you may notice swelling, redness or sensitivity around the incision or hip joint. Drainage from the incision is also a sign of an infection. An infection can also loosen the prosthesis.

Complications

If the infection is not detected, the bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to other areas of the body. This can cause infections of the bladder, prostate or kidneys. If the infection can not be managed through antibiotics, then the prosthesis will have to be surgically removed.

Preventing Hip Replacement Infections

You can take steps before surgery to minimize your risk of infection. Tell your surgeon before you go in for surgery if you have any skin infections or irritations. They may need to be cleared up before surgery. Having dental work done can sometimes release bacteria into the blood stream and lead to infection as well.

Celebrate A 30 Year Anniversary

Plan a romantic evening to mark your 30th married year.

You and your spouse have been married for 30 years. Congratulations! Your 30th wedding anniversary is one of the milestone celebrations in your marriage. Put a lot of thought and effort into your spouse's gift, whether it's buying something memorable or creating a romantic evening. Make this anniversary special.

Instructions

1. Write a love letter to your spouse that lists 30 things you love about him. Leave it in a nice envelope addressed to him and put it in a conspicuous place, such as the on bathroom sink, kitchen table or by the keys to his car.

2. Send her sweet peas. The anniversary flower is the sweet pea. Have a florist put together some sweet peas and other flowers to send to her at home or at work. You can even put together a bouquet yourself and hand-deliver the flowers instead.

3. Buy pearls or diamond jewelry. The traditional anniversary gift is something with pearls, whether it's a necklace, ring or bracelet. The modern anniversary gift is something with diamonds. Remember to only buy them if you can afford them. Don't go into debt purchasing them.

4. Go to dinner and a movie or concert. Pick out a favorite restaurant and let the staffers know it's your anniversary. If the restaurant is told that you are celebrating a special event, such as a birthday or anniversary, the staff will sometimes throw in a free dessert. After dinner, go to a movie or a concert. You can buy your movie tickets online or at the box office. If planning to go to a concert, buy your tickets ahead of time.

5. Spend an evening at home. Plan a romantic dinner for two. Set the table with a nice tablecloth, fancy China and nice silverware. Create the romantic mood with some lighted candles and soft music. Prepare a meal or order takeout if you don't have confidence in your cooking. Have something special for dessert. After dinner and dessert, turn on your wedding video and relive your wedding day again. Look through your wedding scrapbook if you have one.

6. End the evening intimately. Slip into something sexy for your spouse and turn on some romantic music. Keep the lights dim and give your spouse a meaningful and passionate kiss and tell your spouse how much you love and appreciate him. Celebrate the fact that you've been married for 30 years.

How Long Is The Recovery Period For Liposuction

Liposuction is a serious procedure.

Liposuction is an outpatient surgical procedure in which fat is suctioned out of specified areas of the body. Recovery from liposuction can take a few days or several weeks, depending on the amount of fat removed.

The First Few Days After Liposuction

You should not drive yourself home after liposuction and will probably need a few days of rest, but you should not confine yourself to bed. You will need to wear special compression garments for at least a few days after liposuction. After the first two days, you should begin massaging the liposuctioned area heavily with lotion and should begin moving around. Take showers instead of baths at first.

The First Few Weeks After Liposuction

Wear support garments for three weeks to reduce swelling. Expect to see some drainage from the site of the liposuction. You will have some numbness, bruising, and pain, but these will decrease over the first several weeks.

When Can I Resume...?

You can return to office work within one to seven days. You should start exercising with light walks after two days and can gradually start to return to your normal exercise routine after about a week. You can resume sexual activity after a day, depending on the tenderness of the liposuctioned areas. You may fly on an airplane after a day, according to the website Liposuction.com.

7 Tips For Fruity Loops

Fruity Loops, more commonly known as FL Studio, is a music production program that is efficient and affordable for most home studios. It's popular because of its user-friendly interface and its ability to be expanded with downloaded samples and virtual instruments. The program, with practice and the right combination of talent and live instruments, can be used to create studio quality music of any musical genre.

Templates

If you're just starting out with Fruity Loops, you may want to use the templates to get an idea of how the program works. There are various templates for many different styles of music. There is even an acoustic template which features a "real" drum kit, though Fruity Loops is best used for electronic music.

Once you've figured the program out, you can create your own templates, so you don't have to waste as much time getting a drum pattern in line. Fruity Loops is different from recording a real instrument because an idea can be lost by the time you start up the program, find the right instrument samples, and arrange them. With a template, you can get started faster and the chances are more likely that you'll be able to put your ideas down with less trouble.

Use the Equalizer to Kill Fuzz

Some of the samples used in Fruity Loops are distorted a bit by background noise and static. You can work with either of the equalizers in Fruity Loops (EQUO, Fruity 7 Band EQ, Fruity Parametric EQ, or Fruity Parametric EQ 2) to minimize the noise and distortion. Most people will immediately turn to the filters to get the noise out of their samples, however, filtering can cause the sample to become dull and useless. With the equalizers, you can maintain the bounce in your beats.

Making Beats Heavy

Double up on your drums for a more heavy sound. Don't use just a single kick--double the kick by cloning it. This also goes for the rest of the drums, except you may be able to get away with a single hi-hat, if it has good quality. Doubling up on the percussion works especially well if you're making hip hop and house beats, which rely on a heavy sound.

Download Samples and Virtual Instruments

Fruity Loops has an extensive library of sounds, however, the sounds aren't the best quality. You can scour the Web for sample libraries and virtual instruments (VSTis) to use on the program. Some sample libraries and VSTis have sounds that are of great quality, while other samples are barely audible. Many sample libraries can be found for free, while you'll have to purchase others. Obviously, the ones you buy will be the best, but you can amount an arsenal of a few thousand samples for absolutely nothing and they'll be adequate enough to make a lifetime of studio quality beats.

Master the Piano Roll

The Piano Roll function allows you to use your computer keyboard as a music keyboard. You can record the notes you play directly into Fruity Loops or you can play the notes and enter them manually in the places where you want them. If you fail to learn to use the Piano Roll, your music will sound like it was made on a computer. Mastering the Piano Roll will allow you to give your beats an organic feel, as if the music was being played live rather than clicked into place with a mouse.

Filling in the Spaces

If you find that your beats are sounding as if they're missing something, they probably are. Add an instrument or some other sound to fill in those spaces. Some people use reverb to fill in the spaces, and it works sometimes, however, too much reverb will kill the beat. Finding another instrument is harder than adding reverb, but the beat will have more texture and a fuller sound if you do it that way.

Compression

You shouldn't worry much about compression until you have a decent recording, but when the time comes to add compression, start with the drums. Many music producers will only compress the drums and they'll use equalizers on the other instruments, but it all depends on your preference. Too much compression will kill a beat, and not enough compression will kill a beat. You have to experiment with the levels and get the right amount of compression for the music you're trying to make. For instance, in hip hop, house, trance, and techno music, you can use the Fruity Compressor for the kick drum with the following levels and get a great result:

"Threshold" at about 20 dB

"Ratio" at 4.0: 1

"Gain" at 6 dB or a little higher

"Attack" at 3 milliseconds

"Release" at 4 milliseconds (depends on if the kick drags or has reverb)

You can set the Type anywhere you like. What sounds good usually is good.

You can save these settings as a compression template and adjust it for all the kick drums you'll ever use for hip hop or house music (any music that relies on heavy bass). These settings will keep your kicks from getting too loud and overpowering the rest of the beat.

With snares and hi-hats, you'll normally lower the ratio, and for hi-hats, you'll increase the release time, so that the hi-hats can echo a little bit. This allows your reverb to last a little longer so your beat is fuller.

Complications Of Total Hip Arthroplasty

Also known as total hip replacement, total hip arthroplasty involves removing a hip joint diseased by arthritis or injured through trauma to the hip. A surgeon places a hip prostheses made of metal or ceramic and then inserts a liner to the hip made of plastic, ceramic or metal. As with many surgical procedures, hip arthroplasty comes with both risks and rewards.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Also known as blood clots in the leg veins, deep vein thrombosis occurs due to poor circulation. Because a patient often is immobile following surgery, a blood clot can develop, which can dislodge in the veins and cause a pulmonary embolism. The pulmonary embolism can cut off blood flow to the lungs and other organs, which can cause significant damage to the lungs and even death.

Infection

Because the hip replacement procedure requires making incisions and inserting surgical instruments deep within the body, this can result in infection. Bacteria can infiltrate the open wound during surgery, which is why intravenous antibiotics may be administered during surgery. If an infection occurs inside the body's tissues or bones, this can cause serious problems and require further surgery to treat the infection. It is also possible that an infection can occur at the incision site, which results in symptoms such as fever, redness, swelling or drainage at the incision site.

Artifical Joint Malfunction

While the hip replacement should be carefully lodged in the pelvic bone with screws, it is possible for the replacement to loosen due to activity, screw placement or weight. If this occurs, the replacement may cause pain and swelling. These symptoms can require further surgery to better secure the implant.

Pain or Stiffness

While hip replacement is utilized with a goal of reducing pain and improving function, it is possible that the hip will not return to a previous level of functioning. If patients do not receive an implant that utilizes cement to secure the joint, it is possible for pain in the mid-thigh to occur up to 24 months following surgery, according to hipsandknees.com. If a patient had a significant level of deterioration in the hip joint prior to surgery, stiffness is more likely to occur.

Change in Leg Length

While precautions are taken during surgery to ensure the leg length remains the same, it is possible for a surgeon to lengthen a leg to better stabilize the hip or offer improved muscle function. Sometimes patients describe a sensation that the leg where the hip has been replaced is longer than the other leg, even if it actually is not. As the patient acclimates to the leg length, the replacement and leg length should begin to feel more natural over time, according to hipsandknees.com.

Different Ways Of Wearing Jelly Bands

Jelly bracelets have made a comeback.

Jelly bands, a type of stretchy and colorful bracelet, were worn along with leg warmers and spandex in the '80s. These bracelets have since seen a resurgence of use in modern American culture. Jelly bands come in a variety of colors and may be very thin or somewhat wide. They can be integrated into any girl's wardrobe with some casual planning and creative ideas. Does this Spark an idea?

Single Band

Wear a single band at a time to make a statement. For thinner jelly bracelets, purchase a few bands in your favorite colors. Slip on a single band to accent your outfit for the day. For example, wear a bright-hued bracelet with a darker outfit. Wear one band on a single hand, or wear a band on each wrist. If you wear one band per wrist, you can match the bracelets or choose two complementary colors.

Multiple Bands

Deck out your wrists with jelly bands. For a carefree effect, choose colors at random to create a riot of hues on your wrist. Coordinate your colors to create a cool, well-planned and pleasing array of bracelets. To mix up your look, choose different but analogous colors for each wrist; for example, wear shades of blue on one wrist and green on the other. Create an individualized look by wearing a collection of bands on one wrist only.

Looped Bands

Loop the bands together for a larger bracelet effect on your arm. To achieve this look, begin by holding a band in each hand. Hold them together so they are overlapping. Pull both sides of one bracelet so it forms a "U" shape, with the ends curled around the second bracelet. Next, grab both ends of the second bracelet, and pull it into a "U" shape. Now, your bracelets are interlocking and can be slipped onto your wrist and worn together. This is not a permanent creation, so feel free to experiment with different colors.

Anklets

If you have particularly slender ankles or stretchy bands, wear these bracelets as anklets instead. To rock this look, slip on a few bright-colored bands, and wear sandals or low-top shoes. Wear these anklets with a skirt or shorts; putting jeans on over them negates the point of wearing jelly bands as anklets. If the anklet bands cut off the circulation to your foot, don't attempt this style.

Choose Music For A Wedding Ceremony

It is essential that you carefully choose music for your wedding ceremony. A good selection can mean the difference between an awkward, clunky ceremony and a flowing, emotional experience. Music serves as a transition between the parts in the ceremony and can highlight the deeper meaning of the wedding ceremony.

Instructions

1. Hire a band or musician. Look for an experienced professional that has played wedding ceremonies before. Pick someone you can communicate with well and will be able to help you choose the best songs to play.

2. Choose a Prelude. The prelude is the welcoming music that guests will hear as they are being seated. The prelude begins a good 15 to 20 minutes before the ceremony and is often a medley of many songs. Give your musician an idea of the genres of music you like and let them choose the individual songs. The tone of the prelude should match the upcoming songs in the ceremony as well as set a subdued, yet joyful atmosphere.

3. Choose the Wedding Party's Processional. Pick a steady, flowing piece to introduce the bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party. This announces the official beginning of the ceremony, so it should feel that way. Think of the first song of the service they play at church that prompts everyone to stand.

4. Choose the Bride's Processional. This is the classic "Here Comes the Bride" moment. You don't have to choose this song specifically, but choose one that will make her entrance memorable and breathtaking.

5. Choose Interlude melodies. These songs will provide transition during parts of the ceremony where there is no speaking, such as the lighting of candles or rose presentation. Choose words that evoke quiet reflection.

6. Choose the Recessional. This song should be celebratory, bright and upbeat. It should be a release of all the building excitement and joy after the solemn ceremony is over. It should

encourage all the guests to join in and celebrate your union.

7. Choose the Postlude. This should be a bit like the prelude, as it will be played as guests exit. It should set a happy, satisfied atmosphere and set the mood for the coming reception.

Bond Stucco To Durock

Stucco adheres to practically any surface that is properly prepared.

Bonding stucco to Durock is as easy as applying stucco to other surfaces. In order to make certain that the bond is permanent, however, you have to ensure that the stucco is the right consistency. If you've mixed it too thin, the stucco won't spread correctly. If you've mixed it too thick, it won't adhere to the Durock and will dry out too quickly. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Empty the package of stucco into a mixing container. The specific instructions for using the product are on the package. Read them carefully before proceeding.

2. Check the Durock to make certain that it is clean, dry and fastened securely to the wall framing behind it. Adding stucco to the wall significantly increases the weight of the board.

3. Add water to the stucco mix a small amount at a time, mixing it thoroughly with a garden hoe until it has reached the consistency of peanut butter.

4. Scoop up some of the stucco with the bottom of a masonry trowel and spread it on the Durock, working from the bottom of the board to the top. On a Durock board, the stucco does not need to be quite as thick as you would spread it on concrete due to the Durock board's flat and less porous qualities. Thin the stucco to approximately 1/8- to 1/4-inch while spreading it across the board. Allow the stucco to cure for approximately one hour prior to applying the stucco texture to the surface.

About The Rouxeny Procedure

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is used to reduce stomach size and spur weight loss in people who are significantly overweight. The Roux-en-Y procedure can be performed as minimally-invasive surgery or as open surgery, depending on the condition of the patient. Over 121,000 weight loss surgeries were performed in the United States in 2004, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Bypass Candidates

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, infertility, heart disease, osteoarthritis, some forms of cancer, respiratory conditions, gallbladder disease and liver disease. While losing weight can reduce these risks, it can be hard for some people to lose weight on their own. Roux-en-Y surgery is recommended for patients who are 75 pounds or more overweight and have a medical condition affected by obesity, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. People who are 100 pounds or more overweight and have no other conditions may also be approved for the surgery.

The Procedure

During Roux-en-Y surgery, your doctor isolates the top of your stomach from the rest of your stomach with a series of staples. The staples create a small pouch, which will then be the only part of the stomach that you will use. This pouch is connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing the lower part of the stomach. Because the usable area of the stomach is much smaller after the procedure, you won't be able to eat as much and won't absorb as many calories. Bypass surgery can be done as an open surgical procedure or can be performed laparascopically. During laparascopic surgery, several small incisions are made in the abdomen. A tiny camera and surgical instruments are passed through the incisions, allowing your doctor to perform the surgery while watching his progress on a video monitor.

Recovery

It will take some time following surgery until you can eat solid food. For the first 2 or 3 days after surgery, you won't be able to eat all. You will be placed on a liquid diet at a first, progressing to soft foods and then a full range of foods. You may remain in the hospital for 3 to 5 days following surgery and will need to recover at home for 3 or more weeks. During the first 3 to 6 months, weight loss may be dramatic. During this time, you may feel tired and achy, notice dry skin, have mood swings and experience thinning hair. These symptoms occur due to the rapid weight loss that you are undergoing.

Dumping Syndrome

Dumping syndrome is a problem that people who have had gastric bypass surgery experience when they eat sugary foods or high calorie foods. Because these foods enter the intestines more quickly than they did when your entire stomach was being used, diarrhea, nausea and weakness can occur. Limiting these foods or avoiding them completely can help you prevent or reduce the chance of this problem occurring.

Maintaining Weight Loss

While your new stomach size will encourage you to eat less, you will also need to make some changes in order to maintain your new weight. Your doctor may recommend that you eat small meals 6 times per day, rather than 3 large meals. Because you will only be eating a small amount at each meal it is important that the foods you select contain the protein and nutrients you need to remain healthy. Your doctor may suggest that you take vitamin and nutritional supplements in addition to eating healthy foods. Exercise can not only help you maintain your weight, but will help prevent muscle loss during the period of time following surgery when you are rapidly losing weight.

Connect A Laptop To A Dj Mixer

New technology streamlines the DJ-ing process.

With the advance of new technologies, the DJ can now perform with a laptop, digital music files and/or a controller just as if she had two turntables and a mixer. The connections are relatively the same, just a change here and there. It is a much more compact and easy set-up to maintain. Although having less equipment might mean less hassle, you still need to know how everything talks to each other. Connecting a laptop to a DJ mixer is the easiest part. It's the DJing and mixing that takes practice.

Instructions

1. Locate your laptop's sound card. Almost every computer has a 1/8-inch port -- usually used for headphones -- located on either the right or left side of the computer. Plug the audio cable into it.

2. Plug the RCA end of the audio cable into the "line-in" ports at the rear of the DJ Mixer. There are usually two different ports for cables in the back of these mixers. The best sound quality for the laptop will be the "Line-In" ports. If using turntables, you would plug the RCA ends into the "analog" ports.

3. Plug your headphones into the "headphone out" or your monitors into the "line-out" on the rear of the mixer. Now you can monitor your mix.

4. Play a track on your computer to check the levels. You may need to adjust your audio properties so you hear music coming from your headphones or your computer monitors. In Windows, go to "control panel," select "hardware and sound," then "audio devices." Select "properties" and choose "stereo" or "audio-out."

Connect Two Pcs With A 3g Usb Modem

Creating an ad hoc network lets a host computer function like a wireless router.

Connecting two PCs with a 3G USB modem makes it easy to share a mobile broadband connection and get devices online, even where WiFi and Ethernet connections are unavailable. Using the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) function in Windows simplifies the setup process, but in order for a 3G USB modem to be shared, the two PCs being connected to the 3G modem via ICS must have WiFi adapters to create the necessary ad hoc network.

Instructions

Enable Internet Connection Sharing on the Host Computer

1. Open the "Start" menu by clicking on it, and then click "Control Panel." Open the "Network and Sharing Center," and click on "Manage network connections" to view all network adapters connected to your host PC, which is the one connecting directly to the 3G USB modem.

2. Right-click the 3G USB modem connection you want to share, and left-click "Properties." The 3G USB modem connections on your computer can be identified easily, as they are identified by their makes and model names, such as "AT&T USB Connect Lightning."

3. Check the box next to "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection" to enable Internet connection sharing. Click "OK" to close the window.

Start an Ad Hoc Network

4. Click the "Start" menu and type "Network and Sharing Center" in the search box at the bottom of the Start menu.

5. Select "Setup up a connection or network" and select "ad hoc" as the network type to continue setup.

6. Enter the necessary configuration info for your network. Enter a name of your choosing in the "Network name" dialog box and select the "Security type," if any, you want to use on the network. You may choose from WPA and WEP encryption types. Finally, enter the security key for the network in the "Security key/Passphrase" box.

7. Click "Next" and then "Close" to finalize configuring the ad hoc network to share your 3G USB modem between two PCs.

Connect the Second PC

8. Select the "Network" icon in the system tray, located in the bottom-right corner of the screen by right-clicking on it. Select the name of the ad hoc network created above by clicking on it, and click the "Connect" button.

9. Enter the security key you configured in Section 2, and click "Next" to finalize the connection.

10. Open a Web browser and verify you are connected to the host computer's 3G USB card for Internet connectivity.

Brain Surgery Recovery Time

Brain surgery (or a craniotomy) is perhaps one of the most frightening operations to undergo. Recovery time will vary by individual, and also will depend on the specific procedure. Some people can expect to make a full recovery in eight weeks, and partial recovery in one to four weeks. You may spend a year or more in recovery. Before your surgery, enlist the support of family or close friends to help you during your recovery.

General recovery

Immediately after surgery, patients will be watched closely in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Most patients will be on IV fluids as well as pain medications. Doctors and nurses will monitor intracranial pressure along with vital signs. Patients who are awake, alert and stable will usually move to a regular hospital room. Nurses or doctors may perform several neurologic examinations to make sure your recovery is going as planned. Expect the sutures in your scalp to be removed in about a week. Some patients are able to return home after their hospital stay; others may need to spend some time in a rehabilitation center.

Once at home, some patients experience emotional changes after surgery. Many feel tired and discouraged. It is important to have the support of family or friends for emotional support and to help with day-to-day tasks that you may not be strong enough for at first. Some doctors may prescribe anticonvulsants to help prevent seizures, or steroids to combat swelling.

Doctors suggest brain surgery for a variety of problems, including brain tumor, blood clots in the brain, too much pressure in the brain, to implant electrodes, reconstruction of the skull, brain aneurysm, stroke, bleeding in the brain, pituitary tumors, infection or buildup of fluid. Some of these reasons require immediate treatment.

After a Brain Tumor

Your hospital stay will likely be several days. For patients who had a tumor removed from the lower or deeper section of the brain, the stay may be longer. Depending on the type of brain tumor and its location in the brain, patients may begin additional treatment -- such as chemotherapy -- two weeks after surgery. This is usually done as an outpatient procedure. Your doctor will advise you on when you can return to work and other activities, but since stimulating the brain helps it heal, some patients are encouraged to return to work within a week of surgery. Your recovery likely will involve follow-up appointments and treatments to make sure the tumor does not return.

After Altering Blood Flow

This type of surgery is typically used for patients who have suffered a stroke, hematoma or hemorrhage in the brain. Much of the recovery following a stroke and surgery involves preventing another stroke.

Your recovery time will be infinite, as prevention is ongoing. Your doctor will advise you on when it is OK to resume work or other normal activities. Some stroke patients may have permanent damage.

To help prevent future strokes, limit alcohol intake, quit smoking and monitor your blood pressure. Eat a balanced diet of foods low in sodium and, as soon as your doctor gives you the go-ahead, start an exercise program. Your doctor may start you on medications to control blood pressure or prevent additional blood clots from forming.

After Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid, which can be caused by various infections. It also occurs in children, sometimes immediately after birth. Surgery for this condition may include putting in a shunt to redirect the fluid away from the brain. You will likely need several follow-up appointments during recovery to make sure the shunt is working correctly. Shunts may become clogged or otherwise fail to work, so consult your doctor if you begin experiencing strange symptoms. Some patients will show a dramatic improvement immediately after surgery; many symptoms like headaches or even dementia may disappear. You may be able to return to work and other activities within days of surgery.

Reasons for Extended Recovery Times

In some cases, there may be various side effects and complications from brain surgery. You may lose your memory, speech or understanding. Weakness and nerve paralysis are also possible, along with damage to blood vessels and brain tissue. These complications may be temporary or even permanent.

You will be put under general anesthesia for the surgery, which comes with its own set of risks. Some doctors will recommend that during your recovery you avoid traveling and vigorous exercise.

It is not uncommon for patients to experience headaches after surgery. Your brain has experienced trauma, so it may take time for headaches to fade. In addition, you may have some itching around your incision site and even some numbness. Dizziness, fatigue and short-term memory loss are also common. Call your doctor if you run a fever, experience sudden severe headaches, have drainage from your incision site, a seizure or a stiff neck.

Broken Jaw Recovery

Recovering from a broken jaw requires the jaw being wired shut. This restricts one's ability to eat, speak and even keep the mouth clean, but there are measures that can be taken to alleviate suffering.

Background

The jaw is wired shut so that the bones of the jaw can heal in the correct places. The jaw often remains wired for around six to eight weeks.

Food and Nutrition

Because a broken jaw makes chewing impossible, it is advisable to invest in a blender to liquefy all food and even a strainer to get rid of excess chunks. Once liquefied and strained, the food can be taken in with a straw and easily swallowed.

Cleaning the Mouth

Using a smaller toothbrush will make it easer to brush your teeth, while using brush picks, toothpicks and mouthwash can temporarily replace flossing until it's physically possible to floss again.

Communication

Talking with a broken jaw can be difficult but can be assisted by using nonverbal forms of communication like e-mail, carrying a pad of paper and a pen and having someone helpful that can talk for you when necessary.

After Wire Removal

Even after the wire is removed, you may still need to engage in some of these practices due to soreness of the mouth from lack of use. Food may still need to be softened, albeit to a lesser extent, to avoid excess chewing.

Food For Those With Little Appetite

Eat healthy, non-greasy foods that are easier to digest.

When you are sick with illnesses such as cancer, gallbladder disease or even depression, your appetite is often negatively affected. However, as much as you might resent the thought of eating, it is very important to keep your caloric intake steady and eat enough vitamins and protein to help you get back to good health. When you don't have a good appetite, stick to easy-to-swallow foods that don't have a lot of flavor or smell - a lot of people get nauseous just by the overpowering smell of flavorful food.

Meal Replacement Shakes

Meal replacement shakes are specially designed beverages that contain high amounts of calories, nutrients and vitamins. When you don't have a large appetite, even chewing and putting food in your mouth is enough to make you feel nauseous. Also, for cancer patients, the smell of cooked food is often what puts them off eating. Meal replacement shakes are odorless, can be drank quickly in a few mouthfuls, and ensure you get the calories and nutrients you need.

Soups

Much like meal replacement shakes, soups are a good way to consume calories and nutrients without having to smell or chew food. Many protein powders and additives can be included in soup to make it a suitable meal replacement. Unlike meal replacement drinks, which only come in a few basic flavors, there is no limit to the types of soup you can make. This provides variety and prevents you from getting bored of eating the same thing day after day.

Room Temperature or Cold Food

If the smell of food makes you feel ill, eat food kept at room temperature, or chilled in the fridge. Food at these temperatures has much less odor than freshly prepared food and does not turn you off eating. Select foods that don't have a strong flavor, such as bread or chilled meats. Cold food that is smooth, like ice cream or pudding, is also a good choice because it doesn't have a strong smell or taste and doesn't require a lot of chewing.

Snacks

When you're not hungry, the thought of eating a large meal in one sitting is a daunting task. Instead of forcing yourself to eat three times a day, eat small snacks every few hours. Breaking up your meals into smaller snack-sized portions makes it seem like you're eating less food when, in fact, you might be eating more. Eat snacks that are easy to digest but contain healthy fats and nutrients such as granola bars, hard boiled eggs, fruit and nuts.

Benefits Of Culture In Yogurt

Benefits of Culture in Yogurt

Yogurt, long sold to the public as a healthy convenience food, has in recent years been labeled with a string of new terms describing its natural active culture and other added nutritional boosts. While there has been some scientific evidence to back the health claims inherent in yogurt's active culture, the science still is fairly new on probiotics, and regulation on the industry is not yet optimal. This has caused yogurt sellers' "educational" marketing to have its own share of controversy, and the National Yogurt Association has instituted a "Live Active Culture" seal on yogurt packages in which the product contains at least 108 viable lactic acid bacteria per gram for refrigerated products and 107 for frozen.

Types

All yogurts initially contain live and active cultures, but some are heated after they are made, destroying the cultures. According to the FDA, in order for a refrigerated product to be called "yogurt," it has to be produced by culturing permitted dairy ingredients with a bacterial culture, which contains Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.These microorganisms work to convert the lactose to lactic acid, providing yogurt with its unique flavor.

Features

In addition to Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, some yogurts have Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidus added to them due to the data accumulating on the health benefits of probiotic consumption. It is important to note however, that all live active cultures are not the same and not all cultures are probiotics. Probiotics must be ingested in adequate amounts and able to reach the intestine alive to have any effect.

Significance

Live and active cultures found in yogurt are speculated to boost the body's immune system, fight certain types of cancer and prevent osteoporosis. While not enough studies have been conducted to establish a definitive link between live and active culture yogurt and these health effects, the research thus far has been promising. Americans have been sold on the idea, with yogurt sales increasing between 5 and 7 percent every year from 2004-07.

Benefits

The live and active cultures found in yogurt break down lactose in milk, giving individuals with lactose intolerance the ability to eat yogurt and receive the nutrients found in the milk product without the usual side effects of abdominal cramping, bloating and diarrhea. Full of "good" bacteria, yogurt can also be beneficial for those with irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal infections.

Misconceptions

Activia yogurt, DanActive yogurt drink and Stonyfield yogurt all claim to have studies backing up the benefits of active culture and probiotics in their products. Although not entirely false claims, these studies have been shown to be skewed in favor of the testers rather than the consumers. And the fact is, probiotics are not going to help everyone. "If you're healthy and are not planning to take antibiotics, go into the hospital or maybe take a trip out of the country, there is no benefit from taking probiotics," says microbiologist Lynne McFarland, coauthor of The Power of Probiotics.