How to Safely Spend a Night in Your Car in Winter

How to Safely Spend a Night in Your Car in WinterWinter driving presents many situations where you may be forced to spend the night in your car?breaking down, getting stuck, running out of fuel, or just being the victim of unexpected bad weather. If you're ever forced to spend a cold night in your car your best chance of survival depends on having emergency supplies and knowing how to use those supplies to stay warm.

Wilderness safety weblog OutdoorSafe notes that if you're ever in this type of situation and can't contact rescuers you should stay in your car (it provides both shelter and can allow you to signal for help) and use the sleeping bag or blankets in your Winter car emergency kit to help keep you warm. You can run the engine of your car for ten minutes each hour as long as can ensure the tail pipe is clear of snow and you leave yourself a one-inch opening in the window to hopefully alleviate carbon monoxide buildup. It's probably a good idea to purchase a CO detector strip to keep in your car kit for just this type of occasion?the author claims that 60% of unintentional deaths in the US are caused by carbon monoxide poisoning and weighing that versus a four-dollar detection strip seems like a no-brainer if you live in colder areas.

See the rest of the post in the source link below for additional tips to get you through an unexpected night in your car in the dead of Winter. Photo by Martin Stoermer

Spending a Night in Your Car | OutdoorSafe

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/i_ioeoV_JqM/how-to-safely-spend-a-night-in-your-car-in-winter

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Some foreign firms still active in Iran's energy sector: U.S. report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least seven companies from China, India, South Korea and South Africa continued to have investments in Iran's oil and gas sectors in 2012 even as Tehran came under international scrutiny for its nuclear ambitions, a U.S. government watchdog said on Friday.

A new U.S. law signed in August gave the Obama administration the authority to sanction firms that help Iran develop its energy resources, a key source of revenue for the country.

For a report to Congress required under that August law, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reviewed publicly available reports and data, and contacted the companies involved to check whether they have stepped back from Iran.

"We did not attempt to determine whether the activities for which the firms are listed in our reports met the legal criteria for sanctionable activities," the GAO said, noting the State Department is responsible for those types of determinations.

The State Department reviewed the report ahead of its publication but declined comment, the GAO said.

The United States and European Union have targeted Iran's energy sector for sanctions, an effort to pressure Iran to stop pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

The United States requires buyers of Iranian oil to make significant cuts to their oil purchases, or risk being cut off from the U.S. financial system.

Most of the companies still involved in Iran's energy sector are from countries that on Friday received six-month waivers called "exceptions" to the sanctions because they have reduced oil trade.

Chinese activity included Sinopec's 51 percent stake in Iran's Yadavaran oil field, and China National Petroleum Corp's interest in a project to develop the Azadegan field, the GAO said.

South Korea's Daelim Industrial Co is helping develop the South Pars gas fields and is also involved in a liquefied natural gas project at Tombak, the report said.

Three Indian companies with stakes in the Farsi Block gas field -- Indian Oil Corp Ltd, ONGC Videsh Ltd and Oil India Ltd -- told the GAO that their exploration service contracts had expired and they had no plans to pursue further work on the project.

South Africa's Sasol has been active in a joint venture in Iran but recently stated it is trying to divest, the GAO said.

There were another eight companies from China, Malaysia, India, Croatia and Venezuela whose recent involvement in Iran was difficult to confirm, the GAO said. The companies did not all respond to the GAO's questions.

The GAO also examined whether foreign firms were selling refined petroleum products to Iran -- another activity now sanctionable under U.S. laws.

Syria's Sytrol has been reported to have sold gasoline to Iran, and was sanctioned by the United States on August 10.

The GAO found 12 of 17 firms had stopped selling petroleum products to Iran. The watchdog said it could not confirm whether an additional four firms from China and Venezuela were still active in the market.

(Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/foreign-firms-still-active-irans-energy-sector-u-021054408.html

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Long Island Capital Alliance Announces Participants for Social ...

Event Held on December 14 in Partnership with Accelerate Long Island and Social Media Association, Inc.

Melville, NY ? December 7, 2012 ? The Long Island Capital Alliance (?LICA?), the leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization serving regional companies, today announced the presenting companies and panelists for its Social Media Capital Forum to be held on December 14, 2012. ?The capital forum will be held in partnership with Accelerate Long Island and Social Media Association, Inc.

The presenting companies to be showcased at LICA?s Social Media Capital Forum were selected by LICA for this event from a wide selection of developing social media companies on Long Island. ?Several of the presenting companies provide best-in-class solutions to enhance social and business practice via the Internet or a through a cloud-based format. ?These exciting social media companies are in need of private investment and other business development assistance. ?Each of the companies selected for presentation will provided a comprehensive discussion of their technology, application or service, a financial overview and catalysts for significant growth. ?A panel of social media investors will also participate in the event. ?The panel will provide insights on presenting companies? business plans and investment potential.

Social Media Capital Forum on December 14, 2012 ? Participants

Panel of Investors

Theodore B. Smith III: ?Co-founder and Managing Partners of Canrock Ventures, one of Long Island?s leading Internet software investment funds. He also is President and CEO of one of the largest privately held manufacturers of metal parts and fasteners, a company headquartered in Westbury, NY, where he has been employed since 1989 following several years on Wall Street.

John Ason: ?An investor in over 40 companies over 16 years, specializing in early stage pre-revenue companies in e-commerce, technology, advertising, digital social media and entertainment. He is a guest lecturer at Wharton, NYU, Rutgers, NJIT and, Fairleigh Dickinson. ?He is a visiting executive at the Iaccoca Institute, a founding investor in Digital Entertainment Ventures VC, and a mentor at the ERA, DreamIt, TechLaunch and WIN accelerators.

Alan Berkson: ?Investor and the founder and principal of Intelligist Group, a team of innovative strategists that help businesses move past blockages, leverages unidentified or underutilized assets and identify opportunities for growth.

Presenting Companies

CollectorZoo?: ?CollectorZoo is an Internet-based Social Commerce company designed by collectors for collectors. ?The CollectorZoo website will be the ultimate destination where enthusiasts, serious collectors, or anyone with an inventory of collectibles will organize, value, analyze and, sell collectibles, and connect with fellow collectors. ?CollectorZoo brings the collector community tools to instantly create value for their collectibles ? effectively creating wealth that wasn?t there before (Value My Collection?).

CollectorZoo Wow Factor: ?The core of CollectorZoo is a one-of-a-kind Inventory Management System. ?Utilizing collector?data, CollectorZoo utilizes Social Media technology to connect collectors in similar categories anywhere in the world.

EventNow: ?Since 2010, EventNow has been making party and event planning easier and has sourced more than $24 Million in event and party budgets to its vendors; the free, easy-to-use service helps those looking to throw the perfect soiree hire the best vendors for their event.

EventNow Wow Factor: ?Unlike other online services that merely serve as a directory of qualified vendors by industry and proximity, EventNow provides consumers a one-stop-shop of options and immediate proposals and bids.

General Sentiment: ?General Sentiment?s social media analytics deliver insights that change the way brands make product and marketing decisions. General Sentiment provides a dashboard, an API and a custom reporting service, all of which allow corporate executives to comprehensively understand brand perception, identify trending topics in specific industries and optimize the effectiveness of marketing campaigns based in large part on sentiment expressed in social media.

General Sentiment Wow Factor: Fueled by large-scale natural language processing, General Sentiment offers real-time social intelligence to assist clients in interpreting online conversations and discovering actionable social insights.

GroupGifting.com: ?GroupGifting.com?s innovative social and mobile technology, MyGiftWand gifting service, a web and mobile app, promotes friend-to-friend and group gifting. ?The Company emphasizes retailer solutions and social gifting to gain traction with social media marketing efforts while driving real, measurable commerce in the process.

GroupGifting.com Wow Factor: ?Social gifting is a growing phenomenon thanks to the rapid expansion of social and mobile markets, and GroupGifting.com is poised to help retailers capitalize on these growing trends with its flagship application, eGifter. ?Groupgifting.com helps retailers who are experimenting with various ways to realize the promise of social commerce and leverage the invaluable information available in the Facebook Social Graph.

Karma 411: ?Karma 411 provides online social fundraising solutions for nonprofits by facilitating crowd funding, energizing and monetizing events online, and customizing fundraising activities.

Karma411 Wow Factor: ?Karma411?s social networking platform serves as a model for businesses looking to fully integrate traditional websites and application development with new social tools for the web 2.0 world.

Student Launcher: ?An online fundraising platform for schools that leverages social media and crowdfunding to increase a school?s total donor pool and number of donations with fewer resources needed.

Student Launcher Wow Factor: ?A project of Swift Kick, the three-time award winning training/consulting company that has worked with over 250 colleges & universities to increase student engagement and retention, Student Launcher uses social media and web-based solutions to provide schools with free micro-fundraising platforms while collecting fees for ongoing services and credit card processing for each donation.

BoomerPPL: ?A social networking website focused on providing Baby Boomers with many value-added benefits. ?Information on the site includes highly-relevant content on retirement issues and interests, discount member benefits including travel and leisure benefits and, insurance products complementary to offerings currently found on over-50-year-old websites.

BoomerPPL Wow Factor: This new social networking platform provides an opportunity for people of similar age and interests with better networking and information sharing opportunities.

LICA, Accelerate Long Island and Social Media Association will host the Social Media Capital Forum on December 14, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY. ?At the capital forum, the seven selected social media companies will showcase their technologies, applications and services. A panel of investors and industry experts will observe these presentations and provide their insights on the development of the social media industry and its investments prospects. ?For more information about the event, please contact LICA today or register online.

About the Long Island Capital Alliance:
Since 1984, the Long Island Capital Alliance (www.licapital.org), formerly known as Long Island Venture Group, has been promoting business growth on Long Island. LICA seeks to create a productive and business-friendly environment that will afford area businesses access to the resources necessary to compete successfully in today?s markets. LICA serves as a focal point for the exchange of ideas among new and existing business enterprises, successful entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers. Through quarterly capital forums and special meetings, LICA brings together members of the region?s business community, and has been recognized as the place to turn to when small businesses need equity, debt, or other financing, or for investors to find an attractive investment opportunity.

LICA?s mission is to encourage economic development on Long Island by facilitating capital formation for a broad range of companies in various industries, from early stage to mature middle market closely held and publicly-traded businesses. LICA accomplishes this primarily through education, networking, quarterly capital forums, periodic special educational meetings, and alliances with other regional organizations. LICA brings together members of the region?s business community and serves as the finance arm for significant local business and organizations.

About Accelerate Long Island:
Accelerate Long Island (www.accelerateli.org) was created in 2011 to foster the development of an innovation-based economy on Long Island. Long Island?s world class academic and research institutions have approximately $1.2 billion in annual research funding. It is the goal of Accelerate Long Island to commercialize that research into start-up companies in three industry clusters: Information Technology, Biotech/life sciences, and Energy. Accelerate Long Island received a $500,000 grant to start a seed fund for early stage companies, which is matched by $750,000 from the Long Island Emerging Technologies Fund, a partnership of venture capitalists. Accelerate Long Island will provide mentoring to start-ups and is working to attract more venture capital investment to Long Island.

About Social Media Association, Inc.
Social Media Association, Inc. is an independent social media group that provides a platform for teaching, sharing, and learning together in pursuit of empowering, informing and inspiring professionals and social media enthusiasts. ?The organization is a think tank that shines a light on social media for leveraging opportunities and inspiring possibilities to increase brand visibility and enhance business opportunities.
For more information on LICA and its next event, please contact LICA today or register online.

* * *

Contact:

Jordan Darrow

(631) 367-1866

jdarrow@darrowir.com

For more information on HJMT, our clients, or any particular press release
please call our Long Island office at 631.393.0220 or email info@hjmt.com.

Source: http://www.hjmtnewsroom.com/?p=1099

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EPISD: Texas education commissioner's picture incomplete, 2 trustees say

El Paso Independent School District trustees expressed anger at Texas Education Agency Commissioner Michael Williams' decision Thursday to remove them because they'd lost public trust.

Alfredo Borrego, who has been a trustee since 2010, accused Williams of having "a one-sided view" of the school board.

"Is there really a response?" Borrego asked. "There's nothing I can do about it. The political will of El Paso forced their will on the commissioner to make this move. So be it."

Borrego said he received several emails and phone calls of support from his constituents after Williams' announcement on Thursday.

"They said, 'It's not fair. As an elected official, we should not be removed. We should have been allowed

to go into another election and allow people to remove us or re-elect us.' "

School board President Isela Casta?on-Williams said Williams acted on incomplete information.

"I am disappointed with Commissioner Williams' decision, particularly after the board worked diligently to implement all of TEA's mandates and has taken measurable steps to address the very serious failures that occurred during Dr. (Lorenzo) Garc?a's administration," she said.

Trustee David Dodge, who has been on the school board for nine years, was less critical of Williams.

"I know from his personal remarks at the news conference that this was not an easy decision for Commissioner Williams, and I believe with all my heart that, like me and

my fellow trustees, Commissioner Williams wants what is best for EPISD students and employees."

Dodge said he would work to the best of his ability in helping with the transition from the elected school board to the appointed five-member board of managers.

Other trustees did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Current employees of the district said they supported Williams' decision to remove the school board.

Patricia Bulos, an English language arts teacher at MacArthur Elementary-Intermediate School, said it was "sad" that the state needed to step in to remove the school board, but it was necessary.

"It's a step forward in making sure that we start anew and the public is back to trusting and rebuilding EPISD," Bulos said. "I believe (Williams) had to do this for us to move forward. We needed a clean slate and just to start over again with the district's leadership."

Gilbert Medina, a social studies teacher at Bowie High School, which appears to have been the epicenter of administrators' efforts to remove students from school or place them in the wrong grade to cheat federal accountability standards, said, "It's about time" the Texas Education Agency took a drastic measure against the district.

Medina said the school board has failed at removing convicted former Superintendent Lorenzo Garc?a's accomplices still working at the district.

"They should have gone after anyone who committed wrongdoing," Medina said. "They've taken some action, but it hasn't been enough because those individuals who've done wrong are still in a position of power at central office."

City Rep. Susie Byrd, who was an outspoken member of the general-purpose political action committee Kids First! Reform EPISD!, said she was relieved that more competent leaders would be representing the district once the U.S. Department of Justice approves Williams' appointments to the board of managers.

That board would comprise Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, the city of El Paso's chief financial officer; Ed Archuleta, the retiring president and CEO of the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board; outgoing state Rep. Dee Margo; the school district's state monitor, Judy Castleberry; and a fifth member yet to be selected.

"People were increasingly anxious about the fact the school board was doing nothing in light of the cheating scandal," Byrd said. "So little was done to root out the culprits, to fix the organization. ? They have taken action only recently because TEA said, 'You better do something or else.' They've spent a good year being deaf to the fact they have a real responsibility to make right what was wrong."

Leaders of the school district's largest employee unions, however, were hesitant to say the elected school board should have been removed.

Norma De La Rosa, president of the El Paso Teachers Association, said she couldn't say whether it was necessary to replace the school board with a board of managers.

"All I can say is, in listening and talking to community members across the district, the trust was not there," De La Rosa said. "You heard a lot of that mistrust when people spoke at school board meetings."

Lucy Clarke, president of the El Paso Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel, criticized Williams' removal of the school board.

Clarke said voters in the coming school board elections in May should have decided whether to boot three trustees up for re-election.

The school board elections will still take place in May, but the board of managers is likely to be in place by that time, rendering any new trustees ineffective, Clarke said.

"He has said to the people of El Paso, who were truly anticipating the upcoming school board elections, that their vote doesn't count in a sense because of this additional level of governance," Clarke said. "They can stay in place for up to two years."

Like De La Rosa, Clarke said she has a difficult time answering whether the school board needed to be removed.

"My focus is the teacher and support employees of the district," Clarke said. "In talking to my members, they were all over the spectrum, from members saying, 'I can't wait till (the trustees) are gone,' to saying, 'Give them a chance to straighten it out.' There was not a definite consensus, I felt, one way or the other."

Hayley Kappes may be reached at hkappes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6168. Follow her on Twitter @hayleykappes

Source: http://www.findata.co.nz/News/18182465/EPISD_Texas_education_commissioner39s_picture_incomplete_2_trustees_say.htm

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911 texting to be available to most by 2014

1 day

U.S.?cellphone users should be able to send text messages to 911 as soon as 2013, and nearly everyone will by 2014, the Federal Communications Commission has announced.?

AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon will launch the service in some parts of the U.S. in 2013, the FCC said. The wireless carriers have signed an agreement to make emergency texting available to more than 90 percent of American cellphone users by May 15, 2014.?

The service should be a boon to people in situations where calling might be dangerous, and to people with speech and hearing disabilities, the FCC said.?

Before the service is fully deployed, the FCC plans to set up a "bounce back" message so people who text 911 in areas where the service isn't ready will know their text didn't go through. The bounce message, which will instruct people to make a voice call to 911, should be ready nationwide by June 30, 2013.

The FCC has wanted a 911 texting system for a few years now.

In a?2010 press release, the agency referred to the shooting at Virginia Tech, where 33 people were killed, as a motivator.

?"During the 2007 Virginia Tech campus shooting, students and witnesses desperately tried to send texts to 9-1-1 that local dispatchers never received," the release said.

"If these messages had gone through, first responders may have arrived on the scene faster with firsthand intelligence about the life-threatening situation that was unfolding."

Follow TechNewsDaily on Twitter @TechNewsDaily, or on Facebook.

Copyright 2012 TechNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/911-texting-be-available-most-2014-1C7496355

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Little excitement for iPad mini in China

Beijing Wangfujing Street Apple Store before it opened

Beijing Wangfujing Street Apple Store before it opened in October

FORTUNE -- If it wants excitement at its Chinese launch events, Apple (AAPL) may need to rethink the reservation-only system it put in place last January after a dangerous mob?forced it to halt sales of the iPhone 4S in Beijing before they began.

IDG News' Michael Kan reports that turnout for the iPad mini that arrived in mainland China Friday was "nearly nonexistent." There wasn't even the hint of a queue in front of Apple's?newest retail palace in Beijing's famous?Wangfujing Street shopping district, where hundreds gathered on opening day for a chance to take home an Apple T-shirt.

It wasn't clear from Kan's reporting whether it was Apple's reservation system or lack of enthusiasm for the new iPad that kept the crowds away. Presumably there'll be more interest in the iPhone 5 that arrives next Friday.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/magazines_fortune/~3/o5nriU5ikGU/

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Rebels circle Damascus airport; Russia, U.S. downbeat

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad declared Damascus International Airport a battle zone on Friday, while Moscow and Washington both sounded downbeat about the prospects of a diplomatic push to end the conflict.

Fighting around the capital city has intensified over the past week, and Western officials have begun speaking about faster change on the ground in a 20-month-old conflict that has killed 40,000 people.

But Russia and the United States, the superpowers that have backed the opposing sides in the conflict, both played down the chance of a diplomatic breakthrough after talks aimed at resolving their differences.

"I don't think anyone believes that there was some great breakthrough," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said of a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi.

"No one should have any illusions about how hard this remains. But all of us, with any influence, need to be engaged with Brahimi for a concerted, sincere push."

Lavrov said the sides had agreed to send officials to another meeting with Brahimi, but also sounded a skeptical note.

"I would not make optimistic predictions ... It remains to be seen what will come out of this," he added, noting that Brahimi knows the chance of success is "far from 100 percent".

Rebels, meeting in Turkey in the presence of Western security officials, elected a 30-member unified military command, giving prominent posts to Islamists and excluding some senior officers who defected from Assad's army.

Washington and its NATO allies want to see Assad removed from power. Moscow has blocked action against him at the U.N. Security Council, and while outsiders repeatedly point to signs of Russia losing patience with him, its stance has not changed.

The past week has brought a war previously fought mainly in the provinces and other cities to the threshold of the capital.

Cutting access to the airport 20 km (12 miles) from the city center would be a symbolic blow. The rebels acknowledge the airport itself is still in army hands, but say they are blockading it from most sides.

"The rebel brigades who have been putting the airport under siege decided yesterday that the airport is a military zone," said Nabil al-Amir, a spokesman for the rebels' Damascus Military Council.

"Civilians who approach it now do so at their own risk," he said. Fighters had "waited two weeks for the airport to be emptied of most civilians and airlines" before declaring it a target, he added.

He did not say what they would do if aircraft tried to land. Foreign airlines have suspended all flights to Damascus since fighting has approached the airport in the past week, although some Syrian Air flights have used the airport in recent days.

Syria says the army is driving rebels back from positions in the suburbs and outskirts of Damascus where they have tried to concentrate their offensive. Accounts from rebels and the government are impossible to verify on the ground.

"SOME FIGHT LEFT IN THEM"

Although Western opponents of Assad believe events are tipping against him, they also acknowledge that the war is still far from over.

"It's very clear to me that the regime's forces are being ground down," U.S. ambassador to Syria Robert Ford, withdrawn last year, was quoted as saying by CNN. "That said, the regime's protection units continue to maintain some cohesion, and they still have some fight left in them, even though they are losing. I expect there will be substantial fighting in the days ahead."

Rami Abdelrahman, of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has tracked the fighting since it began in March 2011, said: "I think it's unrealistic to expect that the battle is in its last stages right now."

The meeting of rebels in Antalya, Turkey, was aimed at forming a structure to run the conflict in conjunction with a new opposition National Coalition, which some European and Arab states have recognized as Syria's legitimate representatives.

One delegate at the meeting, who asked not to be identified, said two-thirds of the 30 members of the newly named command had ties with the Muslim Brotherhood or were its political allies.

"We are witnessing the result of the Qatari and Turkish creations," said the delegate, referring to leading anti-Assad countries that are seen as backing the Brotherhood.

Colonel Riad Asaad, founder of the Syrian Free Army rebel force, and General Hussein Haj Ali, the highest-ranking officer to defect from Assad's military, were among those excluded.

NATO decided this week to send U.S., German and Dutch batteries of air-defense missiles to the Turkish border, putting hundreds of American and European NATO troops close to the frontier with Syria for the first time in the crisis.

Russia's ambassador to NATO said the move risked dragging the alliance into the conflict.

"This is not a threat to us, but this is an indication that NATO is moving toward engagement, and that's it," Alexander Grushko said. "We see a threat of further involvement of NATO in the Syrian situation as a result of some provocation or some incidents on the border, if they take place.

The Dutch on Friday said they would send two Patriot batteries with up to 360 personnel. Germany approved its mission on Thursday.

The United States and its NATO allies have issued coordinated warnings in recent days to Assad not to use chemical weapons, prompting Syria to accuse Western countries of conjuring the threat to justify a military intervention.

Syria has not signed an international chemical weapons treaty banning poison gas, but has repeatedly said that it would never use such weapons on its own people.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: "We have no confirmed reports on this matter. However, if it is the case, then it will be an outrageous crime in the name of humanity."

(Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Belfast, Khaled Yacoub Oweis in Amman, Peter Apps in London, Steve Gutterman in Moscow and Adrian Croft in London; Writing by Douglas Hamilton and Peter Graff; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rebels-circle-damascus-airport-russia-u-downbeat-013515100.html

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How To Get an Energy Boost Without Caffeine

How To Get an Energy Boost Without CaffeineBetween work, classes, and socializing, life can get pretty hectic. In response, we often rely on caffeinated drinks to keep us going. Sure, everyone knows that caffeine can give you a much-needed jolt, but at what cost? It can also cause headaches, breakouts, and mood swings, just to name a few negative side effects. The good news: there are better, healthier ways to get energy without all that caffeine clogging your system.

How To Get an Energy Boost Without Caffeine

Have a Protein-Filled Snack

Feeling drowsy? Nosh on a protein-packed snack. This is a simple but effective way to keep yourself going throughout the day. Think crunchy apple slices with creamy peanut butter, turkey roll-ups with string cheese, or almonds and dried fruit. If you're crunched for time, pick up a smoothie with a protein boost?most places offer free "boosts." Jamba Juice has a great energy one that has B vitamins in it to help physical and mental stamina. Bonus: it helps your metabolism too!

Pop a B Vitamin

Vitamin B deficiency has been linked to low energy levels, among other things. In fact, mood changes, poor concentration, anxiety, and depression can all be signs of a vitamin B deficiency. So if you're feeling tired regularly, try popping a B-complex vitamin. Most grocers and health food stores carry a variety of brands that you can choose from. Another option is to take a multivitamin, which will help ensure that you're not deficient in other minerals or nutrients. For the best results, take your multivitamin during a meal?preferably breakfast. According to NutriHealth, the nutrients are better absorbed when mixed with the healthy fat in your food.

Try a Quick Workout

When you're tired, hitting the gym is the last thing you want to do. But studies show that a short sweat session can kick up your energy levels for the rest of the day. According to Fitness Magazine, you don't need to pound the treadmill for an hour?a quick jog around the block will do. Feeling unmotivated? Pop in some headphones, cue up your favorite upbeat tunes, and hit the pavement! If you want to stay in your room, a quick set of 25 jumping jacks can help give you a boost.

How To Get an Energy Boost Without Caffeine

Take A Cold Shower

Hot showers are the best for relaxing and winding down. But if your goal is to do the opposite, consider changing the temperature. Cold water stimulates your system and speeds up circulation, resulting in a more alert you. Don't want to give up the soothing heat completely? Try taking a regular shower, then cooling it down for the last 5 minutes or so. It'll still do wonders for your mental awareness. Really not into the cold shower thing? Splash cold water on your face for a midday refresher.

Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals

According to Terri Fant-Franklin, a nutritionist at Kaiser Permanente, changing your eating habits can greatly increase your energy levels. "Having smaller, more frequent meals will keep your calorie flow at a more even pace which helps with energy," Fant-Franklin says. Heavy meals often leave us feeling drowsy, while smaller portions can have the opposite effect. Try to avoid sugary drinks, which are often loaded with caffeine and additives. Chances are, you'll end up crashing later.

Go To Sleep 20 Minutes Earlier

It's easy to procrastinate during the day and put off projects until the wee hours of the night. But this pushes your bedtime back later and later. Before you know it, you wake up on four hours' worth of sleep, tired and cranky. Let's just say that this situation is less than ideal. But there's a simple and effective way to change your habits. Instead of being unrealistic and wishing you could sleep through that 7AM alarm, take action the night before. Aim to hit the sack 20-30 minutes earlier and chances are, you'll end up getting significantly more sleep.

Take a Walk

Taking a brisk stroll has similar effects to working out. According to WebMD, moving your body (even at a slow pace) will have you feeling more alert in just minutes. Since the weather has cooled down, the chilly winter air will also help wake up your senses. Worried you'll get bored? Grab your camera and snap photos of the beautiful fall foliage you see along the way. You can also incorporate this tip into your daily routine by walking instead of taking the bus or driving. Bonus: a leisurely walk is great for clearing up brain fog, which can result from hours spent at a desk or too much computer time. So next time you need a break from doing work or studying, head outside.

Get A (Reflexology) Massage

In the practice of reflexology, your hands and feet are filled with pressure points that relate to specific areas of the body. For example, the top part of your thumbs correlates with your pituitary gland. Massages generally leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, but reflexology takes things one step further and pinpoints specific areas that need work. According to The American Reflexology Certification Board, the practice helps restore balance to the body. Try making an appointment with a specialist or give yourself a quick massage (or recruit a friend to) for a DIY midday pick-me-up. Apply pressure to the different areas on your hands and feet, alternating to stimulate multiple organs. It'll double as a mental break, preparing you for the rest of your busy day!

Talk It Out

Next time you're feeling down and tired, try talking to a friend. Studies show that chatting can help make you feel more alert. Being socially disconnected can trickle into other areas of your life, resulting in negative thoughts and lower levels of productivity. Catching up on gossip will pique your interest and keep you going. Friends too busy to talk? Calling someone works too. Dial your mom's cell and catch up on the latest family news.

How To Get an Energy Boost Without Caffeine

Meditate

The mind is a powerful tool. It's been proven that visualization exercises can help bring you closer to achieving your goals. A recent Miller-McCune article discusses the many benefits of meditation. Next time you're feeling zapped for energy, try this simple exercise: sit on a chair with your back straight and your hands on your knees. Close your eyes and envision yourself feeling positive and energized. Take deep breaths and keep your posture strong. Before long, you'll have an increased sense of mental and physical awareness.

10 Ways To Get Energy Without Caffeine | Her Campus


Dani Wong is a sophomore at the University of San Francisco, where she is double majoring in media studies and journalism. Her true loves include traveling, taking photographs, playing sports, and anything food related.

HerCampus.com is the #1 online community for college women with over 1 million monthly users. Written entirely by the nation's top college journalists?with 3,000+ contributors and counting?HerCampus.com features national content on Style, Beauty, Health, Love, Life, Career, and High School supplemented by local content from 200+ campus chapters across the country. Her Campus covers everything you need to know as a college girl?it is "a collegiette's guide to life."

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Experts Say Charity Shopping No Substitute for Donations ...

December 7, 2012, 10:24 am

While consumers are increasingly combining shopping and giving, making feel-good purchases from stores and companies that offer charity tie-ins, such spending might not significantly benefit organizations and causes, says?Reuters?in its Your Money personal-finance feature.

Sondra Dellaripa of nonprofit consultant Harvest Development Group said charitable shopping ?undermines the philanthropy of a nonprofit through diminished charitable donations? and bypasses the crucial work of developing relationships with donors.

The article offers advice on understanding shopping with a charity benefit.

This entry was posted in News-updates. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://philanthropy.com/blogs/philanthropytoday/experts-say-charity-shopping-no-substitute-for-donations/59161

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What's Caught Your Interest in This Week's Open Thread?

What's Caught Your Interest in This Week's Open Thread?It's the end of another week and the weekend is just waiting for you to fill it up. What's got your interest today? Talk to us about anything you want in this week's Open Thread.

Same drill as always, open-threaders: You can chat and ask questions with your fellow readers all week long at the #openthread hashtag page, but our weekly open thread post is your opportunity to reach the most people. Ask questions, offer advice, discuss productivity tips, or just chat about whatever's on your mind. You'll need a commenter account to participate, then you're ready to roll.

An extra reminder: If you're not quite satisfied with the interaction in the weekly open thread or in #tips, remember that you can also share your expertise every day on our Expert Pages.

Photo by micahb37.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/2WAKDEx2VLc/whats-caught-your-interest-in-this-weeks-open-thread

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