Karen’s Opinion

because My Opinion Counts

Archive for April, 2011


Movies That Don’t Promote Bad Health Choices

I often tease my husband because he has the ability to pick some horrible movies when choosing movies at the video store. It is like they call out to him, “pick me! pick me!” I have to say though, he redeemed himself by choosing two good movies this past Friday. Yes, two great movies! The best one was Three Days with Russell Crowe. I can’t begin to describe that movie without giving the plot away so I’ll just say, I recommend it. The other movie was The Tourist. Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie make a dynamic couple. You could feel the tension between them. I am not sure how to explain the movie but it had twists and turns that kept me trying to figure out what was happening. It was filmed in France and Italy so was especially fun to see the beautiful scenery.

During one of the scenes of The Tourist, Johnny Depp was smoking one of those electric cigarettes that are supposed to help you quit smoking. I don’t know about the success rate for them but I have read about a product that has been very successful for many people. CiGRX is a small mint-flavored lozenge that temporarily reduces the urge to light up a nasty cigarette. The great thing about cigrax is that the cigrx side effects are minimal. In fact, it contains natural dietary ingredients: yerba mate (mah-TAY) and anatabine (an-AT-a-been). Extracts of mate are found in Yerba mate’s chemical components and are similar to those found in green tea. Anatabine, an alkaloid found in tobacco is also used to make CigRX. The chemical make up of CigRX using anatabine and yerba mate make a less addictive solution to help one to stop smoking.

I do appreciate the position of movie makers who show that smoking is not a good idea instead of the producers who take money from cigarette manufacturers to fund their productions.

How Can We Make this Happen?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Flat World Knowledge for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I think that most of us know that the key to a good job is education. That said, it is becoming more difficult to afford a good education. Now, on top of rising tuition costs, we have to consider the rising price of fuel. Most everything relies on transportation. Even if you don't drive to school, you are affected by the cost of fuel. Have you checked out the price of eggs and milk. Yes, every time the price of fuel goes up, product pricing increases. It is a vicious circle. Who is hurt the most? The next generation.

At least someone is trying to do something to help those who are going to school or thinking about returning to school. Flat World Knowledge is working, through the use of technology, to make textbooks affordable. They are working with professors and schools to maintain an open textbook arena. Once a textbook is approved for the arena, the cost is reduced and sometimes is even free. Different offerings require different pricing of course but the majority of the cost change introduced by Flat World Knowledge gives a student the financial improvement to their budget instead of holding a Textbook Rebellion. What Flat World Knowledge offers by using their platform is free online books, while offline books cost around $35 for print, and $25 for other formats. (Student choice being the optimum for greater learning). Studies have shown that colleges using Flat World open textbooks have demonstrated significant (10-15%) increases in course completion rates where open textbooks were used vs. traditional books. Other significant factors

It does seem to me that now is the time for change. Many of my friends have lost their jobs and are attending college to train for a new field. If we can Spread the word , we will all benefit. The worse thing we can do is bury our head in the sand and hope that everyone can afford education without benefit of changes needing to be made. Why not require the same text book for every college class that offers statistics? Why does one college need to require one book and another college require another? It doesn't make sense. An open platform would be so much better. Did you know that the average cost of textbooks spent by students in the 2010-2011 school year was on average $1137! If you think that is high just wait until next year when we see another increase in the cost. Instead, we should follow the example of 1600+ professors in 900 schools who have adopted FlatWorld's books.

If we are to get back to being the country with the most educated population, we need to be the best at garnering information in the most economical way possible.

Flat World Knowledge is making a difference. In fact, Flat World has raised over $27mil over the last 2 years in venture capital to build a sustainable model to build open content.

Visit their site and request more info

Stepping off my soapbox.


Visit Sponsor's Site

Get Organized!

I just finished reading my newly received issue of Good Housekeeping. I have a love/hate relationship with the magazines I receive in the mail. I love to read them but I want to read them from back cover to front. I have to know everything that is in them. What a big chunk of time it takes to read a good magazine! Yes, I typed that correctly: I read from back cover to front. Doesn’t everyone? Is that what they call being left brained?

I found the article written about Heidi Klum particularly interesting. It sounds like she worked mighty hard to get where she is today. I find myself drawn to her because she seems to be down to earth and loyal to her family. She is goofy at times and I like to see celebrities who don’t take themselves too seriously.

One part of the article talked about how she keeps track of things. She uses different colored pens on her family organizer. What a terrific idea! With a glance, she can see what her kids have going on. If she has a conflict, she can make necessary changes and keep things running smoothly. A family calendar keeps her from missing her children’s doctor appointments and sporting events. Can you imagine juggling her schedule with Fashion Runway events, her husband’s concerts and 4 children to keep track of? With all the technology we have today, I am surprised she doesn’t get up to speed and use KitchenHub Family Organizer.

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This user friendly software program would allow her to use her phone to check their busy schedule. It allows for checking the weather and one’s email. All members of the family can have access to it so everyone stays on track. What a great idea! KitchenHub Family Organizer uses color coded tabs too! This software also has the capability of storing addresses, shopping lists and important medical information. These are just a few of the helpful applications of the software. A family should not be without KitchenHub Family Organizer.

A Bit of Humor

I looked in the hotel room’s nightstand drawer this weekend and was pleased to find that the Gideon group is still putting Bibles in hotel rooms.
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I Won!

I have read Sara’s blog, Red Pine Mountain for awhile now. If you want to read an uplifting account of caring for animals and building a life in the beautiful mountains of Vermont, her blog is for you. You might even win something by entering her giveaways. I won a fantastic cookbook, The Settlement Cookbook 1903. I started to say, new cookbook, but it is, as described on the back cover, a cooking and homemaking primer for newly arrived immigrants. It has old fashioned recipes that use the most basic recipes. This will probably become one of my favorite cookbooks! Of course, my regular readers know that it is my husband that does the cooking in our house so it might become his favorite cookbook. We shall see! Thanks Sara!

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I have been wanting to make these…

Mint Julep

Large Thin Julep Glass-Dissolve one teaspoon fine sugar in water, one dash Maraschino, one glass whiskey or brandy, as preferred four or five sprigs mint held to side of glass, leaves up. Fill up with fine ice and do not bruise the mint. Trim with fruits. If prefered mint can be bruised, but above is the regular Southern julep.

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