Déjà vu is a common feeling for some people. You might be one of them. Have you ever known something was going to happen before it did? Maybe you dreamed about a series of events and then, the next day, they came true. This sensation is known as intuition, and it’s not something everyone experiences.
Intuition can be thought of as a mild form of clairvoyance or clairaudience. Clairvoyance deals with sight-seeing something before it happens-and clairaudience refers to sound-hearing something beforehand. Some experts lump intuition under the category of extra sensory perception, or ESP. But regardless of what you call it, very strong intuition is rare. Not often do people see the future. But many people do experience occasional intuitive moments, which can be cultivated to allow intuition to become stronger.
Developing your natural intuition takes time and energy, but it can lead to a better understanding of yourself and other people. This can make you a better communicator. And with practice, you may be able to use you intuitive power to eradicate negative energy.
There are simple ways to take control of the gift of intuition. First, and most importantly, spend time thinking about the déjà vu moments you experience. Is there anything about them, besides the obvious fact that they were predetermined in your mind, which sets them apart from the rest of your life? You may not be able to answer this question, but the exercise will open your mind to the idea of intuition. From thinking about your specific intuitive moments, you can then move into a more general state of meditation, which will help cultivate your intuition because your body and mind will be at peace.
Keep a journal of all the moments when you experience intuition, even if you’re not sure why you feel intuitive then. Read back over the journal weekly, looking for any patterns. This is a good way to realize your intuitive power, but be sure to allow yourself to feel forms of intuition other than what you record. Be open to all experiences, and your intuition will surprise you, probably when you least expect it!
See a professional who is gifted with ESP and have him or her tell you what the gift feels like. Also, get hypnotized or get a deep-tissue massage. Do anything that will bring to a state of total relaxation, where intuition can take over.
Don’t dwell on the negative. Harnessing your intuition is all about opening your mind. Ruminating on bad experiences is the best way to avoid intuitive moments. Try to think positively. Be open to new possibilities and see life as an adventure.
Most of all don’t get discouraged if you’re not suddenly clairvoyant. Intuition is a gift that not everyone has. Even if you try hard to develop your intuition, you may not be successful. Appreciate the good things in your life and think about your many other gifts. Who knows, developed intuition may still come to you, but it’s best not to wait for it.
In a world overloaded with digital information, websites are a dime a dozen. Few are the ones that stick out – can you name 3 websites and give a description of how they look?
Finding the right look for your digital presence can be exhausting. Most of the website owners out there have no idea how to code a single line of HTML – lucky for them, they don’t have to. Instead, they just need a bit of time to find a website template design that fits their business needs.
Beyond the idea of a template that fits your business needs, though, there are some things to keep in mind so that you don’t end up with a website that screams “template!” – or, worse, looks exactly the same as your competitor’s website because they purchased their design from the same place you did.
Tips on Finding the Perfect Template
First and foremost: AVOID the big names! Sure, the big-name template sites have some really flashy, often inspiring designs. It’s because of this that you need to avoid them – you’re not the only person to think they have great designs. Nope, instead you’re looking at a website template that has been viewed, purchased, and/or downloaded by thousands of people – literally. Worse yet is that most of these big-name sites became such a big name that they have decided to become even bigger … and allow hundreds of resellers to offer their templates on different websites.
In other words, the Internet is saturated with the templates by big-name sites. Not only can you purchase them at dozens of places, but you can see them being used unaltered in dozens of places, too.
Okay, so with that out of the way what else should you look for?
* Exclusivity –
How many times has the template been sold, and how many times will it be sold before it’s removed? There are very, very few sources that offer totally-unique template designs, but they do exist. Look for a source that sells a single template no more than 6 times, and/or offers a unique license. With a unique license, you’ll pay a little bit more to get the design but won’t have to worry about finding another site just like yours later down the road.
* Originality –
Many websites that are created from a template have a “template look”. Web designers familiar with the bigger names, especially, can quickly point out which websites were purchased from which company. Look for a design that is unique and portrays your business image. Don’t choose one just because it “looks cool” – it needs to have every element you want for your business, and the graphics need to scream with appropriateness for your business type.
* Editability –
No matter how close the design you choose comes to perfect, it won’t be perfect. You’ll need to change some graphics, alter text, and any number of small issues. To do this, you’ll want source files. Look for packages that include Photoshop source files, completely editable flash files, and font files if they’re using something unique.
Little-Known Sources of Great Website Templates
If you’re looking for a unique template, you can guarantee you’ll want to avoid the first 5 pages or so of a search engine’s results. These are the sites that get hit by thousands – sometimes millions – of visitors a day, and won’t be able to offer you something that umpteen people aren’t already using.
There are always bad apples in the bunch, and it can be scary to go with a little-known name for your design needs. A few shining stars can be found, though, and these beacons of graphical inspiration can offer everything you could possibly need for your website.
In no particular order, some of the best of the bunch include:
TemplateSpace – www.templatespace.com –
This one is mainly for the designers out there who work with websites on a regular basis and need plenty of starter ideas to begin with. TemplateSpace doesn’t sell individual templates – instead, they offer an annual membership that gives you access to more than 1000 website templates, 5000 web images, fonts, logos, banners, and great support. Their prices are reasonable and they actually let you preview their full collection of work before you decide whether or not to become a member – no nasty little surprises amounting to disappointment.
Like the idea but not too impressed with TemplateSpace’s selection? Try out DesignLoad – http://www.designload.net/home.html – their work is a bit “edgier” but filled with design goodness.
3Legs – www.3legs.com.au –
They say some of the best things come from down under … and 3Legs definitely helps the case. Here you will find template packs that are astonishing in their clean lines and aesthetic appeal, but don’t cost you a lot of money. In fact, because this site is based in Autrallia, you’ll pay less than you would with a US-based website.
DeonixDesign – www.deonixdesign.com –
These guys aren’t a “big” name yet … but don’t be surprised if they become one! Their work is truly quality, backed by years of design experience, and it’s not just a script reselling another company’s work – you get something unique here.
Articles abound about how to be a good tutor, but few tell a student what to expect and how to prepare for a tutoring session. With proper groundwork, the meeting can be much more lucrative for both parties, resulting in less “wasted” time.
First, students should do the homework just like they would for class (or should). That may involve reading the chapter, answering questions on a worksheet or doing sample problems. If specific terms or problems are causing the trouble, the student should mark them.
When the tutor arrives, the first question will probably be something like, “What are you having trouble with?” The answer needs to be as specific as possible. “I don’t understand what I should put under assets and liabilities in this kind of situation” is much clearer than “journaling.” Having specific sample problems or concepts written down will help the tutor focus on the immediate problem rather than spend time discussing issues the student already understands.
Having some previous tests or scored homework as well as a class syllabus can also help the tutor see where the solutions lie. For instance, a tutor may notice that the same types of problems are consistently missed or that the issue may more likely be test anxiety rather than the subject matter. Knowing the instructor’s expectations, a tutor may be able to guide students along the best path to pass the class or what kinds of questions to anticipate on an exam.
Students should have appropriate expectations for the tutoring session, as well. Many students expect a tutor to help them with their homework, but a good tutor won’t. Instead, he/she will pick similar problems or issues and discuss with the student how to complete them or what they mean, asking questions along the way. A tutoring session is meant to help students grasp the concepts they are struggling with rather than help them get a good grade on a single assignment.
Tutoring sessions can often help students with more than content material, as well. Most tutors are versed in study skills, the aptitudes that apply to nearly all courses. These ideas include reading skills, test-taking, and time management.
Reading skills can be vital for students who read a chapter over and over, wasting a lot of study time, and so need some advice on how to read less and comprehend more. A common tactic tutors use is to tell students to turn headings in the text into questions. They should then read until they can answer the question. For example, a heading that says “Medicine of Ancient Egypt” is easily turned into the question “what were the medicines available in Ancient Egypt?” As the student reads, the answers to the questions can be highlighted, underlined or written down in notes. Then there is no need to re-read that section; studying is done by reading the marked portions only.
Test-taking tips largely help students with time and confidence during exams. Questions that are obvious answers should be answered first. Then the focus should be on point value. If an essay question is worth 50 points and the 10 multiple-choice questions left are worth 1 point each, time should be spent on the essay question. The others are usually easily answered in a couple minutes at the end. Sometimes students feel a sudden panic during a test, causing them to forget all the answers. Sitting back, taking some deep breaths, and doing some positive self-talk (“I am doing just fine. I studied hard and know these answers. If time is short, I just need to focus”). The 15 seconds it takes for this exercise will more than make up for itself.
For other students, time management is the biggest problem. Using a block schedule in which time is marked for study as well as relaxation can alleviate some of the stress about schoolwork as long as the schedule is followed. A tutor can help devise a workable schedule that the student can stick to.
If any of these issues are bothersome, the student should be prepared to discuss that with the tutor, as well. Working in concert, practicing good study habits as well as filling in gaps in content knowledge can help a student catch up quickly and also create a good base for further learning.
A good tutoring session can leave everyone satisfied: tutor, student, and whoever is paying the bill. Preparation by the student is the most important element for creating such a good session.
Boat insurance is one of those rare things that really doesn’t fit into another category at all. While motorcycle insurance can be grouped with other small ATV insurances, boat insurance exists in a world of its own. Due in part to the enormous variety of boats available today, finding out just how much boat insurance costs is, of course, better asked of an insurance agent. For the preliminaries, however, you’ve come to the right place.
Buying boat insurance requires more research than would be necessary with the purchase of auto insurance. The reason is that many auto insurers don’t insure boats. While there are several notable insurance companies which do, by and large, boat insurance is a specialty item, and there are companies dedicated solely to boat insurance.
Typically, finding out how much boat insurance is going to cost requires the factoring in of just about every angle of the boat, and its captain (you!) Low-risk owners live in safe neighborhoods, typically provide sheltered, secured storage for their boat, or use a secured marina, and regularly keep up on maintenance. Boat insurance companies will look at your credit report, previous accidents or traffic tickets (automobile tickets can factor in) as well as age when determining your personal status for insurability on a boat. When they look at the boat itself, they’ll look at the size of the boat, where you intend to store it, how much power the boat engine(s) produce, and how expensive the boat was. For instance, if you are a 16- year old with no experience looking to insure a $80,000 speedboat that you intend to store in front of yourhouse, chances are good that your boat insurance agent will soon be purchasing a boat of his or her own on what you’ll spend in premiums.
There are predominantly two different types of boat insurance currently available: boat owner policies and yacht policies. As you might expect, boat owner policies are considerably less expensive than yacht policies, but what you might not know about this type of boat insurance is that in reality, most boats fit into this category. Boat insurance for boat owners cover single motor boats under 26′. These boat insurance policies are generally of a fixed amount. On the other hand, boat insurance for yachts is generally pretty expensive, but can be had with custom limits and coverage to better take into account that these larger boats may have more expensive furnishings or even be used (or lived on) more often than a typical boat might.
Just as there are no single types of boat on the waters, boat insurance comes in practically all shapes and sizes. While there is a wealth of information online regarding boat insurance, the only way to truly learn how much boat insurance will cost is to contact your insurance agent, who will either provide you a quote, or point you in the right direction.
Now that students are back to school, kids are settling into their homework routines. They’re bringing home more work than ever and physically, they’re paying for it. Backpacks are the most common way students carry their books back and forth to class. There is evidence that links heavy backpack use leads to back pain in more and more children.
You can help prevent your child from becoming one that suffers from backpack misuse. Be sure to purchase a backpack that has wide padded straps and padded back. It helps distribute the weight over your shoulders and prevents slouching. Also make sure the backpack is lightweight and it’s the right size. It shouldn’t be larger than the child’s back and should be appropriate for the child’s needs. If it’s large enough to carry a college student’s workload, your child will more than likely load more in it just because they can. Also look for a bag that has a waist strap. It may not be fashionable, but it will put some of the weight on the hips instead of the back and also prevents slouching.
Of course the bag isn’t relevant if the child isn’t well prepared from what they put inside the bag. Overloading a backpack is the primary reason that it leads to back and shoulder injuries. For young children who weigh 60-75 pounds shouldn’t carry any more than 10 lbs and nobody should carry a backpack weight more than 25 lbs. People should pack the heaviest items at the bottom of the bag and flat items against the back. This transfers the heavy weight to the hips and pointy and bulky items away from the back. You should also make sure your child is always using both of the shoulder straps and that they’re tightened so the bag only hangs slightly below the shoulders. Make sure you child is only using the bag when they need to. If it’s only one book, have them carry it instead of using a backpack.
Children have enough to worry about without having to worry about back pain from backpacks. Try talking to the teachers to see if there are spare books that can keep at home or purchase a second set. That way, they won’t have to transport the books from school to home every day. Also, see if they can use handouts for small chapters instead of books. If your child participates in separate activities and only uses one bag, have them use separate backs instead. If that fails, have them try different styles of bags like saddle bags or rolling bags. Just make sure that they don’t have to lean too far to reach the handle of the rolling bag. This causes the same kind of damage from having to slouch and lean down.
By making these small changes, you will become more aware of how your child responds to their backpacks and prevent future back pain. They’re far too young to have such serious injuries when it’s such a small aspect of their lives and is preventable.
