Tours Travel

Time to buy a vacation home?

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With the uncertainty of the stock market, people are looking for alternative ways to invest. Real estate has always been a good place to invest for the long term. It’s true that real estate values ​​are down right now; however, historically, the real estate market has always recovered. Over the past few years we have seen an extraordinary increase in market value, and investors have been able to buy and “sell” the property quickly for a profit. Those days have passed; however, for the buyer who is willing to hold the property for the long term, a good profit can be made.

Today there is a lot of news about the housing market decline and a large number of foreclosures. That should not be expected to be the case in many tourist areas. Many tourist areas have seen relatively few foreclosures and almost no sub-prime loans. You’re not likely to find a depressed market in beachfront condos, but for those willing to walk a half block to the beach, prices may be significantly lower than a year ago. This is not so much due to the economic crisis, but to over-construction that created too much supply for demand. As the existing inventory of real estate depletes, we should see a smooth rebound in property values. Values ​​could fall further, but construction is unlikely to have slowed and surplus inventory has decreased. For the buyer who intends to hold the property as a long-term investment in a family vacation home or as a retirement home, there should eventually be a return on investment.

Most families plan their vacations well in advance; however, many times they just want to take advantage of a weekend getaway. It is not always easy to make “spontaneous” arrangements for accommodation. This is not a problem when you own your own vacation home. When buying a vacation property, you need to consider your preferred lifestyle. After all, the purpose is to buy a place for you and your family to enjoy. Are you best suited for a condo, house, or townhouse? Do you prefer the beach, an inland island or a golf villa? Do you prefer the beach or the bay for boating and fishing? Do you prefer winter sports?

To help pay for the vacation home, consider renting it out to tourists when you’re not using it. During this period of uncertainty, many people stay in the state and travel closer to home. Homes and condos in resort communities provide all the comforts of home with the option to eat in or out with plenty of activities that don’t cost a lot of money, if anything, like pools and beaches or fishing from docks and piers. There is always the option to mix up some paid activities. Often times for a family, renting a vacation home is cheaper than a couple of hotel rooms when occupancy limits and comfort prohibit a family of five or six from occupying a single room.

For buyers, mortgage rates are cooperating. Rates are slightly higher for investment properties, but if your property qualifies as a second home, you can save a point or two. Often times, a monthly mortgage payment is less than or equal to a week’s rental income during peak season. It would be possible to pay off the mortgage with a twelve-week rental. There is no guarantee that you will have a twelve week rental at peak season prices, and there are other expenses to consider such as utilities, condo or association owed, property taxes, property management, etc. One useful consideration is that there are a growing number of retirees who are choosing to leave the cold climate of the northern states to “overwinter” in the warmer coastal and southern climates. These people add to the support of the vacation home. In other words, it may not cover all of your expenses; however, it will cover most as your property increases in value. And don’t forget about the potentially beneficial income tax deductions.

When calculating your earnings, keep in mind that tax deductions are allowed if you rent your home when you are not using it yourself. While the following are believed to be true, you should consult an accountant or tax professional before having the information, and do not hesitate to call the Internal Revenue Service for clarification.

You can rent your vacation home up to fourteen days a year without having to declare it on your income statement. If you rent more than that, you must declare the income; however, you can deduct many expenses. Most of your association dues cover deductible expenses. You take deductions for all the same things that are deducted for any rental property, insurance, utilities, repairs and improvements. Let’s go over this. Unless the rules change, if your personal use amounts to more than fourteen days a year, or more than 10% of the number of days the house is rented, whichever is longer, the house is considered your residence. If you use it for less than fourteen days, or less than 10% of the time it is offered for rent to third parties, it is considered a rental property.

What about those who buy a vacation home and are considering retirement while still owning it? If one occupies that vacation home for at least two of the five years before retirement, couples could qualify for up to $ 500,000 in tax-free earnings, or $ 250,000 for a single person, on the sale. The first home would have to be sold first, but that home may also qualify if it stays within that five-year period. Check with a tax professional or the IRS before taking the plunge to make sure the rule is still in effect.

No one should buy a vacation rental property on the assumption that it will pay for itself, especially if there is a large mortgage involved. If you are lucky enough to pay in cash or have a very small mortgage, you are more likely to make an annual profit. Ask to see a rental history for the property you are considering. If it hasn’t been used as a rental before, ask your agent to look up comparable property histories. If you can cover your mortgage, taxes, association fees, insurance, utilities, and unexpected repairs, you may make a profit, or at least have a second home that the tenants are paying for, and you can make your profit from the future sale. . If you can’t see a profit from the rental, the difference is worth the investment for the future and your ability to vacation there for as long as you own.

Please note that peak rental season may be the same time that you and your family will want to use the property, usually in the summer. Try to plan your spring or fall vacation when the weather is still good and there are few tourists. If you have school-age children, plan for the first week of summer vacation or the last week before school starts. Most families do not travel the first week after the end of the semester and plan to return home just before school starts to buy clothes and school supplies. Of course, leave July for your tenants. You may also want to wear it on Christmas, and if you’re within a short commute time, aim for long weekends that aren’t federal holidays, but maybe staff development days when the kids aren’t in. the school. While many tourist areas, like South Padre Island, see a lot of traffic and visitors on those long federal holiday weekends, there aren’t as many overnight guests as one would think. You are more likely to see local visitors who live close enough to go home at night. If you want to rent on those long weekends to those staying overnight, try offering a special rate, rather than trying to increase the rate. You’ll be closer to attracting those who travel all weekend, and a little rent is better than no rent.

Choosing the right place to invest is essential. Look for a resort location with affordable housing. Find a place with good properties that are affordable for you. Jennifer Openshaw, AOL’s family finance editor, says choose locations with heavy inventory under $ 350,000. The location should be within a few hours of travel time from major cities. There must be an active vacation rental market there, and plenty of activities for the family and certainly for your lifestyle. The city should have room to grow.

While other locations may be more suitable for you, I, of course, think one should look to South Padre Island, TX, where I live and work. If you need to be beach or bay front, and you can use a smaller condo, you can stay under that $ 350,000 mark. For those willing to head back to the other side of Gulf Blvd., which runs the length of the beachfront skyscrapers, there are many, many condos and townhomes to choose from with easy beach access and priced at $ 100,000 to $ 350,000, depending on your needs. In fact, the entire island is only a mile wide from bay to gulf, so one can easily walk from bay to beach. There are many nice and fairly new 2 and 3 bedroom condos in the $ 180,000 to $ 250,000 range. Just look at our listings to see. In the past, SPI has seen annual increases in property values ​​of up to 20%, and while that may not happen again, we will see more realistic and consistent increases in the future. South Padre Island attracts shoppers from all over the state. It is a 1 hour drive from McAllen, less than an hour from Valley Regional Airport in Harlingen or Brownsville / South Padre Island Airport in Brownsville. Driving time is about 4 hours from San Antonio, about 6 hours from Houston and Austin, and only about 3 hours from Corpus Christi. While there are other coastal resorts closer to some of these cities, South Padre Island has superior beaches, bays, and accommodations, at least in the opinion of many.

Only about five miles of the roughly 35-mile-long island have been populated, and we see potential for growth in the north. New developments are already moving north.

In terms of activities, South Padre Island is a popular place for boating and fishing, fun at the Schlitterbahn water park, bird watching with more than 300 recorded species, windsurfing, kite surfing, and sailing. The island has an entertainment district that offers bayside restaurants and open-air clubs where you can dine informally and listen to all kinds of music. Here you can see fireworks over the bay every Friday night from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For those brave enough, there are bungee jumping and go-karting. For those who want to dine well, there are several restaurants to choose from. And in just thirty minutes, you can visit Mexico for dinner, shopping, and a taste of Mexican culture and crafts. See our page on things to do. Right on the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway, eighteen holes of golf await the golfer at one of the best golf courses in the Rio Grande Valley. And there are plenty of affordable real estate there too, with a good vacation rental record.

Arts Entertainments

Wearing polyester clothing can be dangerous to your health

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There are many good reasons to choose eco-friendly clothing over polyester clothing. Polyester clothing is produced from petroleum, which is an obviously unsustainable resource. It also takes a great deal of energy to produce polyester and since it is not biodegradable it fills up our landfills.

But new research also suggests that polyester may not be good for our health. Due to its synthetic structure, polyester clothing produces a very strong electrostatic potential. Recently, researchers have begun to explore the impact of electrostatic potential on our health. This investigation is revealing and terrifying.

One study, reference Shafik A, 2007, explored the effect of different types of textiles on pregnancy in 35 pregnant dogs divided equally into a control and four experimental groups. During pregnancy, the test groups dressed in a garment made of pure polyester, cotton or wool, or a 50/50 blend of polyester and cotton. Serum estradiol 17B and progesterone were measured before and every 15 days during pregnancy. The electrostatic potential on the skin was evaluated before and after wearing the garment.

Dogs wearing cotton, wool, and a polyester-cotton blend, as well as five of the seven wearing pure polyester garments, had normal serum estradiol and progesterone during pregnancy and produced normal offspring. The remaining two animals in the pure polyester group showed low serum progesterone levels in the first month of gestation and had spontaneous abortions. Mating was attempted in these two dogs during the subsequent estrous cycle without forcing them to wear polyester garments. The serum levels of reproductive hormones were normal and they produced normal offspring. Electrostatic potential was detected in the skin only of the polyester-coated groups, and it was higher in the pure polyester groups than in the mixed polyester groups.

Given the low number of participants in this study, no conclusions could be drawn. However, the fact that low serum progesterone and abortion was seen only in the pure polyester group is cause for concern. The abortion appears to be due to low serum progesterone that may have resulted from the deleterious effect of PD on ovarian or placental function.

Although this study was not statistically conclusive, previous research, referenced Shafik, 1999, conducted in human males was very clear. In the 1999 experiment, the impact of polyester on spermatogenesis was investigated. In that study, 11 male subjects wore polyester underwear. All subjects wearing polyester underwear developed a significant electrostatic charge in the scrotum. Of the 11 subjects, 4 individuals developed a significant reduction in sperm count as well as testicular degeneration after 14 months. In a control group wearing cotton underwear, no change in sperm count was observed.

Removal of polyester underwear produced a complete reversion in affected subjects to normal sperm count and removal of electrostatic potential.

The study went further to explore the possibility of using polyester as a male contraceptive. The contraceptive effect of a polyester sling applied to the scrotum was studied in 14 men who wore a polyester suspender for 12 months.

The sling consisted of polyester fabric and was designed so that the scrotum would sit within it.

The suspender was worn day and night and changed when it got dirty. I won’t go into the essential details, but the bottom line is that ALL subjects became azoospermic, zero sperm counts, after approximately 140 days. The good news is that the process was reversible.

It seems clear to this author that polyester has a real and negative impact on the human body, apparently due to the significant electrostatic potential produced by the fabric.

If you are trying to have children and you are a man, I suggest you get all the polyester underwear out of your drawers. If you are a woman, I suggest you take no chances and avoid wearing polyester clothing, at least during pregnancy. And while you’re at it, stock your wardrobe with some eco-friendly clothes. Not only will the planet appreciate it, but so will your health!

Technology

Be Skinny and Petty and Keep Your Good Look for Life – Book Review

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Have overweight? Have you noticed that every time you try a new diet, it works for a while and then you lose weight again? Do you know friends who can’t seem to stay the course or lose those extra pounds even though they know it’s damaging their health? Would you like to know a plan that really works, one that makes sense, but also encompasses lifestyle changes?

Well then it’s time for you to lose weight now, but don’t you dare ask me how, rather, let me recommend you a very good book that I think you should read from a very popular self-help diet author, who knows. a little bit on the topic of weight loss, dieting, nutrition and exercise, all the topics you need to know to create the changes in your life to achieve your goals and become a slimmer, slimmer and slimmer person . So without further ado, this is the book that I would like to recommend to you:

“Lean for Life – a six week program”, by Cynthia Stamper Graff, Lean for Life Publishing (desktop publishing), Costa Mesa, CA, 2001, 262 pages, ISBN: 0-9777253-0-8.

Turns out the author is also the CEO of one of the largest weight loss centers in the country, and this book begins with a dozen testimonials from people who had lost more than 50 pounds each – wow! This book is about taking a personal journey, making a lifestyle change, and living a fuller, but more agile life because of it. This book is not for anyone who is not serious or who refuses to make those changes, which will be for the better. It is not for the lazy people or the uncommitted soul who wants to take diet pills and end the day, or try the latest Hollywood crash diet fad. This is real and for really serious people. That said, it’s fun too, and the results make readers believers.

It is basically a two phase approach that encompasses 6 vital ingredients for weight loss. The reader will learn about ketosis as it is an important part of this diet plan. After educating the reader, the book explains day by day and step by step the need for protein, an adequate intake of calories, carbohydrates, fluids, electrolytes and the reality behind the charts and graphs of the body mass index, as well as the genetic components of a healthy diet. It’s all there, and you’ll learn a ton about how you’re overweight and how to stay slim and slim without ruining your style or ruining the fun in your life.

Every day there is more to know, more to learn, and you read as you go. It’s no wonder this book and plan have worked so well for so many people. In fact, this is why I would like to recommend this work to you, if your previous diets have failed and left you disappointed with yourself and the results. Consider all of this and think about it.

Business

Small Business Loan Proposal

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Applying for a small business loan can be exciting and stressful at the same time. For the best results and to increase your confidence level, be prepared when you visit the lender of your choice for your business loan interview. Once you’ve prepared your business plan, begin preparing for the loan by writing a loan proposal to present to the lender.

The loan proposal should include crucial information and lots of details about you and your business or business idea. You should indicate who you are, how much money you need and where the money will be spent, how you plan to repay the loan, and what you plan to do in the event that you cannot repay the loan.

The following are key items to include in your loan proposal.

1. Summary.

This should appear first in your proposal, but will be written last. It should contain clear, concise, accurate and attractive information about your business or business ideas. It should summarize how the proposed loan will be used, how it will be repaid, and how it will benefit your business. Remember your competition in your loan proposal summary and point out the characteristics of your business that are different from your competitors.

2. Management profiles.

The administrative profile section of the loan proposal should explain, most importantly, who you are. Be prepared to reveal everything about yourself and your experience. Include a current resume as part of the loan proposal, as well as a summary of your skills, qualifications, and other credentials for yourself, as well as for all other owners and key members of your management team.

3. Commercial description.

It is not necessary to indicate the same information mentioned in your business plan as in your loan proposal. However, you must present a solid description of the business. Include a brief history of the business in your loan proposal and detail current activities. If it is a new business, explain the details of the business that will be developed. Your goal will be to clearly demonstrate that you fully understand your markets, your competitors, and the industry, including current trends or risks, and how you plan to overcome those potential dilemmas. If the loan is for an existing business, include documentation detailing your products or services, such as current sales sheets, brochures, or catalogs. Include attachments to your loan proposal for this section, such as letters from vendors, clients, or other business references. Show through these letters that you provide excellent customer service and that you pay your creditors.

4. Commercial projections.

Create at least two years of projected income statements and cash flow statements. Your projections must be clearly stated and, more importantly, they must be realistic in nature. In general, you probably don’t need to present “worst case” or “best case” unless the lender asks you to write projections that way. However, you should be prepared to answer questions related to what you will do if some of your projections do not go as planned. For example, if you anticipate landing a large new contract or client based on business loan improvements, and that contract never materializes, you could drastically change your loan proposal projections.

5. Financial statements.

Your loan proposal should include business and personal financial statements. Keep in mind that the lender will thoroughly analyze your financial statement history, calculating all ratios. Be prepared to point out any significant trends you may have shown in an introductory paragraph.

6. Purpose of the loan.

One of the most important parts of your loan proposal is a detailed description of how you will use the loan proceeds. Have a good understanding of the type of loan you need and remember to include the loan proceeds in your cash flow projections, as well as interest in your projected income statement.

7. Repayment plans.

Payment plans must also be listed in the financial projections section of the loan proposal, but details of payment plans must be detailed separately. Propose the terms you want, and prepare for negotiations with the financial institution. The lender will consider a number of factors while reviewing the overall risk of lending you the money. Understandably, this affects the payment terms they are willing to offer for your business.

Especially if your credit is good, and even if your credit is not that good, remember that in your loan proposal, you are offering the bank a money-making deal. Don’t go asking the lender for an “allowance.” Instead, enter the interview with the goal of your loan proposal in mind; that is, focus on how much money you will need and eliminate the idea of ​​going to the meeting wondering how much they are willing to lend. Never go to a meeting asking for a loan, wondering if they will lend it to you or not. If this first lender doesn’t approve your loan proposal, trust that someone else will.

Auto

Why buying a used car is the smartest decision

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Buying a new car is an exciting adventure, but it can also involve a lot of running, dealing with different car dealers, and a lot of research. New cars are expensive.

In 2015 the median price for a new vehicle was reportedly $ 33,500 and just as you leave the dealership and hit the road in your new vehicle, your car’s value almost immediately drops by at least 11%. The value of a new car also drops nearly 20% each year, reducing the value by nearly 30% in the first year alone.

That begs the question, why wouldn’t everyone buy a used car? The reasons range from wanting you to be the first and only owner, knowing what you are buying, and not wanting to do the proper research.

While a new car should never be considered a bad investment, there are other options that can save you thousands of dollars, and the difference in vehicles is usually not far behind.

For example, if you search, go to the dealerships and find the type of car you want, you should not stop there. Keep shopping and look for used vehicles of the same model, based on use and mileage, you can save more than $ 10,000 in some cases.

Many people think that used cars are broken or beaten up. And while that may be true, chances are when someone is selling your old one because it is still in good condition and is probably looking for a change too. Doing the right research and working with the right people is important in finding the best deal available.

Here are five of the best used cars you can find for under $ 15,000.

1. Cadillac CTS 2011-2014 – The Cadillac CTS was a turning point for the automaker, making it more competitive by offering a more affordable price while maintaining the luxury, comfort, and driving precision of its older models. This midsize car is one of the best options when looking for a used car.

2. Mazda 6 2014-2016 – While this may be difficult to find, it is one of the best new models you can buy used. The Mazda 6 has a great, clean interior, plenty of storage space, and a variety of up-to-date technology throughout the vehicle.

3. Honda CR-V 2012-2016 – For a compact SUV, the Honda CR-V is one of the best bumps for your investment when buying used. Practical and reliable, the CR-V is one of the newest and best models you can find.

4. Toyota Camry Hybrid 2012-2015 – The Camry Hybrid is a great option when buying used and looking for a cleaner ride. Offering a comfortable and efficient ride, the Camry Hybrid also returns approximately 40 miles per gallon, saving you even more money.

5. Toyota Tundra 2007-2013 – In terms of trucks, it’s hard to find a better deal than the Toyota Tundra. Durable and reliable, the Tundra is ideal for working, towing, and essentially anything you could want from a truck.

Buying a used car is the smartest decision. Not only will you save money, with the right amount of time searching and the right research, you can save a ton and use that money elsewhere.

Try taking the actual car you’re looking at to a personal mechanic as well, allowing them to check the vehicle to make sure there aren’t any issues. That is very important to make sure the car is in good condition both inside and out.

There are many great places to buy used cars, allowing you to test drive and check your vehicles before making any purchases. If you take the time to do the proper research and make the right purchases, you will save on your new vehicle. For the new car buyer, it makes sense to buy a used car, saving you money almost immediately and in the long run.

Regardless of whether you choose to buy a new or used car, you’ll want to keep your new purchase protected. Finding cheap car insurance near me is the best option to stay safe and covered no matter what event you may encounter on the roads. The right insurance company will be with you every step of the way, whether it’s on a new or used car.

Digital Marketing

Do people care a bit about your blog?

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This article is about blogging topics, intended to help you understand why you should have a blog on your website, or if you do, how you can improve it.

What is a blog?

Blogging is huge on the internet. A blog is a website or part of a website that is constantly maintained by one or more people. The goal of a blog is to comment or chat about news and topics related to the website industry. Example: a restaurant blog would have content about new restaurants opening, gastronomic experiences and talks. Today, we have more than 100 million blogs that are constantly updated. There is a blog for every industry and beyond, which makes competition difficult. Having a successful blog means having interesting and quality content.

Why is it important to publish?

You could almost say that the blog is the heart of the website. A blog is what keeps a site dynamic and fresh. It gives search engines more content to index, gives visitors more to read, and gives other websites more content to link to. There are many types of blogs: personal blogs, business blogs, video blogs, and more, but our theory is that as long as it generates quality traffic, it doesn’t matter what type of blog it is.

To keep your blog healthy and dynamic, you need to constantly update it with several blog posts a week. Each blog post should be unique and talk about interesting business related topics. Incorporating quality keywords is very important to also receive search engine attention.

First most important rule:

There are many ways to generate potential visitors and business by running a successful blog, but the first most important way to maintain it is: Have quality content that people want to read. The person will not only read the post, possibly read others, but will also be able to subscribe to your blog and be a recurring visitor. If your blog is amazing, the reader will likely take the time to share this blog with a friend. Maybe two. Maybe even paste your RSS news feed on your own blog. The possibilities are endless, so I can’t stress it any more: write blog posts that are interesting.

The keywords.

Second, you want to incorporate keywords into your blog content. This will increase your chance of ranking high in search engines for your chosen keywords by doing so. But don’t forget, keep it low-key to avoid getting kicked out of search engines. It is also called Black Hat SEO. Post a topic on that later.

Feeding your readers:

Last but not least, make sure you have the functionality in place. Have a field for people to subscribe via email, RSS feed reader, or even just Twitter. Make it easy for your visitor to subscribe to your blog so they don’t have to go back and search for your amazing stories. Submit your RSS feed to increase your blog exposure. Connect it with your Twitter and Facebook page to keep your followers updated.

Finally: Keep posting.

Relationship

Keep it super simple – work smarter, not longer

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I heard of so many teachers who put in 60, 70, 80 hours a week to work. I like my job. I love my students. I love teaching, but we don’t get paid enough to dedicate that time to our career. And the best part is that it is not necessary.

I work from 6:30 to 4:00 most days. Then I go home empty-handed and don’t think about school again until the next day. Even maintaining these hours, I am able to lead a well-organized, exciting, academically driven, and high-performing classroom.

My goal is to provide you with some quick strategies to optimize your planning, organization and work so that you can be successful as a teacher and still have a life!

First, plan with a team. In team planning, “share the wealth.” Each teacher brings their strengths and putting them together to plan raises the bar for everyone’s plans. Working in a team also gives you the opportunity to share ideas with others in a non-threatening environment.

If there are no other teachers in your school to plan with, look for a few in the area. Teaching is, unfortunately, a largely isolated profession: teaching, planning, qualifying and working alone. Planning shouldn’t be like this. You are only as good as your plans, so find other professionals to plan with.

Second, plan “in bulk”. At my school we take one afternoon a week and plan each subject for a month. The first week we plan the reading, the second week we plan the math, the third week we plan the writing, etc. By doing this, you know what you need in advance, so there is never a last minute rush. This also covers you in case of illness or other unexpected emergency. If you have teaching assistants or parent volunteers coming into your classroom, you will know ahead of time if you need anything to help you cut, shop, or assemble.

Bulk planning can also help you ensure that you are meeting all standards and expectations. You are never hanging in the wind with 3 weeks of classes if you are continually looking ahead over large blocks of time.

Third, simplify your lessons. Every lesson doesn’t need to have a cute art project, worksheet, or product. The best lessons are lessons that have a clear purpose, a concise objective, simplified teaching, and maintain academic flow. My classroom is a “no worksheets” zone. Children do not learn from worksheets. They learn from clear teaching, real-world application, and the use of all the senses.

One of my all-time favorite teaching tools is blank copy paper. You can do almost anything with plain white paper. There are hundreds of ways to turn it into graphic organizers, stories, books, reviews, word family tables, and more. Children feel like they own their products and it is an authentic assessment. To find cool things to do with paper, visit Dinah’s Archives.

I have all kinds of students in my classroom, just like you: “typical”, gifted, ESE, ADHD, and the list goes on and on. Most of these students don’t want to be in a chair all day, they would rather move! It makes sense to have a classroom that allows children to learn in the way that they are most capable. During my day we have tons of music, movement, dancing, writing, drawing, cooperative work, hands-on centers, and structured “learning through play.”

Try one of these tips and see if you become a happier teacher with more time to play.

Health Fitness

3 Low Calorie Grill Recipes You Must Try In 30 Minutes Or Less

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If you are a healthy eater who is always on the go, you tend to eat fewer home-cooked meals as time goes on. Take a break from the usual salads and steamed meats and enjoy a delicious smoked barbecue dish without guilt.

Here are 3 tasty low carb grill recipes ready in 30 minutes or less:

Grilled tuna with lime

Ready in 30 minutes

What do you need:

  • 4 1-inch thick yellowfin tuna steaks
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/2 cup walnut wood chips, soaked
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Combine the tuna and olive oil in a large resealable plastic bag. Seal and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. Preheat the grill to high heat and spread the wood chips over the coals for added flavor. When done, cook the tuna steaks for 5 minutes per side. Transfer the fish to a serving platter and drizzle with fresh lemon juice before serving.

Classic Grilled Zucchini

Ready in 25 minutes

What do you need:

  • 3 zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick pieces
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon grill seasoning

Drizzle both sides of each zucchini piece with olive oil and roasting seasoning. Place the zucchini slices in a grill pan and cook on a preheated grill over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until tender. Serve as a side to grilled meat or with a dip of your choice.

Roast chicken with honey and lemon

Ready in 30 minutes

What do you need:

  • 1 3/4 kg. chicken thighs and thighs
  • 2 cups Italian salad dressing
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons of paprika

In a large resealable plastic bag, mix together the Italian salad dressing, honey, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika. Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade for roasting. Shake the bag until all the ingredients are well combined. Place the chicken in the bag and cover with the marinade. Seal and refrigerate for 15 minutes. When done, remove the chicken pieces from the bag and place on a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Discard the excess marinade. Poke drainage holes in the foil with a fork. Cook chicken on a preheated grill over high heat for 5 minutes per side or to desired doneness. Drizzle the chicken pieces with the reserved marinade for the last few minutes of grilling. Let cool before serving.

Now you can enjoy more than just green salads and portioned meat every now and then without the worry of adding a few extra pounds. These quick and easy low calorie grill recipes are perfect for you, even if you’re always on the go!

Legal Law

The plexiglass roof: a stronger impediment to the advancement of minorities

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Many have heard of the proverbial glass ceiling and how the phrase is used euphemistically to describe an unfair system that prevents people (i.e. women and minorities) from advancing in their professions. The Plexiglas ceiling describes the same kind of unfair system with an added rigor used to prevent breakthrough: Plexiglass is 17 times stronger than glass. While glass ceilings denote an inability to see barriers, Plexiglass ceilings are not as transparent. Victims of the plexiglass roof see the barriers, but don’t recognize a way around them.

Academics, in previous studies, have found that glass ceiling victimization correlates with gender (that is, women, rather than men, face glass ceilings in their professions). While some researchers have not disclosed findings that support the idea that minority men experience the glass ceiling, other researchers concluded that glass ceilings affect minority men. A UCLA study found that women and minorities hold less than 5% of managerial positions in the 1000 largest companies in the U.S. The Department of Labor conducted a study that found that middle and upper-level managerial positions in Nearly 100 of the largest US companies still reflect a deficit of women and minorities. According to the Department of Labor, many companies persist with discriminatory practices. Discriminatory practices, however, are not limited to companies. Some minority women and men who work for the federal government also experience the effects of the glass / Plexiglass ceiling.

Michelle, a minority contracts employee for the Army, applied for a leadership position and was selected as one of two qualified finalists. The other finalist, a white knight, was chosen and offered the position. However, the lord declined the position. Instead of offering the position to Michelle, the only qualified person left, the recruitment officer issued a new job advertisement looking for more candidates. Michelle was again selected as one of the two qualified finalists. The other finalist, a white knight, was chosen, offered and accepted the position. Michelle saw the Plexiglas ceiling, but didn’t see any viable way around it.

Charles, a minority Navy logistics employee, applied for a leadership position and was selected as a finalist to participate in an interview process that would be used to select the new leader. Charles completed the interview process but was not selected for the position. One of the other finalists, a white female who was also not chosen, revealed that all the white finalists, including the winner, were given a “mock” interview prior to the actual interview (that is, they were allowed to hear questions from the interview beforehand and practice your answers). Charles saw the Plexiglass ceiling, but saw no viable way around it.

Jose, a minority engineering employee in the Army, worked hard to prepare for a future leadership position on his team. He led projects, mentored younger teammates, met all training requirements, and earned a doctorate in leadership. José’s leaders chose to create and fill the new leadership position in secret. José was introduced to the new leader, his supervisor, and told to update the new employee. Jose saw the Plexiglas ceiling, but didn’t see a viable way around it.

Michelle, Charles and José were victims of the Plexiglas ceiling. Discriminatory practices designed to prevent them from gaining leadership positions were visible, not transparent as is often the case with glass ceilings. For minorities, there has never really been a glass ceiling, always Plexiglas. Minorities have always recognized the discriminatory practices used to block progress. Previous court cases such as Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown vs. The Board of Education showed that clear discriminatory practices were used to block the advancement of minorities. By allowing activities and behaviors that facilitate the continued existence of glass and Plexiglass ceilings, organizations fuel feelings of worthlessness and other deficiencies in victims. In many cases, victims of the Plexiglas roof stop running for leadership positions. Organizations then use the lack of minority applications to explain the lack of diversity in organizational leadership roles.

The plexiglass ceiling must be removed to allow organizations to synergistically reach their full potential. The best qualified applicants, regardless of race or gender, should be able to rise to the highest levels of the organization. The first step in removing the Plexiglas ceiling is understanding why it exists.

One of the reasons glass and Plexiglass ceilings exist, according to one author, is to prevent increases in challenges to white supremacy as a result of minorities moving up to leadership and decision-making positions. Many other reasons have been given for the existence of the glass / Plexiglass ceiling, such as that women don’t really want challenging positions because they need to spend a great deal of time with their children, minorities are not given proper guidance, and minorities seek job placements. affirmative action and are not really qualified for leadership positions. One study found that women in positions of power are more likely to develop cancer. Presumably blocking the advancement of the woman really helps them. While the reasons given seem foolish, they are starting points for critical thinking exercises that can reveal the irrationality of the above explanations and facilitate breaches in glass and Plexiglass ceilings.

Before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, minorities were hampered by job advertisements that said, “Blacks do not need to apply.” Although today’s impediments are not so obvious, they exist at the institutional level: the Plexiglas ceiling is real. Organizational interventions are necessary to eradicate Plexiglas ceilings.

Organizational leaders must show commitment to educate their managers and other employees on the importance of removing unfair barriers to advancement. Leaders must ensure that their people understand that systemic barriers to the advancement of minorities and women result in the exclusion of valuable ideas and actions that those who were victims of unjust impediments might have offered to the organization. Leaders should institute and motivate their employees to voluntarily participate in mentoring programs to assist in employee development. Leaders must also ensure that their managers share information equally with employees. In short, managers must be given the tools, training, and support to facilitate employee development and advancement and be accountable for the advancement of a diverse group of employees. Leaders must also use effective monitoring systems to assess the impact of any intervention employed to remove glass and Plexiglass roofs.

The federal government recognized the need to influence organizational behavior regarding discriminatory impediments to career advancement. In 1991, the Glass Ceiling Act, which is part of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, was passed to study and report on artificial barriers to advancement and the underrepresentation of minorities and women in leadership positions. The report revealed that while some progress had been made, efforts were still needed to address the impenetrable barriers that continue to deprive women and minorities of access to high-level positions. After the report was issued, the reporting team disbanded and discriminatory practices continued. The government did not respond adequately to the reported results. Leadership inaction, in the face of discrimination, is perceived as tacit approval of discriminatory practices. Inaction could explain the immortality of the glass / Plexiglass ceiling. Until leaders actively promote justice and equality, minorities and women will continue to be victims of the effects of the Plexiglas ceiling.

Lifestyle Fashion

Wild Edibles: Amaranth Aka Red Root Pig-Weed

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Wild amaranth or red-root pigweed

Amaranth, or also known as red root pork weed, is everywhere and is actually a very nutritious plant. You know them very well if you are a gardener or a farmer. As gardeners, we tend to fight so-called weeds in our gardens or crops. Even on our lawns, many spend a lot of time and / or chemicals trying to remove weed from pigs. Why not just eat it as it is edible and nutritious?

What if it were available at the grocery store as lettuce or spinach, or even in grain or tea form? Would you feel the same about it? Would you allow them to grow where they are hardy and reap their nutrition as a new but old food source?

Hog weed is an annual green leafy vegetable that many gardeners try to eliminate. This wild edible makes a great companion plant, serving as a detour or trap for leafminers and other pests. The ground beetle is often found under pig weeds that feed on other garden pests. Some farmers grow it even today because of its nutritional value.

Hog weed is generally found in gardens or cultivated land.

Flowers / Seeds

The flowers are small, green, and are arranged in rough spikes on top of the plant and on the leaf axes lower down the plant.

Wild amaranth / pig grass seeds are extremely nutritious. I think they are best eaten roasted because I love the nutty flavor they bring when roasted. They are better than even adding sunflower seeds to your salads!

You can grind them into a powder and use them as a cereal / porridge grain, or you can sprout and eat them. I have also added them as a whole grain in breads and cooked them as oatmeal. It’s like supernutrition that many people ignore!

Leaves

The leaves grow alternately on the stem. The leaves have long stems and their color varies from green to reddish green. The single blade or blade blade is shaped like a diamond, with the widest area at the base. The leaves are smooth. The tips of the leaves have serrated edges like teeth.

The young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or in sandwiches. The flavor is mild and I find that it pairs well with stronger flavors. I often look for wild leeks or garlic to add to salads or sandwiches alongside my wild amaranth / pork herb. Older greens are not as tender as young greens and are typically boiled like any other vegetable, such as collard greens or turnip greens. Again, this one is mild in flavor and pairs well with spicier flavors.

The leaves can also be made into tea or act as a medicinal treatment.

Estate

I have yet to eat the roots, but from talking to some peers who eat marijuana, I heard that they are edible just like other ready-to-eat root vegetables. I still need a bit of root research before trying it myself.

*** Important note:

One caveat about wild edibles is that you really need to know your plants before guessing which ones you can eat. Always speak with a doctor or professional before ingesting wild plants. Always get multiple opinions from experts in the field of wild food foraging.

The author of this article is not responsible for any negative reactions or events that result from the use of wild plants. You are encouraged to do your own research and speak with medical professionals before using any wild plants.