How to Record a Show from DVR to a Computer

How to Record a Show from DVR to a Computer
Many people of late have a DVR hooked up to their tv set that permits them to pause, record, and playback TV shows and films whenever they require. whereas this provides customers with much-appreciated accessibility and suppleness, a growing trend worldwide is to attach a DVR to a pc so as to observe TV shows and films on a desktop pc or take them on the elapse connecting the DVR to a laptop. during this article, we are going to show you many strategies that permit you to record shows from your DVR to your pc.

TV Tuner Card
A TV tuner card is an tiny, external cable box that connects your DVR to your laptop via a USB association. TV tuner cards are reasonable and typically embrace further software that permit you to record TV shows and flicks on to your laptop or transfer previously recorded shows to your laptop through a built-in interface. Some TV tuner cards will be disconnected from your laptop once the transfer is complete whereas others need you to depart the device connected in any respect times, which might be a serious downside. make certain to settle on a TV card can be disconnected at will.

Diamond Xtreme TV PVR600
Diamond Xtreme TV PVR600 is each a tool and software that features a TV tuner card designed into it. Diamond Xtreme permits you to manage your videos within the same means that a DVR will, however on your pc. Diamond Xtreme are often disconnected whenever you would like it to be and you'll even make the most of a foreign scheduling feature through any net browser that enables you to record shows to your pc even after you aren't home. Diamond Xtreme uses atiny low quantity of CPU so it does not cut down your pc, has an in-built stereo system, and options clear image quality for all of your videos.

Dscaler
Dscaler is an ongoing project to urge the most effective attainable quantity of quality out of digital videos on your laptop. Dscaler additionally permits you to capture videos from digital devices like camcorders, DVRs, DVD players, and more. whereas capturing the video in question, Dscaler additionally scales the video to the suitable dimensions so as to suit on your monitor or home projector. This maintains nearly good image quality and may even take up less area on your laptop than the initial would have.

USB + Intellimover
Intellimover could be a software set that enables you to pick that files and software you wish and then transfer them on to another device while not having to travel through a network or special equipment. Intellimover comes with free USB cables that embody special built-in high-speed chips that build transferring files and settings even faster. Intellimover is usually designed for computer-to-computer transfers however if your DVR includes a USB port, you'll use Intellimover to transfer videos to your laptop.

CapDVHS + Firewire
CapDVHS could be a software that uses firewire (similar to USB) to transfer files from a D-VHS player to a pc. D-VHS, or Digital Video Home System, is simply a flowery word for DVR and similar technology. If your DVR encompasses a firewire port, you'll be able to use CapDVHS to transfer your videos to your pc. Likewise, if your DVR encompasses a USB port, you'll be able to get a firewire-to-USB adapter and use that additionally. you'll be able to additionally transfer files from your pc to your DVR within the same fashion.

WinDV 123
WinDV 123 could be a free, easy-to-use software that's capable capturing videos from external digital devices like camcorders and DVRs through a firewire or USB affiliation. WinDV 123 may also convert videos back and forth between AVI format and DV (digital video) format. you'll be able to additionally use the software to interrupt a video into multiple elements and rejoin them whenever you wish. most significantly, WinDV 123 maintains constant video quality between formats and devices.

Copyright Problems
No matter what software or hardware you utilize, some TV shows and films merely can not be copied from your DVR to your pc thanks to copyright protocols. the assembly corporations that build these TV shows and films don't need you to be ready to place them on your pc as you'd be ready to share them with others. you'll be ready to transfer the videos over to your pc however the videos will seem choppy, broken, or can merely not work. There are in all probability ways in which to figure around this issue however that's beyond the scope of this text.

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30 Days to a Better Husband

This month, Aaron Traister pledged to transform himself into the man his wife deserves: thoughtful, physically fit, and sexually patient. She got two out of three — not bad!

During a recent argument, my wife, Karel, told me I needed to "grow up," so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'd spend four weeks making myself over, and I wouldn't tell Karel, just to see if she was paying attention. Among other things, I changed up my clothes and returned to my teenage wrestling workouts — because nothing says maturity like playing dress-up and trying desperately to relive high school. Here's the whole rundown.


I bought her flowers.
When Karel and I started dating, I was a bouncer at a bar in New York City. After every shift, I'd grab daisies (her favorite) from a 24-hour bodega near the bar so Karel would wake up to fresh flowers in the morning. I gradually slacked off, blaming it on the fact that our cat loves knocking things like flower vases over. But I know that's a lame excuse. So I started buying Karel flowers again and kept a close eye on our chaos-loving cat. I put the first bouquet on the dining room table in our "fancy vase," and Karel noticed immediately. She couldn't stop talking about it and kept asking me what she'd done to deserve random flowers. Clearly, this needs to happen more often.


I unplugged.
Karel and I hang out together every night, but I surf the Internet while I'm sitting next to her, so she gives me static about only being present physically. To be with her more completely, I scaled back my Internet time and, in my mind, was very successful: Instead of surfing mindlessly for two hours, I answered emails for 15 minutes. No dice for Karel, though. It irks her every time I touch my laptop after the kids are in bed, and maybe she's right to police my cyber habits. Next time I'll try no computer at all after 5 p.m., but only if she quits BlackBerrying after work too.


I tried not to pounce on her.
Karel complains that I never let her initiate sex. She says I seize every opportunity for action I see: a hug has to turn into sex; folding laundry has to turn into sex; getting back from the vet has to turn into sex. I don't let things develop "organically" or let her make the first move and show me how "sex-positive" she can be. So I took a step back. The first week went well: I don't know if Karel noticed my restraint, but she did take the lead. (And, by the way, organic sex doesn't feel that different from conventional or processed sex.)

The trouble started in week two, when Karel announced she was cutting me off sexually until I finished a book proposal that should have been done a year ago. Of course, after that, I couldn't stop thinking about getting some, and the next thing I knew I was all over her, hoping to find a weak spot in the blockade. Ultimately, I finished the outline, at which point she immediately normalized relations between our two great nations. I've gotta tell you, I don't know if I learned anything from this one.


I got in shape.
I haven't really worked out since I wrestled in high school, so as part of my man makeover, I revived my ancient gym routine. Karel noticed — mainly because I'd wake her up in the morning doing jumping jacks and mountain climbers in the living room. I ran or exercised for at least half an hour every day (except two) last month. Karel complimented me on my rapidly improving physique, and I discovered that my newfound core strength paid off in other (ahem) areas of our life. But the biggest impact was on me alone: I felt healthier, stronger, more alert, and just generally better. Even if Karel hadn't noticed, I'd try to stick with this one for me… and the better sex.


I dressed like an adult.
I wear lots of flannel, jeans, and thermals — I'm like a refugee from a 1993 Alice in Chains concert. REDBOOK's fashion director came to the rescue, sending me a box of crisp button-down shirts, fashionably slim-cut pants that most guys would probably wear on Casual Friday but for me counted as black-tie, and shoes made of something leathery with pointy tips and a bit of a heel. The fancy khakis and pointy shoes gave me away. I wore them into the kitchen one morning, and Karel asked if I was going on a job interview or appearing before a judge. She said I looked weird. Then she squealed and pointed at my crotch. I swatted frantically at myself to get whatever she was freaking out about off me. Then she told me I had to change, and that I was not allowed to take the kids outside wearing those pants.

"But why?" I asked.

"First of all, you're too scruffy to wear clothes like that, and more importantly, if you go out in those pants, the neighbors will be able to tell that you're circumcised." Upon closer inspection, I discovered that she was terrifyingly correct. I immediately changed into a pair of baggy Levis. It felt good to be back in the '90s.

After the pants fiasco, I told Karel about my makeover project for this column. With the exception of the clothes, she seemed genuinely surprised that all my new habits were staged for an assignment — and after some reflection, I could see why. I'd been meaning to make all of these changes; I just hadn't gotten around to them. I know how lucky I am to have an amazing wife and kids, and I don't want to take them for granted by treating my body like crap and checking out early, or failing to show them how much they mean to me. I sent the clothes back to REDBOOK — they just don't fit, literally and figuratively. But I'm going to keep after the other improvements, the ones I've had percolating inside me for a while now, plans for the man I'd like to become.



Credit: By Aaron Traister, REDBOOK.

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5 signs she wants to date you

In terms of figuring out how to comprehend a woman’s feelings about us when we’re trying to make the leap from “friends” to “friends who kiss,” men often overlook obvious signs. This is especially true for guys who’ve been burned in the past (and who hasn’t been?) who are wary about rejection. Maybe we’re not totally oblivious, but we often have a difficult time reading signals. So here are a few signs she’s interested in a kiss — consider them your green light to get closer.

1. The “let’s laugh” signal
David Wygant, author of Always Talk To Strangers, is an excellent signal-reader. “If she makes you feel like a stand-up comedian, even though you’re not that funny, she wants to take it to the next level,” says Wygant. Similarly, Rosemarie of White Plains, NY, shares: “If I’m interested in a guy, I kind of tease him — I try to get a funny, bantering chat going. It shows that I’m interested in playing a bit of a cat-and-mouse game, you know? I’ll say something like, ‘I think you’re just making that up,’ or ‘Honestly now, has that line worked?’ but I say it with a big smile and eye contact so he knows I’m just joking.”

2. The tell-tale time sign
If you are friends with a woman and sometimes wonder if there might be more there, take heed of when and where she wants to hang out with you. If she wants to meet you for a quick workday lunch, chances are she doesn’t like you in the way you might hope. But if she asks you to meet her for a gallery opening in the evening or to see a movie with her on a Saturday at 8 p.m., she may be casting you in more of a boyfriend role. Says Shelly of San Diego: “I work with a lot of guys and admit to getting crushes on my coworkers from time to time. I’ll chat them up about new movies I want to see, and if one I’m interested in asks me out, I do what I can to make it at night on a weekend. That makes it so easy to grab coffee or food afterward and get to know each other on a more personal level.”

3. The body language clues
OK, so the odds of a woman reaching out to hold your hand while you’re flirting with her are slim to none. So how does she use her body to show you she’s interested? Jess from New York believes a woman’s gestures will send you the message. “Her body language will give her away — if a woman leans in toward a guy while he’s talking, mimics his body language, and maybe sneaks in a subtle touch here or there, these are pretty good signs that she’s into him. Obviously, he should get her phone number and actually call.” And how does a guy know if a woman isn’t interested? “If she is looking around the room while he’s talking to her and crossing her arms across her chest,” says Jess, “she’s probably not that interested. Also, if she tells the guy that he would be perfect for her sister or she suddenly brings up the fact that she’s been talking to her ex-boyfriend, there’s probably not a spark there.” The guy should just move on to a woman who is worth his time... or possibly take the uninterested woman up on her set-up offer.

4. The look that says “I like you”
A guy should also know what kind of eye contact is waving him in for a kiss. Direct eye contact that lasts more than a couple of seconds is a sign of interest, say the experts. And if a woman looks from your eyes to your mouth, well, things are in very, very good shape. “I don’t know if it’s conscious or not, but when I like a guy, I find my gaze wanders from his eyes to his mouth,” says Moira of St. Louis, MO. “It’s definitely a seduction move; it lets him know that I’m thinking about what it would be like to kiss him.” Gentlemen, if you’re getting that signal, this is another time you want to go ahead and get that phone number.

5. Taking the next step
Once we men realize a woman genuinely likes us, our minds are oftentimes so blown that we have no idea how to proceed. Fortunately, Wygant does: “Once she gives you these hints, you need to close the deal. Ask her to talk to you away from her friends or call her up on the phone and say, ‘You know what? I want to take you out for a nice dinner — just the two of us.’”

What if the object of your affection is a woman you’ve known as a friend for awhile? Over dinner, you have the talk, advises Wygant. “You say, ‘I’d really like to become more than friends. I’d like to start dating you. What do you think of that?’ At this point, she’s given you every single sign that this is the conversation she’s been dreaming about, and of course the answer is going to be yes.”

So it all really boils down to a two-pronged plan: pay attention and take a chance. If you focus your energy on the woman in question rather than on yourself or your surroundings (which is what you should be doing anyway), you’ll pick up more than you ever thought you could have. And if you disregard the very obvious signs — the laughing, the touching, the eye contact — and you don’t go for it, well then, you must not be into her!



Credit: Alan Goldsher

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Top 10 Scariest Food Additives

There was a time when "fruit flavored" and "cheese flavored" meant "made with real fruit" and "made with real cheese." Today? It's artificial everything. Most of the food at your local supermarket is no more authentic than Snooki's tan. Our fruit comes packaged in Loops, our cheese delivered via Whiz. Sure, it's edible, but there's no way your great grandparents would recognize this junk as food.

The problem with additives runs deep. The FDA currently maintains a list of ingredients called Everything Added to Food in the United States (EAFUS), which features more than 3,000 items and counting. Thankfully, most EAFUS ingredients are benign, but a few of them do have potentially harmful effects. Why they're legal is a mystery to us. Some of them might be backed by powerful lobby groups, while others probably survive simply because some guy at the FDA has too much paperwork on his desk and hasn't made time to adequately review the data.

Below are 10 of the most dubious ingredients hiding in your food, compliments of Eat This, Not That! 2011. Even if you're not convinced of their danger, you have to admit this: The more filler ingredients you cut from your diet, the more space you have for wholesome, nutritious foods.



Scary Ingredient #1: Olestra


A fat substitute synthesized by Procter & Gamble. Because human digestive enzymes can't break down the big molecules, Olestra contributes 0 calories to your diet.

Why it’s scary: In the late ’90s, Frito-Lay released Olestra-enhanced WOW chips and Procter & Gamble introduced Fat Free Pringles. Both products were required to carry warning labels to notify customers about the risk of "loose stools." Within 4 years, some 15,000 people had dialed in to a hotline set up specifically to handle adverse-reaction complaints. Apparently the complaints didn't move the FDA, because in 2003, the administration revoked the warning-label mandate. If you want to take your chances with diarrhea, go ahead, but first consider this: Olestra also appears to interfere with the body's ability to absorb some crucial nutrients like beta-carotene and lycopene. To counteract the effect, processers add some nutrients back, but it's unlikely that all the blocked nutrients are adequetly replaced.

Furthermore, just last week I tweeted that an animal study at Purdue University found that fake fats like Olestra may cause more weight gain than real fat.

Where you'll find it: Lay’s Light chips, Pringles Light chips



Scary Ingredient #2: Caramel Coloring


An artificial pigment created by heating sugars. Frequently, this process includes ammonia.

Why it’s scary: Caramel coloring shows up in everything from soft drinks and sauces to breads and pastries. When made from straight sugar, it's relatively benign. But when produced with ammonia it puts off 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, chemicals that have been linked to cancer in mice. The risk is strong enough that the California government, a bellwether for better food regulation, categorized 4-methylimidazole as “known to cause cancer” earlier this year. Unfortunately, companies aren't required to disclose whether their coloring is made with ammonia, so you'd be wise to avoid it as much as you can.

Where you'll find it: Colas and other soft drinks, La Choy soy sauce, Stove Top stuffing mix



Scary Ingredient #3: Saccharin


An artificial sweetener discovered by accident in the 1870s.

Why it’s scary: Studies have linked saccharin to bladder tumors in rats, and in 1977, the FDA required warning labels on all saccharin-containing foods. In 2000, the agency changed its stance and allowed saccharin to be sold without warning labels. But that doesn't make it entirely safe. A 2008 Purdue study found that replacing sugar with saccharin in rats’ diets made them gain more weight, proving once again that you should be aware of these faux fat foes.

Where you'll find it: Sweet ‘N Low, TaB cola



Scary Ingredient #4: Potassium Bromate
A compound that conditions flour and helps bread puff up during baking.

Why it’s scary: Potassium bromate causes thyroid and kidney tumors in rats, and it's banned from food use in many countries. In California, products containing potassium bromate are required to carry a cancer warning. Fortunately, negative publicity has made the additive relatively rare, but until the FDA banishes it, you should remain on the lookout.

Where you'll find it: Johnny Rockets Hoagie Roll



Scary Ingredient #5: Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)


Petroleum-derived antioxidants and preservatives.

Why it’s scary: The Department of Health and Human Services says BHA is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," yet the FDA allows it to be used anyway. BHT is considered less dangerous, but in animal research, it too has resulted in cancer. Oddly, the chemicals aren’t even always necessary; in most cases they can be replaced with vitamin E.

Where you'll find it: Goya lard, Golden Grahams, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Orbit gum



Scary Ingredient #6: Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil


A semi-solid fat created when food processors force hydrogen into unsaturated fatty acids.

Why it’s scary: Partially hydrogenated fats are the principle sources of trans fat in the American diet, and a Harvard study estimated that trans fat causes 70,000 heart attacks every year. The good news: Partially hydrogenated oils are beginning to slowly retreat from our food. Progressive jurisdictions like New York City are starting to restrict the allowable amounts in restaurants, and many chains are switching to healthier frying oil. Still, the battle isn’t over. At Long John Silver’s, for example, there are still 17 menu items with more than 2 grams of the stuff. According to the American Heart Association, that's about the maximum you should consume in a single day.

Where you'll find it: McDonald’s McChicken, Long John Silver’s Broccoli Cheese Soup



Scary Ingredient #7: Sulfites


Preservatives that maintain the color of food, and by releasing sulfur dioxide, prevent bacterial growth.

Why it’s scary: Humans have used sulfites to keep food fresh for thousands of years, but some people—especially asthma sufferers—experience breathing difficulties when exposed. In the 1980s, unregulated use resulted in at least a dozen deaths, prompting the FDA to slap warning labels on wine bottles and develop new guidelines for proper use. Now restaurants can no longer soak fresh ingredients in sulfites. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, there have been no known deaths since the new legislation took hold. The bottom line: If you're among the majority of people not sensitive to sulfites, consumption won’t hurt you. If you're not sure, ask your doctor for a test.

Where you'll find it: Wine, Sun-Maid Mixed Fruit, Jolly Ranchers, Fig Newtons



Scary Ingredient #8: Azodicarbonamide


A synthetic yellow-orange dough conditioner

Why it’s scary: This chemical is used most frequently in the production of industrial foam plastic, and although the FDA has approved its use for food in the States, the United Kingdom has labeled it a potential cause of asthma. In a review of 47 studies on azodicarbonamide, the World Health Organization concluded that it probably does trigger asthmatic symptoms. The WHO concluded, “exposure levels should be reduced as much as possible.” I’ll put it more concisely: Avoid it.

Where you'll find it: Dunkin’ Donuts bagels, McDonald’s burger buns



Scary Ingredient #9: Carrageenan


A thickener and emulsifier extracted from seaweed.

Why it’s scary: Seaweed is actually good for you, but carrageenan is a mere seaweed byproduct. Through animal studies, it has been linked to cancer, colon trouble, and ulcers. It isn’t certain that carrageenan harms humans, but avoiding it is clearly the safer option. Most studies examined degraded forms of the additive, and research from the University of Iowa found that carrageenan could be degraded through the normal digestive process.

Where you'll find it: Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Bars, Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches, Creamsicles



Scary Ingredient #10: Ammonium Sulfate


An inorganic salt that occurs naturally near active volcanoes and is used commercially to nourish yeast and help bread rise.

Why it’s scary: This nitrogen-rich compound is most often used as fertilizer, and also appears commonly in flame retardants. Thankfully, the ingredient only sounds scary—a 2006 Japanese rat study found the additive to be non-carcinogenic. Both the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the FDA deem it safe.

Where you'll find it: Nature’s Own bread, Subway rolls



Credit: yahoo

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10 Best Excuses For Missing Work

No matter what your job -- executive, professional, technical, or laborer -- we all need a mental health day away from work every once in a while. However, you can't always trot out the old excuse that your grandma died and you can't come in to work today. After a while, your employer will begin to realize you can't possibly have that many grandmothers to pass away. The following are some of the most creative and stupidest excuses that employees have given and employers have heard for missing a day of work. The most absurd part of all? Each of these excuses has been used in real life!


1. I had a dream last night that I would be hit by a bus this morning.


Your employer really and truly does not care about your hopes and dreams -- haven't you figured that out already? This has to be one of the lamest reasons to miss work of them all. Maybe you're an agoraphobic who is afraid to step foot outside the house, or maybe you just have an irrational fear of being in an accident on your way to work. But if you use this excuse as a reason to avoid work, chances are you will have a dream the next night that you were fired from your job. The only difference is, this dream will surely come true the next morning!



2. I don't want to lose the parking space in front of my house.


City dwellers know how hard it is to find a parking space in front of, or even in the same block as, your house. Hence, the orange construction cones or tacky lawn chairs many who live in the city place in empty parking spaces to save them while they're away. However, this really is not a good reason to call in sick to work. If you tell your boss you don't want to lose the parking space in front of your house, your boss will probably make it easier on you and just can you. Then you won't even have to worry about your car, because without a job, you will no longer be able to afford it.



3. I can't come in to work today because my psychic told me to stay home.


This excuse for missing work goes along with "the voices in my head told me to stay home," always a favorite. If you live your life based on a psychic's predictions, you have bigger problems than trying to figure out a creative way to miss work. If the voices in your head, however, are telling you to stay home, it might be a good idea to heed their advice. No one wants an angry, mentally ill co-worker to show up delusional and paranoid. That makes for an unhealthy work environment for everyone.



4. I'm busy stalking my previous boss, who fired me for not showing up for work.


One of my personal favorites on this list, this excuse really took some creativity and imagination to come up with. Unless, of course, it was true, in which case you could be arrested, but that's beside the point. What's funny is that this excuse, like the rest of them on this list, has actually been used before, as reported either by an employer who was on the receiving end of the excuse or an employee who used it. If you want to intimidate your boss, this might be one to try out, but beware of the results!



5. I'm severely constipated and just took a laxative. Now I'm a walking time bomb.


Your employer does not need to know your digestive habits or your intestinal problems. If something like this really does occur (and you're not just trying to come up with a creative, believable excuse for yet another day to miss work), it's a better idea to just say "I'm sick" and leave it at that. If your boss asks for details, however, then I guess it may be acceptable to delve into your bowel habits (but not too deeply, please).



6. I can't come in to work today because I can't find my shoes.


An employer reported that she really was given this excuse by an employee who was calling off from work. Remember, as a general rule, it's not a good idea to let your employer know you only own one pair of shoes! Unless you want to try to use this as a bargaining tool when it's time to ask for a raise... in which case, this excuse might be a good one to try!



7. I'm still too drunk from last night to drive to work.


Although many employees have actually come in to work drunk or hung over and not used this excuse, some have called in to their boss with inebriation as a reason for missing work. Most likely, it is not in your best interest to let your boss know you drink that much, even if it's only once in a while. If you can't control your "urges" outside of the office, he or she might think you won't be able to control them at work either, and fire you regardless of the reason you're calling in sick.



8. I was gawking at men fixing a hole in the road then I fell in the hole & broke my leg.


This one is just too funny, too stupid, and too sad not to be true. However, do you really want your boss to know how clumsy, inattentive, and boorish you are? Just leave it at "I can't come in to work because I have a broken leg" and don't expound on the details. If pressed for an explanation, it might be easier to just say "I stepped into a pothole," which still sounds clumsy but not quite as bad as watching men working and not paying attention to where you are going!



9. I woke up this morning after last night's party with a stranger in my bed.


This one is related to the "I can't come to work because I'm still drunk from last night" excuse above. Your boss doesn't need to know about your carnal urges or promiscuousness. In fact, that's something that is better left unsaid. Just tell your boss you're running a bit late and get that stranger out of your bed and on his or her way home!



10. I was stepping down out of my trailer & I missed the step and I hurt my back.


Another one of those excuses that is just too darn funny not to be true, an employer reported in a survey that this was one of the excuses he was given for an employee missing work. Seems like you might need to go to work to make enough money to be able to afford to move out of the trailer, hmmm?



Credit: Elistmania

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Top 10 Excuses for Missing Work

We've all been there. It's a beautiful day, and you can't bear the thought of going into work. So you call in with some excuse about feeling ill, but you know in your bones that your boss doesn't buy it.

The feeling-ill excuse is a short-term solution that won't win you any fans at the office -- someone else will have to pick up the slack, or you'll miss deadlines. And it won't help your career any. Here are 10 excuses -- five smart and five not-so-smart -- to help you save face and your sanity.


Smart Excuses

• I've Earned It: No one can argue with performance. Come in two or three hours early -- or stay late -- for a week or two. Then negotiate a day off in advance. "Really work when you're there, so you'll be able to feel good about taking time off," says Andrea Nierenberg, president of The Nierenberg Group, a management consulting and personal marketing practice.

• I'm Playing Golf with a Client: For this one to work, you've got to have a job that requires you to meet and court current and prospective clients. Neil Simpkins, an account executive at Oxford Communications, has used this one successfully. One note of caution: Meet the client; don't just say you did.

• I Have a Doctor's Appointment: This excuse will get you out of work for a half-day or so. Make the appointment first thing in the morning or late in the day, say around 3 p.m. You can leave the office by 2:30 p.m. and get home (hopefully) by 4 p.m. The shortened day will help you recharge, especially if you schedule it on a Friday afternoon.

• I Have Cramps: Before you dismiss this one, think about it: Who can argue? "It's such an embarrassing topic that nobody will ever challenge it," says Jennifer Newman, vice president of Lippe Taylor Public Relations. She has used this excuse -- and had it used on her -- successfully. "It's one of those things that men honestly have no clue about, and women can sympathize with,." One important point: Don't use this one if you're a man. It'll never work.

• I'm Working from Home: This is an excellent way to give yourself a break if your company allows it. Although you'll need to do some work at home, you can generally get away with a shortened day. And you'll eliminate your commuting time.


Not-So-Smart Excuses

• There's a Death in the Family: Don't ever use this excuse if it's not true. Your employer will lose all trust in you. "I had an employee whose mother died -- twice," says David Wear, a Virginia PR executive. "He also had the misfortune of losing all his grandparents -- 12 of them -- during a two-year period."

• I'm Too Sleepy: When she was a manager at IBM, Marilynn Mobley heard it all. This one still makes her laugh: The employee apparently took Tylenol 3 with codeine instead of a vitamin, because the bottles looked alike.

• I Can't Get My Car Out of the Garage: This is another one that Mobley didn't buy. An employee said that a power failure was preventing him from opening his power-operated garage door. "I reminded him that there's a pull chain on it for just such cases," she says.

• I Can't Find My Polling Place: Mary Dale Walters, a communications specialist at CCH, couldn't believe this one. A former employee needed an entire day to figure out where she had to go to vote in the presidential election.

• I Have a Personal Emergency: This one is so vague that it rarely works. It could mean anything from fatigue to an appointment with your hairdresser, and your boss knows it.

Don't lie, no matter which excuse you use. "I'm not a believer in playing hooky, because it always comes back to you," Nierenberg says. "Don't lie to your boss, your supervisor or your clients. You're guaranteed they will be the ones you'll run into while you're walking down the street in your jeans."


Credit: Michele Marrinan, Monster Contributing Writer

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IOC gets it right: Pyeongchang will host 2018 Winter Olympics

International Olympic Committee gets it right: Pyeongchang will host 2018 Winter Olympics.

The Winter Olympics are going back to the Far East.

After two heartbreaking near-misses, Pyeongchang was named the host city of the 2018 Winter Games, winning in the first round of voting at the IOC bid meeting in South Africa. The South Korean city defeated Annecy, France, and Munich, Germany, in the vote.

Twice before, the South Korean city had come up short in bids to win the Olympics. Pyeongchang won the first two rounds of voting in 2010 and 2014 before being narrowly defeated on a second ballot by Vancover and Sochi, respectively. It entered Wednesday's vote as the favorite, a position which hardly guaranteed a victory given the IOC's penchant for surprises.

Those past votes, plus the fact that a win for France or Germany would have meant putting the Winter Games back in Europe for the fifth time in eight Olympics, gave Pyeongchang the status as a clear frontrunner. The power of the bid was confirmed when the city won on the initial vote, the first time that's happened since 2001. Pyeongchang earned 63 votes compared to 25 for Munich and seven for Annecy.

Given those circumstances, two European cities going up against an Asian country was like a Democrat challenging Barack Obama in next year's primaries. Not even the IOC could screw up this decision. Going to Pyeongchang was the easy call.

It's the first time a Winter Olympics will be held in South Korea. The 1988 Summer Games were held in the capital city of Seoul.

Japan has hosted two Olympics, in 1972 in Sapparo and in 1988 in Nagano. South Korea's victory is bad news for that country, which had been considered a favorite to win the 2020 Summer Games. It's unlikely the IOC would go back to Asia for back-to-back Olympics.

Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-Na was in Durban, South Africa, for the announcement. The greatest living figure skater will be 27 when the flame is lit in South Korea. She was a key component of Pyeongchang's bid, though it's unknown whether she'll still be competing at that time.


Credit: yahoo

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10 Things You Might Not Know About America's Independence

Soldiers with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment Old Guard Continental Color Guard line up near the National Archives building, left, in Washington before the start of the Fourth of July, Independence Day, festivities Sunday, July 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

On July Fourth, Americans eat hot dogs and apple pie, watch fireworks, and go swimming.

But what are we really celebrating?

Standard answers to this question are that we are celebrating our independence or the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Well, yes and no.

Here are 10 things you might not know about our America's Independence Day.

1.) Independence Was Not Declared on July Fourth: The second Continental Congress actually voted for independence on July 2. In fact, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, predicting that future generations would celebrate July 2 as Independence Day, saying, "The second day of July, 1776, will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illumination, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore." July 4, 1776 is significant because that is the day that Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence document, but contrary to what many people believe it was not signed on the July 4. The official signing ceremony occurred on August 2, which is when most of the signers affixed their names to the document, but other representatives signed the document throughout the summer of 1776. Finally, there is no historical record of John Hancock saying that his signature is that big so that King George could read it. It has been suggested that Hancock's is by far the largest signature simply because he was the president of Congress.

2.) New York Was Late: When the Continental Congress declared independence from Britain the official vote was 12 in favor, 0 against. But wait, you may ask, weren't there 13 colonies? Where is that last one? The answer: The colony of New York abstained from the original vote on July 2. New York did not decide to join until July 19.

3.) It Was a States Thing First: Independence was not something that was confined to Congress. It started out as a state and local thing. In fact, the very first Declaration of Independence came on Oct. 4, 1774 (21 months before the Continental Congress declared independence) from the town of Worcester, Mass. During the next 21 months a total of 90 state and local declarations of independence would be made. When Virginia declared its independence in May 1776, they sent Rep. Richard Henry Lee to the Continental Congress with specific instructions to put forth a resolution of independence for Congress to vote on, thus allying all the colonies -- soon to become states -- against the British Empire in the War for Independence.

4.) American Troops Did Not fight Under the American Flag During the Revolution: The Fourth of July is always accompanied by a lot of flag waving, but the soldiers of the American Revolution did not actually fight under the American flag. In fact, our Founders did not really consider the flag to be all that important and the design of the flag varied both in the number of stripes and in the formation of the stars. The reason a uniform flag was adopted was so that our navy ships could be easily identified when arriving in foreign ports, but the boys in the Continental Army did not fight under this flag. In fact, the United States flag was considered so irrelevant that in 1794 when someone introduced a bill in Congress to add two stars to the flag in representation of the entrance of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union many members of the House considered it to be too trivial to pay any attention to. One representative is on record saying that this matter was "a trifling business which ought not to engross the attention of the House, when it was it was their duty to discuss matters of infinitely greater importance." In the end, the bill was passed simply to be rid of it. The Continental Army did still fight under flags, but these flags were all different depending on the regiment.

5.) Our Founding Fathers Were Not Radicals: As Americans, we like to think that what we did in the American Revolution was original and that our ideas of freedom and rights were new and progressive. But the truth is our Founding Fathers were not radical new thinkers -- all of their ideas and philosophies were rooted deeply in history. Ideas of people's rights, liberty, and social contracts can be traced all the way back through our colonial history, most famously with the Mayflower Compact, and even further through British history and English common law. These ideas can even be seen at work in the medieval era with Magna Carta first established 1215. Our Founding Fathers sought independence in order to preserve their "natural-born rights as Englishmen." Though it is true no colony had ever succeeded from the mother country before and the British were quick to call it treason, everything our Founders did was, in fact, legal. Jefferson himself explains that the Declaration was not meant to express anything new. He said it was "not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before, but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject."

6.) We Are Not a Democracy: People often associate democracy with freedom. We hear this word used all the time by our politicians, by our neighbors, even sometimes by our educators. But the fact is we are not a democracy. We are a republic. Our Founding Fathers deemed this an important distinction to make and discussed the matter quite a bit. In the end, our Founding Fathers claimed that a democracy was both extreme and dangerous for a country as it would most assuredly result in the oppression of the minority by the majority. Take this one example from Founding Father, Elbridge Gerry: "The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy." And Thomas Jefferson said that democracy should never be practiced outside the limits of a town. Our Founders were very wary of power no matter who had it and thus limited it as much as possible -- this is why we have such a unique system of checks and balances.

7.) Jefferson-Hemings Scandal--Not So Scandalous After All? With Independence Day comes a lot of talk about the Declaration of Independence and with that talk comes references to Thomas Jefferson, which these days will inevitably end with the Sally Hemings scandal. The claim that Jefferson fathered children with Hemings started by Jefferson's political rival Alexander Hamilton as an attempt to smear and discredit him. In the past several years these claims got a lot of media attention when a DNA test was done on the descendants of Sally Hemings, which led people to claim that Thomas Jefferson was definitively the father of her children. However, the matter is far from settled and there are still historians on both sides of the aisle in this debate. The DNA test actually proves that a male from the Jefferson family fathered Sally Hemings' children --that's a number of possibilities. At this point, science cannot actually provide us with a definitive answer on the subject.

8.) Our Founding Fathers Would Not Have Recited the Pledge: Another patriotic tradition that gets a lot of attention, particularly around this time of the year, is the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge did not exist during our Founders' lifetimes -- something that is very clear when looking at its text. The Pledge was written over a century after America's founding in 1892. It was also written by a socialist -- Francis Bellamy, whose original text was: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." According to our Founders, the states are not indivisible, but very much the opposite. In fact, when ratifying the U.S. Constitution, some states, such as Virginia among others, specifically declared the right to secede from the Union should they feel it necessary just as an extra precaution to make sure that that state right was understood. Our Founders took their states rights very seriously and considered the U.S. Constitution to be a compact amongst the sovereign states so that any state could secede if it felt the federal government had become oppressive. So, if not with a pledge, how would our Founding Fathers begin meetings and celebrations? The answer: most likely with a prayer. In fact, the very first resolution brought before the First Continental Congress, and immediately passed, was the declaration that they would open every meeting with a prayer.

9.) The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere . . . and 40 others? The mythology of Paul Revere's midnight ride can be traced back to the year 1860 with the writing of that famous poem, "Paul Revere's Ride." Here's what really happened: On April 18, 1775, British troops were ordered to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams, both of whom were in Lexington at the time and to seize arms and provisions at Concord. Upon hearing this, Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on horseback -- taking two different routes to Lexington in order to warn Hancock and Adams. Along the way, they warned the towns they passed through of the British invasion. By the morning of April 19 roughly 40 men were out on horseback spreading the news. Revere arrived at Lexington first, followed by Dawes. The two men then headed toward Concord, but were intercepted by British troops. Dawes, though injured, managed to escape, but Revere was captured. He was rescued by American militiamen a short while later. It was during this confrontation between British troops and American militiamen at Concord that the famous shot heard 'round the world was fired.

10.) The British Soldiers of the Boston Massacre Were Defended by John Adams in Court: The Boston Massacre, on March 5, 1770, began with a riot and ended with British troops killing five men. The incident help spark the greater rebellion, which led to the Revolutionary War, but tensions had been rising in Boston since British troops had occupied the city in 1768. But you may be surprised to know that one of the Founding Fathers actually defended the British soldiers that were charged of killing the civilians. John Adams, like many of our Founding Fathers, was a lawyer, and though he was a Patriot, he firmly believed in the right to a fair trial and agreed to represent the British troops in court. Adams succeeded in getting Capt. Thomas Preston acquitted as most others. And the two soldiers who were convicted were spared the death penalty.
So this July Fourth, research what you're celebrating and talk about it with your family. Benjamin Franklin said that we have Republic, if we can keep it. Former Congressman and author of the book "In Tune with America: our History in Song," George Nethercutt Jr. put it this way: "The foundation of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans is the U.S. Constitution, the longest surviving constitution of any nation in history. To be civically unaware is to diminish our freedom, but knowing our history makes us all better Americans. Read our nation's Founding documents and they will inspire you."



credit: Foxnews

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6 simple secrets for perfect, velvety deviled eggs

6 simple secrets for perfect, velvety deviled eggs

When it comes to bringing an appetizer to a party, I know I can never go wrong with deviled eggs. The last time I brought a double batch of them to a party (48 servings!), people started rushing me…but not to say “Hi,” give hugs and kisses, etc. Instead it was more like a stampede with exclamations of “Oh my god, you made deviled eggs!” People were grabbing the little puppies straight off the platter—it was clean 15 minutes later.

Popular as these two-bite appetizers are, they’re not typically healthy. Classic deviled-egg recipes are loaded with fat and calories. Our healthier version of deviled eggs has about two-thirds of the calories of a classic recipe, half the total fat and about 25% less cholesterol and sodium.

EatingWell Deviled Eggs
• 34 calories
• 2 grams fat
• 1 gram saturated fat
• 71 mg cholesterol
• 85 mg sodium

Classic Deviled Eggs
• 58 calories
• 4 grams fat
• 1 gram saturated fat
• 94 mg cholesterol
• 115 mg sodium

Although making deviled eggs is pretty straightforward, it is definitely possible to mess them up. Even though I’m the food editor of EatingWell Magazine, there are times I’ve added too much salt by accident. Other mistakes: way too much mustard or no mustard at all or (gag) broken eggshell in the filling. When done right, they’re smooth and creamy and the filling has the perfect balance of tangy and salty flavors. But if you follow these rules for making perfect deviled eggs it’s not hard to make them delicious and healthier too. How? Here are my 6 simple secrets for perfect, velvety deviled eggs.

• Don’t go for the freshest eggs you can find. I know that sounds odd, and for most applications the fresher the better. But in this case, you don’t want to use eggs straight from the farm, as they’re harder to peel and you’ll end up losing half the whites in the process.
• Don’t overcook the eggs. My mom always said put them in water and boil for 12 minutes at a hard boil. Now I know gentler is better so that the yolks get just set, but not overcooked. Place the eggs in a saucepan filled with cool water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
• Peel like a pro. After you boil the eggs, run them under a little cold water so that they’re cool enough to handle. Then crack them all over and put them in cold water to finish cooling. This makes them easier to peel.
• Use two-thirds of the yolks. (The yolks have most of the calories and fat in eggs. One yolk has 5 grams of fat and 54 calories, compared with only 16 calories and no fat in an egg white.) Instead, use nonfat cottage cheese to stand in for some of the yolks—it keeps the filling velvety and rich while reducing some of the fat.
• Instead of regular mayo choose low-fat. It has 15 calories per tablespoon and 1 gram of fat. It really is a miracle in creating a velvety filling.
• When it comes to a classic-tasting deviled egg, you must use yellow mustard. It has the right acidity and saltiness that adds a special punch. (If you’re a mustard snob, you can do a blend of a more high-brow mustard with a little yellow mustard.)

Most of all, have fun! You don’t have to go just straight up and put mustard, mayo and paprika in your filling. Think of fun mix-ins like anchovies, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, chives, cilantro or Tabasco. Or even try stuffing them with guacamole. And don’t forget this important food-safety tip: don’t leave deviled eggs out longer than a couple hours. (If your parties are anything like mine, your guests will eat them much faster than that anyway!)

Get the Recipe: EatingWell Deviled Eggs
Active time: 20 minutes | Total: 20 minutes | To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

Deviled eggs are a perennial potluck favorite. Our recipe replaces some of the egg yolks with nonfat cottage cheese—keeping the filling velvety and rich while reducing some of the fat. No one will know the difference.

• 12 large hard-boiled eggs (see Tip), peeled
• 1/3 cup nonfat cottage cheese
• 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh chives or scallion greens
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
• 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Paprika for garnish

1. Halve eggs lengthwise with a sharp knife. Gently remove the yolks. Place 16 yolk halves in a food processor (discard the remaining 8 yolk halves). Add cottage cheese, mayonnaise, chives (or scallion greens), relish, mustard and salt; process until smooth.
2. Spoon about 2 teaspoons yolk mixture into each egg white half. Sprinkle with paprika, if desired.

Makes 24 servings.
Per serving: 34 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 71 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrate; 3 g protein; 0 g fiber; 85 mg sodium; 31 mg potassium.

Tip: To hard-boil eggs: Place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook at the barest simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, pour out hot water and cover the eggs with ice-cold water. Let stand until cool enough to handle before peeling.

What are your secrets for perfect deviled eggs?


By Jessie Price, Deputy Food Editor for EatingWell Magazine

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Monaco's Prince Albert marries in royal pomp

Monaco's Prince Albert marries in royal pomp

MONACO (Reuters) - Monaco's sovereign ruler Prince Albert wed South African Charlene Wittstock on Saturday in an opulent ceremony attended by European royalty and the international elite, fanning hopes for a new era of glamour.
The 53-year-old married Wittstock, 33, in the courtyard of his palace at the foot of a marble double staircase lined with white flowers.

The long-awaited nuptials are the first of a ruling prince in Monaco since the prince's father, Prince Rainier III, married the Hollywood star Grace Kelly in 1956, and comes two months after Britain's wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
Albert winked at his bride, who smiled shyly, as they sat on red velvet chairs holding hands, while the voice of a South African singer filled the courtyard.
The long white train of Wittstock's Giorgio Armani duchess satin gown encrusted with thousands of tiny crystals flowed over the red carpet. The groom wore the white dress uniform of Monaco's Carabinieri royal guard.

Albert's sisters Princesses Caroline and Stephanie, both dressed in pink, smiled as they watched the couple wed in front of a crowd including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, Armani and opera singer Renee Fleming.
Gathered to witness the event was a who's-who of Europe's royal families: Albert, King of Belgium, Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Felipe and Letizia of Spain among others.

Another 3,500 attendees sat outside to watch the festivities on giant TV screens.
The couple married in a civil ceremony in the palace throne room on Friday.
The wedding puts a spotlight on the tiny principality built around images of luxury and its ancient House of Grimaldi whose family members have ruled since 1297.
One royal fan traveled from the Netherlands to cheer and thousands of well-wishers are expected to flood the city state surrounded on three sides by France.
"We have followed the whole history, the life of the principality of Monaco," said Meina Meyes. "We really feel like part of the family because we know everything about them."

After the ceremony, Her Serene Highness will lay her bouquet at a nearby chapel, just as Princess Grace once did. A wedding dinner prepared by chef Alain Ducasse and royal ball awaits at the Monte Carlo opera, followed by fireworks.

Home to the Monte Carlo Grand Prix race car, Monaco is still considered a playground of the very rich: residents pay no income or property tax, and yachts crowd the port.
But tragedy and scandal, including admissions from Albert that he fathered two illegitimate children, have chipped away at its mystique over the years.
Just days ago, rumors of discontent threatened to mar the festivities. The palace strongly denied a report in French weekly L'Express that Wittstock tried to skip town on a one-way flight to South Africa and that it took "infinite persuasion" by the prince and his entourage to change her mind.

The son of Prince Rainier and Kelly -- who as Princess Grace ushered in an era of glamour to the tiny city-state and who died in a car crash in 1982 -- Albert met Wittstock while presiding over a swimming race in 2000.
Wittstock, whose champagne blonde hair and sculpted figure draws comparisons with Kelly, is a former national champion swimmer from middle-class roots. She stopped competing in 2007.

The culmination of months of painstaking preparations, the event has generated building excitement in the 8,000 Monegasques who hold citizenship from the world's smallest independent state after the Vatican City.

(Writing by Alexandria Sage; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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8 Secrets About Disneyland

8 Secrets About Disneyland

1. There are dead bodies in the Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland is one of the scariest places in the park, but not for the reasons you'd expect. In his 1994 book "Mouse Tales," former Disney employee David Koenig tells the story of a tourist group that requested a little extra time on the ride so they could hold a quick memorial for a 7-year-old boy.
Disney gave the family permission, but it turns out, the memorial was only half their plan. When the mourners were spotted sprinkling a powdery substance off their "doom buggies," the Haunted Mansion was quickly shut down until all the remains could be cleaned up.
Amazingly, this wasn't an isolated incident. Stealthy ash scatterings have occurred all over Disneyland. Not everyone tries to skirt the rules, though. Every year, several families ask for permission. According to one Disney spokesperson, the answer is always no.


2. The cats own the night
Each night at Disneyland, after the sunburned families and exhausted cast members have made their way home, the park fills up again -- this time, with hundreds of feral cats. Park officials love the felines because they help control the mouse population. (After all, a park full of cartoon mice is more enticing than a park full of real ones.)
But these cats aren't a new addition to the Disney family. They first showed up at Disneyland shortly after it opened in 1955, and rather than spend time chasing them away, park officials decided to put the cats to work.
Today, there are plenty of benefits to being a Disney-employed mouser. When they're not prowling the grounds, these corporate fat cats spend their days lounging at one of the park's five permanent feeding stations. Of course, Disney also goes to great lengths to manage its feline population. Wranglers at the park work to spay and neuter adult cats, and any time kittens are found, they're put up for adoption.


3. It's a good place to be a flasher, again
Just before the final, five-story drop on Splash Mountain, Disney cameras take a snapshot of the riders to catch their facial expressions. The idea is to provide guests with a wholesome keepsake of the experience.
But in the late 1990s, the photographs took a turn for the obscene after exhibitionists started baring their breasts for the camera. Soon, Splash Mountain had gained a reputation as "Flash Mountain," and Web sites featuring the topless photos began cropping up.
In its effort to curb this Tourists Gone Wild phenomenon, Disney began hiring employees to monitor the photos, training them to pull anything offensive before it got displayed on the big screen. Since then, the number of flashers has dwindled.
In fact, the countermeasure was so effective that in May 2009, Disneyland decided that it didn't need employees to monitor the photographs anymore, putting an end to what must have been one of the strangest jobs in the park -- watching for topless riders.


4. Fully formed mustaches are welcome
Even though Walt Disney had a mustache himself, he wanted his employees clean-shaven. The idea was to make sure they looked as different from the stereotypical image of a creepy carnival worker as possible.
So, for 43 years, Disney theme park workers were forbidden from growing facial hair. But on a momentous day in March 2000, the company took a giant leap forward and decided to grant the park's male employees the right to sport mustaches. (Beards, goatees, and Chester A. Arthur-style muttonchops were still off limits.)
There wasn't much time for rejoicing, though. When several employees started to grow out their facial hair, management realized that they hated the stubbly look. The rule was quickly amended.
Today, in order to have a mustache at the park, Disney employees must either have them when they're hired or grow them during vacation.



5. Disney World is its own city
Four years after opening Disneyland's doors in 1955, Walt Disney became convinced that it was time to expand his franchise. After scouting several locations, he decided on a plot of land in Orlando, Florida. But there was a major obstacle standing in his way.
The land spilled over into two counties, meaning the task of constructing Disney World would require navigating the bureaucracies of two local governments. To skirt the issue, Disney petitioned the Florida State legislature to let the company govern its own land, essentially making Disney World a separate city.
The request wasn't as novel as it may seem, however. Governments often create special districts for private companies because the arrangement is mutually beneficial.
The company wins by receiving more power over things such as building codes and tax-free bonds, while the local government saves money on providing infrastructure. In the end, the state gets an economy-boosting business that it paid little to help build.
So, that's what Florida did. On May 12, 1967, the Reedy Creek Improvement District was born. Governed by a board of supervisors, the agency has powers typically reserved for city and county governments.
It has the authority to open schools, create its own criminal justice system, and open a nuclear power plant -- although it hasn't chosen to do any of those things yet. The company also holds all of the seats on the board, and it can always count on its residents' support. After all, they're all Disney employees.


6. They paint the town green
If you look beyond the fantasy of the Magic Kingdom, Disney hopes you won't see anything at all. The less-than-magical parts of the park, such as fences, garbage bins, and administrative buildings, are all coated in a color known as "Go Away Green" -- a shade that's meant to help things blend in with the landscaping.
According to Disney officials, there's no set formula for the color, but that hasn't stopped die-hard fans from trying to recreate it.
One enthusiast collected paint chips from the park and took them to The Home Depot, where he supposedly found an exact match -- useful knowledge if you're looking to fade into the background at Disneyland.


7. You can shoot hoops inside a mountain
Disneyland's Matterhorn is best known for its bobsled-like roller coaster that twists down the giant peak. But few people outside the park know that deep inside the 147-ft. mountain lurks a basketball court. How did Disneyland become a place where your hoop dreams could come true?
After construction of the Matterhorn was completed in 1959, the roller coaster occupied the bottom two-thirds of the mountain, while the top third remained empty. What to do with the extra space?
Disney employees voted to put in a basketball court. Because a regulation court wouldn't fit inside the mountaintop (sometimes magic can't trump physics), only one goal was installed.
As for the story about the court being installed to skirt building ordinances, that's just an urban legend.


8. There's a speakeasy
Hidden behind a dull green door in Disneyland's New Orleans Square is one of the park's most exclusive and mysterious attractions: a VIP lounge called Club 33.
Walt Disney built the club as a secret hideaway for dignitaries and celebrities, and he even went to New Orleans to personally pick out the knickknacks for the interior. During the 44 years that Club 33 has been operational, it's served the likes of Johnny Depp, Elton John, and scads of executives from companies such as Boeing, Chevron, and AT&T.
But if you're hoping to join, you'll have to be patient. It takes about 10 years to get off the waiting list, after which you'll have to fork over $10,000 in initiation fees and another $3,500 each year that you're a member.
But it's worth it; Club 33 is the only place at Disneyland where you can ditch the kids for a cocktail.



credit: cnn

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Top Ten Dirtiest Cities in America

Top Ten Dirtiest Cities in America
Can clean be overrated? America's dirtiest cities happen to include some very popular tourist destinations.
By Katrina Brown Hunt

How do you define a city’s soul? For a lot of travelers, it’s in the dirt.

Atlanta ad exec Patrick Scullin, for instance, loves Baltimore—but not because it’s particularly pristine. “Yes, there’s litter, smokers, and graffiti,” he says, “but that’s just life going on. The air sometimes offends, but a cool breeze off the harbor can ease all worries. It’s a gem of a city.”

While such sentiments don’t appear in tourist brochures, that glorious grit has landed Baltimore in the Top 10 dirtiest cities, as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers in the annual America’s Favorite Cities survey. Of course, visitors gauge “dirty” in a variety of ways: litter, air pollution, even the taste of local tap water.

This year’s American State Litter Scorecard, published by advocacy group the American Society for Public Administration, put both Nevada and Louisiana in the bottom five—echoing the assessment of T+L readers who ranked Las Vegas and New Orleans among America’s dirtiest cities.

No. 1 New Orleans Can you imagine the cleanup required after Mardi Gras? Both tourists and Mother Nature have sometimes been hard on the Crescent City, which readers voted the dirtiest in America. But that doesn’t stop the good times from rolling on. Voters embraced the city’s fun-loving spirit, ranking New Orleans first for its nightlife and eclectic people-watching.		No. 1 New Orleans Photo by: iStock
No. 2 Philadelphia The City of Brotherly Love was voted the fourth dirtiest city last year and just narrowly avoided the top slot for sloppy this time around. The locals may not be helping with those first impressions—they ranked near the bottom of the style category, as well as in the bottom five for being environmentally aware.		No. 2 Philadelphia Photo by: Kelly Kollar
No. 3 Los Angeles That infamous rep for smog is tough to shake: the City of Angels, which is No. 3 for the second year in a row, continues to do poorly in national air-quality tests. AFC voters also put traffic-clogged Los Angeles in last place for being pedestrian-friendly and in the bottom three for overall quality of life.		No. 3 Los Angeles Photo by: iStock
No. 4 Memphis Nothing is tidy about barbecue or the blues, two of Memphis’s biggest tourist draws. This city on the banks of The Big Muddy has more to work on than dirtiness; it came in last place in the AFC for being environmentally friendly, as well as for feeling safe.		No. 4 Memphis Photo by: Gavin Hellier / Alamy
No. 5 New York City Last year’s dirtiest city is looking a little fresher these days. But AFC voters seem to champion New York because of its less-than-sterile vibe, and not in spite of it. There’s world-class culture, cool neighborhoods, and diverse locals. Just be prepared to pay for it: NYC ranked as the most expensive city in the nation.		No. 5 New York City Photo by: Kelly Bazely
No. 6 Baltimore The Inner Harbor is a crowd-pleaser, but AFC voters weren’t impressed by Charm City’s overall cleanliness or its more land-based features. Baltimore came in next-to-last place for its public parks, hotels, and even interesting people.		No. 6 Baltimore Photo by: Kelly Kollar
No. 7 Las Vegas This is the No. 1 town for wild weekends, so it’s no surprise that Vegas makes it into the Top 10 for dirty disarray. Impressively, Sin City has actually improved its standing by two slots since last year. And if you’re willing to splurge, any semblance of grittiness may disappear: Vegas scored No. 1 for luxury hotels and No. 2 for both luxury shopping and big-name restaurants.		No. 7 Las Vegas Photo by: iStock
No. 8 Miami AFC voters loved Miami’s bar scene and its upscale dining, but all that hoopla takes its toll on a person—and on a city. AFC voters ranked the Florida hot spot poorly not only for cleanliness but for safety.		No. 8 Miami Photo by: iStock
No. 9 Atlanta Many cities that made the dirtiest Top 10 scored well for having a vivid nightlife, cool neighborhoods, or great live music. Alas, Atlanta couldn’t claim any of those in the survey. At least the city has its quality—and sloppy—barbecue going for it.		No. 9 Atlanta Photo by: iStock
No. 10 Houston This oil town could stand a green makeover, according to AFC voters. Its cleanliness score worsened by four spots since last year. The general vibe left AFC voters wanting, too. They ranked Houston near the bottom for its parks and weather. The city’s collective ego can take great pride in one thing: it topped the AFC charts for its juicy (and no doubt messy) burgers.		No. 10 Houston Photo by: iStock

Credit : yahoo

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