Commercial activities during Christmas today are often decried as making

the celebrations of many pagan festivals. The hope was that Christmas would also

become a holiday that would gain much popularity.

Long before the birth of Jesus Christ, people in various parts of Europe would

celebrate light and birth in the darkest days of winter. The winter solstice,

when the harshest part of winter was over, was a time of celebration for many

peoples because they would look forward to more hours of sunlight during the

longer days ahead.

The Norse in Scandinavia celebrated Yule from the winter solstice on

December 21 through to January. Men brought home logs that were lighted and a

feast would take place until the log was completely burned. Each spark from the

fire was believed to represent a new pig or calf to be born in the coming new

year.

The pagan god Oden was honored by Germans during the mid-winter holiday. Oden

inspired great fear in the Germans who believed that Oden traveled at nights

through the sky to observe people and make a decision about who would perish or

prosper in life. This belief caused most people to stay inside during the

period.

In Rome it was the god of agriculture, Saturn, who was honored in a

holiday called Saturnalia. It was a holiday that started during the week that

led up to the winter solstice and continued for a month with hedonistic

celebrations. There was plenty of food and drink and the normal social class

rules of who had privilege and power in Roman society were totally disregarded

as everyone participated in the festivities. Some Romans also had a feast called

Juvenalia to honor children and the birthday of the sun god Mithra was sometimes

celebrated by the upper classes.

In the early years of the start of Christianity the main holiday was

Easter. It was in the 4th Century that church officials made a decision to have

the birth of Jesus celebrated as a holiday and Pope Julius I chose December 25

as the day of Jesus' birth. The holiday, which was first called the Feast of the

Nativity, spread to England by the end of the 6th Century and to Scandinavia by

the end of the 8th Century.

Church leaders achieved the goal of having Christmas celebrations, including

attendance at church, become popular during the winter solstice, but they were

unable to control other pagan-like celebrations during Christmas. Believers

would attend church on Christmas and then participate later in raucous and

drunken celebrations. But by the Middle Ages, from around the 5th to the 16th

Century, Christianity had outgrown paganism as a religion.

The celebration of Christmas in Europe changed in the early 17th Century

when Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans gained power in England in 1645. To remove

decadent behavior from the society, Cromwell cancelled Christmas as the Puritans

noted that the Bible doesn't mention any date for Jesus' birth. The lack of this

information and specific Biblical references to Christmas is also cited by

religious groups like Jehovah Witnesses as the reason they don't observe or

participate in Christmas. Christmas celebrations returned in England around 1649

when Charles II was restored to the throne.

Christmas wasn't a holiday in early America because the Pilgrims who came

to America had even stricter beliefs than Cromwell and the Puritans. Christmas

celebrations were even forbidden in Boston from 1659 to 1681. During the same

time however, settlers in Jamestown in Virginia were reported to have enjoyed

Christmas.

After the American Revolution Christmas again lost popularity and it wasn't

until June 26, 1870 that Christmas was declared a federal holiday. Christmas in

the United States gained popularity as a holiday period during the 19th Century.

Christmas celebrations also changed at that time to be more family-centered

rather than being carnival-like.

Healthy Eating During Pregnancy

A balanced diet is more than simply increase how much you eat. You need to consider what to eat during pregnancy. Your body needs increased amounts of vitamins, protein, minerals and calories. It is important to eat a diet based on these increased needs to make sure you are getting the proper nutritional and daily recommendations from each food group.

Keywords:

pregnancy, pregnant, expectant, expecting, eating, foods, weight gain during pregnancy, pregnancy nutrition, nutrition during pregnancy, drinking alco

Article Body:

A balanced diet is more than simply increase how much you eat. You need to consider what to eat during pregnancy. Your body needs increased amounts of vitamins, protein, minerals and calories. It is important to eat a diet based on these increased needs to make sure you are getting the proper nutritional and daily recommendations from each food group.

It is essential to follow these simple guidelines to ensure a healthy pregnancy. You are responsible for making healthy choices for both you and your baby.

The following Food Guide Pyramid is the advice given from my practitioner. I present here to share with other mothers-to-be. Hope it may help you achieve a healthy eating!

Milk, Yogurt and Cheese (4 servings/day)

• 1 cup of milk

• 1 ounce of cheese

• 1 1/3 cups of cottage cheese

• 1 ½ cups of ice cream

• 1 cup of yogurt or custard

Meat, Poultry, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts (2-3 servings/day or 6-7 oz)

• Beef

• Chicken

• Lamb

• Eggs 1 egg = 1 oz meat

• Cheese 1 slice = 1 oz meat

• Peanut Butter 2 Tbsp = 1 oz meat

• Turkey

• Pork

• Organ Meats

Fruits (3-4 servings/day)

• 1 serving = 1 medium fruit

• ½ cup juice or fruit

Vegetables (4-5 servings/day)

• 1 serving = ½ cup cooked or 1 cup raw vegetabless

Choose one good source of Vitamin C daily. Examples include: Broccoli, Grapefruit, Orange Juice, Cabbage, Greens, Strawberries, Cantaloupe, Oranges, and Tomatoes

Choose one good source of Vitamin A every other day. Examples include: Dark Green vegetables, orange vegetables, Apricots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, and Carrots

Bread, Cereals, Rice and Pasta (9-11servings/day, 1 serving = ½ cup or 1 slice)

• Bagels

• Breads

• Noodels

• Macaroni

• Cereals

• Rice

• Spaghetti

Fats & Oils

• only small amounts of margarine, salad dressings and oils

Get Yourself Ready to Impress During a Phone Interview

Tips on what you should be doing to prepare yourself for a phone interview.

Keywords:

Resumes, cover letter, interview, job

Article Body:

Preparing for an interview over the phone is primarily a mental exercise, and something that is easy to prepare for. It is the second impression that you will make on a hiring decision maker – the first impression was obviously made for you by your resume and cover letter, and must have been positive, or you would not have this interview appointment. That being the case, it is worth while to prepare for it and be ready to put your best foot forward.

Step one in getting yourself mentally prepared is to rehearse. Practice in front of the mirror, or with a friend or your spouse listening to you, asking questions and playing the part of the interviewer. Make a list of questions you expect the interviewer to ask and have good answers prepared, but have them on the top of your head in general and not memorized. Memorized answers can sound canned and not real, and will not help you. You need to appear genuine and real.

Step two is preparing and practicing two or three ideas that you want to get across to the interviewer as to why you are the right person for this job. If you are having trouble thinking of ideas, read your resume again. Look for the key points, qualifications or accomplishments you have written, and be ready to discuss them.

Step three is to think of what you can do for the company. The hiring manager really doesn’t care why you would like the job; he cares about how you can help his company if you are hired.

Step four is on the morning of the interview get dressed. Wear the same clothes when you are on the phone that you would wear if you were in front of the interviewer in person. Dress for success and your attitude will reflect it. Dress in your pajamas or an old sweat shirt and your attitude may reflect that as well.

Step five is to smile. Smiles are contagious, even if they can’t be seen. Good salesmen know this and practice smiling on the phone. There is something in your voice and attitude that is conveyed when you smile, and the person on the other end of the phone can sense it. There is truth in the old saying, “Smile and the world smiles with you.” It is basic human nature.

Step six is to speak clearly and enunciate. Use a good quality phone, a land line not a cordless. If at all possible do not use a cellular phone for the interview. Crackling noises are distractions and bad cell sites, leading to dropped calls, are a negative. You only want positives during your phone interview.

Step seven is the interview itself. Relax, be yourself and do your best. When it is over remember to thank the interviewer for his or her time, and offer to provide any other information they might need to make a decision. Be professional and you may well be rewarded with a job.

Four Indicators to Watch When Outsourcing During a Recession

When making decisions about IT offshore outsourcing, the state of the U.S. economy looms large. The effect of exchange rates, interest rates, IT employment levels and even domestic commercial office vacancy rates will affect your onshore, offshore or nearshore strategy.

Keywords:

offshore outsourcing, IT outsourcing, offshore IT staff augmentation, nearshore outsourcing, offshore programming, offshore software development

Article Body:

When making decisions about IT offshore outsourcing, the state of the U.S. economy looms large. The effect of exchange rates, interest rates, IT employment levels and even domestic commercial office vacancy rates will affect your onshore, offshore or nearshore strategy. America is growing more and more dependent on lower cost offshore services. So what is an offshoring decision-maker to do about controlling cost in this U.S. economic downturn? That depends on how the economic cycle affects your business. Because consumer spending leads the economy up and down, recent weakness at Tiffney and Target suggests both ends of the consumer spectrum are being affected, so we may be early in the cycle. In his article “Understanding the Economy” (Inc. Magazine in December 2007) Joseph H. Ellis says, “People worry that a recession is coming. But buy the time one arrives, most economic harm has already happened.” He says don’t be afraid to do your own economic detective work. You may gain a new perspective in cyclical patterns and cause-and-effect relationships you didn’t realize existed. Here are four indicators to consider.

Exchange rates: Analyses of major IT software outsourcing destinations reveals that most of their currencies appreciated against the US dollar substantially. This resulted in either a higher cost for clients or lower earnings for offshore providers. In a country like India that claims 70 percent of the international business process outsourcing market, the Indian Rupee gained about 11% on the dollar from an average exchange rate of 44.21 Rupees per dollar in January 2007 to a monthly average of 39.37 in December of 2007. Currencies in nearshore outsourcing destinations like Canada and Brazil also saw a sharp appreciation against the dollar of 15% and 16% respectively from January to December 2007. This represents increased cost to you the buyer or lost revenue to the outsourcer. When reviewing your outsourcing strategy, currency exchange rate risk is something both parties to the agreement need to discuss and not just hope for the best.

Interest rates: Rates can go up, down, or stay the same. Sometimes we overlook the basics. The Federal Reserve seems to be trying to keep interest rates artificially low but that is exacerbating the dollar’s decline. The results are always inflationary. Should they fight inflation, interest rates will increase and this will raise the dollar. If you need capital, time may be running out on low cost borrowing even if you can get it. Keep cash at the short end of the yield curve to protect against eventual higher rates. When reviewing your strategy keep in mind that if the government’s adjustment to interest rates strengthens the dollar, your offshore services will get cheaper, however, if you use short-term borrowing to make payroll, your cost of onsite services will surely rise.

IT employment: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistic’s, computer software engineers are one of the occupations projected to grow the fastest and add the most new jobs from 2006-2016. Employment levels for computer professionals are currently at one of the highest points in recorded history with un-employment in this profession reported at around just 2%. It is possible that outsourcing to other countries may somewhat temper this employment growth. Many firms will cut cost by outsourcing to foreign countries that have lower prevailing wages and highly educated workers. However, high quality jobs in software engineering require computer professionals with strong programming skills, systems analysis and interpersonal skills. Therefore rising wage pressure will become a long-term strategic issue, whether you are attempting to staff professionals domestically in a job market at near full employment or you are attempting to staff offshore where experienced professionals are demanding higher wages in their currencies against a weaker trending dollar.

Office space: IT staff augmentation requires additional office space somewhere. On the first Monday of 2008, real estate research firm Reis reported that U.S. office vacancy rates rose for the first time in four years. Completions rose to 19.6 million square feet in the forth quarter, the highest level in almost seven years vs. 8 to 12 million over the last couple of years. This is the first time since the forth quarter of 2004 that effective rent growth has fallen short of asking rent growth and concessions have widened. In this market it might be cheaper than ever to lease additional office space for an expanding IT services and development team. But facilities are always a part of the cost equation. When developing an offshore vs. onshore strategy look at all your cost including facilities, utilities, network access, and other costs associated with housing a large or small team. Some emerging markets like Panama have an excellent infrastructure and government policies that are designed to encourage technology businesses to use facilities there.

No matter where you are in the cycle, cutting costs and improving quality is always a goal. Outsourcing can help you to reach that objective. There is a clear growing trend for companies, regardless of their size and industry, to outsource an element of their business. George Schildge, president of CEO of Matrix Marketing Group Inc. believes outsourcing is not a passing fad but clearly a paradigm shift that can change a business model for the better. Two themes for software development trends in 2008, according to SearchSoftwareQuality.com, are that outsourcing will continue to effect more people and business analysts and project managers will need to learn how to face the challenges of distribution across countries and continents. Bas de Baar, project manager and author of “Surprise! Now You’re a Software Project Manager” says Different cultures, different time zones different languages, different customs will impact software projects more than in previous years.

Profiting this year will require different strategies. Outsourcing will become a bigger part of the equation so do your homework now and act to stay ahead of the curve.

.

Vision TRE has aggressively sought out IT professionals in Brazil, Panama and Ecuador with first-rate English skills and offers their offshore services in advanced programming skills including .Net, ASP, C++, C#, Microsoft SQL, Oracle Applications, Oracle DBA, Crystal Reports, Visual Basic, network engineering and more to U.S. clients since 2004. We currently have a large reserve of skilled professionals ready to meet any popular programming skill set demand.

Easy Money During Your Free Time

Living in NY can make you crazy sometimes. If your living situation, job, and life partner are all exactly as you wanted, that’s a more than exceptional life in the city.

Keywords:

paid surveys

Article Body:

Living in NY can make you crazy sometimes. If your living situation, job, and life partner are all exactly as you wanted, that’s a more than exceptional life in the city. Most of us spend our time on Craigslist looking for the perfect apartment, love, and job to appear before our very eyes. If it’s not on Craigslist we resort to a Google search and punch in whatever it is that crosses our minds.

Whenever you do a job search the web is saturated with these ads that create the illusion of getting rich by simply giving your opinion. If only! I’d be a millionaire. And if we could somehow rid ourselves the task of going through the mundane daily prerequisites of 9 to 5, we’d all sign up. But alas, the many tempting ads that assure extra cash do indeed mean it to be simply extra; don’t quit your day job in hopes of climbing the survey ladder to executive status, because it’s not going to happen. At most you can win some great prizes from washer/dryer combos to weekend get a ways.

If you have the patience to fill out a survey and start the madness you can begin earning that little extra bit of money immediately. Otherwise, you could win prizes rather than cash, and be entered to win even bigger prizes simply for your participation in the survey. It then becomes more like a virtual raffle that you have agreed to be a part of. But I strongly suggest opening a new email account specifically made for your survey activities. Upon filling out the information form the surveys will begin to be emailed out to you. And if you decide this is for you, separating your normal mail from survey mail may simplify your life. It’s not a full time gig, but it will earn you a little extra for whatever you require.

Don’t Forget Masonry During Inspections

As with other types of construction, masonry is subject to inspection and must also comply with applicable codes and standards.

Keywords:

construction, architecture, building codes, masonry, concrete, brick

Article Body:

Early in my career, I worked with a brick mason who declared “masonry construction is forever.” In a humorous response, I teased him saying he’d spent too much time carrying mortar up a ladder. But actually I knew when properly installed, masonry really is solid; it serves the construction industry well and provides outstanding protection against the spread of fire. Given its tested reputation, many inspectors have developed a mindset that keeps them understanding that because masonry is fire-rated it needs no inspection, or that all 8-inch block has a two-hour fire rating.

Consider the common misconception that all concrete block has a rating. If you look at the UL Fire Resistance Directory, it shows the block used in a fire-rated assembly must meet certain requirements. A 2-hour firewall requires a class “B” block. The block alone must be constructed following certain specifications. Its fire resistance rating is based on the thickness of the block.

So what’s the difference between a class B block and the typical concrete block available at a local lumberyard or home store? It comes down to the required thickness of the walls and the size of the hollow core. Blocks purchased at home repair and maintenance stores typically have large hollow cores and are not adequate in thickness or density for fire resistance.

So how does an inspector know if the block being used is of the correct classification? The construction design will indicate a required classification. Additionally, block shipments usually contain a certificate with its classification and inspectors should ask to see that certificate.

Block classification should be checked routinely and automatically. There are also various issues to consider before application such as the type of mortar used, how to keep the mortar from freezing, what accessories will be used and the bearing conditions and penetrations. All of these components comprise an assembly.

Indeed, masonry construction is solid and serves the construction industry well. And to make my brick mason friend happy, I will concede that it is almost “forever.” However, as with other types of construction, masonry too, is subject to inspection and must also comply with applicable codes and standards.

Common mistakes to avoid during a corporate event

Discover secrets of event organisers that you can learn for a successful event. Tap onto the mind of event organisers to acquire knowledge that you can only obtain through experinece in organising events.

Keywords:

corporate event planner, event planning mistakes, corporate event organiser, chillisauce, team buiilding exercise, corporate events, event facilitator, corporate event experts

Article Body:

One of the greatest factors influencing the success of a corporate event planner is the experience acquired from previous engagements. There are just some things that can only be learnt through experience, with no amount of preparation adequate. This is precisely why some organisations have a preference to engage corporate event management companies such as Chillisauce, so as to ensure a successful and hassle-free event.

Nevertheless, as a corporate event organiser, we are open to sharing experiences with our clients with the aim of enhancing customer relationships. Thus, the following insights are some of our inputs on critical mistakes that should be avoided by anyone organising a corporate event.

More time for planning

Even if your corporate event may just be for two days, extensive preparations prior to the event will be required. Activities will need to be planned out, participants need to be confirmed and facilities as well as equipment need to be prepared in advance. Thus, it’s always advisable to have more time to plan for an event so as not to be caught unawares in any situation.

Activities should not be rushed through

Amidst budget and time constraints, many events have been organised to rush through a tight schedule without any time for recreation and rest. Therefore, the event turns out to become a stressful time rather than an enjoyable weekend. This defeats the purpose of running the corporate event in the first place, which also translates to a waste of money.

Control the booze

Although most employees may expect alcohol as part of the package, it may be wise to put a cap on alcohol consumption during corporate events. Many organisations had learnt it the hard way when intoxicated employees started behaving inappropriately during an event, disrupting other employees in the process. Furthermore, any team building exercise involving physical activities after alcohol consumption may place the company at risk of employees hurting themselves.

Set aside budget for a good event facilitator

The engagement of a good event facilitator for a beneficial and enjoyable event has always been overlooked. Indeed, a good facilitator will possess the skills required to ensure that all participants take part in the various activities. His or her good communication skills and team building content knowledge will ensure that the purpose of the event is achieved.

During Christmas and the holiday season, the festive spirit and relaxed

Parties at work during Christmas and the holidays may include a voluntary

gift exchange and individuals have to make a decision whether or not they will

participate in it. In a situation where an individual may not know other

colleagues very well and is unsure what Christmas present to give, it may be

better to opt out of exchanging gifts. If the party and gift exchange is among a

fairly large group, such as company-wide or of several departments, it may not

be noticed if someone doesn't participate in the gift exchange. If it's a small

group however, it is likely to be noticed. To eliminate the possibility of any

negative talk regarding non-participation, it would likely be better to be among

those agreeing to exchange gifts.

A basic thing to remember in selecting gifts for Christmas gift exchanges

at work, which are usually called Secret Santa, is to not choose anything that

could be considered inappropriate or offensive. Although the sender won't be

revealed, it won't leave a good feeling and it will become the topic of

conversation among everyone.

Separate from the 'Secret Santa' Christmas gift exchange at work, it may

also be a good gesture to give Christmas presents, which can be small tokens or

even just candies or treats, to colleagues in a division or department if you

are the respective leader or manager. Such a gesture shows thoughtfulness and

that the work of individuals has been appreciated. It will be a good note on

which to end the year and to start a new one.

Another important thing to observe during Christmas parties at work is

good behavior that is considered casual but still business-like. Although there

will be much fun and laughter, it will still be occurring within a work

environment or within the parameters of work. So, individuals will still be

observed by their colleagues. It is of utmost importance to be careful about how

much drinking is done, or how much alcohol is consumed, because drunken or any

offensive behavior will not be tolerated and could have negative repercussions

on one's career.

The consideration of good etiquette is also something to be remembered and

observed at holiday parties at work. As examples, talking and laughing with food

in one's mouth, emptying a platter of delicious hors d'ouevres or bagging

candies, cookies or treats to take home are all considered poor etiquette.

A Christmas party at work can also provide an opportunity to have a brief

conversation with supervisors, managers and other company officials whom one may

not come in contact with frequently. It can be the ideal time to leave a good

impression on a key decision maker. By introducing yourself and striking up a

conversation, it is also putting a face to a name or making yourself known and

standing out among fellow colleagues. For those who are strivers and who want to

advance such interactions at work holiday and Christmas parties can be

beneficial and advantageous.

It's therefore important to keep in mind that while Christmas parties at

work are fun, there are still ways to inconspicuously seek some benefit while

you laugh and enjoy a break from the stress, competitiveness and daily routine

During the Christmas season, summer and its body-conscious state of mind

Whether it's sharing cookies and candies at work, or having an evening out

at a party or dinner, you can have Christmas food and enjoy it. While you seem

to be eating heartily with a smile, the key is to have a secret strategy of

moderation. It involves sticking to a plan that can be called 'Eating on a

Budget.'

'Eating on a Budget' is not about the cost of what is eaten, but about the

quantity of what is eaten. It is important that a 'budget' or eating in

moderation plan is developed because it is almost impossible to avoid exposure

to a lot of cookies, candies and other sweets at Christmas. At work, you may

risk appearing like the Grinch who stole Christmas if your response will always

be something like, 'Uh..no..bah humbug' all the time that some Christmas goodies

are offered. It will seem as if you aren't in the spirit of the holidays

especially since at that time of year everyone is usually in a festive and more

relaxed mood, and the pace at work is usually slower.

A practical way to partake in Christmas goodies, for example, is to

substitute some holiday cookies for say the bagel that you usually have with

breakfast or for a mid-morning snack. And instead of just taking one cookie,

from the platter, which is noticeable and likely will encourage a colleague to

tell you to have more, take three instead. That's where the plan can come into

play. You can then enjoy the cookies over two or more hours, because nobody will

be watching how you really eat. You can always have a few candies, one cookie or

a cookie and a half by your desk and that way it will seem as if you are

heartily enjoying the holiday treats.

Another strategy is to bring - bake or buy - low calorie Christmas cookies

and candies to work to counteract others that are being offered. Since eating

healthy is highly encouraged, health-conscious cookies will not be looked down

upon so long as they taste great. A box of sugar-free Christmas chocolate

candies for example will look just as delightful as regular chocolate candies.

It's interesting to note that in a poll sponsored by the National Confectioners

Association in 2004, chocolate was the favorite food gift that Americans said

they preferred to receive for the holidays. The lowly and much maligned fruit

cake was last on the list. The second favorite holiday food gift was a fruit

basket and a plate of cookies was third on the list, according to the

Association.

For an occasion such as a Christmas party or a dinner, including Christmas

Dinner, where larger quantities and selection of food is available, the 'Eating

on a Budget' plan means that serving portions and the choice of food selected

should be carefully watched.

At a party where more desserts and sweets are likely to be available, a few of

the selections can be sampled. If the urge to try everything can't be resisted,

then do so, but then second helpings have to be severely limited. The same is

somewhat true for Christmas Dinners. One big difference is that the food served

during Christmas Dinner will be heavier, so by selecting portions wisely, one

can always say truthfully that the stomach is full.

And indeed, after a sumptuous Holiday Dinner, your body is likely to be full

from food and your soul full of joy from sharing another memorable holiday

tradition with family, friends and loved ones.