General Fitness Guideline for a Healthy Body

No matter which exercise program you follow to work your body, there are some general fitness guidelines which you should keep in mind.

1. You are what you eat.

I know this is a cliche, but unless you provide your body with the proper nutrients, it will not perform to its maximum. Think of your body as a car. What kind of fuel are you going to put in the tank?

2. Supplement your diet.

Many studies with both athletes and active individuals show them to be short on many key ingredients despite ample food intake. It can become a major chore trying to count calories, the three major macro nutrients and trying to make sure that you are consuming enough vitamins and minerals that the body needs. A good multi-vitamin can assure you that you have all the basic nutrients your body needs.

3. Periodize your training.

Whichever exercise program you follow, don’t do it indefinitely. Change what you are doing every 4 to 6 weeks. Lower or increase the number of reps. Increase or decrease the amount of weight in your resistance workouts. Do more cardio or less. This will create some muscle confusion and keep you from “hitting a plateau”. It will also keep you from becoming bored with your workout.

4. Have a realistic short-term goal.

The key term here is “realistic”. This way you won’t get caught up on unattainable results. If you’ve spent thirty years getting out of shape, don’t expect to reverse this in one week. Don’t get me wrong, long-term goals are also important. Just remember to focus on progress.

5. Train holistically.

Don’t obsess about certain body parts. Your training should revolve around the entire body. You can do sit-ups until the end of time, but you won’t have a ripped stomach unless your burn enough calories to lower the percentage of body fat and increase overall muscle tone to increase your metabolism. You might work more on one area, but make sure that your weekly plan contains something for the entire body.

How to Get Six Pack Abs

Flat, washboard abs is the desire of many people. Having amazing abs not only looks good, but it the work done to get them helps to strengthen a person’s core. There are many people that want to know how to get a six pack because this may be one of their exercise goals or perhaps they have been exercising and are not achieving the results they anticipated. In order to achieve the abs desired there are a number of different methods that have to be adopted.

It is very important to note that obtaining a six pack requires a combination of methods in order to achieve results. Of course, regular abdominal exercises are very important in achieving well defined abdominal muscles. There are a variety of different exercises that can be done on a regular basis in order to strengthen the muscles in the stomach and make them more noticeable.

There are three layers of abdominal muscles that should be exercised. They include the rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis and the obliques. It is important to spend time conditioning all of the muscles in the abdominal region to not only get the well defined look that is desired but to also strengthen one’s core.

While there are a number of exercises that can be done in order to obtain well defined abs, it is how one does these exercises that matters when considering how to get a six pack. Many people think that doing lots of abdominal exercises is the key to getting the results they want with their abdominals. However, it is actually the way in which the exercises are done that contributes to the appearance of lean abdominals.

Sit ups, crunches and other abdominal exercises have to be performed in a concentrated manner in order to produce the best results. These exercises are less about speed and more about containing the exercise slowly. Likewise, it is very important to lift weights as resistance training helps to build and retain muscle mass.

Those that are interested in how to get a six pack should be aware that nutrition plays a significant role in the appearance of one’s abdominals. In order for an individual to have well defined abdominal muscles it is necessary to have as little fat as possible surrounding the muscles. A diet that is low in fat is highly recommended for obtaining visible abdominals. The combination of a low fat diet coupled with regular exercise can help to remove the fat surrounding the abdominal muscles. Individuals should keep their metabolisms steady by eating five or six small meals a day.

Eating in this manner will prevent the urge to indulge in foods because of hunger. It is also important that individuals consume lean protein in order to build their muscles and to prevent the body from breaking down the muscles for energy. Protein is essential for building muscles and it can be obtained through a number of different foods.

In all, there is a process in learning how to get a six pack in the correct manner. Taking the time to do research on this process is very important in order to achieve the results desired.

Four Ways That Jogging Improves Your Mental Fitness

1) IT CAN IMPROVE YOUR CONFIDENCE:- When you jog you are overcoming both personal obstacles (running faster, running longer distances etc) and physical obstacles (running up hills, running on tough terrain etc). By proving that you can overcome these obstacles you build confidence and gain the mental strength to overcome other obstacles in your day to day life.

2) IT CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME ANGER:- Everyone experiences anger. Anger is a natural emotion and is not inherently good or bad. However, there are good and bad ways to deal with anger. A bad way to deal with anger is through physical or verbal aggression towards other people. A good way to deal with anger is exercise as it allows you to release it physically without impacting other people.

Jogging is a particularly good exercise for releasing anger as it gives you both a physical and mental release. The actual exercise allows you to physically get the anger out of your system whilst the alone time you get from jogging provides you with an opportunity to think about and deal with the anger in a more calm and collected state.

3) IT CAN IMPROVE YOUR MOOD:- One of the most well publicised benefits of jogging and running is the “runner’s high”. During a long distance jog or run endorphins are released and attach themselves to areas of the brain associated with emotion. This causes many runners to experience a state of euphoria which is referred to as the “runner’s high”. Not only does this improve your mood but it is also an effective way to combat anger, depression and stress.

4) IT CAN HELP YOU BECOME MORE FOCUSSED AND DETERMINED:- In order to constantly push yourself on long runs you need to be focussed on the task at hand and determined not to give up. You need to be constantly pushing yourself to achieve more. This brings about improved focus and determination. These skills can be applied to other areas of your life and make you more successful in these areas.

As you can see jogging is not just good for your body – it is also good for your mind. So next time you are feeling angry, unhappy or your confidence is at an all time low why not go for a jog and see what it does for you? At the very worst you will burn a few additional calories but if all goes well you will come back feeling much more happy, confident and upbeat.

Is your workout not working out for you?

You started a fitness program which includes cardio and weight training exercises. Your goal is to lose weight and tone your body, the problem is that after several weeks of tireless exercise you feel stronger but still weigh the same or maybe even a little more. Looking at the scale at this point can be depressing and send you into a feeding frenzy. There are a couple of reasons this could be happening such as the fact that muscle weighs more than fat and you may be building muscle faster than you are burning fat.

Here are few key points to consider:

Your meals are not errands or chores – sit, eat and enjoy what you eat.

Balance your meals throughout the day: Eat a light, balanced breakfast (1% or fat free milk with whole grain cereal; yogurt with granola or fruit; cottage cheese with fruit; egg whites with piece of toast, tea or coffee), followed by a lunch filled with raw foods, lean protein, and healthy carbs, and an equally healthy, balanced dinner.

Fuel your body with healthy carbs and protein before and after exercise: Healthy carbs such as fruits, whole grain foods, legumes; protein from lean meat, fish, poultry, and eggs; for the vegetarian this means protein from soy, legumes, nuts and dairy.

Stay away from fast food and specialty coffee shops — at least for a while: A frozen coffee can has as many as 350 calories, a burger with fries=over 1000 calories easy

Include lots of raw foods and whole grain in your diet: if you need a snack between meals or need that 3:00 pm lift you want to look at all fruits and vegetables (except potato) but including sweet potato; whole grain breads, brown rice, whole grain cereals, and low fat dairy products.

Log what you eat each day: Helps you stay on top of your nutrition goals. Log every bite, every candy, every potato chip and every drink. Do this for a couple of days just to see where your calories are going.

Read the food labels: Very important that you become familiar with food labels—how else will you avoid eating something you shouldn’t.

Avoid foods high in sugar and sodium: Aim for balance. Some foods are low fat but have a huge amount of sugar and sodium to make up for the lack of taste and nutrition. These foods will not fill you up for long.

Drink plenty of clear water before during and after exercise: Sip it throughout the day, sometimes you’re just thirsty, not hungry.

Keep healthy snacks handy at all times for days when you have to eat on the go: Granola bars that are high in protein and fiber; home-made trail mix (granola, dried fruit, nuts, whole grain cereal in zip lock bags or plastic containers); portable fruits such as apples, pears, bananas, oranges.

Your body will react based on what you put in it, regardless of how hard you exercise; losing weight requires that you provide your body with well balanced nutrition and exercise. It doesn’t have to be a chore and it doesn’t have to be difficult for you or your family. Change the way you eat and your family will follow. When you eat healthy together you are more likely to make this a part of your family’s healthy living style and everyone will benefit in the long run.

Men’s Fitness - The Ideas Behind a Muscular Body

A man having a fabulous, well-toned and muscular body is always the centre of attraction among the ladies. People, who give importance to regular exercises in their daily routine, are found to perform their everyday tasks with much vigor and alertness. A man’s fitness helps him to continue having a smile on his face, even after long hours in the office. This fitness helps him to work harder and achieve success in every aspects of his life.

A man, who is very dedicated to his work out, will surely have an enviable physique and will stay healthier for a longer period of time. Performing some aerobic exercises and getting used to strength training can keep anyone’s body fit forever. One should however, know the basic tricks and steps to exercising before starting it. This is when the need of a good physical fitness trainer comes in place. The main requirements behind a man’s fitness are: -

The Muscular Exercises: - The first requirement is to have a muscular body. This can be achieved by working hard on the portions of your body having muscles. Once the muscles start developing, one can easily feel an increase in weight of his body. People who do not show any concern for exercising are found to deal with a number of diseases after a certain age. They start loosing approximately 5 pounds of weight for every 10 years of their life.

The Cardiovascular Exercises: - Together with the muscular exercises, men should also make plans for the cardiovascular work out. This form of exercises increases the flexibility and stamina of one’s body. Experts believe that men who perform cardiovascular exercises on a daily basic are less prone to heart disease in the later part of their life.

A Balanced Diet: - The most important thing for having an impressive physique is to have a balanced diet. If you are undergoing a lot of muscular and cardiovascular exercises without a perfect diet, you are doing more harm than good to your body. Men’s fitness lies behind the nutrient diet, suggested from their trainers. This diet will give them the needed strength, with the help of which they can perform the exercises comfortably.

The above mentioned three points are the basic components behind a man’s fitness. Moreover, one should always consult a certified trainer before starting any exercise or adding any dish into his diet. Some more points, which a man need to practice for building an impressive physique through his work out are: -

* Drink a lot of water or other sports drink while exercising.

* Perform all the exercises with correct technique. Get it once checked by a senior exerciser or your trainer.

* It’s recommended to take the help of a spotter while weight lifting.

* Warm up before you start dealing with heavy weights and machines.

* Check the equipments before using them.

Every one wishes to have a good physique but only the ones who follow some strict rules succeed.

Five Food groups that can slow down your metabolism

1) SUGAR:- Eating too much sugar overloads your body and causes your blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. This in turn makes your body go into conservation mode meaning that you will store extra fat and burn less calories. To make sure this does not happen you need to reduce your intake of refined sugars as much as possible. That means cutting down on the candy, chocolate, cakes and cookies as much as possible. If you still want something sweet try eating some fruit. Unlike refined sugars, most fruits contain fructose which does not cause your blood sugar levels to rise.

2) WHITE BREAD:- White bread is made from wheat flour which then has the bran and germ removed. White bread is bleached to remove any yellow colour which destroys many of the vitamins contained in the wheat plus it is full of sugar. This means that it is very easily digested, has a low nutritional value and is low in dietary fiber. When processing white bread your body burns very few calories and it also causes your blood sugar levels to rise. I know you have probably heard it many times before but by substituting white bread for a wholemeal variety you can really boost your metabolic rate. Wholemeal bread is harder to digest (so burns more calories whilst being processed), has a greater nutritional value and most importantly does not cause your blood sugar levels to rise in an uncontrolled way.

3) FRIED FOODS:- Like white bread, fried foods are very low in nutritional value and easy to digest. They are also very high in calories and full of saturated fats. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature, generally come from an animal source, make your body produce more cholesterol and slow down your metabolic rate. You really need to avoid fried foods for the sake of both your metabolism and your health. Next time you are craving fried food such as a beef burger why not replace this with a slice of grilled, lean beef on brown bread? Not only will it be better for you but I think it tastes a lot nicer too.

4) PROCESSED FOODS:- Processed foods include ready meals, crisps and chocolate bars. They are very popular because they are quick and convenient but guess what? The vast majority are also lacking in nutritional value, contain dangerous trans fats and are high in chemical preservatives. Again this combination of factors in processed foods means that they reduce your metabolic rate. I know that it can be very tempting to opt for processed foods when you want something to eat after a long, hard day but your body will really thank you if you take the time to cook something healthier. If time really is an issue then why not try cooking in large batches and freezing the leftovers? This will mean that you will still have access to quick, convenient foods when you are in a rush BUT they will be healthy.

5) ALCOHOL:- Alcohol is full of sugar and calories which (as you probably know by now) restrict your metabolic rate. Alcohol is also known to have a dehydrating effect and as I discussed in my last article, if you are not fully hydrated your metabolism does not work as effectively. Moderate consumption of alcohol is not going to have a huge effect on your hydration levels but excessive consumption will. For most of us there are going to be times when we over indulge on alcohol so I am not going to advise you to give up alcoholic beverages. However, you should make an effort to reduce the amount you are drinking.

Tips for Maximising your Metabolism

1) EAT HIGH FIBRE CARBOHYDRATES:- High fibre carbohydrates are harder to digest than simple carbohydrates and therefore have a greater thermic effect. On top of this foods that are high in fibre are generally lower in calories (because fibre itself contains zero calories), help suppress your appetite and provide you with many more fantastic benefits. High fibre foods include fruits, vegetables and whole grain products so where possible make sure your dietary carbohydrates come from these sources. Not only will they help you burn slightly more calories but they will also make it easier for you to lose weight. However, you need to make sure that you do not go overboard on the fibre. Excessive fibre consumption has been linked with wind, diarrhea, constipation and more.

2) EAT VITAMIN RICH FOODS:- Your body relies on vitamins and minerals to perform a number of essential functions. If you become deficient in any of the thirteen vitamins you may not be able to perform some of these functions properly which can have a negative impact on your BMR. There are lots of vitamin rich foods including fruits, vegetables, eggs, liver and nuts. To maximise your metabolism you need to make sure you are getting the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for all your vitamins from the foods you eat. It will keep your BMR at its optimal level and also promote good overall health. However, like with fibre you need to make sure you don’t overdose. Getting too many vitamins has a number of adverse effects including cell and organ damage.

3) DRINK LOTS OF WATER:- If your body is not properly hydrated it may not be able to perform certain vital functions. This can lead to a reduction in your BMR. Therefore, you need to make sure you are drinking enough water to maximise your metabolism. I find that keeping a water bottle at your desk and topping it up regularly plus making an effort to drink extra water whilst exercising helps me stay hydrated throughout the day.

4) MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING ENOUGH PROTEIN:- Most people’s diets are rich in fats and carbohydrates but contain very little protein. However, protein is a very important macronutrient that is essential for the growth and repair of your body’s cells. It also has a greater thermic effect than fats and carbohydrates with research suggesting that 25% of the calories in protein are burned during digestion and absorption. Therefore, you can give your metabolism a boost by making protein a richer part of your diet. However, you need to make sure that you are not consuming too much. Overdosing on protein can place stress on a number of vital organs including your kidneys.

5) ADD SOME SPICE TO YOUR DIET:- Spicy foods can temporarily increase your BMR. For starters they increase your body’s temperature for a short period after consumption meaning that you will burn more calories as your body attempts to regulate this temperature. Secondly, spices such as cayenne are thought to have thermogenic properties meaning that they temporarily increase the rate at which your body burns fat. Like with the other foods mentioned in this article you need to exercise moderation when it comes to spicy foods. Getting too much can lead to unpleasant side effects such as heartburn, stomach ulcers and an irritable bowel.

6) CUT BACK ON THE ALCOHOL:- Alcohol has a dehydrating effect and can therefore reduce your BMR. Many alcoholic beverages are also full of simple carbohydrates meaning that they have a reduced thermic effect when compared with high fibre carbohydrates and protein rich foods. On top of this excessive alcohol consumption can cause vitamin deficiencies which further slow down your BMR. You don’t need to eliminate alcohol from your diet completely but if you drink regularly perhaps you should consider cutting down.

7) REDUCE YOUR CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION:- Like alcohol, caffeine has a dehydrating effect and can lower your BMR. Drinking a couple of cups of coffee each day is unlikely to have any adverse effects on your metabolism but if you are getting all your fluids from caffeinated beverages you might want to think about substituting in some water.

8) START A CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE ROUTINE:- Your metabolism is partially affected by your level of physical activity. Regular cardiovascular exercise helps in two ways. First, you burn additional calories whilst performing the cardio. Secondly, the number of calories you burn following a cardiovascular workout remains elevated for a few hours after you finish. By going for a walk, jog, run, bike ride, swim (or whatever other cardiovascular exercise takes your fancy) a few times a week you can burn extra calories and boost your metabolism.

9) START A RESISTANCE TRAINING ROUTINE:- A pound of muscle burns around 6 calories per day whilst a pound of fat burns around 2 calories per day. Therefore, by increasing your lean muscle mass you can raise your BMR. If you perform a resistance training workout a few times per week and combine it with proper nutrition you can build additional muscle and increase the amount of calories you burn whilst resting.

GE Healthcare Showcases Latest Advancements in CT Dose Reduction at RSNA

CHICAGO, Nov 30, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- For decades GE Healthcare has invested in leading, state of the art technology for significantly lowering dose in computed tomography (CT) procedures. At the 96TH annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, GE Healthcare is showcasing some of its latest CT innovations that provide dose-reducing options to customers to

What it means to be a doctor

Two nice quotes from one of my favorite podcasts: Quakcast



1. "Becoming a doctor mean learning to be comfortable with incomplete and changing information."



2. "Becoming a specialist is being ignorant... with style."

These quotes I think are funny and since I am also teaching at a medical school I can say that in my experience these quotes are also relatively accurate. I always get surprised at the many changes that can occur from one edition of a textbook to the next, although I must hasten to point out that there is a large proportion that does not change to. It gets even worse if you compare different textbooks or say journal papers.

Does this mean that doctors are merely shooting at random? No, they are (if they are good doctors) basing their decisions, diagnoses and treatments on the best available evidence - and that is the doctors which have the greatest success in terms of healthy patients (read Neurologica blog for more on this).

So if you are a doctor or becoming a doctor accept that there is rarely such a thing as perfect knowledge, and if you are a patient accept that doctors cannot always say things with perfect certainty...

What Employers Look For in Candidates

The employer, in fact, looks for not only the professional experience and job related skills, but he want to find the variety of other characteristics and skills sets in a candidate. They want the candidates who do not only like the position and their company but are also capable of driving the company in new dimensions of progress.

Though there may be some factors which a candidate can not change or they are out of his control but may be there have been some factors from candidate which he did not notice. Here are some tips to understand what the employers want from candidates and how you should prepare yourself for these qualities. Have a look.

1. Your appearance is the first impression on the employer. Be a well dressed and smart person. It adds value to your personality and appearance.
2. Reveal the employer that you are a good listener and communicator. It is important to deal different situations in effective ways.
3. Express the self-motivation. Taking extra time in answering the questions or making late decisions destroys the impression.
4. Don’t express your nervousness by beating the table with nail, playing with your pen or twirling the tissue into pieces. Only you know that you are nervous, so keep your nerves, expressions and body language in your best control.
5. Reveal them that you hold the ability to learn, whether you have the relevant experience or not. Show the flexibility and “I can do” attitude.
6. The employer may be looking for a person who has efficient problem-solving skills. He should know the tricks and techniques to come out of any situation.
7. Employer always needs a loyal, dedicated and reliable candidate, not only focusing the money earned.
8. Your talking way should meet the impressive moral standards and your personality should be a good fit of culture and society. Your look carries more than half of the impression before you speak.
9. They look for the enthusiasm to improve, solid business ethics and team-building skills for their business. So do hold and utilize your best opinions and strategies to make effectiveness.
10. They look for a candidate who walks with them for their long term goals and objectives. If they feel you are just looking for a temporary job or not interested in any permanent work, it makes your hiring chances weaker.
11. Tags: career, career advice, Career Details, Career Planning, Career Planning Tips, Interview Prepration, Interview Prepration Tips, Intervirew Tips, Qualities employers look for in candidates, What employers look for, What employers look for in candidates

Ten Tips for Best Time Management

Through time management, you can not only make your life more comfortable but also get satisfaction with your career whatever it is. There are a lot of things that you consider little but they matter a lot in your time management. Learn how to arrange and organize your daily tasks ranging from little/major tasks and usual/unusual matters to live a happy and successful life in both personal and professional way.

Here are some tips to provide convenience in making your time management schedule:

1. Make a list of your routine tasks to organize your daily planner. Try to include every little detail of less and more important points. Make sure nothing is missed in your planner.
2. Find out the things and activities that wastes your time or they are unnecessary. Don’t get preyed of the things that steal your precious time for nothing and stop your natural productivity and creativity. Exclude them from your planner.
3. Set your goals for each day with clear definition and try your best to achieve it. Find out best ways to start with and finish.
4. Prioritize to finish the most important and urgent tasks that can not be delayed at all and then less important. It will give your more satisfaction with your performance.
5. You are at home or office, always keep your workstation neat and clean and keep your equipments at their right place. It play significant role in saving your time and you don’t need to spend more time in searching things here and there.
6. Quickly respond to the emails and do not leave any email unanswered for the day. It is helpful in two ways; you finish your work immediately and the email receiver does not have to wait longer for response. Better to design a proper schedule for it.
7. Avoid multitasking as much as you can. It does not only make your performance slower, but also drags your urgent assignment longer. No matter how expert you are in your duties, but you can easily make mistake if you get overwhelmed with multitasks.
8. Know yourself and figure out when you work best. Avoid working when you are really not in mood to do it. Probably you can commit some error that can drag the task longer to correct. Try to reserve your best performance time for most important work.
9. Some things demand quick response and some things required to decide much slower. Arrange both things separate and manage the things appropriately that are more sensitive and demand your response slowly and wisely. It saves you from serious loss.
10. Organize time for your personal interests to keep yourself fresh. Meet friends and people, visit your favorite place, listen to music, play games, watch movies, paint a portrait or whatever that makes your mind free from worries.

Career Quotes

These quotes equally fit for people of all career types.

1. The best career advice to give to a young is ‘Find what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it’.
2. If you want a big career, a big man and a big life, you have to think big – that’s the only way to get it… you just cannot stand being anonymous.
3. For many people a job is more than an income – it’s an important part of who we are. So a career transition of any sort is one of the most unsettling experiences you can face in your life.
4. He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.
5. Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor. Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiseling and scraping and polishing.
6. No man can succeed in a line of endeavor which he does not like.
7. Work to become, not to acquire.
8. A career is born in public – talent in privacy.
9. The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else. Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual.
10. Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career!
11. The true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even proud, that you succeeded through your own endeavors without leaving a trail of casualties in your wake.
12. I’ve arrived at the place if I’m not taking a career risk, I’m not happy. If I’m scared, then I know I’m being challenged.
13. Criticism of others is futile and if you indulge in it, often you should be warned that it can be fatal to your career.
14. Analyzing what you haven’t got as well as what you can have is necessary ingredient of a career.
15. A good manager is a man who isn’t worried about his own career but rather the careers of those who work for him.
16. I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it.
17. Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.
18. It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.
19. I absolutely want to have a career where you make’em laugh and make’em cry. It’s all theater.

Right Format for Resume

Before you start arranging information in your resume, you need to determine the correct format. There are three formats used for the resume writing:

- Chronological

- Functional

- Combined

Here you will read the description of all three formats :

1. Chronological Format

It is the most preferred format by the employers. Using chronological format you can present your previous work history and professional portfolio in most suitable way. This format emphasizes on your responsibilities. You must use this format if you need to highlight your accomplishments at your previous/running job showing the stability, professional growth and urge to make development in career. This format is also helpful to highlight your career history including dates along with accomplishments made at every job. Employer will easily read out and reveal your qualification with which he is interested most. Chronological format is best choice if you are going to apply for the job similar to your running or previous job category.

Chronological format is not for those who do not want their frequently changed job history to be revealed. It emphasizes more on the accomplishments, but not on the skills. If your are having limited job experience, this format is not ideal for you.

2. Functional Format:

If you have frequently changed career in your job history, or there have been inconsistent gaps in your career, you should choose Functional format for your resume. This format can represent your skills and capabilities in an appropriate way and the employer will take less notice of those inconsistent gaps, job changing frequency and even less experience. This format is more helpful if you are going to apple a different career because it will emphasize directly your abilities and skills drawing out the focus from responsibilities and experience. It also relates tour qualification to the job your are going to apply for.

Candidates who want to tie their experience with job titles to the new different career, should not choose this format. Employer will be looking for the relevancy of the vacant job with your resume, and if he does not find it, he will take your resume is less impressive or you are hiding something. Also this format does not make your career growth and developments prominent.

3. Combined Format:

Combined format is ideal if you want to emphasize on specific points like relevant skills, capabilities and accomplishments in your resume. Using this format you can create different sections where you can highlight the aspects as per your requirement. It includes the features of both the Chronological and Functional formats because it enables you to highlight either your skills and capabilities, your work history and responsibilities, or any part of your resume information. Using Combined format, you can even include the primary accomplishments and every transaction of your job history. This format is more helpful in grouping the relevant qualifications and objectives together and keep maintaining the focus of employer on relevancy of your data.

Unusual Interview Questions Tips

Purpose of such questions is ofcourse to check the present mindedness and mental capabilities of a candidate, not for fun. Really! May be they are trying to test how much you know about employer or what is your general information level. The interview gets good impression of candidate if he is quick responsive and comfortable to reply such questions that fulfills the purpose of this strategy.

Here you can see some unusual questions that can be expected from an interviewer who is fond of making the interviewees shocked with their eye brow raised:

1. If you could have super power, what it could be?
2. If you get 100 million dollar, where you will spend it?
3. What you would like to title yourself?
4. How many gas stations are there in US?
5. How many stairs you stepped up and down from your way of home to office?
6. If you have only 2 months left to live, what you would long to do?
7. Who is your favorite celebrity ad why?
8. If you summarize your life in a short story, what would be its title?
9. What you would like to take with you if you are asked to go alone to a desert?
10. If you get an invisibility power, what you would act first?
11. Do you think you have committed the biggest mistake of your life with being here?
12. What do you know about our company and its role?
13. Explain what is dijkstra algorithm?
14. What would be the major improvements and developments you would make if you join our company?
15. Do I rate like an interviewer?
16. Are you feeling nervous?
17. You just come to know that the person next to you is about to shot you, how you will react?
18. How you will convince a customer for a product which he does not need at all?
19. If you are stuck in the middle of a wide desert and you don’t know the way to escape, what would be your first strategy to come out?
20. Suppose you have forgot something very important and you don’t know exactly what is it, what can make you remind it?

Things to Avoid in Interview

The interviewer usually does not want to listen to the extra things which cause to waste their time. Here you can find some valuable tips about the things which you should avoid during a job interview:

1. Be always on time. It shows your care and punctuality. This is the first good impression you can put on the interviewer.
2. Keep a smile on your face. Angry or aggressive mood leave your inflexible impression on the interviewer.
3. Dress up appropriately and don’t use strong perfumes. It is the thing which explains you before you talk to someone.
4. Don’t chew gum, drink or smoke before or during interview.
5. Don’t tell incorrect information. If you try to change your statements frequently, it may reveal your interviewer that you are trying to hide something from your employer.
6. Some people try to be creating a frank environment to justify their nervousness against the interviewer. Sometimes the interviewer provides a comfortable setting to provide ease in the interview. In such situation you need to keep your nerves calm and under your control. Don’t be frank with the interviewer and keep your attitude professional.
7. You need to be ready for all usual and unusual questions. Don’t say the things showing your forgetful habit.
8. Don’t bad-mouth to anyone before the interviewer. If you start saying bad comments about your previous employer, the interviewer may think you will say such things about him if you move on. So, don’t count the negative aspects of the previous employer.
9. You must realize what they may expect from you. It is possible only when you have beforehand information about the company’s history, goals and running activities. It will also make you comfortable during the discussion.
10. Switch your cell phone off. The ring or vibration of your cell phone can take your concentration out of the discussion.
11. Don’t ask for permission to go out for cause of a phone call or toilet flush. It wastes the time of interviewer.
12. Listen carefully to the words asked to you, don’t ask to repeat the words again and again. Be attentive to the questions and don’t keep silent when you are asked to reply.
13. If your are asked the open ended questions, like “tell me about you?”, “why you want to do this job?”, “how you feel you are appropriate for this position?”, this is the best chance to speak your words to reveal your capabilities relevant to the job.
14. Don’t show the feelings of disappointment, attitude of negligence or nervousness.
15. Don’t cut the words of interviewer and don’t offer extra details. Simple state the to the point information to the questions and don’t talk too much.
16. Keep your portfolio with you and don’t hesitate for any field test or even personality test which is going to be a common trend in interview strategies.
17. Don’t put the blames on the previous company, boss or the society for your past failures if any. Take out the positive points and show that you have learned from your past career mistakes.

How to Deal With Difficult Boss

Deal With Difficult/Strict Boss

Majority of jobbers have some points in their lives when they had to deal with a difficult/strict boss. Almost all supervisors and bosses vary in personality and are being push for rudeness. Some people think that an abusive boss or supervisors are the victim of domestic problem that’s way they behave like this. Role of boss attracts certain controlling-type personalities because they crave the power and boss designation gives them authorities to control staff people. There are commanding motivating factors that allow a difficult supervisor to control people out of fear. No doubt we are not able to correct his behavior but we should never allow them to control our lives according to their personal will. A difficult boss is a challenge for everyone but there are some terms to handle the situation.
We have some strategies to deal with strict and difficult boss, if you want to be relaxed then follow them.

1. Some people do not have much confidence to talk with supervisor or boss. They feel scared while discussing with boss on some matter owing to the boss’s obvious behavior. They get afraid of losing their job as the result of misunderstanding or conflict. So before dealing with your boss, it is better to prepare a meeting and discussion which you are going to talk with him/her.
2. Make an honest analysis of your wok, job performance for the time, when your boss threats you for the performance if you have not been relaxed and lazy person. Then at that time, try to re-locate on the project in your hand.
3. It is also possible that your boss is a good person but due to lack of your efficiency, his behavior is much rude towards you. So also make analyses of your performance and sincerity and try to change yourself instead of your boss.
4. If you are happy with the company and do not want to skip just owing to the difficult boss, then develop relationship with some other supervisor of the related department and try to move in some other department under a new boss.
5. Moreover make a list of your difficult boss’s bad, unprofessional and abusive behavior. Just write down fact, not your reaction.
6. If your boss’ attitude is beyond to your toleration then write down a letter to your HR department with the fact report that you have made of your difficult boss. Human resources would do something for the solution of this misunderstanding between you and your boss.
7. It is not good way to keep silent at the response of your difficult manager’s insulting and non-professional behavior. If he is letting you down and insulting you over nothing then reply just calmly it is best way to deal with a difficult boss in bad situation. If he is doing this to damage your efficiency then for somebody else then report to your most senior boss or Human Resources.
8. It is not good to sacrifice your health by taking tension of your boss bad behavior. Problem will never be solved till we do not try to solve them. First try to change your strict boss attitude through your sincerity and devotion. But it does not mean to sacrifice your health by giving over time to your job just for the sake of boss’s pleasure.

Watch this if you are afraid of mobile phones or microwave ovens

I have previously written about microwaves here and here. However, the fact is that even though I write about it sometimes there really isn't much to say except, fantastic technology, keep it coming. There are NO dangers associated with mobile phones or with microwave ovens (unless you stick your head in one and somehow manages to turn it on. Neither is there any reason to expect that these technologies could be dangerous.

If you want to hear this from a real expert there is a terrific lecture available on youtube which I admit, I found on the fantastic blog Bad Astronomy.

Here is the first part of the lecture.

The rest you can find here: part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5.

One statement that stuck with me was that the radiation you get from base stations (which many people worry about) is approximately equal to the radiation you get from the planet Venus (and as you know the radiation you get from venus is merely reflected sunlight).

State panel recommends $140 million in health care budget savings

Over half the recommended budget proposals for state budget savings from the Commission on Enhancing Agency Outcomes focus on health care spending. The savings center on prescription spending in Medicaid and moving nursing home residents to assisted living. The Commission is Co-Chaired by Sen. Gayle Slossberg and Rep. James Spallone.
Ellen Andrews

THE FIVE MYTHS OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: MYTH #4

Myth #4: Malpractice Claims Drive Up Doctor's Medical Malpractice Insurance Premiums.
There is little correlation between malpractice payouts and malpractice premiums paid by doctors. Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) reported that, “increases in malpractice payments made on behalf of physicians do not seem to be the driving force behind increases in premiums.” Similarly, Americans for Insurance Reform (AIR) conducted an analysis of the relationship between insurance payouts and premiums charged to doctors and found that, “[n]ot only was there no ‘explosion’ in lawsuits, jury awards or any tort system costs to justify the astronomical premium increases that doctors have been charged in recent years. These rate increases were rather driven by the economic cycle of the insurance industry, which has been driven by the decline in interest rates and the return on investments.

This insurance cycle is at the heart of the medical malpractice debate, but few people understand how it works. There are two main sources of income for insurers: underwriting income – the amount of premiums they don’t give back in payouts, and investment income - the money they make investing the premiums. When investment income is down, insurers must make up the difference by increasing underwriting income which they do by increasing premiums.

And just how hard hit are the insurance companies who insure our doctors? An analysis by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) of the 2008 annual financial statements filed by the 10 largest malpractice insurers found that the average profits of these companies are higher than 99 percent of all Fortune 500 companies and 35 times higher than the Fortune 500 average for the same time period.

Medical malpractice insurers have underestimated profits and overestimated losses in part to justify new legislation to restrict the rights of those injured by medical negligence.

THE FIVE MYTHS OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: MYTH #4

Myth #4: Malpractice Claims Drive Up Doctor's Medical Malpractice Insurance Premiums.
There is little correlation between malpractice payouts and malpractice premiums paid by doctors. Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) reported that, “increases in malpractice payments made on behalf of physicians do not seem to be the driving force behind increases in premiums.” Similarly, Americans for Insurance Reform (AIR) conducted an analysis of the relationship between insurance payouts and premiums charged to doctors and found that, “[n]ot only was there no ‘explosion’ in lawsuits, jury awards or any tort system costs to justify the astronomical premium increases that doctors have been charged in recent years. These rate increases were rather driven by the economic cycle of the insurance industry, which has been driven by the decline in interest rates and the return on investments.

This insurance cycle is at the heart of the medical malpractice debate, but few people understand how it works. There are two main sources of income for insurers: underwriting income – the amount of premiums they don’t give back in payouts, and investment income - the money they make investing the premiums. When investment income is down, insurers must make up the difference by increasing underwriting income which they do by increasing premiums.

And just how hard hit are the insurance companies who insure our doctors? An analysis by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) of the 2008 annual financial statements filed by the 10 largest malpractice insurers found that the average profits of these companies are higher than 99 percent of all Fortune 500 companies and 35 times higher than the Fortune 500 average for the same time period.

Medical malpractice insurers have underestimated profits and overestimated losses in part to justify new legislation to restrict the rights of those injured by medical negligence.

Most CT doctors will reduce Medicare participation if rates are cuts

An online survey by the CT State Medical Society found that 78% of the 360 state physicians who responded would restrict access to care for Medicare and TRICARE patients if rates are cut. Nineteen percent of respondents would stop taking any Medicare or TRICARE patients at all, 31% would limit the number of new patients and 28% would only continue seeing current patients. However it is unclear whether many physicians will be able to restrict their participation in the programs that cover more than 600,000 state residents, particularly in specialties that disproportionately treat elderly health issues. Since the survey was conducted, the scheduled rate cuts were postponed from Dec. 1st to Jan. 1.
Ellen Andrews

How To Have a Great Career

1. Take Ownership

* Your career is yours and yours alone. You have the power to create it and live it as an expression of your unique talents and energy.

* Forget what other people think of your choices. Even though people often mean well, you will be the one putting in the hours so be selfish enough to do something you enjoy and to have fun with it!

* Being yourself in your work gives power, creativity, and freedom. You are off track if you feel insecure or like an pretender at work.

2. Look Inside Yourself, You Know the Answers

* Take note when you find yourself fully engaged in a work activity. If it feels like you are in the zone, or plugged in and energized, or connected to something larger than yourself: Pay special attention.

* Then describe it further…what are you liking about what you are doing? Is it this? Is it that? Keep asking yourself and you’ll know when you hit the answer that feels right.

* Start general then get more specific in your description of what you like about what you are doing. For example, is it the communication or connection? Is it the performing or beautifying? Is it the helping or healing? Is it the organizing or administrating? Then add more detail by asking why.

3. Respect the Career Development Process

* The beauty of a great career is in the way it unfolds.

* Enjoy the present moment. Each small step adds up until you are for sure ready for more.

* Appreciate then forget when you felt lost or frustrated in your career. Through those times you learned more about what you DO want.

4. Understand the Power of People

* People can be powerful and brilliant in sharing their connections with others. Use strategy in maintaining your 150 or so top connections to tap into the power.

* Accept that people can be dark, egotistical, and negative but this is nothing compared to an individual in harmony with self. Recognize the negative as the weaker power and stay beyond it.

* See and applaud the strengths of others as you do for yourself. Be a builder-upper who is generous with knowledge, info, and positive energy.

5. Be an Opportunity Bulldog

* Take your individual strengths and mesh them into your public identity and no one can take your place.

* Research and understand the opportunities that exist because of the challenges in your field of expertise.

* Present a passion for being or finding the solution and be unafraid of asking for the opportunity.

Source : http://careertipsblog.com/

Tips for Successful Career Planning

Career planning is not an activity that should be done once -- in high school or college -- and then left behind as we move forward in our jobs and careers. Rather, career planning is an activity that is best done on a regular basis -- especially given the data that the average worker will change careers (not jobs) multiple times over his or her lifetime. And it's never too soon or too late to start your career planning.

Career planning is not a hard activity, not something to be dreaded or put off, but rather an activity that should be liberating and fulfilling, providing goals to achieve in your current career or plans for beginning a transition to a new career. Career planning should be a rewarding and positive experience.

Here, then, are 10 tips to help you achieve successful career planning.

1. Make Career Planning an Annual Event

Many of us have physicals, visit the eye doctor and dentist, and do a myriad of other things on an annual basis, so why not career planning? Find a day or weekend once a year -- more often if you feel the need or if you're planning a major career change -- and schedule a retreat for yourself. Try to block out all distractions so that you have the time to truly focus on your career -- what you really want out of your career, out of your life.

By making career planning an annual event, you will feel more secure in your career choice and direction -- and you'll be better prepared for the many uncertainties and difficulties that lie ahead in all of our jobs and career.

2. Map Your Path Since Last Career Planning

One of your first activities whenever you take on career planning is spending time mapping out your job and career path since the last time you did any sort of career planning. While you should not dwell on your past, taking the time to review and reflect on the path -- whether straight and narrow or one filled with any curves and dead-ends -- will help you plan for the future.

Once you've mapped your past, take the time to reflect on your course -- and note why it looks the way it does. Are you happy with your path? Could you have done things better? What might you have done differently? What can you do differently in the future?

3. Reflect on Your Likes and Dislikes, Needs and Wants

Change is a factor of life; everybody changes, as do our likes and dislikes. Something we loved doing two years ago may now give us displeasure. So always take time to reflect on the things in your life -- not just in your job -- that you feel most strongly about.

Make a two-column list of your major likes and dislikes. Then use this list to examine your current job and career path. If your job and career still fall mostly in the like column, then you know you are still on the right path; however, if your job activities fall mostly in the dislike column, now is the time to begin examining new jobs and new careers.

Finally, take the time to really think about what it is you want or need from your work, from your career. Are you looking to make a difference in the world? To be famous? To become financially independent? To effect change? Take the time to understand the motives that drive your sense of success and happiness.

4. Examine Your Pastimes and Hobbies

Career planning provides a great time to also examine the activities you like doing when you're not working. It may sound a bit odd, to examine non-work activities when doing career planning, but it's not. Many times your hobbies and leisurely pursuits can give you great insight into future career paths.

Think you can't make a hobby into a career? People do it all the time. The great painter Paul Gauguin was a successful business person who painted on the side. It actually wasn't until he was encouraged by an artist he admired to continue painting that he finally took a serious look at his hobby and decided he should change careers. He was good at business, but his love was painting.

5. Make Note of Your Past Accomplishments

Most people don't keep a very good record of work accomplishments and then struggle with creating a powerful resume when it's time to search for a new job. Making note of your past accomplishments -- keeping a record of them -- is not only useful for building your resume, it's also useful for career planning.

Sometimes reviewing your past accomplishments will reveal forgotten successes, one or more which may trigger researching and planning a career shift so that you can be in a job that allows you to accomplish the types of things that make you most happy and proud.

6. Look Beyond Your Current Job for Transferable Skills

Some workers get so wrapped up in their job titles that they don't see any other career possibilities for themselves. Every job requires a certain set of skills, and it's much better to categorize yourself in terms of these skill sets than be so myopic as to focus just on job titles.

For example, one job-seeker who was trying to accomplish career planning found herself stuck because she identified herself as a reporter. But once she looked beyond her job title, she could see that she had this strong collection of transferable skills -- such as writing, editing, researching, investigating, interviewing, juggling multiple tasks, meeting goals and deadlines, and managing time and information -- skills that could easily be applied to a wide variety of jobs in many different careers.

7. Review Career and Job Trends

Everyone makes his or her own job and career opportunities, so that even if your career is shrinking, if you have excellent skills and know how to market yourself, you should be able to find a new job. However, having information about career trends is vital to long-term career planning success.

A career path that is expanding today could easily shrink tomorrow -- or next year. It's important to see where job growth is expected, especially in the career fields that most interest you. Besides knowledge of these trends, the other advantage of conducting this research is the power it gives you to adjust and strengthen your position, your unique selling proposition. One of the keys to job and career success is having a unique set of accomplishments, skills, and education that make you better than all others in your career.

8. Set Career and Job Goals

Develop a roadmap for your job and career success. Can you be successful in your career without setting goals? Of course. Can you be even more successful through goal-setting? Most research says yes.

A major component of career planning is setting short-term (in the coming year) and long-term (beyond a year) career and job goals. Once you initiate this process, another component of career planning becomes reviewing and adjusting those goals as your career plans progress or change - and developing new goals once you accomplish your previous goals.

9. Explore New Education/Training Opportunities

It's somewhat of a cliche, but information really does lead to power and success. Never pass up chances to learn and grow more as a person and as a worker; part of career planning is going beyond passive acceptance of training opportunities to finding new ones that will help enhance or further your career.

Take the time to contemplate what types of educational experiences will help you achieve your career goals. Look within your company, your professional association, your local universities and community colleges, as well as online distance learning programs, to find potential career-enhancing opportunities -- and then find a way achieve them.

10. Research Further Career/Job Advancement Opportunities

One of the really fun outcomes of career planning is picturing yourself in the future. Where will you be in a year? In five years? A key component to developing multiple scenarios of that future is researching career paths.

Source : http://www.quintcareers.com/career_planning_tips.html

Bali Tourist Attractions

Bali has been on the tourist trail since the 1970s and combines a rich culture with azure seas, fine beaches and related tourist attractions. The island of Bali has a fantastic tourist infrastructure, with big resorts, international hotels and restaurants, and quality attractions, yet also offers the chance to get away from it all in its mountainous interior and traditional villages.

The main tourist attractions on Bali are the beaches and the weather, with Kuta Beach, in the south of the island, being a major highlight. This place has it all - sun, surf, bronzed bodies, and a pumping nightlife. Other notable areas include nearby and quieter Sanur, laid-back Nusa Dua, the bustling capital Denpasar, and cultured Ubud.

Bali Tourist Attractions: Kuta Beach

Address: Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Kuta Beach is the most popular beach and the main attraction on the island of Bali.

It is mainly famed for its fine sands and buzzing nightlife and also has good surf in-season. Kuta also has a vibrant shopping scene as well as a huge amount of hotels and restaurants.

Bali tourist attraction open: daily

Bali tourist attraction admission: free

Bali Tourist Attractions: Lovina Beach

Address: Bali, Indonesia, ID

Lying on the northern coastline of Bali, Lovina Beach offers something quite different to the sands of Kuta. Lovina Beach is the place to come if you want to explore the island's best coral reefs and is the pefect spot for both snorkelling and scuba dining. This part of the island is also the most likely place where you will see wild dolpins jumping in the sea, and tends to be noticeably quieter than the more touristy resorts located some 100 km / 62 miles to the south.

Bali tourist attraction open: daily

Bali tourist attraction admission: free

Bali Tourist Attractions: Sanur Beach

Address: Sanur Beach, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Sanur Beach is a lot more laid back than busy Kuta and there is plenty of space to spread out on the sand. Sanur also has a large traditional village where tourists can get in among the locals at the many markets, small shops and cafés. Although fairly low-key, Sanur's best nightlife is enjoyed in its big hotels.

Bali tourist attraction open: daily

Bali tourist attraction admission: free

Bali Tourist Attractions: Ubud

Address: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Ubud is a strikingly beautiful region of Bali, situated in the mountains to the north of Kuta Beach and Denpasar. It is a traditional town surrounded by many ancient villages and attractions, such Penestanan and Peliatan, and is also home to the Balinese royal family. There is a thriving art scene in Ubud and an array of temples.

Bali tourist attraction open: daily

Bali tourist attraction admission: free

 

Bali Tourist Attractions: Surfing

Address: Bali, Indonesia, ID

Bali has some excellent surfing attractions, with conditions being suitable for beginners up to intermediate level surfers. The most popular breaks are in the south of the island in Kuta and around Nusa Dua. Kuta is good for beginners and also has the allure of the day and nightlife, while experienced surfers should head for Bukit Peninsula in the southwest. Bingin, Impossibles and Uluwatu are all big Bukit breaks.

Bali tourist attraction open: daily

Bali tourist attraction admission: free

Bali Tourist Attractions: Denpasar

Address: Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, ID

The capital of Bali has most of the traffic and pollution and is thus best for a day trip as opposed to staying here. The more discerning traveller may prefer to stay in Denpasar however, owing to its many excellent museums - including the vaunted Bali Museum, and tree-lined avenues. There is also a traditional market here.

Bali tourist attraction open: daily

Bali tourist attraction admission: free

Bali Tourist Attractions: Bali Barat National Park

Address: Bali Barat National Park, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Tel: +62 0365 610 60

Encompassing parts of the north coast and the forested south, the Bali Barat National Park is loaded with animals and wildlife attractions, and is best visited at the end of the dry season, around August to December. It features the Bali starling, one of the world's rarest birds, as well as elusive leopards, Javan buffalo and barking deer. When trekking in the Bali Barat National Park, you will need to pay for a tour guide who can lead you to the best spots in the morning.

Bali tourist attraction open: daily

Bali tourist attraction admission: charge for guide

Bali Tourist Attractions: Kintamani 

Address: Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Kintamani is an out of the way historical city in Bali's mountainous region and was the main city here 1,000 years ago. It lies amid fantastic scenery and features the island's largest lake nearby, which sits inside a volcanic crater. In addition, there are quiet beaches as well as hot springs.

Bali tourist attraction open: daily

Bali tourist attraction admission: free

http://www.bali.world-guides.com/bali_attractions.html

Bali Art Galleries

The island of Bali is loaded with quality art galleries, owing partly to its plentiful foreign artists, who often have a great interest in authentic Balinese art.

Ubud is the main centre for all things Balinese, with the likes of the Neka Art Museum, the Antonio Blanco Gallery, and the Agung Rai Museum of Art. Le Mayeur Museum is another gallery of note and resides conveniently within the Sanur area of Bali, close to the beachfront, where its entrance is flanked by fine carvings.

Bali Art Galleries: Antonio Blanco Gallery

Address: Jalan Campuhan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Tel: +62 0361 975 502

Located in the Ubud region of Bali, the Antonio Blanco Gallery is one of the island's foremost art museums and the former home of the eccentric painter, Antonio Blanco. The 'Dali of Bali', as he was affectionately known, actually had a hand in the design of the museum, which houses many of his Balinese-style works. The grounds of the museum are stunning and well worth a stroll.

Bali art gallery open: daily - 08:00 to 17:00

Bali art gallery admission: charge

Bali Art Galleries: Neka Art Museum pictureBali Art Galleries: Neka Art Museum

Address: Jalan Raya Campuhan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Tel: +62 0361 976 206

The Neka Art Museum, founded in 1982 by schoolteacher Suteja Neka, is Bali's favourite museum and is spread across several pavilions. Dutch-born Indonesian artist Arie Smit features throughout most of the collection and local and international contemporary works are also displayed. Paintings are labelled in English. Whilst admiring the Smit Pavilion, be sure to take in the views of the Campuhan Gorge.

Bali art gallery open: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00

Bali art gallery admission: charge

Bali Art Galleries: Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA)

Address: Jalan Pengosekan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Tel: +62 0361 975 742

The Agung Rai Museum of Art is dedicated to German painter Walter Spiess, who fell in love with Bali and continued to incorporate the traditional Balinese style into his works. Apart from the fabulous works of art, every evening the museum puts on a traditional dance show at 18:00 just before closing time.

Bali art gallery open: daily - 09:00 to 18:00

Bali art gallery admission: charge

Bali Art Galleries: Le Mayeur Museum

Address: Jalan Hang Tuah, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Tel: +62 0361 286 201

Le Mayeur Museum is another of Bali's galleries dedicated to a foreign artist. Adrien Yean Le Mayeur was a renowned Belgian artist who was greatly influenced by the Balinese culture and the museum shows off his Impressionist paintings and his collection of artefacts. The grounds are also of interest and feature a number of statues and shrines, as well as lots of seasonal flowers.

Bali art gallery open: Tuesday to Thursday - 08:00 to 14:00, Friday and Saturday - 08:00 to 12:00, Sunday - 08:00 to 11:00

Bali art gallery admission: charge

Bali Art Galleries: Museum Puri Lukisan

Address: Jalan Raya, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, ID

Tel: +62 0361 975 136

The Museum Puri Lukisan follows the rise of Balinese art and was set up by a Balinese prince and a Dutch artist in the 1950s. Paintings and sculptures are on display and there is even an exhibit dedicated to emerging local artists. The lush gardens are worthy of a visit on their own merit and feature shrines, paddies and lotus pools.

Bali art gallery open: daily - 08:00 to 16:00

Bali art gallery admission: charge, children under 15 years free

http://www.bali.world-guides.com/bali_art_galleries.html

Kesalahan Berkas Lamaran Pekerjaan

Berkas lamaran pekerjaan seharusnya berisi segala hal mengenai diri dan kelebihan Anda. Hal tersebut sebaiknya dibuat dengan ringkas, mudah dibaca, mudah dimengerti, dan menonjolkan alasan mengapa Anda yang sebaiknya dipilih untuk menempati pekerjaan yang Anda tuju itu. Sebelum dikirimkan, Anda harus membaca berulang-ulang untuk memastikan bahwa isinya sudah cukup tepat dan menceritakan tentang diri Anda. Anda mungkin butuh waktu berjam-jam untuk menyusun resume Anda, tetapi si pewawancara mungkin hanya butuh beberapa menit untuk membacanya. Ketika ada kesalahan, tanpa segan-segan melewatkan resume Anda.

Pastikan resume Anda dibaca lengkap serta tidak terempas begitu saja karena ada kesalahan umum yang sebenarnya bisa dihindari. Berikut adalah beberapa kesalahan umum yang bisa Anda hindari:

1. Tidak menyertakan surat pengantar lamaran

Surat lamaran pekerjaan (bukan curriculum vitae) bernilai penting pada saat pemrosesan pembacaan surat lamaran pekerjaan. Banyak perusahaan yang langsung membuang berkas lamaran pekerjaan yang tak menyertakan surat pengantar tersebut. Pastikan Anda menuliskan ringkasan riwayat diri Anda dengan tepat pada cover letter. Jelaskan mengenai kualifikasi Anda, jarak antara waktu kerja yang cukup jauh, serta informasi lain yang sekiranya dibutuhkan oleh perusahaan yang Anda tuju.

2. Berpikir bahwa salah ketik itu wajar

Dalam survei yang dilakukan kepada para human resources department (HRD), kesalahan yang tersering mereka lihat dalam resume adalah kesalahan pengetikan atau sering disebut "typo". Jangan segan untuk meminta orang lain membaca kembali berkas lamaran pekerjaan Anda untuk memastikan tidak ada kesalahan, apalagi jika Anda mengirim lamaran dalam bahasa Inggris atau bahasa lain yang sebenarnya belum Anda kuasai.

3. Terlalu generik

Ada banyak contoh penulisan surat lamaran pekerjaan yang bisa Anda contoh. Akan tetapi, saking umumnya, kadang para pembaca surat lamaran pekerjaan itu jadi hafal polanya. Nah, pastikan Anda menuliskan lamaran pekerjaan tepat guna dengan posisi yang Anda tuju. Buat surat lamaran pekerjaan Anda cukup personal dan tidak terlihat seperti Anda setengah hati melamarnya. Apalagi ternyata terselip nama perusahaan lain yang pernah Anda coba kirim lamaran. Uh, sudah pasti berkas Anda langsung disingkirkan.

4. Memfokuskan pada tugas, bukan hasil akhir

Ketimbang menuliskan daftar penugasan yang pernah Anda kerjakan, lebih baik Anda tuliskan apa saja hasil yang pernah Anda dapatkan dan bagaimana hal tersebut membantu perusahaan. Contoh, jika Anda pernah berhasil berkontribusi pada pendapatan perusahaan saat mencapai penghasilan tertinggi dalam sejarah dengan program yang Anda buat, maka tempat Anda melamar akan sangat tertarik pada Anda.

5. Obyektif egois

Para pencari pekerja akan mencoba melihat apakah Anda adalah kandidat yang tepat untuk posisi di lembaga mereka, jadi, apa pun yang ada di dalam resume Anda seharusnya merujuk kepada pengalaman dan keberhasilan Anda. Ringkasan kualifikasi yang menceritakan mengenai keberhasilan Anda akan lebih efektif ketimbang pernyataan tujuan Anda yang generik.

6. Format resume yang "berbunga-bunga"

Tentu, penggunaan kertas berwarna pink dan penggunaan huruf yang besar-kecil dengan warna yang berbeda-beda akan membuat berkas lamaran Anda terlihat berbeda dan menonjol, tetapi bukan dalam artian yang bagus. Biasakan untuk menuliskan resume menggunakan kertas dan font yang standar saja. Gunakan tipe font Arial atau Times New Roman berwarna hitam di atas kertas putih.

7. Salah cantum gelar dan tanggal

Salah satu kesalahan yang sering tertangkap adalah kesalahan pada pencantuman gelar. Ada yang saking bersemangatnya, gelar tersebut sudah dicantumkan pada saat ia mengirimkan lamaran, padahal wisuda atau kelulusannya baru akan diadakan bulan depan. Memaksakan hal tersebut bisa membuat Anda terlihat seperti "berbohong".

8. Alasan pergi dari kantor lama

Jangan mencantumkan sesuatu yang bernada negatif dalam resume Anda (juga saat wawancara kerja). Jika Anda meninggalkan posisi lama karena pengurangan tenaga kerja atau karena dipecat, sebaiknya ungkapkan hal tersebut hanya jika ditanya.

9. Mencantumkan terlalu banyak informasi personal

Jika tak ada hubungannya dengan karier Anda, tak usah cantumkan kegiatan pribadi Anda. Begitu pun dengan tinggi atau berat badan (kecuali memang diminta), afiliasi dalam bidang agama, orientasi seksual, hobi memancing, atau apa pun yang bisa berbalik menghakimi Anda.

10. Terlalu panjang

Jika ada pekerjaan di masa lalu yang tak lagi relevan dengan karier Anda, sebaiknya tak usah dicantumkan. Panjang halaman resume disarankan tak lebih dari 2 halaman. Jadi, pastikan Anda mencantumkan hal-hal yang relevan saja. Para manajer HRD, dalam survei yang dilangsungkan oleh Careerbuilder, 21 persen responden mengatakan resume yang lebih panjang dari 2 halaman terlalu panjang, membosankan, dan banyak salahnya.

Cara Memasak yang Mengundang Racun

Banyak orang enggan makan di tempat yang kurang bersih karena takut keracunan. Padahal, sebenarnya keracunan makanan bisa berawal dari dapur sendiri.

Berdasarkan data YLKI, tren kasus keracunan makanan meningkat tajam sejak tahun 2004. Sekitar 45 persennya terjadi pada anak-anak sekolah. Dan, sampai sekarang, kasus keracunan makanan tetap saja banyak terjadi silih berganti di berbagai daerah. Penyebabnya sangat beragam. Ada yang karena jajan sembarangan dan tidak sedikit juga karena menyantap olahan dapur rumahan.

"Riset membuktikan ternyata orang tidak terlalu berhati-hati dalam mengolah makanan seperti yang seharusnya," kata Janet B Anderson, RD, profesor klinik bidang nutrisi dan ilmu makanan di Utah University. "Banyak orang percaya bahwa mereka sudah melakukan prosedur yang benar, padahal kenyataannya tidak."

Berikut adalah beberapa kesalahan yang selama ini sering kita lakukan di dapur, yang akhirnya bisa menyebabkan keracunan makanan.

Hanya mencuci buah yang kulitnya bisa dimakan. Padahal, buah yang kulit dan bijinya tidak bisa dimakan, seperti pisang dan melon misalnya, bisa sama berbahayanya. Bakteri bisa berpindah dari kulit luar ke daging buah melalui pisau pemotong. Kesimpulannya, semua jenis buah-buahan harus dicuci.

Dianjurkan: Kupas juga kulit tomat, stroberi, dan paprika setelah dicuci.

Meninggalkan sisa makanan di atas kompor. Meninggalkan sisa makanan di panci di atas kompor, meski dengan tujuan supaya makanan tetap hangat, justru akan merusak makanan tersebut. Menghangatkan makanan—yang kita kira bisa mengurangi kemungkinan timbulnya racun—justru memberi hasil sebaliknya. Beberapa racun justru terbentuk karena makanan dihangatkan. Aturan yang benar: simpan sisa makanan di dalam kulkas. Hangatkan ketika jam makan hampir tiba.

Dianjurkan: Tempatkan sisa makanan yang masih hangat dalam wadah kecil dan tidak terlalu tinggi supaya makanan lebih cepat dingin. Jangan penuhi kulkas dengan wadah berisi makanan. Mengapa? Karena kulkas yang penuh jadi tidak bisa mengeluarkan udara dingin dengan efisien.

Memanggang daging hingga warna merahnya hilang. Penelitian di Kansas University mengatakan bahwa mata kita tidak bisa digunakan sebagai ukuran matang tidaknya sepotong daging. Contohnya, daging yang dibekukan akan cepat berubah warna menjadi coklat saat dimasak meski sebenarnya belum benar-benar matang. Sebaliknya, beberapa jenis daging cincang segar bisa tetap berwarna merah muda saat mencapai tingkat kematangan yang sempurna.

Satu-satunya cara untuk mengetahui tingkat kematangan daging yang benar adalah dengan menggunakan termometer daging. Daging disebut matang kalau suhunya sudah 71 derajat celsius atau lebih saat dimasak.

Dianjurkan: Kalau merasa daging yang dimasak belum cukup panas dan kita ingin memasaknya lebih lama, cuci dahulu termometer daging sebelum digunakan kembali untuk menghindari terjadinya kontaminasi.

Langsung mencuci sayuran. Saat membawa sayuran segar pulang dari swalayan, kita jadi ingin langsung membersihkannya dan menyimpannya dalam kulkas. Tetapi, kebiasaan ini justru bisa menyebabkan tumbuhnya jamur dan mikroba. Penyebabnya adalah kelembaban yang tertinggal dari air cucian, kata Linda J Harris, PhD, direktur riset keamanan makanan Western Institute, University of California. Sebaiknya, bersihkan sayur tepat sebelum kita mengolahnya.

Dianjurkan: Kupas lapisan luar selada dan kubis. Di bagian inilah kontaminasi paling banyak terjadi. Bersihkan juga bagian-bagian lainnya. Jangan gunakan sabun karena dapat meninggalkan residu berbahaya.

(Anna Roufos/Lily Turangan/Prevention Indonesia)