Don't Sweat It!

Top Ten Jobs

     
1. Software Engineer

This is the number one job because it’s not stressful, there are few physical demands, and a lot of people get hired. Software Engineers design and develop computer games, business applications, operating systems, and network control systems. Their average salary is over $65,000.

2.      Mathematician

Mathematicians use math theories, computer techniques, and algorithms to solve economic, scientific, engineering, and business problems. Employment of mathematicians is expected to grow much faster than other jobs but there will be a lot of people wanting the job. Their average salary is over $68,000.

3.      Actuary

They access the risk of events and create policies that lower the cost of that risk. They are very important to the insurance industry. Employment is growing faster than the norm. There is a lot of competition for these job openings since there are more qualified people than the number of job openings. Their average salary is over $79,000.   

4.      Statistician

Statisticians use mathematics and statistics to design surveys and experiments, collect and analyze data, and interpret experiment and survey results. They are very important in business and industry. Their average salary is over $71,000.

5.       Computer Systems Analyst

They develop and design new computer systems. They also apply existing systems’ resources to help businesses operate more efficiently. Their average salary is over $56,000.

6.      Meteorologist

Meteorologists study and forecast weather patterns. They use atmospheric satellite monitoring equipment and ground based radar systems. If you have a graduate degree you are more likely to get a job than if you have only a bachelors’ degree. Their average salary is over $51,000.

7.      Biologist

Biologists study living organisms and their relationship to the environment. Most biologists specialize in either zoology or microbiology. Their average salary is over $50,000.

8.      Historian

Historians research, analyze, and interpret the past. Most of them work as high school history teachers. The number of teachers usually outnumbers the number of positions available. Their average salary is over $47,000.

9.      Audiologist

They asses and treat people with hearing, and related disorders. They fit hearing aids; provide auditory training, research things about hearing problems. There are few job openings for an Audiologist. Their average salary is over $63,000.

 

Clean Teeth

10. Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienists clean teeth and help people have good, healthy teeth. They have VERY flexible scheduling. Dental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations. Their average hourly rate is $32.14.

There you have it; those are the top ten jobs. I would have to say most of those sound really boring but they all make good money :D          

The Wonderful World of Blogging

Seven tips to a successful blog

1. Connect with your readers.
People will remember you and keep on reading your posts if they can connect with you on a personal level. What better way for them to connect with you than if you make an ‘About page’ and add a welcoming message? On your ‘About’ page tell where you are from, what you like, what you dislike, you’re passions. I have found that I am more likely to read a blog if it has an ‘About’ page and a welcoming message than if a blog doesn’t have these posts. I feel more connected to the person.

2. Market your blog.
If you have a Myspace or Facebook, put a link on your profile. This will get the word out that you have a blog. Your friends and family will click on the link out of curiosity and hopefully LOVE what they find. :D Then they will spread the word that you have a blog and you will get more visitors. The day I posted my blog’s URL on facebook I got 140 visitors.



3. No fluffy stuff.
Give people your best work. Don’t just post information that has come off the top of your head. COME ON! Do some research; it’s not that hard. Google Alerts sends you information on the topic you are researching. I signed up for it and found it helpful. You will get more readers and followers if you give them quality information.

4. Be honest.
Don’t just tell people what they want to hear. Give your opinion, state why you think that way. People want to know YOUR opinion not someone else’s. Also, don’t go on and on about what you think. Give people a chance to digest your post.

5. First Impression.
I think that the most important part of your post is your headline. The second important part is your first few sentences. Ask a question that will make people curious and get them thinking. Use a famous person’s quote to prove your point. Give a shocking statistic, but make sure it’s relevant to your post. Visual appeal is also important. Someone might come to your blog to read an article of interest but leave right away if you blog isn’t colorful, or organized.

6. Proof Read.
Ask a family member’s opinion on your post. Have him look for grammar mistakes that you might have missed. You want people to be able to read what you write.

Complete Circle

7. Allow Feedback
Ask your readers to reply and give their opinions. This will show that you care what your readers think. This completes the circle of communication, first I connected with my readers, now their connecting with me.

Organically Inclined

Not sold on Organic Foods

I have always been VERY skeptical about organic foods.  I used to think that it was just another way to get more money out of us.  I also know a few people who buy organic food and spend more money than they would otherwise pay.  After doing the research for this article I am convinced that organic foods are the way to go.  I hope you will be convinced, too.  There are so many benefits to going organic!

1.      Organic foods are higher in nutrients

Conventional crops are grown by swelling the food with water.  Organic crops have more food to them.  American nutritionist Virginia Worthington has proven that organic foods can help you consume the recommended amount of nutrients that you otherwise may not get.

2.      Organic foods have lower pesticide residues

The mainstream food industry claims that the levels of pesticide residues in our non-organic food are very low and within acceptable safety limits.  Monitoring programs consistently shows that around one in three non-organic food samples tested contains a variety of pesticide residues, with less residues being found in organic food.  There are many symptoms that come from too much pesticide residue: headaches, tremor, depression, poor memory, convulsions, nausea, and many more.  

3.      Organic foods are healthier for children

Children are more susceptible to toxins because of their developing organs, brains, and immune systems, plus their larger intake of food.  A study was done between two villages, one in which pesticides were used in farming; the other village did not use pesticides.  Everything else was the same between the two villages: genes, diet, lifestyle, climate, culture, etc. The study found huge differences between the two groups in both mental and motor abilities. The children who were exposed to pesticides scored at a much lower level. They were also more aggressive in behavior than the children who were not exposed to pesticides. Is this what you want for your children?

4.      Organic foods help lower health problems

An observational study showed that boarding school students eating mostly organic foods for three years experienced a “very marked decline” in colds and influenza, more rapid convalescence, great health, fewer sports injuries, a greater resilience to fractures and sprains, clear and healthy skin, and improved dental health. I think those are ALL good enough reasons to eat organic foods.

5.     

Healthier for Everyone and Everything

Organic foods are better for the environment

Chemically dependent agriculture harms the environment and puts our health at risk. Pesticides and fertilizers are washed into our waterways, destroying animal habitats and contaminating our drinking water. Organic farming removes synthetic chemicals from the air, soil, and water.  

Pass the Breadbasket please!

Ten Facts about Indiana

1. Indiana is a part of the “breadbasket of America.”
Sometimes called the “breadbasket of America” the Midwest serves as a center for grain production, mainly wheat, corn, and soybeans. It is a region of the country which includes the states of: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and INDIANA. The Midwest is called the breadbasket because of its richness of soil and its climate. Aren’t we glad that Indiana is a part of the “breadbasket of America”?!

2. Most of the present Indiana population is of English, Scottish, Irish, or German descent.
Irish people mainly ate stew, wheaten soda bread and would drink beer. A common dish is Irish stew. The English people would eat bread and cheese, roasted and stewed meats, and fish. They would drink wine, beer, or cider. A common English dish is pot roast. The Scottish mainly ate game, dairy, fish, fruit, and would drink beer, ale, or whisky. A common Scottish dish is Roast Beef. The Germans would eat pork, beef, poultry, fish, vegetables, and would drink beer, or ale. A common German dish is breakfast cereal.

3. Indiana is known for its corn production.
Indiana ranks fourth in the production of corn. Most corn is used for animal feed, though some is used for ethanol. Call me an animal, but when I hear the word ‘corn’ I think of cornbread. I LOVE cornbread and my family likes to eat it with a BIG pot of homemade soup!

4. Indiana is known for its soybean production.
Indiana is the third largest soybean producing state in the US. Almost a third of the Hoosier soybean crop is exported onto the world market. Tofu is made with soybeans, but it sounds nasty so I haven’t tried it nor will I ever try it.
5. Indiana is known for its pork production.
There are 3000 pork producer families in Indiana, down 87%, from 24,000 farms in 1980. The vast majority of all pork operations are still owned and operated by farm families passed down from generations. 13,000 Hoosiers have a job because of the State’s pork industry. I don’t know about you but I love pork sandwiches!
6. Brain sandwiches are traditional in old-fashioned Indiana restaurants.
A fried-brain sandwich is a sandwich with sliced calves’ brains on sliced bread. Increased incidents of mad cow disease will likely further diminish the appeal of this interesting dish. So if you would like to become a mad cow, have some. I haven’t ever tried it nor do I think I will ever try it.
7. Pizza is the favorite food of the people of Indiana.
Pizza is a word that makes so many people’s mouth water. There are a lot of different kinds of pizza. There are deep dish pizzas, thin crust pizzas, vegetarian pizzas, white pizza, deep fried, etc. I would have to say that I myself don’t really like any of these. I like my Mom’s homemade pizza, that is what makes MY mouth water.

8. Beef and Noodles is a homespun Hoosier dish
Beef and Noodles is a classic dish that can be dressed up for company or served more simply by using hamburger or leftover beef. It is traditionally made with stew beef. I like a more stroganof-style dish than a more beef flavored dish.
9. Sugar Cream Pie is a popular dish seen almost exclusively in Indiana
Sugar Cream Pie or also called Indiana Farm pie is a single-crust pie with a filling, made from flour, butter, salt, vanilla, and cream. This mixture makes a caramel like filling. The ideal sugar cream pie is supposed to be like Santa Claus because it shakes like a bowl full of jelly.
10. Persimmon pudding is also a favorite Indiana dessert very difficult to find outside of the Hoosier State.

Persimmon pudding

A persimmon is a fruit that is round or oval in shape and is generally an orange-yellow color. Persimmon pudding is generally either steamed or cooked in an oven with a bowl of water to keep it moist. It is served with ice cream, whipped cream, apple sauce, or brandy butter. It is said to be best served warm though some people eat it cold as well. I have never tasted it.

Home Schooling and Cooking

Home Schooling in the Kitchen

One of the advantages of home schooling is that it’s real life education, not just book learning in a classroom. I’m sure you are wondering what this has to do with cooking. I’m about to tell you.
I am home educated and math is not my strong suit. It takes me hours to do my math. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering the lesson I just learned the previous day. It’s hard for me to understand most math concepts.
Most students struggle with fractions, but I don’t. I credit it to all the time I spend in the kitchen actually doing the fractions as I cook. I have learned to double, and even triple recipes because I am good with fractions.

By the way you will never see a restaurant review for Hooters on this blog. :D

Integrating Subjects

It is easy to integrate subjects, when home schooling. This blog is a project for a creative writing class I’m taking. It combines my love of photography, my passion for food and cooking, my ability to write and my desire to improve all those skills.