Home and Lifestyle

7 Items Every Good Home Theater Must Have

November 28, 2012 by Trish

A home theater system is a great way to get more enjoyment out of your home. While the initial investment may be expensive, this is an investment that will save you money over time. Instead of heading to the movies, you can kick back with a Blu-Ray and a bowl of popcorn. The following are just seven items every home theater system must have.

1080p HD TV

It’s important to buy a TV with the best resolution and that means a 1080p HD LCD or plasma TV. Many experts also recommend a TV that is LED backlit and has quatron technology, which means the TV uses four colors instead of three. If you enjoy 3D movies or video games, you should also consider a TV that has this technology built in.

Surround Sound System

One of the reasons people love going to the movies is the quality of the sound. A sound system with a subwoofer and at least four speakers should be part of your home theater system. This is something you do not want to skimp on. Spend the extra money and time shopping for the best system. Visit the electronics store and listen to several brands before making your final decision.

Blu-Ray Player

If you love movies, you need a Blu-Ray player that handles 1080p HD resolution. It’s also a nice feature to purchase a player that will upconvert DVD to movies to a better resolution. You also have the option to purchase a player that will allow you to watch Netflix movies.

TV and Subscription Viewing Devices

Obviously, you want access to great television. Because of the latest advances, satellite is usually the best option. For example, Dish Network allows you to get a DVR that will record up to 6 shows at once and the company also offers Blockbuster @ Home service. If you didn’t purchase a Blu-Ray player than handle Netflix and other subscription services, you may want to purchase a Roku player or even a gaming console that will allow you to use these services.

HDMI Cables

It doesn’t do you any good to invest in a great Blu-Ray player or satellite service if you don’t have HDMI cables. Without the proper cables, you won’t get HD reception.

Surge Protector

Just like you protect your computer, you want a surge protector to protect your home theater equipment. A surge protector also makes it much easier to unhook your equipment when a storm rolls in.

Universal Remote

Last, but not least, invest in a universal remote to make it easier to control your multiple devices. You don’t want to spend hundreds on a universal remote, but you need to make sure it handles the number of devices you have and has room to add additional devices in the future.

A home theater can save you a lot of money on going out for entertainment. Follow the tips above and you’ll have a system that you and your family will love.

About the Author:Â Despina Wampole is an advertising executive by day and entertainment buff by night. She loves helping her clients creat sms advertising campaigns and then relaxes at night with her family and a good movie.

Are School Cookery Lessons a Waste of Time?

November 28, 2012 by Trish

Learn About Life

With many people strongly believing that schools should be doing more to teach life skills rather than just â€œteaching to the testâ€ across a plethora of subjects, it is strange that the debate around school cookery lessons is such a hot one. Surely cooking is one of the very best life skills we can all learn from a young age. Unless we adopt a â€œraw foodâ€ type of diet when we reach adulthood, the chances are that weâ€™ll all need to have some culinary skills to get through life.

Now that we know this, just what is the problem many have with school cooking classes?

Not a Lesson

The biggest problem many have is that the children in schools arenâ€™t really learning anything. Red tape and â€œHealth and Safetyâ€ tends to mean that certain ingredients or practices arenâ€™t allowed, or wonâ€™t be risked, in a number of schools, despite the potential benefits on offer.

Another issue that overshadows these lessons is that there generally isnâ€™t actually a great deal of cooking that goes on. The focus might be on making dough, or getting a cake mixture correct, not on practical advice and teachings that could actually prove crucial in the years to come. Many people are fortunate enough to pick up bits and pieces from their parents in order to hone their own cooking skills, but what about those who donâ€™t? There is an argument that, despite growing concern in developed countries around the world surrounding obesity and health problems caused by poor diet, education systems are doing little more that dooming children to a life of microwave meals and convenience foods.

People holding this point of view feel that more time could be spent in schools on more traditional academic lessons, although the best alternative would perhaps be physical education, so that the obesity and health issue can be dealt with.

Getting Familiar

In contrast, many argue that, regardless of what is actually made during a cookery class â€“ and whether or not it is eaten â€“ the familiarity that children can gain of the kitchen and how different things are used and operated can prove invaluable.

In a one or two hour lesson, someone with an interest in food isnâ€™t going to turn into a young Jamie Oliver, however they could definitely pick up enough to begin to hone their skills. After all, isnâ€™t schooling all about preparing youngsters for later life?

This article was written by Videojug. Videojug are a leading video content website, featuring thousands of professionally produced pieces of helpful video content. Videojug can help teach all of the valuable life skills that school cookery lessons didn’t, including how to make a meringue recipe.

Are Teenagers Bad Drivers By Default?

November 26, 2012 by Trish

There are a number of things that make a driver a detriment to the road, but age has nothing to do with that. You are just as likely to be able to focus on the road as a young adult than you are years after getting your driver’s license. In fact, many teenage drivers are safer than the average driver since they are new to driving and tend to pay more attention to the road since it is new to them.

Cars now come with many built-in distractions such as GPS navigation systems, satellite radios, and other electronic devices that come equipped in the vehicle. That combined with other in-car distractions like other people could be a problem for many age groups, not just teenagers. While teenagers sometimes get a bad reputation, they are just as likely to be involved in an accident as older drivers. In fact, drivers who have been on the road many years could be more likely to assume they know the road conditions and are just as easily distracted by things both in and out of the vehicle.

Teenage drivers are charged more for insurance just because they are new to the road, but they should be entitled to lower insurance costs until they prove that they deserve a higher insurance cost. Many older drivers have high insurance premiums because they have had an accident, but there are just as many older drivers who have lower insurance costs because they have proven they are conscious drivers. Teenagers should be given the same privilege to prove that they are an aware driver without the financial obligation for the driver or more likely, their parents.

Teenagers are no more likely than older drivers to be distracted by things both in the car and on the road. They should be given the chance to prove that they are safe drivers without having to pay extra just because of their age. If age is the determining factor, the older generation should have higher premiums as your reaction time is decreased as you age. There is no single group that can be classified as a bad driver purely because of their age. Teenagers should not be penalized for bad driving until they have proven that they deserve the higher insurance rates. There are just as many teenagers that are safe drivers and are aware of the rules of the road.

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Alice is a mother of four kids and understands the challenges of getting car insurance for teenagers. For more information on high risk auto insurance visit Acceptance Insurance.

How To Stress Less This Holiday Season

November 23, 2012 by Trish

The holidays are intended to be a joyous time spent with friends and family. But for many Americans, the holiday season can actually be a very stressful time of year. For instance, holiday shopping and trying to fight those awful crowds. The constant pressure of meeting expectations of friends and family. Putting up with those not-so-nice in-lawsâ€¦you can understand why the holidays may not be the most wonderful time of year for many people.

This holiday season, itâ€™s important for us to learn to how to relax and enjoy the holidays. We can do this by focusing on ways to reduce our stress rather than encourage it. That being said, here are five ways to better relax this holiday season:

Follow a strict budget

Too often we want to go beyond our means to impress those we love with lavish gifts. Rather than exhausting our bank accounts or racking up our credit cards, try to stick to a strict budget. Purchase gifts that come from the heart rather than the wallet. After all, isnâ€™t it the thought that counts most at Christmas time?

Drink responsibly

The holiday season can bring out the social drinker in all of us. However, with excess drinking can come stress and anxiety. itâ€™s normal to feel anxious or nervous in social settings like holiday parties. However, try to limit the number of drinks you have in an evening. This will allow you to make more responsible decisions throughout the holiday season.

Extra travel time

Traveling during the holidays can be a nightmareâ€”just ask the McCallister family who left poor Kevin at the airport right before Christmas. Airports, train stations and buses are all crowded with eager folks trying to make it home for the holidays. Rather than fighting the herds of people, give yourself plenty of extra time to get to and from places you have to go.

Make time to exercise

Exercise is a proven stress reducer. The holidays may be the busiest time of year, but itâ€™s important to take at least 20 minutes a day to exercise. This will give you the opportunity to recharge your batteries and de-stress from holiday pressures. Donâ€™t have time to hit the gym? Go for an evening stroll. Exercising also helps to combat those extra calories typically indulged during holiday meals.

Be thankful

The holidays can become stressful due to family differences, work obligations and relationship woes. This year, take advantage of the holiday season by reflecting on all the good things in your life. Do this by being thankful for the things you have rather than what you do not have. The best gift of all is the one we get to share with our loved ones.

Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to enjoying the holiday season. After all, the holidays should be the most wonderful time of year. So, before you begin to feel stressed or overextend yourself, take a minute to remember what the holidays are truly all about: spending quality time with those we love most.

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Maya Richards is a freelance writer who loves everything about Christmas. Her favorite inspirational gifts are charm bracelets and yoga inspired jewelry.

What Not To Eat During The Holidays

November 21, 2012 by Trish

The holidays are all about family, friends and food. Whether you prefer the appetizers, main course or desserts, there are plenty of temptations to go around during holiday parties. Rather than avoiding certain dishes that you think are bad, here are some of the worst holiday food offenders and why you should stay away from them.

Eggnog

Before you add any liquor, eggnog is still one of the worst holiday drinks you can consume. With the primary ingredients consisting of milk, cream and eggs, it’s no wonder this holiday drink can help add on some serious pounds. Instead of drinking eggnog, look for the traditional hot chocolate. With about one third of the calories, hot chocolate is definitely the better option if you’re looking for a hot winter drink.

Crab cakes

Appetizers can be found all months of the year, but you’re the most vulnerable to consuming more than you should during the winter months. Crab cakes are one of those appetizers that are difficult to resist, regardless of the season. In the case of the crab cake, you’ll find imitation crab meat bound in mayo, rolled in breadcrumbs and dropped into a pot of boiling fat. This results in a fatty ball of calories that equals more than three dozen shrimp. That’s right, more than 36 shrimp. With that said, you might want to swap out those crab cakes for some shrimp cocktail. With fewer calories, you can eat more of them and be more satisfied.

Cocktails

You can’t get through the holidays without having a few nights where you overdo it with the holiday cocktails. Truth be told, some cocktails you can get away with drinking if they’re diet or low in sugar. The classic gin and tonic, however, is not an exception. Tonic water actually contains more than 20 grams of sugar per eight ounce serving, which puts it on the same level as any other lemon-lime soda. If you’re still looking for the bubbles and alcohol content, drink some champagne. It contains one fourth of the sugar and it makes you look way classier.

Beers

Not into liquor? That’s fine, because holiday parties are stocked with beer as well. The problem with beers in the winter is that they’re generally darker brews and heavier, such as porters. While these beers might warm you up, they’ll also make you heavier. When you can, opt for the lighter beer. It generally has fewer calories and still tastes great.

Meat

It’s finally time for the entree and you have your choice of chicken, turkey, or beef. Which one are you going to choose? Maybe if you knew that prime rib packed up to 750 calories, your decision would be a little bit easier. That’s right, the prime rib that you’ve loved for years comes from one of the fattiest parts of the cow. If beef is what you want, opt for the beef tenderloin. It will save you at least 50 to 100 calories and is just as tasty as the prime rib.

Dessert

Ahh, the desserts of the holidays. Impossible to avoid and too good to resist. Holiday pies dominate most dessert tables, and it’s for good reason. They’re full of sugar and fat with just a touch of butter and fruit. While there are a lot of bad pies, the worst one you can consume would have to be the pecan pie. Sticky with corn syrup and sugar, the pecan pie is the worst offender on the dessert table for sure. If you still want dessert but would prefer to avoid the pecan pie, look for the chocolate fondue or angel food cake. Either of these options are much better for you and you’ll save tons of calories swapping out for them.

The holidays are among the worst times of the year to be dieting, especially because there’s always the temptation of amazing food that you really don’t have the opportunity to eat at any other time throughout the year. Instead of giving up everything you love, if you just make some very basic changes to your diet and swap one thing out for another, you’ll be able to focus less on what you’re eating and more on the people you’re spending your holidays with.

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Ann Michaels is a freelance writer who loves the holidays. When she’s not busy putting up her outdoor nativity scenes with her children, she enjoys cooking and baking for family and friends who come up every winter to spend the holidays with her family.

7 Items Every Good Home Theater Must Have