Pony Of Prey Blog

The B group of vitamins may be one of the most commonly misunderstood of the vitamins, simply because these are several distinct vitamins lumped together. The fact that the vitamins in this group are known by both letter and number becomes confusing to many people. It’s just often more difficult to remember numbers, meaning you may remember that it’s one of the “B vitamins,” but not remember which number is associated with that particular one. It may help to find out that each of the B vitamins also has a name.

• B1 is also thiamin
• B2 is also riboflavin
• B3 is also niacin
• B5 is also pantothenic acid
• B6 is also pyridoxine
• B7 is also biotin
• B9 is also folic acid
• B12 is also cobalamin

You should note that there are four additional substances in the B complex group, though they are not known as vitamins because they are not necessary for normal body function. They are choline, lipoic acid, PABA and inositol. When you purchase B complex vitamins, these four will not be included, and at least one or two of the recognized B vitamins may also be omitted. B5 and B7 are so widely available in food that most people simply get enough of these vitamins, even if they aren’t eating a healthy diet.

Arguably one of the most commonly recognized uses of the B vitamins is an energy booster. Some health care professionals tout the advantages of taking B12 in large doses to combat tiredness, but most seem to agree that starting a regimen of B vitamins is only advisable in severe cases.

More recently, research suggests that some Vitamin B deficiencies may aggravate certain health issues or health risks, and that an increase of those vitamins will help relieve symptoms or lessen the risk. Notably, Alzheimer’s is one of those diseases and sufferers of this disease sometimes show improvement from added Vitamin B on a daily basis. Vitamin B2 has also been used to help some migraine patients.

The correlation between certain health issues and vitamin deficiencies is certain, though finding the right treatment may be tricky. One of the most common problems with using vitamins from the B complex group to treat health issues is the fact that many diseases and health issues have overlapping symptoms. Treating those symptoms may ultimately cause more problems than it cures. Talk to your health care professional before taking extraordinary steps toward a vitamin regimen, including those that include complex B vitamins.

Bob Benson is the founder of Vitamins online. You can check out our website at www.diet-weight-loss-supplements.info

Time management is essential for having a successful life, however if there is lack of motivation, time management can be a struggle. Motivation keys into time management since when a person is lacking motivation they probably are not keeping their important documents filed, or meeting time plans that are required of them: the key then to achieving a motivation level that will benefit your every day plans, is stop putting off tomorrow, what you can do today.

If you see your desk is in a rut, do not stand their and say, “oh well, I will get to it sooner or later.” Rather organize your desk, and look back at your labor. Feel it! If you follow this plan you will soon feel better about yourself, and motivation is in the process of being cultivated. Time management will follow once your motivation perks up. Motivation is a force, a stimulus, or influence. It is a drive within us that we must put to use in order to achieve. Regardless of your situation, motivation is possible to obtain. To learn more about motivation and time management we are going to take a look a few tips that can benefit us.

Tips:

If you have a hard time remembering, you might want to post notes on the refrigerator, computer, or any office area or home area where you visit every day. This is will remind you of your daily duties, and possibly help with your motivation to get it done!

Engagement books, address books, or other types of stationary provisions are available if you do not have a problem with memory, and need a reminder by opening up your book. If you like, pictures try to find a pretty stationary book that keeps you focused on the plan. If you have to get up early to go to work, you might want to set your clothes out the night before, and plan your day as scheduled. For example, if you have important tasks to handle the next day, don’t have an extra cup of coffee, rather get to the job, and get it done. Once you finish you can move onto others tasks, and have that cup of coffee later when you realize that you just managed your time.

You can also invest some of your time in yourself. When we let ourselves go, it often affects us in many ways. If you enjoy exercise, then exercise before you go to work for a few minutes. This will build motivation, stamina and help your find the energy you need to get the rest of your work done. Eat a healthy breakfast, instead of rushing out the door. The saying “the early bird gets the worm” is very true. When you wake up early, you not only feel good, but you accomplish what you set out to do. Taking the first step is not always easy, but once you get the motor a running, you are on your way to managing your time since your motivation is climbing the ladder to success.

For more great free resources on how to manage your time visit Gabae Time Management.

Also for more informative articles on time management visit Gabae Time Management Articles.

I know, I know - tacky title, but I’m attempting to inject a little levity into a rather serious subject, namely how to kindly move legal secretaries, legal assistants or paralegals to other partners and/or associates within the law firm.

It’s been surprising to me over the years how little communication flows between the attorneys and the staff while a change or “switchover” of personnel is being considered.

How do we improve the communication and do we really need to?

Let’s consider the following:

What is the real reason for the desired change in personnel?

1. Personality conflict?

2. Does your assistant just not “get” your humor?

3. Is your assistant better suited for another area of law? Perhaps you hired what you thought was an experienced litigation assistant only to find out that when the trial prep begins, the stress of it all is completely overwhelming to him or her.

4. Or, because of lean times, you need to assign two to three attorneys to one assistant instead of a one-to-one ratio.

Whatever the reason for the change, and this is important - how you make the change will either enhance or detract from your reputation with your staff and with those in your community. Is your reputation as an employer important to you? It should be.

Let me explain.

Word travels fast in the community when an employee is mistreated and handled like a cow in a herd of cattle (hence, the title). If this type of non-communication on the part of your firm is consistent, you will slowly begin to see a lack of qualified candidates at your door. They will avoid you like the plague, I promise you.

And once the word is out among the community, you can expect to be the brunt of many, many not so private jokes by some of your close colleagues.

How do you handle a “switchover” in personnel with dignity and equanimity?

It’s easier than you might think.

First things, first though.

If you’ve ever read any of the books regarding TQM (Total Quality Management), you’ll understand the following scenario.

Visualize yourself walking up to a hostess station at a well known restaurant in town. You’re ready to enjoy your evening. In fact, you are committed to it. You can visualize the wine, the tender morsels of steak. You’ve made your reservation and arrived early. But, wait….what’s wrong with this picture? The hostess is engaged in an in-depth conversation with her co-worker and totally ignores you. She ignores your needs. In fact, she couldn’t care less whether you eat tonight or not. She has a personal problem and for right now, that takes the front burner. Not you. Feel a little angry? Invisible? A non-entity?

Welcome to your assistant’s world.

Moral of the story?

Treat your employee like a valued customer. Radical? Not really. In fact, it’s very good “old school”. Smart employers understand this concept.

Understand that your assistant simply wants respect. Of course, bonuses and raises are a nice “extra”, but in my estimation, “respect” tops the list.

Even if for some reason you need to make a personnel change, the manner in which you orchestrate this change is vitally important. Take the high road. Treat your assistant as if she or he really matters. Employ the lost art of courtesy.

Now, here’s my promise. You, the attorney, do not have to explain the “switchover” to your assistant. I can hear a loud sigh of relief.

When a change is in the works and it just cannot be avoided, have your Office Manager sit down with the employee and explain the details very early in the process. There may be tears and sometimes a little hostility. But at the very least, the employee deserves to be spoken to with respect BEFORE the change is made. BEFORE the news of the change makes it through the internal grapevine.

Leslie R. Williams is the author of the upcoming ebook, “Breaking Into the Legal Field - An Insider’s View for Legal Secretaries, Legal Assistants & Paralegals”. Please watch Leslie’s website, http://www.leslie126.com for information concerning this brand new publication. Leslie is an author, publisher and entrepreneur with over 15 years experience in the small business field. She is a published author as well as a former restauranteur/franchisee. Leslie’s writing is geared to inform and inspire those interested in pursuing a career as a legal secretary, legal assistant or paralegal.

The Blackhaw viburnum is known as Viburnum Prunifolium to be
exact. This plant will be adaptable to many soil types; shaded
or sunny, and can do well in dry soils. This article give a
brief introduction to this interesting landscape plant. With its
rounded, stiffly branched habit the Blackhaw Viburnum reminds
you of a Hawthorn. It is a very easy plant to grow. It can be
purchased as a seedling, a rooted cutting, a potted starter
plant in qt. pots, to 5 gal. pots, and B&B field dug plants. In
your landscape it can be a small tree because plants attains a
height of 12 to 14 feet. The Blachhaw Viburnum has dark green,
glossy, leathery leaves turn a dark reddish to purple in the
fall. It is an attractive leaf. This viburnum has creamy white
flowers are borne in flat-topped flower clusters during May. The
fruit turns blue-black at maturity. The fruit of this viburnum,
which is sweet and edible, is nearly half an inch long, bluish
black, covered with a bloom, and ripens in early autumn. It
contains a small and somewhat flattened stone. The mature fruit
makes good preserves. It is ripe when it turns black. The leaves
are small enough that they don’t pose a raking and cleaning
problem. Birds frequent this shrub for feed and shelter. Plants
are native and tolerate shade but flower and fruit best in full
sun. Habitat and range: The blackhaw viburnum occurs in dry
woods and thickets and on rocky hillsides from Connecticut to
Florida and west to Michigan and Texas, but is mostly found in
the South. I have never seen a native Blackhaw Viburnum in our
county (Bucks County, Pa. ) that occured naturally. It will
still thrive in the soils around Solebury Pa. On our plant
durability list, we rate this a 9 for ease of transplanting and
site adaptability. There are also few serious pests that
homeowners need to concern themselves with. We have many deer on
our nursery and we have not seen much deer damage to this plant
by deer feeding on this plant. You can call us or visit our web
site for more information on other Viburnums. See
http://www.zone5trees.com http://www.seedlingsrus.com and
http://www.highlandhillfarm.com

Flower Meanings & History
The charming and delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated people of all nations and backgrounds for centuries. Flowers have been bred and cultivated for their decorative beauty as well as their ability to heal diseases. Flowers are the subject of poems and myths, and religious symbols are associated with flowers as well. Many girls are named after flowers. The main reason for the popularity of flowers though is their ability to bring good cheer.

For all fellow lovers and admirers of flowers here is some background information about flowers. This will help give your flower gift giving and buying a greater context.

Asters
There are over 600 species of asters, the most popular being the Monte Casino. Ancient societies believed that the odor of its leaves, when burnt, drove away serpents. While this might not be as applicable today, perhaps its connotation is still relevant: Giving asters means, “I am not sure whether you have been faithful to me”. Be careful who you send asters to!
Meanings: charming, patience

Bells of Ireland
Although the name suggests these flowers come from Ireland, they originated in western Asia. Bells of Ireland have a spicy/peppery scent and are part of the mint family. They stand for good luck.
Meanings: good luck, whimsy

Carnations
Turn of the century dandies would not leave the house without a white or red carnation in the buttonhole of their suit. With the end of this tradition and the fact that carnations are so easily cultivated and grown, the flower has lost some of its popularity. However, carnations are not only beautiful and long lasting flowers, they also send a message: When you receive a red carnation bouquet, it means, “My heart aches for you” and when you receive white carnations the sender is saying: “I am still available.”
Meanings: fascination, devoted Love

Chrysanthemum
Imagine, chrysanthemums have been cultivated in Chinese gardens for almost 3000 years! The name chrysanthemum comes from the Greek chrysos (gold) and anthos (flower). Today some of the meanings associated with this flower are: innocence, cheerfulness and loyal love.
Meanings: cheerfulness, innocence

Dahlias
The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico and this is also its birthplace. An old Aztec document states that the Aztecs used dahlias as a treatment for epilepsy. Only in the 19th century did the flower come to Europe where it was bred and cultivated into today’s varieties.
Meanings: dignity, elegance

Iris
Did you know that there are so many different varieties of iris that they can be grown wild year round, in water and on land? Iris was most significant in history as the emblem of France — Fleur-de-Lis — established in the 11th century by the king of France. Today, it is the state flower of Tennessee and its meanings are faith, hope and wisdom.
Meanings: faith, hope, wisdom

Lilies
Lilies have been associated with many ancient myths. They are mentioned in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, and symbolize chastity and virtue. Even today, lilies are associated with purity and faith.

Meanings: purity, faith
Peruvian lilies or alstroemeria are named after the Swedish botanist Baron Klas von Alstroemer. He brought the flower seeds back from a trip to South America in the 18th century.
Meanings: friendship, devotion

Calla lilies were first imported from South Africa to America in the mid-nineteenth century. The waxy white blooms and spearheaded leaves of the calla lily stand for radiant beauty and sophistication.
Meanings: sophistication, beauty

Lisianthus
Lisianthus may sound like a Latin name, but it is one of several common names associated with this plant. It is also referred to as Prairie Gentian, Prairie Rose or Texas Bluebell. The flowers existing today are derived from an American wildflower that is native to prairies ranging from Colorado to Nebraska and down to Texas.
Meanings: outgoing, thoughts

Orchids
During the 19th Century, orchids were widely collected. With nearly 25,000 varieties, some orchids are among the most exquisite and expensive flowers available. In antiquity, orchids were correlated with love and fertility. It was common knowledge that they would protect against diseases. Given as a gift they stand for preciousness and seduction.
Meanings: seduction, preciousness

Snapdragons
Snapdragons are an old decorative flower, widely used by the Romans. From its origin in southern Spain the cultivated form was spread throughout the whole Roman Empire. Nowadays remnants of this original population which all belong to the species Antirrhinum majus are found among Roman remains like temples in southern France, Malta, and Italy. The flower, also called “gracious lady” stands for deception.

Meanings: desire, strength
Roses
With their far-reaching popularity, roses are the queens of flowers. After buttercup, the roses are the second oldest variety of flowers on the planet. Biologists can trace roses back some 200 million years! Although there is a huge number of meanings and symbols associated with roses, the most common of course is love, which originated in Greek mythology. When Aphrodite cried about the death of her lover Adonis, she had red “Adonis Roses” grown with his blood, - thus red roses are the symbol of never-ending love. Important to mention are the roses’ thorns, of which we all probably have some painful memory. Symbolically, love can be painful and full of suffering when not treated carefully.
Red roses: I love you, unconscious beauty
White roses: spiritual love, purity
Yellow roses: joy, gladness
Orange roses: fascinated, enthusiastic
Pink roses: grace, gentility

Tulips
Originally from Persia, tulips were introduced to Western Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th century. When growers started to hybridize the flower, they found ways of making it even more decorative. Hybrids of the flower were a scarcity at the time and a symbol of high status. Soon tulips became very popular as a trading product and bulbs were traded at the highest prices. The months of late 1636 to early 1637 would make history in the Netherlands as “Tulipmania”. A bed of tulips was worth up to $5,000, the value of a small house in Amsterdam. The bulbs became currency, and their value was quoted at the stock market.
Meanings: perfect lover, fame

Sunflowers
Sunflowers turn their heads toward the sun and this how they got their common name. They originated in Central and South America. Sunflowers are not only pretty to look at but sunflower seeds are power-packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamin E - all important to the nutritional quality of your diet. Wait! That doesn’t mean you’re supposed to eat the seeds out of your sunflower bouquet.
Meanings: adoration, sunshine

About the Author

Josh Grossman is cofounder of online florist, Beyond Blossoms (http://www.beyondblossoms.com). Beyond Blossoms ships farm fresh flower bouquets nationwide.

Ask yourself if you have anything to worry about right now? Are you anxious at this moment? Not tomorrow, not an hour ago, now. No, I didn’t think you were. You have just had a taste of being present. If you want to learn how to eliminate stress from your life, to have better relationships with others and most of all, a greater connectedness with yourself…learning to focus on the present is a powerful technique to do so. When I first heard the expression being present, I didn’t know what it meant? But I have discovered since then, that it is one of most powerful destressors you can ever use. It simply means that you give your full attention to the situation or person in front of you right now.

If you ever slow down and check your thought processes you will notice that you probably spend vast amounts of time brooding on the past and maybe even more speculating about the future. This all means that you are not paying attention to the very task or person in front of you that needs to be attended to. If you are obsessed with the past or wondering about the future it is very easy to miss the opportunity, the delight and joy that is right in front of you. Speculation can cause great mental suffering. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, I’ve been through some terrible things in my life….some of which actually happened.

In fact, if you watch your own thought processes, it’s interesting to observe how we can rapidly concoct a whole saga from random incidents. Next time you try on a garment in a shop and it doesn’t fit, watch how your thought processes can rapidly move from “it doesn’t fit” to “I’m fat and ugly” to “No one will ever love me” in the space of milliseconds and the suffering that causes you.

Being present doesn’t mean that you stop wanting to achieve and be ambitious. But it does mean that you enjoy the journey as much as the destination and because you are giving high quality, focussed attention to the tasks and people around you moment by moment it means that your path will be a smoother one. Begin by paying attention to small everyday tasks; washing your hands, driving. Slowly you will find that this habit of paying attention will take root in other areas of your life and will be a powerful change agent.

Five ways to be present

1 Pay attention to what your five senses are telling you now…what do you hear, smell?

2 Ask yourself…what is the one thing I have to do now?

3 Check in with yourself. What am I feeling right now?

4 Ask yourself, what would I do if this moment was exactly what I needed?

5 What am I thinking right now…simply observing what you are thinking can be an eye-opener!

Benefits of being present

1 Seeing the world and the people around you with fresh unbiased eyes.

2 Increased quality of work as you focus exclusively on the task in front of you.

3 Improved relationships with the people around you. Few things are more attractive than a person who is truly present.

4 Elimination of the “when x happens, then I’ll be happy ” mindset. Greater enjoyment and gratitude for what you currently have.

5 Greater awareness of current opportunities.

Anne Walsh is a life coach based in Co. Galway Ireland. You get a free personal development e-course (Personal Freedom) when you sign up for her monthly ezine Bring your best self to light at http://www.annewalshcoach.com It’s full of tips and hints on how you can be your best.

Nothing and a whole lot!

That’s if Microsoft gets it right. First impressions appear to
be very promising and all indications show a much more powerful
RSS system, neatly integrated into the next version of Windows.
Could this finally mean the ‘coming of age’ for RSS?

But what does RSS mean to the average computer user at
this moment in time? Will people get RSS? Does Microsoft
have an education project on their hands with RSS?

Not Really!

Does DOS mean anything to you? If you’re like 95% of
computer users — probably not much. But that doesn’t
stop us from enjoying our computers and fully benefiting
from DOS. Sometimes complete ignorance is bless.

Unless you’re a techie and such technical stuff makes
your heart skip a beat, knowledge of such material is not
really required by the end-user. Fortunately, people don’t
have to understand ‘HTML’ to enjoy the Internet.

Likewise, knowledge of RSS is not important to the
ordinary computer or Internet user. Microsoft’s
RSS Longhorn puts RSS where it rightfully belongs,
in the background, invisible…seamlessly integrated
into your computing and web browsing experience.

It will make RSS an integral element of its new operating
system which has the code-name Longhorn. It will firmly
place RSS into the heart of your computing experience,
enriching and enhancing it in more ways than even Microsoft
is probably aware of yet!

RSS stands for ‘Really Simple Syndication’ and it has
long been associated with blogs and blogging because
they are written in RSS or XML format — code like HTML.
DOS stands for ‘Disk Operating System’ by the way
and it’s the platform for operating systems on your
computer. MS-DOS is the most widely used system.
Ignorance can sometimes be overrated.

Microsoft’s announcement of its plans to place RSS features
into its next Windows version, due out in 2006 and in servers
by 2007, is truly groundbreaking . You can read more about
Microsoft’s RSS plans here: Understanding RSS In The Next Windows.

This takes RSS out of just browsers and RSS readers (called
aggregators); and giving it much more powerful applications.
Most interesting is a new set of applications — Simple List
Extensions — allowing web sites to publish feeds containing
lists such as a wish list or top 10 list. Should make David
Letterman happy!

All kidding aside, for you, these RSS applications will
be very beneficial and rewarding. These applications will
make browsing, searching and subscribing to your favorite
information or sites a lot more easier. You can now take control
of your Internet, viewing and accessing the information you
want to digest.

It has many personal and business applications that will
take ‘keeping in touch’ to a new level. Calendars, events,
updates, personal photo albums…can all now be syndicated
with the new RSS platform.

What’s really important about Microsoft’s plans (I believe)
is the fact that this now makes RSS legit. Lets face it,
outside of blogging and a few alert online marketers, RSS is
still not understood by most people.

But as stated before, people don’t have to understand ‘HTML’
to enjoy the Internet. They don’t really have to know about
servers, DOS, or even ISPs to get full benefit from the web.
Likewise, RSS doesn’t have to be known or even understood
by the majority of the people who will be using it.

But it’s helpful that you do understand for you the
future of RSS holds many treats and the full impact won’t
really be known for years. Under the Creative Commons license,
RSS applications could have a far reaching impact on your
computing world of the future.

The potential of RSS is enormous. It may even pave the way
for a ‘Billion Channel Internet’ — where each web site is
its own little broadcasting system. An interactive channel
that broadcasts audio and video to all interested subscribers.

Microsoft’s announcement may just be the nucleus of such
a system. Many components are already in place like podcasting,
broadcatching, data feeds, etc. and its not that great a leap
or too fantastical to imagine such a system will exist in
the very near future.

For RSS changes HOW information is transmitted on the
web…from a passive role to a more pro-active one.
Don’t come to us — we will deliver.

RSS is also one of the more democratic elements of the
web where the little guy has a say. It was more than
fitting that Microsoft’s RSS team met with Dave Winer
(Mr. RSS to those who keep a close watch on all things RSS)
and asked his opinions on these recent developments.

Ordinary Bloggers have preached the benefits of RSS for so
long; the mantra was becoming a tiresome echo across the
web. No one seemed to be taking RSS seriously.

In that light, it can’t be understated that Microsoft’s
incorporation of RSS into Windows is one of those true
‘turning points’ that has to be acknowledged. It does
change how computers and the Internet will work.

This is a great step forward in making RSS an integrated and
seamless component of computers and the Internet.

At last, someone has gotten RSS right.

This author’s articles on RSS have appeared on such sites as:
Sitepronews, Bonafidereviews,
Addme, and Ezinearticles.
To add RSS to your Site within minutes, download this simple
RSS and Blogging Guide.

Copyright © 2005 Titus Hoskins http://www.bizwaremagic.com.
This article may be freely distributed if this resource
box stays attached.