The Advantages of Growing Lettuce and other Vegetables in Your House

Growing Buttercrunch Lettuce in your house isn't that difficult to do. With a biodegradable planter boxes that you can put directly into the ground and a few seeds you can make your own lettuce with almost no work. For those people who are health conscious they know what is in the soil and you will also know nutrients value of the food you are growing.

From start to finish you can manage some of your most common items. Learning to experience the joy of growing can make a big difference in your lifestyle and how you seen life in general. It "grounds" you a little more to your food source.

Green items, placed strategically can make your living room look more "organic". I have seen where people have tastefully placed their garden items for ascetic purposes in corners, hallways, and near light. A couple of plants over here, a few on the window shelf, a little more down the hallway. Mixed it with other plants and stuff it can provide some greenery.\

On a secondary benefit you are also limiting the carbon foot print and reducing toxins in the environment. The plants can serve multiple functions such as ascetic functions, food source, reduction of pollution, and just fun. If you have kids you can certainly add in a learning activity.

Conflict Style and Steps to Resolution

Conflict is inevitable life. We fight over money, respect, family, politics, etc... Most of these conflicts are unnecessary drama. Sometimes conflict is very necessary as people violate each other boundaries and appear to have little remorse for their behaviors. Sometimes you just have to say "no" when people don't seem to be able to self-check. People should prefer to negotiate then to have conflict. Discussion is the preferred route but sometimes not the chosen path. When you can try to turn sour lemons into lemon pie; do your best to draw positive strength from tough situations.

Lets consider a scenario where one person is violating others boundaries with negative comments, destructive behavior, and aggression acts. It doesn't appear as though the person will gain self-control or be able to stick to facts. You can consider a few options when dealing with this person.

1. Try Ignoring: Let us say in this example a couple of negative comments occur. They don't seem to be directed and more a sign of the immature of the person(s) involved. The comments become more negative, are trying to publicly humiliate you, and getting people involved.

In this case, ignoring might not work because the person doesn't have a healthy respect for others or their rights. You must say something. You can first try checking and questioning the behavior lightly. Most likely that may not work because aggressive people don't often "get it" or care about the impact of their behavior.

2. Draw a Line and Check the Behavior: Telling a bully "no" can have  big consequences. They may start to lie, get people involved, and engage in all types of aggressive actions to control the target. In their mind they think, "Who are they to tell me no". The angrier they get the more aggressive they will get.

3. Seek a Resolution with a Third Party. Having a third party at work, family, or arbitrator seek a resolution. Because the bully doesn't get that their behavior is more a sign of their weakness than the fault of the target they probably won't accept the need for outside intercession. They will continue to shift blame and take no responsibility. At this point you may need to get more legal.

4. Lawsuits and PPO. If the party can't check themselves, accept arbitration or just keep their distance then you may need to sue the parties to ensure they realize there are consequences to aggressive behavior. This could occur if one of the parties is lying, engaging in defamation of character, getting kids involved, etc.... At this point there is no going back and you must realize there is may be no way of rectifying without legal intercession.

5. Get Other Organizations Involved: If the law can't protect you then you will need to seek out advocacy groups that are willing to provide the resources, expertise, and help you protect your boundaries.

Personality has a lot to do with it. People are not always good and nice. Not everyone has a value system that works. It is important to keep your head high but continue to enforce your boundaries. Some people in this world won't stop as their dysfunctional personality doesn't have normal checks and balances.

I'm trying to raise funds for an orphanage. These are children who have been abused and taken away. Everything they have is based on personal donations. I go down to visit them often and bring supplies. PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com) Venmo for Donations (@muradabel). If you feel more comfortable donating to an established non-profit you may do so here https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/1984592

Controlled Dive Emergency Ascent

As a group of people we dove around wreckage form an old lumber mill. We didn't find much but I did get a solid look at some well worn boards. My mind started thinking signs, arts and crafts. Perhaps a little graphic painting may do wonders. Ok...sorry I was sort of just talking and talking as my artistic side kicked in. 

We did practice some emergency ascents. This is the last of the last of the last resort when someone is out of air. There are dangers if you are deep enough of getting the bends. At 20 feet it won't hurt you but at deeper levels you could have a problem. Make a humming sound and allow air to move in exhale. Stay under the speed of your bubbles. 

 

Whats in a Metric? Common online Measurements

What is in a metric? Online marketing makes collecting information and data much easier than before. Services like Google Analytics are easy to use and help gain insight into your website. Knowing which type of website statistics you should be looking at and what they mean can make a big difference in your management choices. Three major statistics are used as basic methods of evaluation of how well your website is doing in terms of visitors, who is leaving, and who is sending.

Lets look at three big ones....

1. Total Visitors
2. Bounce Rate
3. Referral Sites

Each does something a little different but can give you some insight into how marketing works.

Total Visitors provides information on how many visitors you receive on any given day. If you compare month to month and year to year you should find your visitors increasing if you are doing things right. If you are not you should find your general numbers decreasing. In general, the more visitors you have the more people know about your site and the more potential sales that can occur.

Additional information collected about visitors leads to more insight such as location, income, etc... Metrics are limited by the data available to them. For example, if you have an established relationship and customer code established (i.e. login from web page) you can track what your customer does. Other times you can look at locations of visitors and demographic information to gain insight.

Bounce Rate determines how long customers stay on the site. Customers that are sticky are good for business because they are looking at your website and reading its content. There are a lot of users that float in and then bounce out because its not what they were looking for.

High bounce rates could be an indication that the information in the search engines isn't reflective of the site, the wrong key words and content aren't being used properly or you have a poorly designed site. You want the right people to find your business and stick around for a while.

Referral Sites tell you where customers are coming from. If your customers are coming from a couple of sources you can better adjust your marketing efforts to target these sites better. You may also find social media sites referring which would be an indication of a strong advertisement focal point. Referral rates provide information on where you can gain more leads.

Brighten Your Day with Fresh Air and Country Pics

The country offers a world that few city dwellers will understand outside of the pictures and movies view. It is a place where things are a little slower, people a little more intimate, and the land fresh with foliage. It is a world that once engulfed all of America but is now a declining lifestyle as people move toward bigger cities with more amenities.

I like to ride my horse Sass down some of the back wood farm trails and see If I can find anything interesting to take a photo of. I think this old farm house, flower and church look great.

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.

Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!

Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501

PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)

Venmo for Donations (@muradabel

Add captionPrinted pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.

Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!

Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501

PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)

Venmo for Donations (@muradabel

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.

Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!

Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501

PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)

Venmo for Donations (@muradabel

Diving in Low Visibility Conditions

I'm not an expert diver. As a matter of fact, I'm just starting to dive. A group of us went out diving in fairly low visibility at the beach in Marionette. It was a fantastic experience because not only did I get to try new environments but I also worked more on staying close to a group of people. 

We "buddied" up so that we didn't lose each other. If we lost each other then it made sense to stop, wait a minute and go back to the surface. Diving with others improves safety and the ability to see more things. Having a buddy to dive with is very helpful. 

As I now know. One of my swim mates had a leg cramp and I had to drag him by the back of his respirator about 150 feet. Not easy!

The biggest thing I needed to get over was being well under the water and seeing the surface above you. You sort of feel a little trapped under water. Swimming with others makes a difference. As you get more experience that natural nervousness will go away.

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A Few Seconds To Writing Headings that Sell

Marketing isn't an exact science and writing effective headings and ads takes practice. Some consumers respond to certain key phrases and ideas more than others. Much is dependent on the product, market and current emotional state of the receiver. We can say that advertising is a form of communication that allows people learn about the benefits of products to their lives. As a communication tool it is important to keep the customer's needs center stage while drafting your ads to ensure the most beneficial information is received.

At times, we see complexity or desire to explain ideas as fully as possible. That doesn't always work because people can easily become confused without context. It is hard to create context within a few seconds.  That takes a little while to create and often isn't always possible in sound byte fashion.

Keep the message as simple as possible. A small small phrase or concept makes all the difference in clarity. If you want to highlight some aspect of your business or promotion keep the headline and key selling point closely related. As an example, if you want to promote clean then the word clean should be at a focal point of your writing.

Customers have a short attention span and don't always pay much attention to ads unless its snags their attention. This is where strong headlines can do "magic" by offering a quick snap shot that encourages them to read more.

While writing your headline make sure you understand the customer, their needs and problems. You are trying to enhance their life and solve their problems. The product's value is in what it can do for them! For example, Rugged and Trail might go well with people who hike, bike, fish, and spend a portion of their time outdoors.

A couple of key words should be used in your heading if it can. Try organizing these words in different ways to create alternative meanings. Think about the meaning you are trying to share and solidify your choice.

People can provide helpful hints about advertisements. While most of this advice is great there are times when experimentation can be worth it. Advertising is a field that keeps changing and adjust month over month and year over year.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing headings.....

-Keep it short.
-Keep it focused
-Relay a single thought or concept.
-Play with order.
-Focus on your audience.
-Use terms and images that appeal to your audience.
-Remember that attention span is short.
-3-5 words is the easiest to remember

Woody's Golf in Delta County Michigan-A few holes for a few bucks!

I went to this place called Woody's Run outside of Escanaba. First time I have been there. The greens were well taken care of, the fairways offered some challenges and the staff were friendly. This is a mom and pop family run golf facility run out of a barn. Despite its small stature the experience was definitely worth the price. Two people can play and rent a cart for $30.

Golf was one of those sports for the elite because it took considerable resources to not only manage the course but also to have the leisure time to engage in it. If you are working for your daily bread it isn't likely you will have the time or money to play. ...but that is changing.

Most people can afford to play from time to time. Maybe not everyday but if you have gone to the movies lately you may find the cost comparable. Places like Woody's are very affordable for the average person. There are some benefits people should think about while playing golf. That includes relaxing in the outdoors, creating friendships and exercise. It can be a quick respite from our daily lives. :)🏌🏌

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.

Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!

Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501

PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)

Venmo for Donations (@muradabel)

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.

Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!

Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501

PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)

Venmo for Donations (@muradabel)

Fishing Near Escanaba River Entrance

I'm out here fishing and searching for supper. I'm using a crawler harness with a little worm on the end. Very bright and colorful. Trolling around the mouth, by the pylons, into the weeds and lurked on all the other boats. A few fish jumped out but no luck for me. :(

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.
Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!
Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501
PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)
Venmo for Donations (@muradabel)

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.
Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!
Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501
PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)
Venmo for Donations (@muradabel)

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.
Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!
Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501
PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)
Venmo for Donations (@muradabel)

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.
Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!
Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501
PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)
Venmo for Donations (@muradabel)

Isolationism or Globalization? Anyone Know What the Right Approach Is?

There are arguments to be made for isolationist policies as well as engagement policies. The problem is that over the long run choices create outcomes that don't often have the most value. Isolationism means a country stays out of the policies of other countries while a more engaging strategy seeks to influence the outcome of policies. While politics is one thing the economy is another. Getting connected to other nations leads to growth over a longer period of time.

It isn't wise to isolate for too long because economies become less competitive. Once they lose their market position they may not be able regain it quickly. Isolation limits the influx of new money and ideas.

The best economies put themselves at the center of the information and resource chain. It is where everything else sort of gravitates toward. Resources, ideas, people, money, etc... come to the center of the supply chain. 

With more and more data being collected it is possible to track how resources are moving around the globe. That can tell you a whole lot about where the value in the chain resides. It may be in the extraction of natural resources, conversion to working material, in the development of ideas or the manufacturing of the final product.

They only way the supply chain will gravitate toward certain regions is if the most value is being produced there. The resources are moving because people/nations are profiting at each of the supply chain stops where raw resources are refined into new things.

When all of the elements come together to create the most value through the general of a new product or service is where the high investment possibilities are found. This is even more true if we design and manufacture the highest value and quality products. The greatest value occurs where there is the greatest synergy.

Leading the market means create the most value. Regions that can do that become known for their local abilities. Establishing a product allows the region to capitalize on it. This will not happen unless treaties are made and information and resources flow.

The case against isolation is a strong one. There should be a balance where new resources and ideas flow in while the highest value products flow out. Manufacturing these products in the U.S. helps secure local clusters  maintain their knowledge and abilities here. Thus some isolationist strategies may be helpful in the short run but the long term game goes to the person who can draw resources and sell products while capitalizing on retaining abilities.