by admin | March 2, 2020 10:05 am | By Doc Mueller, Cooking ideas, Environment, Main, Today's Thought
This week, New York rolled out its’ ban on plastic bags. We all find much joy in not using plastic bags anymore, but is paper any better? Most of us want to band paper bags too and make everyone use reuse bags. (If we had to buy them at the counter to get our food home I’ll bet we would stop forgetting, I know I would☹
I say: let’s ban paper bags too. Research by the UK Environment Agency has found that paper bag production requires more raw materials and energy, and produces more waste than plastic bag production.
14 billion trees are cut down annually for paper packaging; plastic ones are by-products of oil refining. It takes four times more electricity to 
produce a paper than a plastic carrier. Besides, paper bag production emits 70% more air and 50% more water pollutants than its synthetic counterpart.
A paper bag has to be used at least three times to decrease its impact on the environment to match that of a plastic bag used just once.
New York joined the long line of jurisdictions that have banned plastic bags. Now there are about 66 countries and counting, Bangladesh was the first. The terrifying pictures we have all sen of plugged rivers or dead animals (from ingesting them) have made a mark on us all.
Globally, we produce around 300 million tons of plastic waste per year, which the UN has helpfully equated to the weight of the entire human population.
Only a small part of this is recycled or incinerated. Almost 80% is merely piling up around us, as litter in our streets, in garbage dumps, and our waters. Depending on the type of product, plastic takes up to 600 years to decompose, all the while contaminating the water we drink and the food we eat. The UN estimates that by 2050, we could have more plastic than fish in our oceans and seas.
Not all is lost, the reusable tote: Many people already have the habit of keeping them handy in our cars, handbags or backpacks and offices for that surprise trip to the grocery. The Environment Agency study estimated that reusable synthetic bags should be used up to 30 times to match the environmental impact of a plastic grocery bag used once, and canvas sacks at least 330 times. The idea is to go as natural as possible and to use them for years. Not only that, you can have them custom made for advertising your website, your business, your grandchildren, just about anything.
by admin | February 17, 2020 9:43 am | By Doc Mueller, Main, Success, Tech, Today's Thought
Years ago, I used to be a computer tech for dell. I had the A+ certification to help you with your issues on the phone etc. I was there when we were given the new software to go onto YOUR computer, and just do it for you was launched. This new prosses saved companies like Dell a fortune because no longer did they have to teach you to do it yourself. (Great for them, bad for you, most of the time.) In learning all this tech stuff, I found out that fixing computer issues was 10% knowledge and 90% being dam good at looking stuff up on the internet.
Jump to today! Now it seems that 50% (or more) of the help on the internet is outdated and that is only going to get worse as time goes on. Because the internet remembers everything and no-one goes back and deletes their old stuff because having all that on your blog etc.… makes your site look more active and well used. It also makes the site owner more of an “expert.”. My best tip for you today is LOOK AT THE DATE!!! If this article was written in 2016, it’s not going to help you. Try to go for help articles, step by step instructions, etc. That are less than one year old. That is still not a guarantee, but your results will be closer to the answer, I promise. If you have a really old computer look for dates around when you bought it. If it’s an internet thing like “How do I export my chrome bookmarks,” make sure it’s a current date.
by admin | January 20, 2020 1:57 pm | By Doc Mueller, Health, Main, Meditation, Psychic, Success, Well Being
Different Forms of Meditation
There are no special tricks to meditating; no special posture or breathing rhythm is required. Once you have gotten the knack of it you can meditate anywhere during any activity. Some readers have succeeded in reaching this altered state of consciousness while reading about my sand meditation, and perhaps you too may realize this transformational state of consciousness as you read on…
Sometimes meditation opens a door into the mysteries of creation. If we allow ourselves to pass through this door, there is no telling what we may encounter on the other side. Do not become discouraged if you have tried to meditate in the past and not gotten any remarkable results. Meditation is a mystical process and it may take a while to learn how to quiet your mind and open yourself to all the present moment has to offer you.
My meditation began while sitting on a beach. My hands were sandy. I rubbed my thumb and forefinger together, feeling the grains of sand between them slipping away until only a single grain of sand remained.
I could feel the shape of the grain of sand distinctly as I rolled it back and forth between my thumb and forefinger.
The longer I rolled the grain of sand about the more defined my awareness of the grain of sand became. The more detailed my experience of the grain of sand became, the larger it appeared to be.
While I could clearly feel the tiny grain of sand trapped between my thumb and finger roll about across the grooves and ridges of my fingerprints, the grain of sand appeared to be growing larger and larger as I contemplated it.
The grain of sand continued to grow, encompassing the beach and then the world. Before long, the grain of sand had grown to an infinite size and it now encompassed all of creation, yet I still held the tiny grain of sand between my thumb and forefinger, rolling it about across the grooves and ridges of my fingerprints.
The tiny grain of sand was intimately connected to every part of creation and all of creation existed within it, even as it existed within my grasp. I communed with the grain of sand, aware of its infinite connectedness to everything else; through the medium of the grain of sand, I became aware of my own infinite connectedness with all of creation.
The sand spoke to me of eternity. It told me tales about creation and the infinite nature of our existence in creation. From the grain of sand, I learned that every tiniest part of creation is a living being experiencing creation and sharing in the process whereby creation makes everything manifest.
My meditation with a grain of sand always produced a feeling of intense bliss. It was an eternal meditation that transcended the time and place where it began to continue throughout all of creation. From time to time, I would return to this meditation, engrossed by the wisdom and experience of a single tiny grain of sand.
Can 8-Minute Meditation Give You a Quiet Mind and Change Your Life Forever?
What exactly is meditation? It seems that so many people nowadays are hooked up with this form of activity. By definition, meditation is often used to describe the individual’s state of intense attention on an object of awareness or thought. The individual tries to turn his or her attention inward. Meditation is said to be of Vedic Hinduism origin. This is usually practiced in the eastern religions, but now even the western culture is already involved in such activity.
People want to practice meditation so that they can focus their mind to God for their personal development, to attain peace of mind, and to be healthier.
Many Americans are now involved in some form of meditation. According to Time Magazine, there is one meditation practice that can be used by almost anyone. Mor available information can be considered as the basic primer of Americans wanting to begin meditation but have no idea where to start.
There was a book published last November 2005 authored by Victor Davich that is all about the 8-minute meditation. If you purchase the book and study it carefully, you will learn a lot of things about meditation, and you can do it in just 8 minutes.
Almost every individual who starts with anything new to him or her will often have lingering questions, hopes, and doubts about it. There are even people who hope that when they begin to meditate, they will be enlightened. Or perhaps you’re one of those individuals who think that meditation is just like an exercise or diet that you’ve been trying to do for the past few months. But these things are normal; so don’t be surprised if you’re also like that.
The best thing to do is to face all the positive and/or negative expectations, and after doing so, forget about them and start with a clean slate. If you want to try the 8-minute program of meditation, you should learn how to approach it one minute at a time.
While many people think that meditation is a simple practice, then you’d better think twice. You might not notice it, but your mind is always racing from here to there. You can’t concentrate. According to the book’s author, you must watch your breath. This is the very first step to meditation. Do your inhalation and exhalation by breathing deeply. If you always do this and keep on practicing, you can become good at meditation.
As a word of reminder, if you catch yourself thinking about other things, or in other words, your mind strays off, focus again on your breathing. After all, meditation is all about concentrating and if you realize that you’re not on the right track, you can always return to that state of mind gently. Don’t get discouraged easily and keep on practicing. There is a famous saying that says practice makes perfect, so always keep that in mind. If you quit easily, then you will remain a quitter.
Meditation can help you in achieving peace of mind. With all your problems at work, in your family, and the entire world, you should at least experience a few minutes of peace. Don’t miss this chance to attain personal development at no cost at all.
Meditation and its benefits
One of the most important benefits of meditation is that it dramatically helps a person’s physical state. Among the physical benefits of meditation involve the heart through a deep rest because it decreases the person’s metabolic rate as well as the heart rate, which leads to the reduction of workload for the heart. Aside from that, it is also known to lower the levels of a person’s cortisol as well as dissolving the chemicals that are closely associated with everyday stress.
Other physical benefits of meditation also include reduced free radicals in the body by eliminating unstable oxygen molecules, decreases a person’s high blood pressure, develops the ability to have more resistant skin, lowering or dropping the person’s level of cholesterol, improve airflow to the lungs to aid easy breathing, delays biological aging and increases the levels of DHEAS in older people.
When it comes to psychological factor, meditation aids in increasing the person’s brain wave coherence, decreasing anxiety levels, often irritability, deep-set depression, and swing of moods, improves the person’s memory as well as his or her learning ability, increases the person’s capacity for self-actualization, increases the person’s feeling of youthfulness and rejuvenation as well as vitality, leads to positive outlook in life and joyfulness, and increases a person’s emotional status and stability.
Other noted benefits of meditation for an individual and his or her community include:
– Relaxation to the person’s body, mind, and soul.
– Rejuvenation of energy to face huge challenges and stress ahead.
– Healing of various illnesses that are closely associated with the mind and the body.
– Making a more stable person in terms of emotions.
– Developments of relaxed family life and instilling positive outlooks in life to younger people.
– Enhances the person’s ability to make his or her mind function properly.
– Letting a person discover his or her inner self, this, in turn, releases the creativity in them.
– It helps people to free themselves from various vices and addictions such as alcohol and cigarettes as well as in multiple medications such as tranquilizers and narcotics.
– It also helps a person to gain higher self-confidence, thus, resulting in stronger power of the will.
– It can be an effective and safe way of discovering one’s self instead of focusing the attention to other unhealthy practices.- It aids in the development of the power of the mind.
The list goes on about the benefits of meditation in an individual and to his or her community. In so many cases, these are positive benefits.
by admin | January 13, 2020 1:30 pm | By Doc Mueller, Main, Organization
Get that Closet Organized
Most of us have a relatively large closet, but lots of wasted space in its original design. It is no wonder things end up piled up and lost in there. To get organized, you are going to need to transform that space into areas you can work with. Once you have decided on the items that will go back into your closet, you are going to have to choose how you want it in there. Do you want to hang it? Put it on the floor? Have a few shelves? Or store some items on the floor? This information will help you take the proper steps to get your closet organized.
Multi-tier hanging clothes rods are very useful. You can install half rods in various locations as well. This is an excellent choice if you need a full-length rod area for dresses and want a shorter hanging space for shirts. Most of us have a standard closet with one hanging clothes rod all the way across. Even simply adding a second one down below will double your storage space!
Use bins, dividers, small shelves, or baskets to separate and organize your smaller closet items. You can even put your sweaters in a basket or on a shelf since hangers can cause them to lose their shape. Cubbies are great for shoes, belts, scarfs, and other similar items. Carousals are excellent for hats, ties, and purses. If you are creative, you may want to use a particular closet organization product for an entirely different purpose. Do it! This is your project so make it work for you.
This is your chance to customize your closet storage space. Make it accessible and convenient for what you need. Some of us have tons of clothes and only a few pairs of shoes. Some of us have a pair of shoes to go with each outfit. Therefore no custom closet organization design is perfect for everyone. For the best results, take a complete inventory of the items you plan on to return to your closet and devise a plan that will give the right amount of space for the items you need it for.
Do you plan to live in your current residence for a long time? If so, a permanent closet organization system is something you will be interested in. For those of you who move often or who rent, consider using removable closet organization products that install and remove easily. Otherwise, you will find yourself in the same predicament each time you have to move. You will also want to consider the cost of each type of closet organization system before making any decisions.
Many people don’t realize the amount of space they have on the inside of their closet doors. You can hang a bag for hats, purses, belts, umbrellas, gloves, etc. here. It is also a perfect location for a hanging or attached shoe organizer. Make sure you consider this area while devising your custom closet organization layout.
Don’t spend money on items to design your closet until you are absolutely sure that they are going to fit well in your closet area. Most closet organizing products can’t be returned or exchanged if you have already started putting them together unless they are defective. It is a good idea to take your measurements twice in the closet as well as when you are looking for products to purchase. Remember measure twice cut once!
Don’t forget to leave room for favorite friends!
by admin | January 6, 2020 1:04 pm | By Doc Mueller, Crafts, Love, Magic, Main, Meditation, Psychic, Well Being
The History of Candle Making
The art of making candles has been around since primitive times. Of course, as time went by they become much different in design than what they were back then. In the early days, candles were a necessity for heat and light. Today they serve as decorations, wonderfully smelling mechanisms in our homes, and offer light for romantic dinners and baths.
The first known use of candles is not completely known. The remains of clay candle holders that date back to 4 BC have given us the knowledge that they have been in use for a very long time. Those clay candleholders were found in Egypt.
Candles were also used in ancient times in both China and Japan. These candles were made of wax extracted from insects and seeds. The taper candles of India were made from the wax extracted from boiled cinnamon. Candles are not known to exist in American until 1 AD. It is believed Native American’s burned oily fish and the back of the Cerio tree. When settlers came to New England, they used similar techniques to extract wax from bayberries. Many modern candle makers still use that process to make bayberry candles. However, it is quite expensive to do so.
Tallow was the product used to make candles in the 1600s and 1700s. This is a byproduct of animal fat. The product worked well but had a foul odor, especially when it was burning. Beeswax and paraffin wax both were introduced in the early 1800s, and tallow stopped being used.
The dipping process for taper candles as we know it today began in 13 AD. Traveler merchants went door to door from town to town. While there, they made taper candles for individuals in their homes. Around 15 AD the idea to use molds for various types of candles was introduced in Paris. While this greatly improved the candle making process, there were still issues with getting the candles to burn properly.
In the 1800s, candle makers felt the wick was the weakest area of the candle as well as the cause for defective burning patterns. A braided wick was developed in 1825 that seemed to greatly improve the burning of several types of candles. By 1830, a process was in place to make candles using paraffin wax and molds. These candles were of good quality and burned well.
As gas and electricity were introduced, the candle making process continued to evolve. It became much easier and faster to melt the paraffin wax. It is believed that the reason so many of the elements of candle making stayed the same, including the hand dipping process is that the popularity of candles diminished with the introduction of electricity.
Today, candle making is a well-known art form. There are many companies that manufacture wonderful candles with some very unique fragrances. There are also small businesses that still make their candles by hand (at home) in their kitchen. Candle making is a great hobby and fun activity for the whole family to be involved in.
Candles are now used more for luxury and pleasure than for light or heat. The candle industry continues to grow with new types of candles being introduced all the time. The amount of colors, fragrances, and types of candles to choose from in the marketplace is absolutely amazing.
Candles are a common home decorating item. They are used to accent any room in your house. They are common centerpieces for dinner parties and formal occasions. The unity candles that are presided over at many weddings hold a deep sense of tradition in the American culture.
The art of making candles has definitely changed over time. If you are interested in trying your hand at it, choose a candle that is fairly easy to make such as the container candle or the votive. This will allow you the chance to get used to the process. There are several good candle making kits available for a low price as well as books to give you tips and assistance along the way.
Enjoy,
I will be doing a couple more articles on “actually” making candles
by admin | April 1, 2019 2:12 pm | Babies & Children, By Doc Mueller, Health, Main
Hey, Summer is coming and your kids need to keep active during the summer. I just thought I’d throw out some ideas to help you get started.
- There is always the good old stand by “the classic water fight”, getting mom or dad into the action is always a family favorite that keeps everybody moving. Try adding water balloons to this classic game and you will have your kids running all afternoon.
- “Water Tag”: What I do is use just one smaller bucket and the hose. You play this just like regular tag but you throw the bucket of water at your victim (friend or family member) instead of touching them. The cold water not only keeps your kids cool but keeps them running to stay dry. You get the added benefit of watering the lawn.
Let’s look at a couple of drier games if you are not in the getting wet part of your summer (or day)
- “This Way and That”:
You can sing this to the tune of “Did you ever see a Lassie” or “The More We Get Together” you can look them up online if you don’t know the tune. Do all the actions as they are described in the Song. Falling down in this game may be the best part. The little kids just get the giggles every time they fall down so it starts a giggle fest.
Did you ever hop on one foot, on one foot, on one foot?
Did you ever hop on one foot, going this way and that?
Did you ever jump on two feet, …
Did you ever skip in circles, …
Did you ever lift your arms up,…
Did you ever walk on tiptoe, …
Did you ever crawl back and forth, …
Did you ever stand on one foot, …
Let your kids make up more actions as you go along, this can keep them busy all afternoon long. (OK, I’m not a poet what can I say!)
- The Classic “Rowing Song”:
Perform the actions described in each verse as you sing this song with your child. Add verses as you think of other ways to move.
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.
Drive, drive, drive your gar quickly down the street …
Ride, ride, ride your horse up and down the trail …
Pedal, pedal, pedal your bike all around the town …
Fly, fly, fly your plain way above the clouds …
With older children, you can get this going in a-round and it starts getting really funny and exciting as they compete with each other.
- “Hear My Fist”:
As you say the verses with your child, do the actions described. Begin this rhyme while standing up.
Hear my fist go thump, thump, thump
On my wide palm there.
Hear my hands go clap, clap, clap
High up in the air
Stretch my arms out to the side
As I spin around.
Now my hands reach down, down, down,
Till they touch the ground
Quickly now I sit right down;
Pull my legs up tight
Now I stretch them out so far,
Stretch with all my might
See my arms go up, up, up
Stretching up so high
See my hands come slowly down
In my lap to lie.
- “Nod Yor Head”:
As you say this with your child, perform the actions described.
Nod your head, bend your knees,
Grow as tall as big oak trees.
On your knees, slowly fall,
Curl yourself into a ball.
Raise your head, jump up high,
Wave your hands, and say, “Goodbye!”
Just like in the others use your imagination and your children’s imagination to take this to another level of fun!
- “My Shadow”:
A nighttime game with a flashlight or lamp. Dim the lights in the room and shine the flashlight or lamp on the wall. Say this rhyme and have your children perform the actions described in front of the light to cast a shadow on the wall. Have fun making up new verses and actions.
I nod my head; he nods his head.
I skip and he skips, too.
I clap my hands; he claps his hands.
he does just what I do.
I hop three times; he hops three times.
I jump and he jumps, too.
I climb upstairs; he climbs upstairs.
We blow a kiss to you.
This week, New York rolled out its’ ban on plastic bags. We all find much joy in not using plastic bags anymore, but is paper any better? Most of us want to band paper bags too and make everyone use reuse bags. (If we had to buy them at the counter to get our food home I’ll bet we would stop forgetting, I know I would☹
produce a paper than a plastic carrier. Besides, paper bag production emits 70% more air and 50% more water pollutants than its synthetic counterpart.
Only a small part of this is recycled or incinerated. Almost 80% is merely piling up around us, as litter in our streets, in garbage dumps, and our waters. Depending on the type of product, plastic takes up to 600 years to decompose, all the while contaminating the water we drink and the food we eat. The UN estimates that by 2050, we could have more plastic than fish in our oceans and seas.
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