His World News

Making Fun Of The Kardashians

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:36:16 +0000

Okay, I officially do not get the obsession with the Kardashians, and I’m so tired of Keeping Up With the Kardashians when I can hardly stand putting up with them all. Yeah the girls are hot, but they are not so hot that I want to watch them on their television show all the time. I also cannot handle the nasally way that they talk. If I were to watch the show, like let’s say that Kim Kardashian is flaunting herself in a small bathing suit, then I have to mute the television so I don’t have to hear the way they all talk. My favorite way to watch the Kardashians is actually on Saturday Night Live when they are getting made fun of. Well, I guess I am not the only one. I found an awesome video that you must watch.

In the video a male news anchor pokes fun at Kim and Kourtney Kardashian after a satellite interview with the two. He even made fun of their shoulder pads. This is quite funny, and if I had news like this in my town, I’d probably watch more of it.

Do you think he took it too far? If so, then you need to have yourself a little visit and get some legal herbs direct. Until next time…

E coli outbreak

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:56:44 +0000

As of this afternoon, three of the now 7 known UK cases involved in a recent outbreak in Germany of a rare strain of E coli have developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a rare and severe kidney complication that destroys red blood cells and can affect the brain and spinal cord, and the entire central nervous system. All 7 of the cases identified in the UK are people who recently visited Germany and it is believed they were contaminated while there. The 18th victim of the outbreak, an 81 year old woman, died today in a German hospital. It is estimated that some 2,000 people in ten countries have been infected with this particularly dangerous strain of the bacteria, which was previously unknown. The source: contaminated vegetables.

Great Britain is advising all of its citizens to avoid eating fresh raw vegetables while visiting Germany, especially in the north part of the country. People who have recently returned from Germany who show symptoms of E coli infection should immediately seek medical attention. Many of the sickened have had to undergo blood plasma transfusions. The strain was identified as a new strain after genetic sequencing of sample bacterium turned up no existing matches. This strain, believed to be a mutant variant of another strain of E coli, is more virulent and produces more toxins than previously known strains.

Another mystery is that for some reason, young children appear to have some immunity to this outbreak. Further, it is resistant to antibiotics, which will make treating the ill all the more difficult. Early on in the outbreak, it was rumored that the vegetables, mainly cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes from Spain, were what had sickened hundreds of Germans. When it was later found that the Spanish vegetables were not contaminated, Spain considered suing Germany for damages caused by loss in economy shortly after that scare. Angry Spanish farmers responded by dumping 300 kilos of fresh produce at the door of Germany’s Valencia consulate to send a strong message.

In an effort to stave off infections among its people, Russia has issued a general ban on all fruits and vegetables from the European Union, where cases of the E Coli strain have been found in the Czech Republic, France, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Austria. Meanwhile, efforts to pinpoint the exact source of the outbreak continue to be fruitless. We will keep you updated on this situation. Just be careful. Unfortunately, nothing, not even the best house alarm, can protect your family from bad food. Use caution when eating out.

Carbs the Body Needs

Mon, 23 May 2011 20:45:49 +0000

A new low carbohydrate diet plan enters the marketplace every now and then mostly in the form of a new book from a well established brand. Last year, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. set out to remarket the low-carb approach first introduced by the late Dr. Robert Atkins in 1972. The book, called “The New Atkins for a New You,” was written to reintroduce a diet once devoid of all fruits and lots of vegetables. It was reliant on the consumption of fatty meats, full fat cheese, and lots of pure butter. In it’s revived form, the Atkins Diet now buddies up to vegetables and has even included some (limited) fruits to later phases of the diet. Most doctors and nutritionists concur that reducing consumption of overly processed carbs can be good for you, as long as they are replaced by healthy, naturally occurring carbohydrates. But a diet high in red meat and fats and short of healthy fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is not recommended.

Here are some of the healthiest carbs no one’s diet should be without:

Whole grains. A whole grain contains all its original parts: cereal germ, endosperm, and bran. The most nutritious whole grain foods are quinoa, brown rice, oats and barley. Eat these liberally instead of white rice and processed grains to maximize your nutrition.
Beans and legumes. These are low-glycemic goodies that pack a powerful punch for numerous reasons: they leave you feeling full longer because they rate low on the glycemic index, provide great sources of protein, and can be conveniently tossed into salads and other recipes for extra flavor.
Whole wheat pasta. Since the beginning of whole wheat pasta, its makers have made strides in the texture and taste of their products. With many brands now easily available in grocery stores, one can find a whole variety of whole wheat pastas to serve in place of refined, white pasta varieties.
Potatoes. Yep, potatoes. ”But, they are white! Isn’t that bad?” Yes, they are very starchy – but potatoes are one of the healthiest foods on earth. It’s what we add to them that can turn these gifts of the ground into nutrition nightmares. To be healthier, have them baked, and season them with herbs instead of mounds of butter and cheese. Instead of frying your french fries, just bake them. And when you serve a nice roasted or stewed potato entree, resist the urge to pile on butter and heavily saturated fats. Find healthier toppings.
Bananas are another white, starchy food forbidden by most low-carb diets, but bananas contain what is known as a resistant starch – which means it takes much longer for the body to digest, so it provides energy longer than simpler starches.

Cutting back on refined carbohydrates doesn’t have to mean drastically increasing your consumption of meat, eggs, and unhealthy fats. Since animal products are the only foods that contain artery clogging cholesterol, it makes sense that limiting these might not be a bad idea. Carbs are not our enemy, as long as we eat the right ones.

Bringing Back CS

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:16:31 +0000

There once was a time when the term customer service meant personal attention from somebody you would likely get again should you need to call back for more assistance. These days customer service means pushing buttons and entering information into an automated system while you wait for what feels like an eternity for a human being to get on the line to hopefully assist you with your problem. Better order a pizza, grab a sudoku puzzle and develop a taste for easy listening because you are likely to be waiting for awhile. According to one estimate, approximately 15 percent of callers to a customer service line wait on hold for 2 minutes or more.

Over the past decade, millions of customer services jobs have gone overseas to countries such as India and the Philippines. The reason for outsourcing customer service jobs has always been to save money. However, lack of personal customer service has also driven some customers to the topple track and far away from the company. Some companies are bucking the trend with plans to add domestic customer service jobs. The move will bring back a personal touch to customer service and give a needed boost to the U.S. economy.

Arise Virtual Solutions, a virtual call center company, is one of several companies planning to add domestic customer service jobs. The company’s CEO, Angela Selden, recently announced plans to double Arise’s current 18,000 customer service jobs over the next few years. The trend of bringing customer service jobs back to the U.S. is becoming so prevalent these days that the term “reverse outsourcing” has been used to describe the process. While it may seem cost effective to outsource customer service jobs, Selden points out that in the long run it is more efficient to have people in marketing answer customer service calls.

Companies are realizing that customer frustration can lead to the loss of a customer. Additionally, having employees in current departments answer customer service calls means that they will have better knowledge of the company and products and services involved. Not all companies will be hiring on the same level to meet customer service needs though. Companies are still seeking to save money, especially with rising gas prices and stagnate unemployment.

Some companies are using existing departments to answer customer service calls. Companies that have a lot of customer service inquiries are still likely to outsource, but others may follow the lead of companies like Arise Virtual Solutions and begin hiring domestically. The ultimate winner will be the customer. Over the past decade, customer complaints have increased as companies continued to outsource services.

Companies are starting to realize that better customer care means more repeat business. Does this mean a return to the days of a friendly voice greeting you on the other end of the line every time you call? Not likely. Automated systems are here to stay. On the plus side, it may mean that the person who answers your call following repeated pressings of the “0″ button just might really be named Bob.

Donald Trump’s Slump

admin — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:10:56 +0000

Ding, dong, the Donald is dead, politically speaking. After his recent shellacking by President Obama, who in rapid fire released his long-form birth certificate, made fun of Trump at the Washington Correspondents’ Dinner, and then pre-empted “The Apprentice” to announce the death of al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden, Trump’s popularity has shriveled up like a dry, old prune. According to a newly released survey by Public Policy Polling, Trump has gone from first place among possible Republican presidential contenders to a tie for fifth place with libertarian Ron Paul. In April he led the field with a stunning 26 percent of Republicans supporting his potential candidacy, but the latest results show that over the past month he has plummeted to a lowly 8 percent, as he has now been passed like a lame horse in the Kentucky Derby by Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and even Sarah Palin.

Trump enjoyed his brief moment in the political sun by playing on the fears of those who distrusted President Obama. His relentlessly crazed peddling of the widely discredited “birther” conspiracy theory, the idea that the president was not really born in the United States and therefore ineligible to be president, sadly propelled him in the polls among a certain desperate segment of the Tea Party and Republican base. Obama finally threw up his hands in disgust and arranged for the release of his long-form birth certificate on April 27. The result? A recent Washington Post poll shows that the percentage of people who think the president was really born abroad has been cut in half – from 20 percent in 2010 to 10 percent today. Starved of oxygen, birtherism is finally dying a well-deserved death.

According to cableinternetbundles.com, Trump then clung stubbornly to the idea that somehow President Obama wasn’t smart enough to have gotten into the Ivy League on his own merits. “I heard he was a terrible student, terrible,” Trump huffed. “How does a bad student go to Columbia and then to Harvard?” Of course anyone with even a pea-sized brain recognizes this drivel was code for “he only got in because of affirmative action.” Trump responded to criticism of his baseless accusation during an interview at a talk radio station in upstate New York on April 14, saying, “I have a great relationship with the blacks. I’ve always had a great relationship with the blacks.” He then proceeded to follow up those unintentionally tactless words on the ever fair and balanced “Fox and Friends” two days ago, insisting, “Well, you know, when it comes to racism and racists I am the least racist person there is…. In fact, Randall Pinkett won, as you know, on ‘The Apprentice’ a…couple of years ago. And Randall’s been outstanding in every way. So I am the least racist person.”

An African-American happens to win “The Apprentice” and that makes Trump the least racist person there is. How can anyone question that kind of logic? Thankfully there are those who can, and do.

Now Showing

admin — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:05:24 +0000

At the exact moment that Oprah Winfrey announced the impending end of her 25-year career as a talk show host, I began frantically recording every episode. Not only did I set our equipment to record every episode that aired each afternoon, but as soon as I get home from work, I check the show recordings list to make absolutely sure that the DVR didn’t eat anything during my absence, as they are often want to do.

Or perhaps that’s just my husband, clearing shows out that I have taped to make room for more episodes of Cops. You know, the other quality T.V.

Regardless, I have felt an inexplicable desire to not miss one moment. If one show is accidentally deleted, then there is no telling what I will be missing…it could be utterly life-altering. It could be the talk of the town.

One of the best moments since the announcement, in my personal opinion (though not quite life-altering), was the show featuring comedian and actor Chris Rock. He never fails to entertain, and I always end up laughing outloud, to the entertainment of my house cats and my baby girl. It was such a funny episode that even my husband watched.

Aside from being a celebration of the dozens of appearances he has made on the talk show since its inception, the hour long episode was also a plug for his most recent Broadway play. During that segment, he regales the audience with how much he is loving the process of “real” acting, detailing how different it is from film and television.

Once this conversation is started, Oprah mentions that acting on Broadway is something that she has always wanted to do. It is on her bucket list, if you will.

The moment I heard those words escape her lips, I immediately knew: Oprah would soon be starring on Broadway. Like, in a matter of hours, her name would be up in lights. In a matter of days, tickets would be on sale.

Who would turn Oprah down? How does someone with her level of income and her level of influence not find a way to meet every desire? Scripts would begin flowing like the Nile and directors would begin calling like telemarketers.

Just this morning, as I predicted, a news article featured Oprah’s newest calling: as soon as her show ends, when she has daytime to herself again, she will begin the process. She is already reading over several scripts that she carries around with her, trying to make decisions and to get a feel for the plays. Oprah Winfrey has already met with producers to make this dream a reality. The general consensus is that an ensemble production would be best suited for her abilities. An ensemble production is one where there are several supporting lead actors, and everyone has equal weight in the show. Although I think we all know who the real star will be in that playbill.

She states that life is too short not to pursue this endeavor. I couldn’t agree more.