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  1. Ingredients, meals, writing

    February 2, 2012 by OnePot

    A one-pot meal has a wide variety of ingredients all in one place. The veggies, the protein, the carbs, all mushed together with lovely spices and probably some smoothing connective sauce.

    Like this blog.

    I’m fond of quotes, for sure, but there is more to me than my love of quotes. In fact, there’s more to me than my love of coffee, dream interpretation, or fancy French cheese. It’s probable that there’s more to you than your love of Earl Grey tea and your orange cat. Most of us, as it turns out, have more depth than consistency.

    One Pot Meal is a place where I can mix up my many ingredients and maybe come up with something. Sometimes it’s just writing for the sake of writing, y’know? Because NOT WRITING is the way to maintain and nurture writer’s block, while writing— writing anything—is the way to break it. The habit of writing is a powerful exercise, just like the habit of running on a treadmill. One maintains physical health even on days when the workout doesn’t feel so great or seem so all-that, and one maintains creative health in exactly the same way. Which is why sometimes a blog is drivel. And that’s okay.

    Shepherd’s Pie: It’s delicious, but I think when you get it in restaurants, it’s always got too much meat. I like my shepherd’s pie with proportionately more mashed potatoes. It is, after all, food for shepherds: Peasants. It’s not food for people with lots and lots of meat. So yes, shepherd’s pie is a one-pot meal and also a good metaphor for the kind of writing I do (or intend to do): not always meaty, rarely (if ever) fancy, but basic, nurturing, and (I hope) satisfying.

    It’s possible I might organize myself: Place dreams and nature and quotes and kitty-kats on different pages. This might orient me towards long-form fiction as I develop an ability to break things into chapters. Of course, it’s possible I won’t.


  2. How to Find the Best Siding Contractor

    April 12, 2013 by OnePot

    New Jersey is a real business
    hive and services for improving homes are more and more requested. One way to
    add value to a building is by installing siding materials, in order to increase
    its resistance to moisture, water and even to make it look more beautiful. Adding
    exterior siding to a home has many benefits, but for it to be a good
    investment, it needs to be done properly, so here are some tips on how to find
    reliable contractors that will install the best siding nj has to offer:

    Search for contractors located
    near you. It is best for both of you to know the area and the most likely
    perils your house must resist to. These contractors are easy to find in
    phone-books and even in supply stores where people can reference them. Another
    option that you should take into consideration is the Internet, where many people
    talk about these contractors on forums and honestly say how they worked and if
    they are indeed reliable. 

    Interview more than one
    contractor and always check the references. If you don’t like a contractor’s
    offer, don’t hesitate to say no, because there are hundreds of other
    contractors that will be willing to listen to your needs and of course, to
    satisfy them. Check for portfolios, because you will see the best works of each
    contractor and you will be able to form a just opinion on their performance. 

    Ask for estimates and don’t
    forget the details. A good contractor will answer to all your questions, but
    the one that you need is one who tells you all the details without even having
    to ask for them. Talk about the cost of the materials, the estimated time for
    the job to be finished, insurance policies (never hire a contractor without
    checking his proof of insurance) and payment methods and dates (accept only payments
    for materials that have already been delivered to you and for work already done). 

    The right contractor will show professionalism
    from the very first moment and up until the end of the job. This means that he
    will have a perfect portfolio, insurance, willingness to discuss details,
    everything will be very clear about the costs you will have to support and he
    will even take care of the cleaning that needs to be done after installing the
    siding. Have patience when searching for a siding contractor because a well
    done job will last for a very long time.   

    Siding Contractor


  3. Buying Used Medical Equipment

    September 19, 2012 by OnePot

    When it comes to needing medical equipment for your business, it can become very overwhelming when you look at the prices and begin adding the cost of different items you need together. The price can go up rather quickly, making it very hard to afford. It’s important to replace your old medical equipment when it can be no longer used. Sometimes we think that we really have no choice but to pay outrageous prices for new medical equipment because we need to buy it no matter what. I highly recommend checking out used medical equipment for sale!

    When you think of “used” anything, you typically think that it means something is not high quality and it is only cheaper in price because it is not good as a new product. With used medical equipment for sale, you are getting high quality name brand medical equipment that is gently used. Most companies that sell products like this will not sell anything that is damaged and no longer good enough to be used. Some companies may even include warranties on their items so you can feel better about buying medical equipment that has been already used.

    When searching for used medical equipment for sale, it is important to make sure the items that are being sold are still in good condition. You should also see if a company offers any guarantees that their products will be great quality. There are a lot of great companies that sell medical equipment, but one of my favorites is Whittemore Enterprises. I have purchased many different kinds of medical equipment from them before and I have never been disappointed with the products that I have received from them. I highly recommend buying from them. Just because something is used does not mean it isn’t good enough!


  4. Why Regular Window Replacement Is Worth The Trouble

    August 31, 2012 by OnePot

    The author is a window replacement Maryland based professional who has decades of experience working with established home maintenance companies such as Central Exteriors.

    Having worked with numerous highly reputable window replacement companies over the course of my career, I have seen just about every window-related problem you can name. If I ever had any doubts that window replacement was an indispensable aspect of home maintenance, those doubts are gone for good. 

    If you are wondering what the big fuss over window replacement is all about, you probably aren’t aware of the immense dangers cracked and broken windows can pose to an unsuspecting household. A window with a hairline crack might not seem very threatening in summer, but I’ve personally witnessed a case where a cracked window, made brittle and stiff by chilly winter temperatures, shattered at the lightest of touches and caused a young boy some serious injuries. The moment your window is cracked, its entire structural integrity is compromised, making it a ticking time bomb. Don’t put the health of your family at risk – replace cracked windows right away.

    With environmental awareness on the rise, you may also want to consider regular window replacement as part of a new, more eco-friendly way of life. High-quality windows have far better insulating capabilities, allowing it to retain more heat in the winter and expel more heat in the summer. This ensures that your household uses as little gas as possible for heating and air-conditioning purposes. This not only helps preserve the world’s increasingly scarce reserves of fossil fuels, but also significantly reduces your energy bills.

    Any well-rounded home maintenance scheme must include regular window maintenance and replacement. Getting a window replacement company to come down and perform an evaluation is usually free, so why not take advantage of that service? Have them take a look at your windows and immediately replace any that are in less-than-satisfactory condition. The benefits, as you can see, are huge.


  5. How Can I Throw My Daughter a Sixteenth Birthday Bash?

    June 13, 2012 by OnePot

    Turning sixteen is a big deal for any girl. It signifies that she is no longer a child and is moving steadily on the path towards womanhood. As parents we have an obligation to ensure that her sixteenth birthday bash is grand and memorable enough to make it a truly sweet sixteen.

    Planning a sixteenth birthday party is a real headache, however, and no working parent will be able to spare the time and effort needed to organise a truly successful party. That’s why I highly recommend Super Sweet Sixteens to any parent seeking a party organizer for their daughter’s sixteenth birthday. This highly professional party planning company will take care of all of the administration and take a huge load off your shoulders.

    For example, your house may not have furniture appropriate for a teenager’s birthday bash. Your leather couch and wooden table would look conspicuously out of place under disco lights. Super Sweet Sixteens provides lounge furniture for this very reason. For just one night, tuck away your regular furniture into the garage or store room and have the party planners transport their trendy lounge chairs, disco balls and bar stools into your living rom.

    In addition, our daughter’s sixteenth birthday is a symbol of her passage into adulthood. Try as we might, it is nearly impossible to fully bridge the generation gap. If we were to plan the party ourselves, we might unwittingly embarrass our child with outdated song choices and party games. The staff at Super Sweet Sixteens are all fairly young and will have a far better idea of your child’s tastes and sensibilities. Any party they organise is guaranteed to appeal to the Gen Y.

    If you want to throw your daughter a sweet sixteen party, you know where to go. Getting Super Sweet Sixteens to plan the birthday bash will not only save you a whole load of administrative hassle, but they’ll plan the party better than you ever could too.


  6. Where to Find Free Stuff

    June 4, 2012 by OnePot

    If you know where to look, a number of free items can be found online and in stores. Some examples are free makeup samples, OTC pain relievers, food and drink samples, and more. The free items may be in the form of samples, full sized products, or coupons which one can use towards a free product in a store.

    One of the best places online to find free items is actually the official website of the company. For example, if you enjoy a particular type of detergent, pay a visit to their website. Even if there are no free offers currently available, submitting an email often turns into free products being sent to you or at least valuable coupons. Another great place to visit online is the official Facebook page of the company or even the product itself. Many times free offers are posted there for fans of those pages.

    Stores also give away free items. Grocery stores will often share free samples of new food products in their establishment. Many times those come with coupons as well. Large department stores may offer free samples of their products such as makeup, for example. Free perfume samples are also a popular giveaway. At grand openings of new stores, a variety of free items are usually available. They use these to entice customers into the new store. 

    Finally, expos and fairs are another place to get free stuff. At a health fair, for instance, one could get free samples of OTC medicines such as aspirin, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and body lotion. At a back to school expo the items available would include things such as pencils, rulers, pens, and crayons.

    As seen above, there are a variety of different arenas which one can use to get free things. Sometimes you will find things for free that you may not have ever been aware of!


  7. Clean Room Wipes To Help Disinfect

    May 24, 2012 by OnePot

    A clean room, which can also be called a white room, is a particular environment that is usually a manufacturing or scientific research environment. There is a need for very low levels of pollutants in an area such as this. Some pollutants that troublesome are dust particles, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and also chemical vapors. A clean room can be very large, or small in size, but, regardless of size, these areas must be kept as sterile as possible. A white room is classified by the amount of particles that are allowed per volume of air. These classes include Class 10, 100, and 1000. One product that is used to keep this work environment sanitary is clean room wipes. There is a variety of wipes to choose from for different types of jobs. The cleanest and most lint free wipe on the market is for Classes 1-10. These particular wipes are laser cut to ensure that the edges are sealed. They are made, laundered and packaged in a Class 10 clean room and inspected individually before being shipped. There is a guarantee of low particle emission and no residue is left behind. Made out of 100% virgin ultra polyester are the Class 100 wipes. Each of these wipes are cleaned, packaged and inspected before they are shipped off for use. They come in non-laundered form if it is not needed for them to be laundered. These wipes are lint free, and are very resistant to rough surfaces. They are also low in particle emissions and chemical extracts. To disinfect surfaces, there are pre-saturated wipes available on the market. These wipes are 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% de-ionized water. A variety of alcohol wipes are available for each Class, and come in either a hard plastic tub, or a plastic bag.


  8. How an iPad Wall Mounting Comes in Handy at Work

    May 22, 2012 by OnePot

    An iPad wall mounting is a handy device to have at home, in the office or just about anywhere you can imagine. These devices facilitate organization and can help you to keep track of your iPad. These mounts are assets to have especially in a busy office where many things are happening all at once. Having this mount on your wall will help with many of the things listed below.

    Keeping track of reminders:

    Sometimes a phone does not do the job well because it may become turned off or was on a silent setting without you remembering to revert it to loud. Having an iPad on your office wall can allow you to view your full schedule when you want to and thus keep you on track with all the happenings in your day.

    Facilitating video conferencing:

    Many meetings take place via video conferencing and having a wall mount will allow you to use you iPad for that purpose. This is a plus because you can do other work on your office computer while having a meeting via your iPad. You can also set up a standing demonstration or presentation without worrying about coming out of view.

    Make working at home easier:

    An iPad is a great addition to any home or office, but its increased efficiency is always observed when a wall mount is added. Without the need to constantly hold the device, more can be accomplished with both hands free. If you are in a job that often requires you to carry your work home, you can easily transport your iPad to and from work with you and mount it at home. Make adjustments and perform tasks in between other household chores without worrying about your work being corrupted or erased by anyone else. Some wall mounts hide the menu button so no one can change your applications.


  9. Different Types of Lockets

    May 19, 2012 by OnePot

    The locket is an item of jewelry constructed with metal that encloses an item. They are made of different shapes and sizes and have been in use for centuries. The significance of the item depends on the wearer and these lockets have stored a range of interesting items over the years.

    Mourning Lockets

    A Mourning locket is ideally for those mourning the loss of a loved one. In general they became a bit of staple jewelry in the 1800’s and some of these would store the cremated remains of loved ones who passed away. More conservatively, the wearer would place an item which served as a memento of the deceased. Snippets of hair or pieces of clothing, frequently a uniform, were common items to be stored in a mourning locket. These picture pendants were used by both sexes, but males preferred to wear their items under their clothing. The types worn by men were often less intricate and sometimes smaller than those worn by women. Women’s items were heavily customized and came with enough space to store larger items.

    Cremation

    These lockets were slightly more robust and could contain part of the remains of a cremated love one. Often times they were sealed off or welded shut to prevent accidental opening and chance of the contents being spilled. They were more likely to be worn by women too as they were displayed outside the clothing on a chain.

    Remembrance

    These are more common and were designed specifically to hold a photo of the person. A small lined rib would hold the picture in place as it was enclosed within the pendant and some of these were covered behind a glass shield. Remembrance pendants are the most commonly designed locket and are made of various materials including crystal to add some transparency to the image. In this day and age, a remembrance locket is probably the only type that is readily available as all other types have become outdated.

    Post sponsored by Heartsmith.


  10. Pros and Cons of Using EMR Systems

    May 16, 2012 by OnePot

    There has been an ongoing debate in the last decade over the benefits of EMR integration in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare institutions. An EMR system is essentially a database of medical records created by healthcare providers. While there are certainly many advantages to the use of EMR systems in the healthcare industry, many people remain to question how effective they are in providing quality healthcare to patients. Below is a list of the pros and cons of EMR integration in healthcare institutions:


    Benefits of EMR Systems

     
    • Easy Access to Medical Information- The use of EMR systems can significantly improve the speed and efficiency of accessing medical information in clinics and hospitals, as they are stored in one database that can be accessed by a network of devices. 
    • Ease of Information Dissemination- EMR systems also makes it easier for healthcare providers to share information among each other. A patient’s complete medical history can be sent electronically from one department to another, which does not only speed up the dissemination of information but also cuts down the costs of sending documents through fax or courier. 
    • Unlimited Storage- An EMR system can host anywhere from thousands to millions of medical information. Traditional paper medical records required the use of storage cabinets, which needs a large amount of physical space to be stored. EMR systems saves space by storing all information digitally and eliminates the need to have to browse through file after file of patient information whenever a particular document is needed.
    Disadvantages of EMR Integration

    • Accuracy- Many professionals question the efficiency of computer systems when it comes to providing accurate information. While computerized information is much readable than handwritten records, there is still an evident risk of mixing up data especially when it has to be put in the system in bulk. 
    • Cost- Small-scale clinics often hesitate to shift from the use of paper medical records to EMR because of the initial costs it requires to computerize large amounts of medical information.
    • Security Issues- Perhaps the most evident disadvantage of EMR systems is the evident risk it poses to the confidentiality of patient information. Since data is stored and transferred electronically, it is easy to tamper with existing information or steal patient information from a computerized system. 
    Despite the disadvantages of shifting to EMR, many healthcare providers and institutions have found that adopting this technology is much more beneficial and efficient than using traditional paper medical records. 

  11. A gift that shows true class

    May 14, 2012 by OnePot

    Though jewelry styles change through the years, there are some gifts that are simply timeless. A string of pearls, diamond stud earrings … examples of jewelry that women love to receive, wear throughout their lives and cherish forever. Another example that is appropriate for any age and many occasions is a gold locket. It can be given to a child by a parent or other family member or from one friend to another to express appreciation for always being there. It can be a romantic gift from a young boy to a young girl or to celebrate years of marriage, and is even appropriate to show heartfelt thanks. Lockets can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, can open up and store a photo that holds a special memory, and can be engraved with a personal message.

    A recent example of the popularity ofa gold locket was highlighted in the news very recently. The famous director Mike Nichols chose to give heart-shaped gold lockets to each of the cast members of his Broadway revival of the play Death of a Salesman. The occasion for the gift was that the show had received several nominations for prestigious theater awards. To make the gift more meaningful and more personal, Nichols had each locket engraved with a line from the play that the cast member’s character had spoken.

    A gold locket is a thoughtful, personal gift that can mean whatever you want it to mean and will be kept and worn proudly for a lifetime. Choose a shape that you find appealing, think of a thoughtful message to have engraved onto the back, and find a wonderful photograph that captures a moment that is special to both you and the person that you’re giving the gift to, and you will have found a gift that will be appreciated for a long, long time.


  12. Recycling Laboratory and Cleanroom Garments

    May 12, 2012 by OnePot

    For years, laboratory and cleanroom environments have been disposing of garments such as boot covers, cleanroom gloves, coveralls, gloves, masks and hairnets. With tons of these products going into landfill every year, recycling programs are being introduced through a partnership between Kimberly-Clark and Terracycle. Together, they have created a recycling program that is being activated around the world with the goal of diverting the tons of waste generated by labs and cleanrooms, keeping them from contaminating and overloading the environment and instead converting them into usable products. The program is part of Kimberly-Clark’s Exceptional Workplaces initiative, which is designed to create safer, exceptional work environments.

    The partnership between the two companies joins forces between an organization that recycles and one that specializes in contamination control. Where these items were previously kept separate and disposed of as cleanroom waste, they are now being packaged in special containment boxes. In just a few months time over 7,000 pounds of used garments have been collected. The goal of the program is to have collected at least 350,000 pounds over the next several months, and as more collection locations are signing on it appears that the program is on target to achieve their goal.

    TerraCycle is able to take the waste products and recycle them into bulk plastics as well as consumer products, and the program includes an innovative tracking system that enables participating sites to receive metrics as to exactly how much they have contributed to the effort and what the effect has been on their location’s carbon footprint. The program has made employees aware of the large impact that disposable gloves have had on the environment, and with cleanroom gloves making up the majority of each facilities landfill placements, the more feedback and information that comes back, the more compliant and enthusiastic employees have been about properly placing the gloves into the special boxes.


  13. Wall Street The New Real Estate Investors

    May 9, 2012 by OnePot

     When Wall Street has actually started to invest in real estate then you know we have hit the bottom of the market. Ding, Ding, Ding, hear that familiar opening bell? The big boys are picking up real estate in bulk. Investment companies are buying buildings and residences in bulk with a plan to hold them as rental properties. Very good news for markets from florida commercial real estate to homeowners in Southern California!

    The rules of the market have changed as well.  Regulations that once prohibited investors from purchasing these foreclosed homes for the purpose of turning them into rental properties have been lifted. This leaves the market not only at the rock bottom, but wide open for investment.

    What does this mean for the average person? If you have been holding on to your cash thinking that that house down the block is going to drop in price further; this may be a good time to get serious about investigating that purchase before it is snapped up in bulk by someone else. With mortgage rates still low you may be able to purchase and create your own rental investment.

    Recently I was in Florida. I have heard that Florida and Las Vegas were the hardest hit by the real estate bust. While there I met a man that had quit his job. He made money now by simply purchasing one home at a time and turning them into rental properties.  When the economy tanked he had no problem renting his houses to former homeowners that had been displaced. He had great tenants in these previous homeowners, and had almost thirty homes. When I met him and was on his way down to the Florida Keys to go fishing! I loved his story. I hope not only big business, but also regular people find ways to make real estate work for them.


  14. How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Roofing Job

    May 6, 2012 by OnePot

    A good roof will last for a number of years, but even with proper maintenance, it will eventually need to be replaced. Maybe you know it’s time to refurbish your roof, but just haven’t gotten around to making the call yet. Or maybe a hurricane or other inclement weather has forced you to replace your roofing early, in which case you are looking for a roofing contractor with all deliberate speed. Either way, you need to do adequate research before signing up with your new roofer. Picking a roofer at random from the yellow pages will likely not set you up for a happy experience. Do your homework by following the list below to find success with a great NJ roofing pro.

    1. Word of mouth is one of the most reliable ways of selecting a contractor, and this doesn’t pertain only to roofing. Ask your neighbor with the refurbished roof what she or he thought of the roofing experience and if she or he can recommend the applicable company.  Ask your neighbor if the contractors were respectful of the property, quoted an accurate time frame, quoted an accurate and reasonable price, and did quality work.

    2. Check online reviews to do further background research on roofers that interest you. Angie’s List is a great resource for checking reviews on NJ roofing specialists and other home repair gurus.

    3. Confirm that the roofers are members of NRCA, which is the National Roofing Contractors Association. The NRCA, which has been around since 1886, has members in all 50 states, including NJ roofing professionals. Membership in the NRCA isn’t a failproof test, but it will help confirm your chosen contractor has a cursory knowledge with industry rules, regulations, and safe practice standards.

    4. Have your lawyer review the roofing contract before you sign, especially if you have any questions. If you can’t afford an attorney’s perusal, take the intended contract to your local legal services organization to get help.


  15. Studying protein manufacturing

    March 14, 2012 by OnePot

    Studying protein manufacturing online is the latest method of learning that has been introduced; so many people are not knowledgeable about this kind of studying. It is the best way of doing a course in protein manufacturing. Protein manufacturing does not require a person to attend classes so that he can be able to understand, because it can also be understood through the internet. This method has been of great advantage to many people because a person can do more than two professions one of them through online and the other one he can attend classes. A person who takes classes in protein manufacturing has many advantages compared to the one who goes to school. The online learner does not have limited time for learning, he can learn anytime and at any given place even if it is in a field as long as he has the internet and a computer or a laptop. Most people who specialize in this field and are online learners usually learn at night because maybe during the day they might be doing other jobs or attending to some other businesses. (more…)


  16. Fixing Up the House

    March 14, 2012 by OnePot

    So you are renovating your home. You must be in need of lots of coupons and discount offers from various home products stores like Lowes. Coupons and discount vouchers are indeed very helpful and you can save lots of “real cash” with these coupons. A Lowes coupon can provide you discount up to 25 percent or even more. So keep looking for all the discount coupons from Lowes and other stores. You will surely find many of them.

    If you are planning to get your home renovated through a home renovation or home decoration company, then I suppose, you don’t need any sort of coupons because all the purchasing will be done by the home renovation team. But it all depends on your choice; you can do all the buying if you have the time. Mostly people don’t prefer buying themselves if they hire someone else to remodel their home because the person who is remodeling the home knows better what to purchase. Besides, those hiring a full home renovation team normally don’t bother discounts and coupons. I mean if someone can hire a team of professionals to renovate ones home and is paying them $1000 or so, why he/she needs to care about a small discount worth $300 or $400. (more…)