All Things CD-ROM/DVD and More

If there is one thing that DebtReliefPlace.com knows, it is credit card debt. They are a debt settlement company that helps to negotiate with credit card companies to reduce debt by up to 50 percent for its customers, through the use of fixed free settlements. They do not add interest to the debt amounts, and they will not try and promise you something they cannot deliver. They are honest and straightforward, and if you have had late payments on your credit card, they can try and help you. Your FICO score is very important. It defines what kind of credit you get, if you can get credit, and how much of credit and an interest rate you get. Roughly 35 percent of your ENTIRE credit score is made up of your payment history. Therefore, if you have a history of making late payments on your credit card, then you are going to have to deal with having a lower credit score. One late payment, which is defined as 30 days or more past due, can lower your credit score by dozens of points. Those dozens of lowered points can mean you will have a higher interest rate and owe more money. If you have a payment history that includes several payments that are 90 days or more late, then your credit score will go down even more. If you have five late payments on your account, you can lower your credit score by as much as 100 points. In many ways, having a large series of late payments on your credit report can actually cause more damage to your credit score than bankruptcy. The only good news is that you can fix late payments much quicker on your credit report. If you are very late on your credit card bills, then there is a chance that you may end up having your account go to collections. If it goes to collections, that will appear on your credit report and until everything is cleared up, you will have a collections alert on your credit report, which will lower your credit score a great deal. If you cannot pay all of your bill, for whatever reason, there is an option open to you. It is the minimum payment and it can save you from lowering your credit score, even though you still owe money. Minimum payments can be used to pay the interest on your credit report. That being said, don’t rely just on minimum payments, or else you will just continue to fall further and further behind on your bills.

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A man approaches. A fearsome gaunt figure stands at the ready on what seems to be an innocent wooded path. A sword of fabulous light is drawn casting its perimeter into shadows. It is dusk and the man does not hesitate armored in only an Irish cable knit sweater, Lee jeans, a leather vest crafted in Pakistan, and leather sneakers. The messenger of the light beckons for him to stop or else face sudden death.

“Hey Charlie, can we stop the dramatics? We only been doing this now for, what, a little over 30,000 years?” says the man in the sweater.

“I know but it is my job, you know.” says the man with the still blazen sword.

“Can you douse that thing Rudolph. Right! I come here every ten years or so to see if I can stroll down the garden path, what do you do in the mean time? I mean Gabriel kicked us out and has posted you here ever since, Can’t do his own dirty work. Destroyer of cities and great mistakes, remember those giant chickens, I think they were called dinosaurs, well you remember it took Gabe over fifty years to kabob that lot and fricassee them. Only if the Colonel was alive.”

“Why do you go on about time, you know it does not exist for us.”

“Well I prefer it, it keeps my head straight, but to the point are you going to let me in this time!”

“Did you not just ask me that just ten minutes ago?”

“No that was ten years ago!”

“Oh right, I never got that thing right, it is a hard concept for me.”

“So you agree to time?”

“No,…!”

“Then why did you accuse me of just being here ten minutes ago, in that statement you acknowledge the existence of time or else you would not use it in your accusation?”

“I was just using it in the temporal standpoint…”

“The prefix of temp as in tempo, or temporary refers to time once more, are you a bit confused old man!”

“No, you know what I mean..”

“Just because I ate of the apple does not mean I know everything. But since time is irrevelant as you say to us, you know very well that you will eventually let me pass and everything is honky dory, so why can not that time be now. If all moments run continuous in the same space and time, why ain’t the moment you let me by not be the same as this singular moment that we both know to be all time. Including the moment you let me through, which is the same as now!”

“All right, go on pass.”

“Thanks Charlie.”

“Right, don’t mention it, say hi to Pops for me, I hope he won’t be too mad with me.”

“Hey he did tell you guys to serve me any hows, right! Remember the war and all, how that statement didn’t set well for all.”

The man in the sweater proceeded on down the dusky wood, for the right path was found. The woods emptied onto a garden path blocked by a high retaining wall with no gate.

“Sheep tricks will not work on a shepherd, now really!” the wall had a spot where an opening was cut into the wall at a forty five angle making the opening invisible to any one looking at it straight on but becomes visible as seen from an angle.

“Eden, it looks much better than Baghdad is of late. Now where is that tree?”

“Halt, who goes there. It is forbidden to all to enter, for certain death shall follow!”

“Dad, get off the soap box, it is ok to be short, leave that trick for Dorothy and her friends.”

“You spoiled little brat, how is the world of basket weaving treating you?” Says Yahweh.

“Look it ain’t basket weaving, it is synchratic weaving, making all the coincidences string togethor to lead people to certain inalienable truths that…”

“Basket weaving, when are you going to get a real job. When are you going to be the tyrant of your own universe, God knows I need a break…”

“Dad, are we going to go through this again, see I am here for that tree..”

“The tree that I forbidden you to eat from, isn’t anything sacred, with the help of that astral minded interferer, you already were duped by that woman to eat from the first tree, where is that being now any ways…”

“She is at home taking doses of Prozac, she has had a bum deal from the whole thing, man I preferred the days of Sodom and Haight ashbury, now them were some good drugs, man that shit makes me hunt out some sheep, because she is no help anymore. Can we lay up on the women for a change, or you still not talking to Best a Mom?”

“Do not mention that infernal woman’s name in my …”

“I guess that answers my question, see Pop I buried the axe a long time ago even though part of my brain says it should of been in yours, but it is over, I learned a few things from those guys down there you keep interfering with, Christ is sick of patching up your shit, man seven days was a bit of a rush job, Hey!”

“Don’t go on about that…”

“Only a C on your College boards, hey, good thing you gave those beings some intelligence, but too bad you gave them your psychosis as well, some of them are real greedy bastards. When are you going to realize that happiness does not come from how many black holes and stars that you can Nova, but from within, Best a Ma is just feeling a bit separated from you…”

“Do not mention …”

“What, Best a ma, Best a MA, Best a Ma…”

“So you want the tree, I already gave it to Chipendale to make a lovely end table.”

“Oh move out of my way..”

“Or else…”

“Or else we can shine a bright light upon you and you can play with your shadow, Hey Luce, are you there?”

Adam pulls out a giant mag light and shines it on his father casting dark shadows on the wall. Out of the one to the left appears an impish person, about the same height and built as Yahweh, but more acute angles rendering his drawn face terminating in a Mephistocles beard and mustache.

“Ah, Adam it has been a long time since Sodom, how is the misses, are you still playing with those sheep, the cliff and all, hear they are jolly good that way, still trying to get out of your father’s shadow, feeling a little inadequate..”

“Get off of it, the two of you are so inept in the endowment area you had to scour the earth to find one woman who would be pleased by the two and a half inches the two of you could muster up. Good thing for wet dreams hey, I think you guys put the truth in advertising, politics, and used cars. Talk about wild fish stories…”

“I see you have not accomplished much, nephew! Still running with those apes?”

“Hey wasn’t you I saw a few years ago do the funky tango with that green monkey!”

“Hey J, how bout me and you finding some Job character and torment him some….”

“Son, now I mean everything in your best interest..”

“Best interest, I was very content picking up berries and painting on cave walls until you took me away from all of that , just on the account that I looked up into the sky and asked why, to tell the truth I think I was just mumbling something in response to indigestion, and Off I am whooshed to this garden only to be kicked out so you can rip a rib out of me so you could transform it into someone who gets a bum rush deal and gets strung out on Prozac and forces, yes Luc, to play with the sheep after she yells my head off for no good reason and….”

“Are you done!”

“Yeah!”

“Good…”

“Now where is that tree..”

The man in the Irish knit cable sweater heads out to the center leaving the dynamic duo to themselves. After some walking he hears the uncanny tune of Look On the Bright Side of Life and enters the clearing as he sees a man in a tree house singing the verse..”Life is a piece of shit, when you look at it..”

“Oh excuse me, I did not see you coming, would you like some tea, my are you looking fine as of late! Have I ever thanked you for caring me over that ocean, or I Have, well thanks again, I always did prefer the name St. Christopher, so how have you been, I always knew you would come.”

“So this is where you been hanging out at?”

“No, I just knew today was the day and I wanted to return to the place of our first meeting, you know your father only means well, it is just that Sophia just bums around to herself up there. Stuck between here and there, Very straight forward thinker, that is her problem can not think in circular motions of events. Always point a terminating in point B, very lonely that one is.”

“Any room for them in that tree house of yours?”

“Sure they just have to realize it for themselves, is that incarnation of us writing that story yet?”

” I am pretty sure.”

In a ugly little house on a sinking street that leaves the house settling a little to the right and a little more to the left is a man named Christopher, who at that moment, not the one in which you are reading this but the moment he was writing this as the one in which they had asked if he was, but then as we have seen earlier time for them, or that matter anyone does not really exist, so it is safe to say that this writing was done light years from now or just a few moments ago, but this referencing is inadequate because it uses flawed speech that refers to time that in its self is non-existent…..

“Get on with it” rings in chorus from the heavens…

“Yeah, we just got to get him to hug her.”

“How do we do that, the only words she ever said to him was ‘Liar!’ and that was an end of it.”

” No remember she added he was a minor little psychopomp with a mania problem, I think they were her exact words.”

“Never-less, we need him to hug her. Ever learn anything from Mercury hanging in that threshold?”

“We can try dressing her up as a Cow, which won’t be too hard she has been eating a lot of chocolate and Ben and Jerry’s. Bit depressed you know.”

” A cow?”

“Yeah, one of Mercury’s tricks. Hide a cow in the cave and pretend that it really is a woman that he is hiding from one of his wives so when she finds out she will never know the better he is really tickling some udders. Quite ingenious trick I must say, but he likes cows. I prefer the milk maids myself and a little butter to go on my crepes and a tall drink of milk…”

“Isn’t that a bit of incest.”

“Now how did you populate the world again, Adam.”

“Enough of that, those other cro-mags were not as intellectually stimulating.”

“Well I was planning to stop things before they got that far, Hell I am suppose to marry the old Broad.”

“You old snake you, Christ come down here and lets get started. You think we can get rid of that hormone and bleeding thing with women and go back to the stork, I think they will really like that, I would really like that. For once it would be nice to know what I am getting yelled at for.”

“Sure.”

“Good.”
So Adam and Christ went into the limbo and put Sophia in a cow costume, led Yahweh up there, stopped things from getting kinky and stuck their names onto the family tree of life with the rest of humanity and the species of the earth. Yahweh got his comfort and stopped chasing golden cows, Sophia was able to think in circles and now is racing the Nascar circuit, Jesus is enjoying solitary walks in the Jersey Pine Barrens and dancing at night at the local pub, Adam knows what he is getting yelled at for a change, Eve has put out of business the Tampax company along with prozac and is happy just being, and the stork is real busy once more.

Chris Dowgin is proprietor of Docspond Life Coach Services and Norgeforge Illuminatin Studios

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Copyright Victoria Elizabeth 2004.

POLITICALLY CORRECT SANTA — OR, HOW SNOW WHITE & FRIENDS SENT SANTA PACKING!

It seems that we can longer languish in the reveries of “Christmas” anymore.

“Christmas” is now “persona non grata” unless it comes with lotsa ka-ching and consumer clatta!

“Christmas” has been replaced by non-threatening “happy holiday” greetings, profitable “holiday” gift cards, and a new medical disease called the “ho ho ho” syndrome (I’ll let you figure that one out).

Gone are the days when we can enjoy such pleasures as “Christmas” carols, “Christmas” crackers or heaven forbid even “Christmas” trees, without a knock at the door from a politically-correct enforcement officer dressed in an bright blue suit with gold braid and a matching hat plus a perplexing smiley frown on his face.

Although I cannot take credit for the witty work below, I thought I would pass it along to all those who still believe in a reindeer named Rudolph, jolly St. Nick (aka Santa Claus/Kris Kringle), jingling bells full of comfort and joy, not to mention a mouth-watering slice of home-made hot minced pie.

– POLITICALLY INCORRECT SANTA –

‘Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck… How to live in a world that’s politically correct? His workers no longer would answer to “Elves,” “Vertically Challenged” they were calling themselves. And labour conditions at the North Pole Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul. Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety, Released to the wilds by the Humane Society. And equal employment had made it quite clear That Santa had better not use just reindeer. So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid, Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid! The runners had been removed from his sleigh; The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A. And people had started to call for the cops When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops. Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened. His fur-trimmed red suit was called “Unenlightened.” And to show you the strangeness of life’s ebbs and flows, Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose . And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation, Demanding millions in over-due compensation. So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife, Who suddenly said she’d enough of this life,

Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz, Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the gifts, why, he’d ne’er had a notion That making a choice could cause so much commotion. Nothing of leather, nothing of fur, Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her. Nothing that might be construed to pollute. Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot. Nothing that clamoured or made lots of noise. Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys. Nothing that claimed to be gender specific. Nothing that’s war-like or non-pacific. No candy or sweets…they were bad for the tooth. Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth. And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden, Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden. For they raised the hackles of those psychological Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological. No baseball, no football…someone could get hurt; Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt. Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passé; And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away. So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed; He just could not figure out what to do next. He tried to be merry, tried to be gay, But you’ve got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground; Nothing fully acceptable was to be found. Something special was needed, a gift that he might Give to all without angering the left or the right. A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision, Each group of people, every religion; Every ethnicity, every hue, Everyone, everywhere…even you. So here is that gift, its price beyond worth… “May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth.”

(Anonymous)

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With ever-new hi-tech advancements which include digital Television, Hi-Definition TV, Freesat and home cinema systems, if you’re current telly set is more than five years old, then its a wonderful time to purchase a brand new TV. But, as technology develops more or less every day, getting a brand new television device might be tremendously complex and puzzling.

This guide attempts to describe all the new developments that will help to take your telly enjoyment to a totally new intensity.

High Def Telly: Maybe the most fundamental development to television ever since colour technology, Hi-Def (HD) TV offers detail, clarity & colour, with images frequently 4xs as sharp as several conventional telly machines. To see High-Def telly programmes you are required to own a High-Def Ready telly. Sky & Freesat have already started transmitting high-def TV so you can now benefit from an assortment of your beloved TV programmes, films & sporting occasions with wonderful realistic images.

Built-In Digital Tuner: A telly with built-in digital tuner (commonly referred to as idTV) allows you to look at all free to air digital television stations, for example: E4, BBC3, Sky News & many more without the demand for a second set top box. John Lewis sells Cheap Televisions from well-known brands such as Sony and Panasonic.

Freesat: A new digital satellite TV service obtainable through a partnership between the BBC and ITV, providing you free Hi Definition programmes at no added fee. Freesat has no twelve-month contract, no joining fee, just one solitary payment for the telly, satellite dish & installation. Also because Freesat is transmitted via satellite, its available to almost each and every household in the UK. Freesat TV is at this moment in time only accessible through Panasonic televisions.

LCD or Plasma TVs: Although LCD & Plasma televisions work in very different ways, the gains of both are very alike. Nevertheless, it’s key to consider that when opting between a Plasma or LCD television, it’s in actuality basically a question of size. LCD is at its greatest performance up to and including thirty-two inches, while Plasma TVs deliver greatest performance at thirty seven inches, and higher. So, if you are looking to acquire a smaller flat panel TV set, then (which stands for Liquid Crystal Display) offers the far greater performance, while on the other hand if you demand a larger screen size, then Plasma is without a doubt the greatest option.

In evaluation its crucial to bear in mind when acquiring the correct television for you, to consider your funds, your screening distance, the look you fancy and if it is to be an LCD or Plasma telly.

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One of the best solvents you can use to remove ink stains from carpet is also one of the cheapest: rubbing alcohol. It works better if it is 90% isopropyl alcohol, but there is no danger in trying the ones that are 70% if that’s what you have available. Whichever you use, remember that ink stain removal is always easier if you treat the stains quickly. Just follow the steps below.

1. Apply rubbing alcohol to a white cotton cloth and dab the stain carefully, so you don’t spread the ink. Don’t ever pour rubbing alcohol on your carpet!

2. Vaccuum it out after a few minutes using a shop-vac. Alternately, you can blot it up carefully, using a clean white cloth. Don’t rub the stain!

3. Repeat the process until you completely remove the ink stains from the carpet, or until you get no more transfer to the cloth. In the latter case it may not be possible to get all of the stain out. At this point, you can try a commercial cleaning solvent, although it is unlikely you’ll get much more of the stain.

Always Rinse And Extract Carpet Stains

When you use a solvent other than water to remove ink stains from carpet, or any stains, be sure to rinse the area with water, and then extract it. Vacuuming out the water is quicker and less likely to damage your carpet, but a clean white cloth can also be used to blot the moisture. Repeat the rinsing and extraction once or twice.

Finally, remove moisture from the area quickly. There may still be some ink hiding deep in the fibers. Quick drying prevents stains from wicking to the surface of the carpet and becoming visible again. Plain white paper towels work well to get the last of the water out, and a fan left blowing on the area will complete the process.

About the author:

Steve Gillman has worked in the carpet cleaning industry for years. For more carpet-care information, and specific stain-by-stain removal instructions, visit http://www.HowToRemoveCarpetStains.com

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A person’s choices of ringtones speak about his individuality or personality. These days’ people don’t follow the rules of common calling courtesy. They love listening to polyphonic ringtones or real ringtones but do not take care of the environment in which their phone rings. At some places, it is required that you keep your ringing volume low so that people around you don’t get disturbed. Don’t worry about your ear not catching the low volumes of your mobile ringtones. Program it to start from near silent and gradually up the volume. You can also use silent or vibrating phone ringers whenever you are in meetings or don’t prefer loud ringtones.

So try selecting environmental friendly mobile ringtones. Clearly the increasing use of mobile phones at work has an effect on your workplace like the loud mobile tones may interfere with your work as well as others. When in theaters, churches, weddings and funerals, it’s a good idea to keep your mobile phones in a silent mode or on vibrators. Always consider what your ringtone says about you and the environment in which it rings. Your kids may love your loud ringtone but it might not be a hit in a meeting.

Many mobile phones offer environment settings that are intended for specific experiences like the boardroom. If your phone supports this feature, ensure that you activate the setting to the right environment before you head into an important discussion. And if your phone does not have this feature, environment friendly ringtones can be activated.

Mark Bishop is the webmaster of Ringtonezshop.com, a site specializing in the different genres of monophonic ringtones, including polyphonic ringtones and mobile phone games, Themes and Mobile Logos… etc.

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Matches is now an extremely high ended clothes fashion outlet with plenty of great success. 17 years and Matches Fashion have seen themselves grow from 1 clothes fashion store to a string of fashion shops in tremendous & trendy Notting Hill, affluent Richmond & terrific Wimbledon along with their stunning webpage now as well. Every single Matches Store has a varied personality & a classic style. This has resulted in Matches Shops which are also as different & loved as their purchasing public. The Matches philosophy locates huge significance on look & creative style. Find the very latest Freda clothes at www.matchesfashion.com/catalogue/designer/freda.

Like tons of other expensive fashion outlets, Matches Fashion is consistently varying & hosting new orginal fashion designers. The Matches staff are skilled at seeking out the newest fundamental items for the particular time of year and constantly centre around the key fashion pieces from high flying fashion stylists such as Freda, Christian Louboutin and Chloe along with continued booming fashion designers & new original up & coming ones.

Both the fashion stores & the terrific looking website has had heaps of achievement; the fantastic looking website is like tucking into an excellent popular glossy stylish fashion monthly magazine, it supplies the website surfers the ideas that they all need to have a browse at trendy clothes that could expression elegant and feel good Matches is consistently featured in the trendy designer fashion mags such as Cosmopolitan & The Times Magazine.

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As Suzy stammered, my ears perked up. For distraction I called out, “Hey Kathy, put on another pot of coffee.” Suzy spoke again. The fact is, gouging my own eyes out with a ketchup bottle would not have distracted me. A linguistic calamity was eminent.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up, then it ran from the room. I knew where Suzy was headed. Her speech was like watching a car accident. It all moved in slow motion. Every instinct in me said tear the phone from her hand before it’s too late. But she had to learn to properly communicate with customers. Please Lord, I begged, don’t let her say it. Then it happened. Suzy uttered the words, “We’ll mam, I ain’t fer sures on that.”

Across America, English professors collectively wept. My mind locked. How could she have said it again? She had been with our company four months. Still, there was hope. Okay, Lord, you’re pretty funny, I sneered. Seriously, could her next words please be, “If you would not mind holding for one moment, I will find out the answer for you.” Ha! No such luck.

The gods hate me. After an awkward silence (while the caller and I shared an embolism), Suzy proceeded to take the customer’s order. Neither of them was any wiser for the experience. I stepped outside to meditate. Would I have to fire her? I was not fer sures on that?

You hear many endearing phrases in the county. I find, ‘a doins’ quite charming. Such as there’s a doins at Bubba’s tonight. Translated this means, festivities will take place at Bubba’s residence this evening.

‘Pert near’ is fun. Linguists translate this colorful twist on grammar as meaning, ‘almost’ not nearby. As in, pert near everybody ceptin that cidiot been told bout the rodeo. Meaning, almost everyone, except the new city idiot, was informed of the upcoming rodeo event.

Unfortunately, telling a high maintenance Dressage Equestrian (they are all high-maintenance), “Ya aint’s fer sures on that,” translates as, “Hello, we are illiterate, so buy our product.” Following this with no offer to expand your knowledge and assist the customers says, “We may be illiterate, but that’s ok. We also suck. Thank you and have a nice day.”

Tourists passing through the area have improperly translated another phrase. “What chya doin?” is often misinterpreted as the rhetorical “What’s up?” or “What’s happening?” Sadly, that is not its meaning. “What chya doin?” literally translates as, “What are you doing?” Confusion on this matter is based on timing.

“What chya doing?” is often asked when your activity could not be more blatantly obvious. For example: You’re spreading cheese over flat dough topped with tomato sauce. Mountains of pepperoni are poised nearby. A stranger asks, “What chya doin?” Heads up: They literally have not connected the dots. Do not wisecrack, “Installing solar panels.” Before you know it, you’ll be explaining how green peppers affect your hot water supply.

Here in South Dakota low wages have brought in large numbers of Customer Service call centers. Airlines, finance companies, catalog sales, these types of companies coagulate around Rapid City. Lately there has been a lot of concern over competition from India. Apparently the population of India is highly educated and enunciates in a manner more understandable than that of South Dakotans. Americans, not having Hindi as the mother tongue, stand little chance. Still, there is a certain irony in residents of the Black Hills losing something to Indians. How many groups will that statement offend? I ain’t fer sures on that.

Field Notes on Country Linguistics is an excerpt from the satire Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin’ Country by Nola L. Kelsey. A free e-book copy of Bitch Unleashed is available on Nola Kelsey’s web site at www.NolaKelsey.com or order it at your favorite bookstore.

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If you want to get the best taste out of your tea then it’s important to follow a few basic tips. For general purpose every day tea drinking it’s not really necessary to worry too much about the exact preparation but it sure helps you to make a more tasty brew. If you like to buy expensive teas then it’s definitely worthwhile following these recommendations.
The first thing to consider is storage. If you buy good tea then you will want to look after it well. Although if you’re anything like me it won’t last too long! I tend to drink good tea fast. Storing tea is relatively simple; it needs to be in an airtight container and out of direct sunlight. So preferably in a wooden, metal, glass or ceramic container. Make sure the container is fully airtight. Obviously the tea needs to be kept dry and it can also be affected by strong odors and heat.

When brewing tea the next thing to consider is the water. For most people general tea consumption will occur using water from the tap. This can be a problem in areas where there is excessive chemicals in the water. So if you wish to use tap water it’s definitely better to filter it. The small kitchen filters available from companies such as Brita and Kenwood do a pretty good job. More expensive filtration systems can also be purchased if desired.

For the best brew use freshly drawn filtered tap water or bottled spring water. Do not use distilled water as the minerals have been taken out of the water and this will affect the taste. The water should be boiled then allowed to cool to the correct temperature for the type of tea you are brewing.

The temperature of the water can really affect the taste of the tea so following the guidelines for the tea you have purchased will help you to get the best from your brew. You can experiment with different temperatures to see if you can notice the difference in the taste.

To do the job properly it’s best to buy a water thermometer which will give you a fast and accurate reading. After a while you will get to know roughly how long to leave the water before adding it to the tea. This will save you from using the thermometer every time.

Steeping time is also very important to produce a fine brew. It is very much down to your own personal tastes how long you should steep. Having said that there are guidelines which you should follow and they are often provided with the tea you buy. Steep too long and you could end up with a bitter and very strong brew. Steep not enough and you will not get the best flavor out the tea.

As a rough guide the following timings and temperatures apply:

Green Tea and White Tea 1-4 mins 150-170 F
Oolong Tea 1-3 mins 165-195 F
Pu-erh Tea 2-10 mins boiling
Black Tea 2-5 mins 195 F

In order to fully appreciate the tea as it is brewing it is good to be able to watch the leaves as they open. Using a glass cup or tea pot enables you to do that very well. There are many choices of different brewing equipment including teapots, Guywans, infusers, filters and of course good old cups. It’s really up to you to experiment with all the different equipment which is on offer. If you are interested in high quality Oolong tea for example then an Yixing teapot is very desirable. For day to day drinking especially of green and Oolong teas the easiest and most common method is to simply add water to the leaves in your cup. Remember that good teas can be refilled several times and the second and third brews can often be the best!

The most important thing is to enjoy your tea and enjoy the company in which you drink it. Don’t worry too much about times and temperatures in the beginning; there is plenty of time and plenty of tea to discover the different techniques of brewing.
Tea drinker and creator of the Green Teas Guide.com.

Come and learn all about Green Tea with the Green Teas Guide. Sign up for the Free Newsletter.

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Have you ever stood at the butchers counter and wondered, what is the difference between a top sirloin and a porterhouse. If you find a good beef cookbook often times it will have a diagram of the different cuts of meat. If this is too ordinary for your taste find yourself a couple of young FFA (Future Farmers of America) members. They will be all too happy to tell you all they know about beef. In my experience you will know far more than you ever wanted to about the inner and outer workings of a steer after meeting with FFA members. In case neither of these options is readily available here is a break down of some common cuts of beef.

Rib-eye; this cut is a top choice because it has abundant marbling. As the rib-eye cooks this marbling melts into the meat and creates a juicy, rich tasting cut of meat.

Porterhouse; this cut also has plentiful marbling. The porterhouse has a top loin that is moist and flavorful and a smooth buttery soft tenderloin. This cut is a popular choice in restaurants featuring deals such as eat all of our 26 ounce steak and your entire meal is free. Be forewarned this is a lot of meat, I have seen many brave souls try and only one succeed. He had a stomach ache for two days.

New York Strip; this is a t-bone with the tenderloin and bone cut away. This is a good quality cut of meat and can usually be found at a lower price per pound than the preceding cuts.

T-bone; this is an excellent cut for couples who like to share. The smaller tenderloin is a few delicate bites while the New York strip can satisfy the heartier appetite.

Filet Mignon; this choice is usually a more costly choice but is well worth the additional expense if you are looking for the most tender and moist cut of meat. You will not find the intense flavor of a rib-eye or porterhouse but this is still an excellent cut of meat.

Top Sirloin; this cut is a lesser grade but larger cut of meat. A family of four can eat from one top sirloin. Try to buy the top or prime grade, they will be tenderer than the lower grades.

About the Author

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet meal plans. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She is also the publisher of a no cost bi-monthly gourmet newsletter. Her newsletter is always fun and informational packed with tips and trivia you can use everyday. http://www.gourmayeats.com

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