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Thursday, 05 November 2009

  • Who knew? Cucumbers can solve some of life's little problems...

    A friend of mine e-mailed this to me but I can't find the original article in the New York Times. Nevertheless, I find the information quite valuable and interesting. Enjoy! - Karen

    The Amazing Cucumber

    This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

     1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

     

    2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber.  Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

     

    3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?  Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

     

    4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds?  Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long.  The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

     

    5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool?  Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the photochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite.  Works great on wrinkles too!!!

     

    6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?  Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

     

    7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

     

    8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes?  Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

     

    9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge?  Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

     

    10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa?  Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

     

    11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints?  Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath..

     

    12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel?  Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.

     

    13. Using a pen and made a mistake?  Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!! Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems..

Friday, 30 October 2009

  • For all the folks with cell phones (aka virtually everyone)

    My co-worker sent this to me a few weeks ago. It includes really helpful tips, and I really want to try out Tip #2 re: the keyless entry. Read on!

     

    Enjoy,

    Karen

     

    ****************************************************************************************************************

     

    (This should be printed and kept in your car, purse, and wallet.  Good information to have with you.) There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies.  Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival.

     

    Check out the things that you can do with your cell phone!

     

    FIRST Emergency - The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112.  If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the Emergency Number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked.  Try it out.

     

    SECOND Emergency - Have you locked your keys in the car?  Does your car have remote keyless entry?  This may come in handy someday.  Good reason to own a cell phone:  If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone.  Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end.  Your car will unlock.  It saves someone from having to drive your keys to you.  Distance is no object.  You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

     

    Editor's Note:  "It works fine!  We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!"

     

    THIRD Emergency - Hidden Battery Power!  Imagine your cell battery is very low.  To activate your phone’s hidden batter power, press the keys *3370#.  Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery.  This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.  

     

    Fourth Emergency - How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?  To check your Mobile phone's Serial Number, key in the following digits on your phone:  *#06#.  A 15-digit code will appear on the screen.  This number is unique to your handset.  Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.  If your phone is stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code.  They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.  You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either.  If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.   

     

    FIFTH Emergency - Free Directory Service for Cells.  Cell Phone Companies are charging us $1.00 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to.  Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem.  When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:  800-FREE411, or 800-373-3411 without incurring any charge at all.  Program this into your cell phone now.

Friday, 16 October 2009

  • Kaiser Permanente - Senior Web Developer Position

    Sr. Web Developer

       
    Job ID:  WK.0900164  
    Description:

    This position supports Kaiser Permanente?s code of conduct and compliance by adhering to all laws and regulations, accreditation and Licensure requirements, and internal policies and procedures. Kaiser Permanente is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

     

    DEPARTMENT: Administration

     

    SCHEDULE: Part-Time Regular, 20 Hours per Week, Day Shift, schedule dependant upon departmental needs.

     

    Position Summary:  Partners with Web Designer to develop web applications or change existing applications. Partners with Web Administrators to test and move developed or changed applications into production.

     

    Education/License/Certification:  Bachelor?s Degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience.

     

    Preferred Qualifications: Hands-on experience in web development.  Strong in at least one area of application development  (.Net, C#, C++, LINQ, SQLServer, AJAX) .Net 3.5 preferred; minimum.Net 2.0C# or LINQ preferred; C++ minimum.  Self-starter who can work with little or no supervision.  Ability to work within a team or as an individual.  Strong technical documentation, reporting, and verbal communications skills.  Script-writing skills (JavaScript, VBScript).  Keen ability to understand end user experience and business needs.  Experience testing web applications.  Porting from development to production a plus.Data analysis and reporting experience a plus.

    Qualifications:   Five years experience developing Web sites for business purposes on NT or Unix. Thorough knowledge of HTML. Experience in PERL and CGI. Proficient in C, C++, and/or JAVA. Proficiency required in one or more high level programming languages respective to various client server platforms. Strong skills required in critical thinking and analysis, verbal and written communications, and interpersonal interactions. Previous experience in all phase of application software development and maintenance life cycles in a large mainframe or client service environment preferred.  Development experience with Oracle DBMS preferred. Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment.

    Duties:   Develops logic, codes, tests, and debugs Web pages and Web Application software modules such as JAVA applets, CGI, and HTML programs. Performs software coding, testing, debugging, documentation and installation tasks for on-line processes in accordance with industry best practices and specific internal procedures and standards. Contributes to task identification, work effort estimates, and work schedules for development and maintenance activities. Participates in the analysis and definition of efficient, cost effective application solutions which support client business processes and functional requirements. Works with internal departments to provide associated deliverables required for the successful completion of development and maintenance assignments (e.g., database development, network support, help desk orientation, client training). Conducts analysis of client business processes and functional requirements and prepares appropriate documentation to communicate and validate the information. Provides on-call support as assigned. Completes administrative requirements in an accurate and timely manner (e.g., time reporting, status reporting, etc.). Works as project team member to develop Internet and Intranet Web applications for KP business users. Partners with Web Administrators to test and move developed applications into production.        Performs related duties as assigned or requested.

     

     

    Kaiser Permanente conducts compensation reviews of positions on a routine basis.  At any time, Kaiser Permanente reserves the right to reevaluate and change job descriptions, or to change such positions from salaried to hourly pay status.  Such changes are generally implemented only after notice is given to affected employees.

     

    Consistently supports compliance and the Principles of Responsibility  (KP?s code of conduct) by maintaining confidentiality, protecting the assets of the organization, acting with ethics and integrity, reporting non-compliance, and adhering to applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements, and KP policies and procedures. 

     

    In addition to defined technical requirements, accountable for consistently demonstrating service behaviors and principles defined by the Kaiser Permanente Service Quality Credo, the KP Mission as well as specific departmental/organizational initiatives. Also accountable for consistently demonstrating the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors necessary to provide superior and culturally sensitive service to each other, to our members, and to purchasers, contracted providers and vendors.

     

    Specific departmental duties:  This individual will be responsible for writing, testing and maintaining web applications for a web-based blended learning program with the Sr. Web Developer.  Understanding current systems and their functional capabilities  Participate in the review and design concepts for new systems and develops and documents the technical design for the integration and implementation of the software.  Create, maintain, and improve the business layer for the web-based blended learning program.  Tests the web from the user?s view point as a participant and as a team member. Responsibilities:  Ensure web applications are accurate and data is consistent.  Define solutions with Sr. Web Developer at both code and architecture levels

    Looks for new ways to serve the clients and for methods to use the Internet more effectively in order to increase internal efficiency of servicing the clients. Utilizes technology to provide staff with a fast, accurate, and secure method of gaining access to information so they can service clients in the fastest and most efficient manner possible.

     

     

     

    PLEASE NOTE: - Kaiser Permanente is an AA/EEO employer -

     

    Additional Information:
    Region Northern California
    Bargaining Unit Salaried Employees
    Facility Martinez
    Shift Day
    Benefited Yes
    Employee Referral N
    Area of Interest IT - Other
    JobType Part-Time
    State/City CA, Walnut Creek
    You can submit your resume and apply for this job at www.jobs.kp.org.

     

Saturday, 12 September 2009

  • I need your help!

    Please check out the online blog I helped my friend Rae start called TheOnlineGrapevine (TOG)! The site is "like The View...but online and younger." Click on this link to view "Midweek Musings with Karen Ang" on TOG's The Daily Vine! Also, the site boasts blogs from many other wonderful women! 

    You can help me & the site out by rating one of my blogs between 1-5 stars (1 = low, 5 = high), and if you have time, rate MORE than one blog/blogger!

    And if you REALLY love me, REGISTER for TheOnlineGrapevine.com so you can comment on one or more of my blogs!

    Once you have done this, let me know, and I will publicly THANK YOU via my Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, Xanga, Livejournal, TOG, etc. status updates!!!

    Once again, thanks SO much for your time and support!

    Much Peace, Love, and Happiness!

    Always,
    Karen

Tuesday, 18 August 2009

kae146

  • Visit kae146's Xanga Site
    • Name: Karen
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 2/27/2004

About Me

  • this journal reflects my many moods but only the people closest to me know who I truly am. "There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved." ~ George Sands http://bit.ly/wbhag barely ever on here. check me out on twitter or facebook: kae146

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