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Wireless Mice
Wireless mice are nice!
They’re sleek and stylish, fast and precise…and they’ll help “clean up” your work area by eliminating that old fashioned mouse cord that always seems to get tangled up in one thing or another. With their
3-6’ operating range, they’ll also give you additional freedom to reposition your computer exactly where you want on your desk!
There are two different kinds of wireless mice – optical and laser. Both types work great, but laser models do operate faster. Optical and laser models both rely on batteries, so make sure you consider battery life when making your selection (some models feature rechargeable batteries with their own recharging stand – you’ll pay a bit more for these rechargeable types of wireless mice in the beginning, but they could prove cost efficient in the long run).
For some, choosing the right wireless mouse isn’t so much a matter of performance…it’s a matter of style. Like the look of metallic black? Take a look at this Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 with 5 customizable buttons and tilt wheel technology that lets you scroll 4 different ways. Prefer the sleek styling of silver? The Microsoft 5000 comes in that color, too!
If performance is a key element in your buying decision, take a look at the Logitech MX 620 cordless laser mouse. It features a hyper-fast scroll wheel that lets you literally fly through long documents (scroll through 10,000 lines in just 7 seconds) and also features an on-off button that lets you prolong the battery life.
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In-House Marketing
Your marketing budget is tight...and getting tighter. You still need to reach your customers, of course, but you now need to find a way to do it for a whole lot less.
If the above describes the challenge your office is currently facing, try creating and printing the marketing materials your office needs yourself! The benefits are many:
- You’ll save money—no outside agencies to deal with and no high priced designers and writers to pay
- You’re in control—no one know your organization better than you, so who better to write and design than yourself? It’s like the old saying goes—if you want something done right, do it yourself!
- You’ll gain added flexibility—print only the material you need, exactly when you need it! If something needs to change or be updated, you can do it in seconds without having to waste a bunch of previously printed pieces.
Of course, to create and produce the marketing material you need, you’ll need the right equipment. There are two excellent options you should to consider: multifunction machines or a high speed color laser printer.
Multifunction machines or laser printers-- what machine should I buy?
The answer, of course, depends upon what exactly you need to do to create your own marketing material. If you’re starting from “scratch”, we’d suggest multifunction machines like the Brother MFC-6490CW or the HP Officejet Pro OJ8500W because they let you scan in pictures and produce high quality printouts. If you already have your materials created and just need to make small updates to charts and text, then a color laser printer like the Lexmark C543DN would be an ideal choice with its fast 21 ppm output and sharp 1200x1200dpi resolution.
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Crocs – Yes or No?
Imagine this scenario: It's a Sunday afternoon and you're just coming in from gardening, wearing your Crocs. You decide to quickly run to the grocery store. Do you change your shoes or leave on your Crocs? I mean, they're just so easy to wear and super comfortable…and it'll only be a few minutes.
No! The answer is no. You remove the Crocs and put on any other shoe. Flip flops? Awesome. UGG boots? Yes, great. Jelly shoes? Okay, sure. But the Crocs should stay in the privacy of your home.
Let me tell you a little something about America's beloved Crocs shoes. They are boating shoes that were made to be worn outdoors and on boats. Then, I don't know, one day some boater went into Macy's after a sweaty day at sea to buy a pair of Dockers, and every woman dropped her giant sunglasses and exclaimed, "What are those things on your feet? I must have them!" I think that's how it happened.
Crocs are everywhere and on everyone. People now wear them to errands and parties, make their kids wear them, and even wear them to the gym and work. People, that is too far! Yes, I understand Crocs shoes are comfortable and light – like walking on rubber clouds, maybe. And, okay, maybe if you are a nurse – especially a nurse on a boat – and spend hours every day on your feet, I can admit that Crocs might be more comfortable… but enough is enough.
What started as a simple awkward-looking rubber clog has somehow morphed into a whole line of Crocs footwear. There are Crocs for every occasion – sandal Crocs, boot Crocs and even high-heeled Crocs. What? I wasn't aware we needed high-heeled Crocs. My mistake.
There's no stopping it now, of course – the Crocs have already been made and sold. But we can try to avoid future Crocs-like fads by keeping the occasion-specific footwear occasion specific. So, let's keep the snowshoes in the snow.
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Healthy Pet Food
Humans watch what they eat to stay healthy, but a cat or dog can only watch their food go into a bowl. It’s up to caring pet owners to watch which nutrients their pets are getting from the food they eat.
There are many companies who pride themselves in making pet foods that are high in nutrients to keep pets healthy. For pet owners who want to be more involved in the diet of their pets by making the pet food themselves, the task isn’t that difficult.
Dogs prefer flavors like liver, lamb, beef, fish and cheese. Cats prefer fresh flavors, and they like chicken, liver, fish and turkey. Dogs are able to eat any vegetables, but cats cannot have starchy vegetables, like peas and corn, or onions. Grains, like wheat germ, cooked oatmeal and whole wheat bread, can also be added. For actual dog and cat food recipes, search the Internet or talk to your veterinarian for suggestions. Of course, pet owners should always consult a veterinarian before changing their pet’s diet.
With practice, pet owners will find that making their own pet food is not only healthy for their pets, but it is also inexpensive and fairly easy to do.
Chicken & Rice for Dogs
Ingredients:
1 cup boiled chicken
½ cup cooked brown rice
½ cup steamed mixed vegetables (carrots, green beans, spinach, potatoes)
4 tablespoons unsalted chicken broth
Boil chicken and add to cooked rice. Steam the vegetables and add the broth, rice and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes, cool and serve.
Sautéed Liver for Cats
Ingredients:
¼ pound beef liver
½ cup water
1 teaspoon corn oil
Heat the corn oil in a pan. Add the beef liver and fry on both sides until cooked but not dry inside. Add the water to the pan and mix it up with all the brown bits. Grind the liver in a blender with all of the juices from the pan. Cool and serve.
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Sometimes the grass really is greener…
…depending on the amount of water, mulch, pesticides, fertilizers, time and money used on the project. But if you are looking for a fun, ecologically friendly way to free yourself from the tyranny of your lawn, consider finding a plant and revitalization project in your area.
Local plants, having adapted to local conditions, are often easier to maintain than foreign imports and are better able to support local animal life. This often translates to a healthier ecosystem. Greater biodiversity helps keep pests under control by encouraging a healthy competition for resources, therefore limiting the overgrowth of any one species.
One example of private and corporate citizens working together to assure conservation is the Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project. Through a combination of data gathering, workshops, volunteer planting and conservation efforts, Chicago Wilderness boasts a networked area of more than 250,000 acres crossing three states (Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana) and several metropolitan areas containing almost 9 million people.
While some of the Wilderness areas are officially protected, much is not. It is managed through the efforts of corporate and private citizens who voluntarily take part in the program by encouraging natural species on the land around their work and homes. In addition to providing reserves for several endangered plant and animal species, the Chicago Wilderness is also a working model for how natural diversity can be successfully managed in and around an urban environment for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone.
For more information on the Chicago Wilderness, check out Habitatproject.org