Articles written by Liz McGuire - Page 3

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About me - Liz McGuire

I love to write. I majored in English in college, switching to journalism when I didn't believe my Adviser when he said "It's not what you DO with and English major, it's what you ARE." But I hated journalism. So, while I did get my first real job writing

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Personal Finance > Real Estate Pros and cons of choosing a condo over a house: 15 of 28
Condo or house? This is a tough decision. And a trick question. You like the idea of yard on all four sides a buffer from the neighbors. But you don't like the idea of mowing the lawn. You desire privacy. But you like to socialize too. A pool would be nice. But the cost is way above your budget. Here's a secret to help you m... More..
Pets & Animals > Birds Birding: How to build a backyard pond that attracts birds: 4 of 7
Backyard ponds offer many treats for homeowners. The fish are soothing to watch, of course. The pond environment opens a new window for the gardener who wants a new challenge. And nothing calms the nerves better than the sound of a fountain or waterfall trickling in the background. But one overlooked charm of having a pond i... More..
Business > International Business & Trade Outsourcing causes more problems than cures for a company: 10 of 17
When one thinks of outsourcing in the United States, the most common arrangement that most people will think of is of call centers in India. This is indeed outsourcing, and reportedly does cause problems with respect to customer service and the transferring of jobs out of the country (unless you are Indian). But that is a sm... More..
Travel > Air Travel & Airlines How to increase your chances of surviving a plane crash: 3 of 5
The gruesome news photos we see when a plane crashes, instill in us a fatalistic attitude. We view crashes as unsurvivable. The truth is, that the majority of crashes do yield survivors. Although luck plays a large part of it, there are steps you can take to get out of the airplane alive, and minimize your injuries. Statisti... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) Political propaganda and voter choice: 36 of 58
"I voted for the $87 billion dollars. . . before I voted against it". Who would vote for a person so wishy-washy? John Kerry's campaign staff must have been asleep at the switch when he uttered that statement. What a flip-flopper. Add to that his contrived war heroism in Viet Nam and you have a very weak candidate indeed. If... More..
Health & Fitness > Aging & Longevity Tips for maximizing your cognitive abilities as you age: 11 of 17
We all joke about it the loss of cognitive abilities as we get older. Even in middle age, we find ourselves standing in the kitchen wondering what the heck we went in for. We don't like doing puzzles any more because we just can't seem to finish them. We think we are burned out at work because we can't seem to do the same wo... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards Credit card safety: Why you should sign your card: 14 of 21
Contrary to popular belief, most credit card issuers recognize an unsigned card as valid. All you need to do is write "See ID" in place of the signature. When merchants see the "See ID" notation, they are required to ask you for your picture ID. The idea behind this is that merchant does not have to match up the signatures, ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > People in the News Controversial radio host Don Imus: Should he be fired for his remarks?: 83 of 110
As disgusting as Don Imus' words were, consider these facts. He hosts a talk show on which he reportedly insults everybody. He did not libel anyone. He did not incite a riot or a hate crime. He has a constitutional right to say anything he wants to. It is apparently acceptable to spout bigotry and insult any class of citizen... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political Issues Should the United States have universal health care?: 73 of 96
Universal health care is not only a good move for the United States, it is becoming a economic necessity. The basic premise of universal health care is that health care should be available all citizens. The subject is emotionally charged and has become a political hot potato. But in looking at the facts, universal health car... More..
Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) True gardening stories: Oops!: 48 of 63
Dressed in mud-stained jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, already perspiring from the 85 degree heat, I selected my weapon of choice. I carefully slid my just-sharpened pruners into my garden tool holster. Next, I generously sprayed myself with insect repellent. Not the wimpy, baby-wipe goo. But the toxic poison one usually res... More..