Articles written by Jim Smoot - Page 4

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About me - Jim Smoot

I am (among other things) a blogger, freelance writer, and internet marketer from Ohio. I started writing not only as a creative outlet, but also as a way to generate a little extra income.

I'm also working toward owning my own restaurant. With over 30 years

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Health & Fitness > Pediatrics Should vaccinations for children be mandatory?: 4 of 18
In a perfect world, parents would always make the right decisions for their children. Sadly, we do not live in that world. There are parents who choose not to make the necessary sacrifices for their children if it causes an inconvenience. Investing the time and money to make sure their children have the proper immunizations ... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending Leasing vs. buying a car: 5 of 21
How to avoid getting fleeced by a lease! The deal sounds incredible. How could you afford to pass it up? You could be behind the wheel of that shiny new car you've always dreamed about for about the same monthly payment as an average sedan being sold on the same car lot. By leasing you could get your car for a fraction of wh... More..
Personal Finance > Taxes Common 401(k) investing mistakes: 1 of 4
One of the benefits many companies offer their employees is a 401(k) retirement account. A 401(k) (or 403(b) for non-profit organizations), allows you to put a cetain percentage of your pay into a retirement account. This is tax deferred, which means it is taken out of your pay before taxes are calculated. If your company of... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Self-Awareness & Realization Self denial: 1 of 4
It's a fine line we walk. When we get married, me becomes we. Two individuals become one couple. Instead of decisions being made based on what's best for me, the decisions are based on what's best for us. That requires self denial. When children enter the picture, the self denial becomes even more necessary. At that point, n... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Climate Change Global warming: What's the real truth?: 23 of 88
There are two separate, but related issues to consider when discussing global warming: Is global warming a reality, and is global warming a result of hman activity? Answering these questions has proven to be very difficult. "Experts" have lined up on both sides of the issue, and have accused their opponents of using junk sci... More..
Education > Adult Education Returning to college during middle age: 8 of 30
I reached my decision to return to school when I was 30 years old. After years of bouncing around in low paying jobs, I decided it was time to do what it takes to move my career to the next level. It was a difficult decision. By the time I got my degree I would be 34 years old. Then it struck me; in four year I would be 34 y... More..
Business > Leadership Strategies Leadership strategies: Methods to help managers listen: 2 of 7
For some people, being a good listener seems to come natural. For others, you can tell they're not really listening at all. Two minutes after the conversation is over, they will be clueless about what was said. To be an effective leader, it is crucial to master the art of being a good listener. It's odd that something so sim... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Justice System Should there be a limit on punitive damages in civil suits?: 2 of 7
One point that needs to be remembered when debating limits on punitive damages is that there are different types of damages that are available in a civil suit. Most people focus on the huge punitive awards that are given out without considering what is really happening in theses cases. The first award that is considered is t... More..
Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) True gardening stories: What my garden taught me - the hard way: 26 of 88
As any gardener knows, your garden can be a place that not only provides beautiful flowers or tasty veggies, it can also be a valuable class room for life lessons. There are many lessons that my garden has taught me the hard way. The first lesson is patience. Plants grow in their own time. You can provide the best soil mixtu... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Immigration Cause for the sudden controversy over immigration in the US: 7 of 23
A sudden controversy over immigration? I don't think so. Business' ongoing effort to find cheap labor has long attracted illegal immigrants. That's nothing new. So why is it big news these days? Over the years, human rights advocates, especially the Latin-American groups have grow in political power. They have battled for, a... More..