Articles written by Donna Bessken

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About me - Donna Bessken

Freelance writer. Professional educator and resource manager. With many years of experience in our National Parks I have a world of outdoor skills and stories. I share some of them at my California Camping site http://tiptopwebsite.com/monk. You can see a

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Arts & Humanities > Photography Tips for buying digital photography software as a gift: 1 of 4
First time buyers have some special challenges when choosing digital cameras and related software as gifts. My first suggestion is to be sure to keep the receipt in case the person you bought the gift for already has the gift or prefers a different type of digital software.Remember, your goal is to give a gift that shows you ... More..
Computers & Technology > Internet Trends Is online video/Internet TV here to stay?: 32 of 78
Absolutely, online video and Internet TV has arrived and is likely to only get better. Yes, it is here to stay in at least one of its many forms. The question of quality is a different issue. The question of worthwhile content is yet another issue. I do not expect online TV to go away in the foreseeable future. YouTube has ha... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms Behind the name: Connor: 5 of 12
BEHIND THE NAME: CONNOR==================================ETYMOLOGYC onnor is pronounced KAH-nor. Connor means lover of wolves, dogs, hounds and suggests wisdom and strong will. Connor the Wolf Lover is wise and strong describes the character of this name.ORIGIN & HISTORYConnor is an Irish name with ancient Gaelic beginnings. T... More..
Sports & Recreation > Camping Camp tips: How to sleep warm in the forest: 4 of 8
Rarely have I ever been cold during a camping night. I learned the hard way by sleeping in puddles in leaky tents with scout groups. Since then, I have camped comfortably in cold weather in wilderness areas and state and private campgrounds.Unless you are camping with family and kids, choose the smallest tent you can fit into... More..
Home & Garden > Rental Properties Property managers: Top 10 warning signs of potential bad renters: 14 of 27
Top Ten Signs of Bad RentersPay attention .Usually the clues are right there. Keep a checklist and notes on each client.Each of these top ten warning signs has clues you can use to decide whether they are potential rental risks or reliable clients.1. Vehicle. Is it clean and operating well? Are the tires bald?2. Personal Groo... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) How to earn cash by recycling: 7 of 13
Reduce-Reuse-Recycle has been my life-long mantra. I recycle even when it is not cost-effective. But I appreciate the rewards when it pays me back too.Grampa coached us to collect aluminum foil, even from gum wrappers. We rolled the tiny scraps into big shiny balls. He explained how important it was to conserve metals because... More..
Computers & Technology > Operating Systems Is Windows Vista worth the upgrade?: 27 of 44
Given the choice to try out Windows Vista at one of the places I work, I enjoyed the trial. And discovered there is NO way I want to have Vista on my laptop. Yes, there is a slight learning curve to adjust to the tabs, and once learned, I got to like that feature. But it was so very much slower to respond than Windows XP whic... More..
Computers & Technology > Cameras Best digital cameras for capturing unforgettable moments: 8 of 10
Ah! The Magic Moment. It comes and goes so swiftly. Those holiday smiles and surprises are life long memories. This is most certainly true when you are prepared with a useful, functioning digital camera to capture them. Perhaps the easiest digital camera for a first time user is the Kodak Easy Share. Beyond that, you may stil... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Celebrations & Holidays (Other) The meaning of summer solstice celebrations: 6 of 7
The Summer Solstice is the time in the Northern Hemisphere when the sun is in its glory. This is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. The summer solstice falls on June 21st or 22nd every year. In terms of the position of the sun relative to Earth, the summer solstice in eastern US is at 7:59 p.m. Historically, ... More..
Health & Fitness > Herbal & Natural Remedies Natural cures for constipation: 8 of 8
Irregularity is a common ailment of modern times. Even the alternating constipation and diarrhea that hints of an irritable bowel syndrome is becoming more well known.In our family for several generations I have seen good results with the following suggestions when followed with patience and (pardon the pun)regularity.First. ... More..