Articles written by I. Michael Akbar

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About me - I. Michael Akbar

My background is quite varied and diverse. I attended a private college prep boarding school with president's and senator's sons and later sold frozen meat door-to-door on the streets of Chicago. I spent three years at Northwestern University and later drove

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Jobs & Careers > Education Jobs The characteristics of a good teacher: 1 of 37
I just finished watching the Super Bowl where physically impressive men pounded on each other for the right to be called football champions. On either side of the field there were about a hundred guys each earning at least six figure incomes, if not millions. At the same time, there were teachers all around the country prepar... More..
Relationships & Family > Married Life Signs that your man loves you: 3 of 72
Whether you have known him for years or you just started dating him, women may often ask themselves how to know if he really loves you. It may be hard to come up with a definitive list of how to tell when your man loves you. There are hundreds of signs, but unfortunately, most of them can be faked by ill-intended cads with ... More..
Relationships & Family > Divorce Psychology After a divorce: Dating and your ex-spouse: 1 of 24
Divorce is supposed to be a final end to a relationship, right? Doesn't it mean that the relationship is finished, over, done, dissolved, finito? The ex-spouse has nothing whatsoever to do or say about your choice in dating and you have no say so whatsoever about whom they decide to date, or do you?But what about when there a... More..
Pets & Animals > Cat Psychology What is it about catnip that makes cats go crazy?: 2 of 40
You walk into the room to find your cat rolling, jumping, drooling, running and growling. Or he may be uncharacteristically drowsy or listless. Not to worry; he probably just got a whiff or two of catnip. Catnip is a perennial herb belonging to the mint family.The cat's behavior is in response to the herb's powerful natural c... More..
Relationships & Family > Domestic Violence & Abuse Healing from toxic relationships: 2 of 39
To heal from a toxic relationship you must first come to understand just how damaging such a relationship can be. Emotional vampirism might be an apt description when it comes to toxic relationships, where one partner continually drains the emotional life from their partner in order to sustain their own weak self-image and da... More..
Jobs & Careers > Office Politics How to get revenge on the co-worker from hell: 1 of 17
So you have a coworker from hell that makes life on the job a nightmare. My advice would be not to seek revenge but to try and focus only on the things that you can control. Many times when you give negative energy and focus to a bad situation you only make it worse. For example, I had a coworker who was constantly complainin... More..
Pets & Animals > Cat Care & Health Tips for dealing with a stray cat: 3 of 37
The first step in dealing with a stray cat is to make sure that it is simply stray. The cat may otherwise be a pet that is allowed outdoors, a recently lost pet for which the owner is still looking, or a cat that has gone wild or feral.Companion cats are usually friendly and respond quickly to affection. If it looks well-fed ... More..
Home & Garden > Real Estate (Other) Commentary on long-distance moving: 6 of 69
There are a lot of logistics involved in moving long distance. There is finding new housing and getting the children enrolled in school. There is the finding and hiring of the best moving company, getting utilities turned off and turned on, arranging pet care, putting the old house on the market, and holding a garage sale to ... More..
Relationships & Family > Divorce Psychology Divorce: How to adjust to being single again: 2 of 21
Even if you have survived your divorced and have the papers to prove it, there may be still be big adjustments needed before you feel comfortable being single again. There are several things you might consider doing to help smooth your transition back to single life. Let's take a look at a few of them.REDISCOVER YOURSELFDid y... More..
Relationships & Family > Successful Dating Fun dinner ideas on a budget: 3 of 28
You have a budget and you are trying to be financially responsible, paying off your student loans or saving to buy a house. But you just met the most wonderful person in the world and want to spend as much time as possible with them and have a great time getting to know them. Having a budget and sticking to it doesn't mean th... More..