Telecommuting: Bringing the Work Back Home

The Industrial Revolution brought people out of cottage industries and into the public workplace. Years of long commutes back and forth to work and the stresses of dealing with heavy traffic and with strange office politics have left much of the workforce in search of a well-deserved break. Many people have discovered a path back to their cottages. They are the telecommuters.

In recent history, technology has opened a door of opportunity to employees that allows them to work from home. These employees are evolving into telecommuters. Modern communications technology and a drastic improvement in computer capabilities now allow workers to perform their jobs from home instead of requiring them to commute to and from the workplace.  In years past, if someone wasn't working from home, it meant that they didn't have a home and they were typically labeled a nomad. As time went by and people began congregating in centralized locations to perform their work duties, the idea of working from home became synonymous with being a nomad. It was even rumored that a person working from their home would likely wander from job to job. In present times, it seems that history is repeating itself and workers are making their way back home. (Whitford, 44)

A telecommuter, or "distance worker", as they are often called, is an employee who opens a channel between their place of work and their home to conduct business away from the office. (Wiscombe, 18) This channel may be a telephone line with a modem, a cable line with a broadband modem, or even a T1 line. Using this channel, an employee gains access to files on their computer and other company resources including, but not limited to, internal company servers and mainframes. Some businesses even offer a connection to their servers through a secure website on the Internet. There are many other contributors to the increase in telecommuting. Rick Howell, the vice president of human resources for The Heathman Group, a Portland Oregon based chain of hotels and restaurants, says, "The Internet has certainly helped speed things along, but there are many other forces driving the trend toward telecommuting. Email is a big factor and cell phones, laptops, fax machines, and wide area networks play a big part, too." (Whitford, 44)

How to Secure Your Home While Away on Summer Vacation

Summer is the perfect time to go away for a relaxing vacation. An unguarded home, however, is a perfect target for thieves. Take a few precautions before you leave for vacation to provide you peace of mind and true relaxation.

Secure your important information. Purchase a removable or external hard disk drive for your computer. Save all important files and financial records on this hard disk drive only and not on your primary hard drive. This portable drive should be removed from your home when you are away for extended periods and may be stored in a safe deposit box. All important hard copies of deeds, licenses, birth certificates, social security cards, unused credit cards, etc. should be kept secure in an off-site safe deposit box as well.

Secure the perimeter of your home. If you have a sliding glass door, place a broom handle or stick in the track of the door to prevent it from being opened. The latch on a sliding glass door is very easy to bypass. Drill holes in the upper right or left corner of all lower panes of your wooden windows and insert a long nail, which will make opening the window difficult from outside the home.

Ask a friend or trusted neighbor to collect your mail each day while you are away. Ask them to also walk around your home and look for anything strange. If possible, leave at least one car parked in your driveway and leave a few lights on inside the home. Purchase several timers and set them to turn on at dusk and turn off around the time you would normally go to bed. If a thief is watching your house, this may fool them into believing that someone is home.

Perform a walkthrough of your entire home and film everything using a video camera. Store the tape along with all other important items in your safe deposit box. This evidence will be useful to provide to the police and your insurance company if someone does manage to break in and steal or damage items in your home.

Inspect both the inside and outside of your home one last time before you leave. Unplug any dangerous or energy inefficient appliances and raise the temperature slightly on the thermostat. Check that your oven is turned off. Close all blinds or curtains, making it difficult to see into the home from outside. Make sure all exterior doors are locked and place padlocks on all gates, storage buildings, and crawlspace doors.


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How to Spend a Relaxing Day at the Beach by Yourself

A day at the beach with the whole family is fun, but a day at the beach by yourself is an entirely different experience.

Do some research online and find a quiet, secluded beach that is appealing to you. The best beaches to visit when you are searching for a little peace and quiet are the more natural ones without an overabundance of hotels and residential homes. Believe it or not, beaches like this do still exist and they're not that hard to find. You may have to drive a long way to get there, but it will be worth the journey. Even beaches in close proximity to you may be less populated in the off-peak season and during the week. Take plenty of supplies with you so that you are comfortable. Pack a first aid kit in case you find yourself too far from civilization to acquire medical assistance.

Explore the beach and admire the awesome beauty of nature. Take lots of pictures with your disposable camera, but leave everything else untouched so that the next person to visit the beach can enjoy its natural beauty as well. If you were brave enough to bring an expensive camera, be very careful to protect it from sand and moisture. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon are the best times to get dramatic beach photographs.

Find a secluded spot and spread your beach towel or bamboo mat. Enjoy the soft, peaceful sounds of the waves crashing and the birds chirping. Immerse yourself in that good book that you've wanted to read. Don't forget to apply sunscreen several times throughout the day. You can still be burned by the sun's ultraviolet rays on a cloudy, overcast day.

Do not swim in the ocean while you are alone. If you are pulled away from shore by a strong rip current, there will be no one to save you. Save swimming for your next visit to the crowded public beach with lifeguards. Never turn your back on the ocean!

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How to Get Through Airport Security Checkpoints Quickly

Seeing the airport security checkpoint is intimidating for those who don’t travel by air very often. Long lines and frustrated travelers make the checkpoint seem like an unfriendly place. Security screenings don’t have to be an overwhelming experience if you are prepared.

Visit the website for the airport where your flight will depart. They should have a list of regulations for passengers. These rules are subject to change, so don't assume if you've flown before that you know what to do and what not to do.

Dress appropriately. Don't wear shirts with offensive messages or outfits that are too revealing. Think comfort and simplicity. Check all of your pockets before leaving for the trip and remove all metal objects and anything that could be considered dangerous or questionable. Sandals or flip flops are great footwear for flights because they can be slipped on and off quickly and easily. Carry a backpack or duffle bag and put your loose change, keys, mobile phone, and anything metal in your bag. This will be your carry-on bag. Make sure there is nothing dangerous in the bag. Pack all liquids, toiletries, razors, etc. in the luggage that you check at the counter when you receive your boarding pass. You don't need any of those things on the plane, so why let them slow you down? If you require medication during the flight, have all of the necessary information about the medicine with you and be sure the name on the bottle is your own.

Arrive at the airport least an hour and a half before your flight boards. Be serious when passing through the security check point and pay attention to everything going on around you. There will be plenty of time for jokes and horseplay once you get to the gate. Watch the security agents for cues, respond when they talk to you, and follow all directions. If they select you for additional screening, don't get angry or ask why. It's a random procedure that is enforced in order to keep us all safe and it usually only takes an extra few minutes at most. Be polite to everyone around you and speak in a normal voice.

Have your boarding pass and ID in your hand because it will be reviewed by several security agents as you advance through the check point. Remove your sandals or flips flops and put them in a plastic bin. Place your backpack or duffle bag in a separate plastic bin. If you have a laptop computer, remove it from its carrying case and place it in a plastic bin. All of these items should be placed on the moving belt. Be sure to remove your belt if the buckle activates the metal detectors.

If you are selected for extra screening or if someone traveling with you is, then watch each other's belongings as you wait. Following these simple tips will make passing airport security check points faster and easier and it will increase the chances of you making your flight if you're in a hurry.


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How to Write Articles while on Vacation

Just because you go on vacation, you don't have to forfeit valuable writing time. Prepare wisely so that you will always have the appropriate writing tools available when inspiration sets in.

Make the most of your tiem away from work. Vacation is a time for relaxation and for doing as little as possible. When your mind is at rest and free from distractions, you can put it to good use by thinking of ideas to write about. How often do you find yourself thinking of great article topics, but you are unprepared and have no viable means to develop them into complete articles? Prepare yourself to write while on vacation or simply away from home by taking along equipment that will allow you to record your thoughts in a format that is easy to convert and upload to your preferred content resource web site.

Buy a laptop or netbook PC. Lower priced laptops and netbooks have made mobile computing accessible to a larger segment of the population. Many professionals need a full-featured laptop in order to conduct business while away from the office, but writers who simply want to record their thoughts at a moment's notice, should consider a lower cost netbook. The netbook fills the need for mobile word processing without imposing a huge expense. If you are fortunate enough to have a laptop or a netbook, you should have no trouble creating quality content on-the-go. Wireless Internet access makes online publishing convenient because you don't have to wait until you get home to make your work available to the world.

Don't leave home without a means to record your thoughts. If a laptop or netbook is out of your price range, consider purchasing a lightly used PDA, like a Palm Pilot or an HP iPAQ mobile computer from an online auction. Portable keyboards are available which are compatible with PDA's. It is even possible to type entire articles using a stylus and on-screen keyboard. That's precisely how this article was written. While it is a labor of love and quite tedious, it will be easier to transfer at a later time than a hand-written document.

Use whatever means you have at your disposal to record your ideas. When no digital solution is available, you may find yourself using an old-fashioned method: pencil or pen and paper. If you think ahead, you can make even this format easier to transfer to the web. Hand-write the article using only printed letters, not cursive and try to write as clearly as possible. If you scan this page later using a scanner with OCR (object character recognition), then you may be able to convert it to a digital document with only minor corrections, thus saving you a lot of time and typing.


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How to Travel to Myrtle Beach, SC from Charlotte, NC

It's time to leave for that much anticipated trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. Your family and friends are all packed and ready to go. You begin your journey from Charlotte, North Carolina. What is the safest and fastest route to Myrtle Beach SC from Charlotte? There are so many ways to go, but which one is the best?

Take I77 south towards Columbia. You will pass Carowinds, Tega Cay, Rock Hill, SC and two rest areas. Take the exit for Highway 9, which is located just after the second rest area. At the top of the exit ramp, take a left, which will direct you onto Highway 9 south towards Lancaster.

Stay on Highway 9 bypass and then take Highway 903. Travel on Highway 903 until you get to the city of Mcbee, where you will find Highway 151. Watch your speed through Mcbee. The limit drops to 25mph and the police are very aggressive against beach travelers who speed through their town.

Take Highway 151 south towards Darlington which runs into Highway 52. When you reach Darlington, take Interstate 95 north and then the Highway 327 bypass, which runs into 76/301. This will eventually turn into Highway 501. If you are going to Myrtle Beach, Highway 501 will run straight to the beach. If you are going to North Myrtle Beach, take the exit for Highway 22. This will take you straight to the outlet mall in North Myrtle. From there, take Highway 17 north to continue to North Myrtle Beach.

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How to Travel through Time

Do you long for a way to relive your past? Are you looking for creative ways to improve your future? It’s not as difficult as you think.

What exactly is time? Time is a man-made invention that was created centuries ago by humans allowing them the ability to record events in order to remember them and to create markers to reference when the events happened in relation to one another. There are two basic ways to travel through time, forwards and backwards. In this article, I will discuss some of the best methods for making forward time travel a unique and rewarding experience; so much so, that it should eliminate the need for reverse time travel altogether. For this journey, prepare yourself with some basic recording tools, such as a journal and a digital camera, so that you can easily document your experiences.

One of the most important tools for a time-traveler is a time marker. A time marker can be anything of significance created so that you, or future generations, can remember a specific moment in time. A time marker doesn’t have to be created on a grand scale, like the Great Wall of China or Mount Rushmore. It may be something as simple as a photograph. Many people have created time capsule markers, which offer a collection of items from a certain time period. In most cases, these capsules are opened anywhere from fifty to one hundred years after they are sealed. The idea is to mark a reference in time in a way that will allow you or other people to experience it many years later and return to that point in time. For forward-only time travelers, returning to a previous point in time, means simply remembering the events of that moment or dreaming about it, but not physically visiting it.

I mentioned earlier in this article, the notion of making forward time travel a rewarding experience. Create a marker right now, consisting of a journal entry expressing how you are doing in life at this very moment. Include your thoughts, feelings, financial situation, and anything significant that represents who you are. Create a collection photos or a video of yourself. Be sure to actually print the photographs as you cannot be certain that the digital method that you currently use to store photos now will still be used in the future. (ex. the floppy disk) Place all of this in a safe place, like a time capsule, and don’t read or watch it again for at least one year; even better, five or ten years. Now create a list of goals outlining things that you wish to accomplish by the next time you view these stored materials. Do you want to be more successful, build something, lose weight, or have children? Focus your time and energy towards reaching these goals and constantly improving yourself.

When the time is right, open the capsule and read your journal entry, play the video tape, or look at the pictures you took. Did you accomplish the goals that you set for yourself? This simple practice has the potential to make a great impact on your life and possibly eliminate the regrets or wishes that cause people to desire traveling backwards in time to change earlier events. Isn’t reverse time travel what interested you in searching for this topic in the first place? Using a simple series of time markers to travel to the past in your mind should always be sufficient if you are living a fulfilling life.

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How to Find Things To Do in Gaston County, North Carolina

Whether you are a visitor to Gaston County or a native, a common question that I hear is "what is there to do in Gaston County?" In this article, I will provide some entertaining alternatives that will provide fun at a minimal cost.

One great attraction that will provide hours of beauty is the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. The entrance to the garden is located at 6500 South New Hope Road in the city of Belmont, NC, which is between Charlotte and Gastonia. This is a fun way to spend the day while enjoying the beauty of nature. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is located just minutes from Lake Wylie.

An exciting new attraction in Gaston County is the U.S. National Whitewater Center. This multi-channel recirculating whitewater training facility has been recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. Rafters and kayakers will enjoy a full day of rafting without leaving the 300 acre facility. This center is located along the Catawba River and also provides scenic hikes, a climbing center, a restaurant, and bathroom facilities.

If you are visiting Gaston County during the Christmas holidays, you absolutely cannot miss the town of McAdenville aka. Christmastown USA. Each December, this beautiful little town becomes a brilliant spectacle of Christmas lights and decorations that has become known far and wide. Visitors from all over the country come to drive or walk through McAdenville, singing Christmas carols as they go. McAdenville is located off I-85 N, Exit 22 at Lowell/Cramerton and also I-85 S, Exit 27 at Belmont/Mt. Holly.

A perfect place to take a day hike and/or a picnic is Crowder's Mountain State Park, located at 522 Park Office Lane in Kings Mountain. There are covered shelters in the picnic area and several easy to moderate walking trails that take you up the mountain. Rock climbing is available for those with experience. One of my favorite things to do is to pack a backpack with some sandwiches and drinks, hike to the top of Crowder's Mountain, and enjoy the view while eating lunch. Be sure to take whatever you came with back down the mountain with you.

Martha Rivers Park is a beautiful park located on Neil Hawkins Road off of Union Road in Gastonia. This park offers numerous sports fields including baseball and soccer. There is a tremendous playground which resembles a castle that you have to see to believe. Children will enjoy hours of fun, running and climbing on the structures and playing in the sand. There are picnic tables and covered shelters (may be reserved for special events) located near one side of the park. When you need to cool off, there is even an ice cream shop located just outside the entrance of the park and within walking distance. Martha Rivers Park is free to use and offers a whole day of fun for the entire family. Public restroom facilities and water fountains are also available.

The Schiele Museum of Natural History is another amazing attraction located in the City of Gastonia. There are several scenic hiking trails around the facility with a replica of an 18th century farm, a Grist Mill, and an authentic Catawba Indian village. The museum has a planetarium as well as numerous exhibits featuring species of animals native to the Southeast United States.

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