Crazy weather over the weekend with flooding throughout the Heart Of Florida.  I just read the outlook for winter and it looks like Florida will be somewhat normal with a dry conditions through the new year.

Asking for a raise can be a stressful event in life.  Here are some pointers I found that may help you increase your salary upwards of 20%.

Negotiate Your Salary--Makes sense right?  Everything is negotiable, so when it’s time to negotiate, do your homework.  Point out your accomplishments since your last salary meeting.  Although you may not receive it, pointing out your value to the company will keep you top of mind for the nest round or when things look rosier for the company (see next bullet point).

Timing Is Everything–Be sensitive to not only your boss’ mood, but your company’s fiscal health and budget cycle so you don’t ask for a raise when business is slow or after the yearly budget has been set. Experts say Wednesday is usually the least stressful day of the week to approach your boss.

Do, Then Ask–It’s a pretty easy concept, do the work first THEN ask for the money.  The easiest way to get promotion is to actually be doing that work and to be doing it well. You want to start about 30 days in advance so that you don’t peter out and so that you have enough time to make a real impact,” says Nicole Williams, connection director at Linkedln.

Perks–If you find the  salary pretty much set in stone, look for other ways to capitalize on more with other perks like additional flex or vacation time.

Read the complete story here & Thanks to Yahoo!

Happy Wednesday!~Chris Malone

Last week I said goodbye to an old friend.  One that for the past 7 years had been apart of my life everyday and got me to where I was going in comfort and style.  My car had seen better days and with nearly 209,000 miles it was time to send it to the big junkyard in the sky.  I’ll admit this to you that my eyes were misty as it was driven off to another lot my the salesman.  As life goes, when one chapter closes another one begins.  My new car, er,  a new car to me is wonderful and I will enjoy future  memories with it until once again the odometer reaches the 200,000 mile mark!

Here is a funny list of “You Know It’s Time For A New Car When…” lists:

=You make a left turn and your date falls out.

=You lose a “stoplight challenge” to a 16-year-old on a moped.

=Your temporary spare tire is worn down to the hub.

=All the letters except one fell off of your car maker’s logo

=The Wal-Mart Car Center stops stocking parts for your car.

=Still have original-equipment “Admiral” tires.

=It’s easier to see with your head outside the passenger window.

=You have to connect the lapbelt from the center seat to the buckle on your driver’s side.

=Your tilt steering wheel keeps falling into your lap.

=You burn out a tube in your car radio.

Because I am a Star Wars fan, here’s a link on how to carve your Halloween pumpkin into your very own Death Star!

Happy Friday!  I love this fall weather and only hope it continues without one last shot of hot, humid summer air!  With fall, my memories turn back to a time when we all anticipated the fall TV schedule and the network’s fall premiere specials that highlighted the new shows.  So I think it would be neat to see some TV shows that have withstood the test of time and changes in pop culture to earn their place in history in longevity:

“The Simpsons” (23 seasons)
When the Simpsons made their first appearance, in 1989, they were only a pack of demented yellow cartoon characters, prone to violence and beer chugging. These two-minute shorts appeared during “The Tracey Ullman Show.” Today the show incorporates hundreds of characters, celebrity cameos and has introduced “D’oh!” to the English language. Truly, “The Simpsons” is the reigning champion of prime-time cartoons.

“Candid Camera” (38 seasons)
“Smile! You’re on ‘Candid Camera’!” Six decades before “Punk’d,” Allen Funt was playing practical jokes on random people in front of hidden cameras. What’s more: The original series was “Hidden Microphone,” produced for radio!

“Doctor Who” (26 seasons)
Dr. Who is the Hamlet of science-fiction roles: Every British actor hopes to pilot the Tardis. The Time Lords have inspired endless spin-offs, books, miniseries and trivia since 1963, and despite a 16-year gap between the classic series and its most recent revival, fans are more loyal than ever.

“Gunsmoke” (20 seasons)
Ah, the Wild West, a lawless frontier of sheriffs and cowboys, honky-tonks and gun battles. “Gunsmoke” told the story of Marshal Matt Dillon, who protected Dodge City for 20 years, and then returned for some TV movies. James Arness started the role in 1955. He rode into his final sunset last June.

“Law & Order” (20 seasons)
What does 20 years of “Law & Order” look like? It looks like a $700 box set, with 104 DVDs and 456 episodes. “Law & Order” was formulaic and dry on character, but millions of devoted fans still tune in to learn about police procedure and the court system.

“The Real World” (26 seasons)
Crazy, isn’t it? The original reality show, which kicked off an entire genre of television, is nearly 20 years old. The concept was radical: Put a bunch of young people in a house together and see what happens. And holy moly, the things that happened: race-baiting, one-night-stands, Hawaiian drinking binges, and a full-fledged wedding. Other reality shows may be tenser, louder and more gimmicky, but “The Real World” will always be the pioneer.

“The Price Is Right” (44 seasons)
“The Price Is Right” hasn’t changed much since 1972. The song and the title cards are basically the same. (However, the prices have been adjusted for inflation.) But even diehard fans forget that the show first aired in 1956, live and in black-and-white. How long ago was that? Bob Barker was only 33, and he would host “Truth or Consequences” for 16 years before even starting to host “The Price Is Right.”

Enjoy the weekend!~Chris Malone

I would be remiss in not thanking Steve Jobs for truly making modern life mobile, amazing and fun.  The man behind the iPod, iPhone and iPad passed away yesterday at the age of 56. For me, I remember the first road trip that included an iPod and how amazed that there was access to hundreds of songs in one, simple and sleek pocket-sized computer.  More recently it was the purchase of my first iPhone (iPhone 4 by the way) and how it made a regular cell phone into an entertainment machine that makes waiting in the doctor’s waiting room enjoyable.  I think everyone has their own i-something story and as Facebook joins us socially, Apple’s innovative electronic gadgets started a revolution that will shape the world for years to come.

It has been said that each generation of humans outlive the previous because of the advancement of technology, but the latest generation may have a shorter lifespan because of many lifestyle choices including diet.  Surprisingly The Cheesecake Factory, which I love, has 3 of the top 10 most fatty and caloric meals available.

Here’s the list of the top 10 worst kids’ foods:

1. The Cheesecake Factory Kids Pasta with Alfredo Sauce (1,810 calories)

2. On the Border Kid’s Cheese Quesadilla with Mexican Rice (1,220 calories)

3. Outback Steakhouse Joey Spotted Dog Sundae (1,216 calories)

4. California Pizza Kitchen Kids Curly Mac n’ Cheese with Edamame (1,088 calories)

5. Friendly’s Dippin’ Chicken Salad (950 calories)

6. McDonald’s Mighty Kids Meal with Double Cheeseburger, Fries (small), and 1% Chocolate Milk (840 calories)

7. The Cheesecake Factory Kids Southern Fried Chicken Sliders (820 calories)

8. The Cheesecake Factory Kids Grilled Cheese Sandwich (810 calories)

9. KFC Kids Meal with Popcorn Chicken, Potato Wedges, and Pepsi (800 calories)

10. Applebee’s Kids Oreo Cookie Shake (780 calories)

Read the NY Daily News story here

In my opinion, reports like this are needed as a wake up call.  Remember when fast food was singled out for providing higher than needed fatty and caloric foods?  The industry trimmed down their menu items and as you can tell, only a couple of their foods made this list.  We can keep the pressure on to make healthier choices and perhaps the trend of each generation outliving the previous will continue even for the next one.~Chris Malone

OK, not too scientific about this study but fun none the less, a recent survey of 1,000 adults reveals that our astrological sign determines how we behave when we get behind the wheel.

Aries — Rams are the most easily annoyed by the antics of other drivers.

Taurus – The Bull is a laid-back driver, who is usually considerate and pleasant to others.

Gemini – Twins are overly fond of their cars. Beware of finding yourself in a fender bender with this sign.

Cancer – Crabs get hot under the collar if they spy a speed camera filming at an intersection.

Leo – The Lion tends to roar at the slightest inconvenience or error caused by other motorists. Road rage, anyone?

Virgo – Those born under the signs of the fastidious Virgins are totally grossed out by nose pickers.

Libra — These folks make the best commuters because they have no problem dealing with heavy congestion on the roads.

Scorpio — The Scorpion driver tends to have a lead foot, which leads to more than his share of tickets.

Sagittarius – Archers have a need for speed, racing around totally oblivious to the posted limits.

Capricorn – Goats constantly complain about the high cost of maintaining their vehicles.

Aquarius – Slow and plodding, the Aquarian is the most cautions of drivers.

Pisces – Fish aren’t bothered by other speeding drivers, and they’re also the most patient with others’ foibles.

Happy Tuesday!  Make sure you are listening around 4:20 this afternoon for another Wendy’s code word that could win you a $100 Wendy’s gift card!~Chris Malone

I had a wonderful time at Saturday’s Gator game.  Although I wish we had the win, the experience of being at the game and the tailgating before is something I will never forget.  Not to mention the cool weather was fantastic since I didn’t break a sweat once!

It seems that people are always trying to do one better than others.  It’s no longer acceptable to ask for a date via phone, text or face-to-face, you have to write it on a bedsheet and hang it from a bridge!  You don’t ask for a hand in marriage, you hire a skywriter to handle the job.  But as much as you profess you love to make it memorable , it can backfire just as it did for Xiao Li, 22 of China.  He helplessly looked on as his girlfriend  Wang Xue gulped down the expensive necklace planted inside a muffin he’d baked especially for his girlfriend’s birthday party.  “‘I thought it would show how much I love her and it would be a good joke too. But before I could say anything she’d swallowed it in one bite and I had to tell her the truth on the way to hospital,” he said.

After taking an X-ray doctors decided they would need to perform endoscopic surgery to remove the necklace from the 22-year-old’s stomach. A probe was put down her throat and her birthday pressie was fished out as good as new.

‘She got her necklace back eventually, but I’m not sure she will ever feel very comfortable wearing it even though I spent hours cleaning it for her,’ Xiao added.

See the x-ray and read the complete story here (thanks Metro UK)

With that said, enjoy the week!~Chris Malone

Happy Friday!  If you were to tell me 10 years ago that the biggest insult you could give somebody is to “unfriend” them on Facebook, I would have thought you’d had eaten some bad meatloaf and were hallucinating!  Fast forward to 2011 and not only is social media responsible for over 1/3 of daily web traffic, it is a mainstay of modern communication; especially when it comes to our love life.  As you make the monumental change of the Facebook relationship status, make sure you are tactfully dealing with the demise of a relationship — online.

1. Avoid The Temptation To Flirt Publicly
First of all, it’s more obvious than you might realize (to your ex, and to anyone who knows about your break-up). Secondly, you don’t want your ex to take a cue from you and start publicly flirting with someone else.

2. Don’t Post Cryptic Status Updates Or Song Lyrics
It’s basically the equivalent of posting: “PLEASE ASK ME ABOUT MY BREAK-UP.”

3. Be Judicious In When To Unfriend/Unfollow
Unfriending someone the second you break up can sometimes seem a bit rash, and depending on the circumstances of your breakup, can be extra hurtful to the other person. Better to calmly unfriend or unfollow after a day or two.

4. The “In A Relationship” Status
if you instigated the break-up, you might want to give your ex a few days to take down the In A Relationship status first themselves — it’s a small, surprisingly empowering gesture that can help them feel a little less dumped. But if, after a few days, they still haven’t done it, go ahead and pull the trigger yourself — you don’t want to lead them on, or give them any reason to believe you’re having second thoughts. Otherwise: rip that bandaid off! Better you do it than your ex!

5. Consider A “Mourning Period”
In Victorian England, bereaved women would go into intense periods of mourning, often avoiding public life for a year or so before re-emerging. We’re not suggesting you stay home, but a few days off of social media gives both people in the break-up a chance to go through those initial, rocky moments without saying (or reading) something tactless on Facebook, Twitter, or a blog. Even if you’re thrilled about the break-up and have had no trouble recovering with your friends, it’s probably more tactful to avoid oversharing for the first few days, so that your ex doesn’t have to see that you’re having (or trying to have) the “BEST NIGHT EVER!!!!!” For example.

6. Should You Unfriend Your Ex’s Friends?
if you absolutely hate them and feel like you’ll never be forced to interact again? Yes. If you’re worried about seeing your ex pop up in their stream, which would be hard for you to deal with? Unfriend. Otherwise, no. At this point, being “friends” on a social media network doesn’t really mean you’re friends in real life. You can block them/change your privacy settings if you aren’t comfortable with their full access to your life. If you really liked your ex’s friends, and want to continue to interact with them, definitely wait a few months before tweeting at them or “liking” a Facebook post — and then gauge their reaction. If they don’t respond, don’t try again: losing their friendship might be the unfortunate collateral of your break-up.

7. And For The Next Relationship…
Here’s something to remember: the more present you are on social media as a couple, via tweets, Facebook statuses, pictures, check-ins, etc., the more obvious a sudden absence or change will be. For example, from this People.com article about the rumored Ashton & Demi split: “[T]he two – who are currently on different coasts – have curbed their prolific Tweeting in some possibly telling ways. The actor also refrained from Tweeting anything on his wedding anniversary.” So sure, it’s tempting to shout your love from the rooftops, but the more private you are about your relationships, the less awkwardness you’ll have to deal with if you ever eventually break up.

The Gators take on Alabama in the swamp 8pm on CBS–GO GATORS!~Chris Malone

The times are  a changin’.  Although many TV traditions have gone away such as the fall preview feature, Saturday morning cartoons soap operas, some are getting a second chance.  The future Internet home of daytime dramas “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” has a name and a launch date of January next year.  The two shows will be part of  THE Online Network, with the capitals letting you know it’s not just any online network. The two canceled ABC soaps will debut on TOLN in January, right after “One Life to Live” ends its broadcast run. Network founders Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz of Prospect Park, the production company that made the online deal, say their coal is eventually to give viewers “a full programming selection of first-run, long form content on an anytime, anywhere basis.

It is interesting to note there is the Soap Opera Channel on TV, but it doesn’t look like it was even an option.  If this venture is successful I’d like to see them expand to a Saturday morning cartoons web channel with origional shows brought back from the TV past.  And not the computer generated characters but the old fashioned, hand-drawn classics.  OMG, I just realized how old I sound

Have a great day!~Chris Malone

It makes me wonder if they could bring back Saturday morning cartoons

Happy Wednesday!  Earlier this week a strange event happened while getting into my car.  A gigantic Dragonfly, the largest one I’ve ever seen, decided to enter my car with me just as the door closes.  Naturally this freaked me as bugs and I don’t get along, especially one this big flying inside my car.  It then becomes a race against time to put my key into the ignition and switch on the windows before this bug buzzes me again (quite loud because of the wings). EUREKA!  I roll down all four windows expecting it to flee back to the outdoor world….wrong.  Instead the Dragonfly perches itself on the back window and sits there calmly.  I didn’t know what to do at this point, so I rolled up the other windows and grabbed a magazine to ‘woosh’ out the bug.  Fortunately it worked and I hastily rolled up the last window giving my total protection.  I’m sure my neighbors enjoyed the show!

Who can forget MacGyver and his knowledge of science that could saved the day every.  Well keep this info handy as these household items could save your life.

Paper Bag – Inhaling and exhaling 10 times while holding it over your nose and mouth can stop a panic attack.

Juice Glass — To easily remove an insect from someone’s ear, pour a glass full of warm water into it. The bug should float to the surface.

Milk — If you knock out a tooth, put it in a container of milk until you can get to your dentist. The milk is a neutral solution that will keep the tooth from drying out, increasing the odds that it can be reinserted.

Yellow Pages and a Mop – Touching someone who’s been electrocuted can give you a severe shock. To insulate yourself, stand on a phone book, then move the electrical wire away from the victim with a wooden mop handle.

Bed sheet -- An adult suffering from heatstroke should be wrapped in a sheet soaked in cold water.

Pantyhose – To support a broken collarbone, wrap a pair of pantyhose around the person’s neck. Tie loosely in a figure 8 at chest level and place the person’s hand in the bottom loop.

Credit Card — When a bee or wasp stings you, gently use a credit card to scrape the stinger out of the wound, then put ice on the area to reduce swelling.

Hang in there, the week is half over!~Chris Malone

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend.  One tradition I enjoy on a Saturday morning is a hearty breakfast of eggs, hash browns, toast and bacon.  Ahhh, delicious bacon just the thought of it sizzling in a frying pan brings a smile to my face.  However unless it is at a restaurant or diner, I rarely have it anymore because it is so expensive!  About a year ago the price nearly double and even when its on sale, it’s pricey and now becoming a luxury of the rich!  If you do the shopping for your family I’m sure you noticed the hefty price for a pound of bacon too.

Now come reports that farmers are losing pigs as they are being stolen by the hundreds!  Pork products are a hot commodity item of the day, just like oil and gold and thieves looking to make a quick buck in a down economy are literally breaking into pig farms and stealing them!  It’s has gotten so bad that farmers are beefing up security and offering rewards.

Kind of bring new meaning to bringing home the bacon huh?  ~Chris Malone

Read the NY Times article here