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Q: What are some good stocks to invest in that look like they're doing well right now and will continue rising? Thanks!
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Bag'o'worms, this.
It really depends on what you're trying to do. Are you looking for solid, constant, long-haul growth? How much risk do you want to take on? Generally, higher risk means a higher ROI, and lower risk is lower ROI.
If you're really interested in this subject, start looking at the the CNBC/Money pages on MSN, Yahoo! Finance, and my personal favorite, the Bloomberg network. If you have CNBC on cable, watch it, particularly Mad Money with jim Cramer.
My forecast?
Strangly, almost anything energy looks great. I'd stay away from anything having to with housing without researching it VERY closely. I'd also stay out of retailers, since energy costs are really going to be bringing profits down over the short term.
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Q: Hey, me again (I asked the track and the drinking football team questions). Well, anyway, I think I hurt my knee a little (got it punched a few times and slammed it on a desk), and my shoulder (which I tore a few months ago) hurts too (got it punched too). When I'm practicing for cross country, it starts to throb a lot and doesn't really affect my running, but it hurts pretty bad. I have a lot of codeine that's supposed to be for my wrist, but I didn't use it. I was wondering if it was okay to use it for those injuries. Some people said it can be addictive, and that even if it isn't, I can get cramps from it if I don't eat. I have a meet Saturday and planned on taking some before that, but if it gives me cramps, I might tough it out instead. By the way, I ran two miles in 10:47 the other day, so it's getting better.
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A throbbing knee is not a good thing. I'm sure you already have doctor who checks you out, or a school nurse, you may want to talk with them about the issue, and make sure that you don't have a bigger problem developing.
For the short term, look at http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1996/03_96/cold.htm. I wouldn't use the codeine before the meet, though, it'll make you loopy and your performance will suffer.
Oh, and I'm sure you already know this, but I'll say it anyway; get a knee brace, and use it anytime that soreness comes back. It really does help.
Good on the time! Keep up the improvement!
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Q: I'm 14 years old. I run a 4.8 forty-yard (it's been two years since our coach timed my 100m, so I won't even say it). The last time I ran the mile (which was after we finished a three-hour practice during two-a-days), I ran a 6:14. I compete in long jump and my farthest so far is 17' 4". My best high jump is about 5' 6". Is that good enough to be on varsity normally, and if so, how far do you think I could get, like district or regionals. I just want to know if that is good enough to be competitive in a small, 1A Texas school.
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I'm not a real expert at high school track times, so I had to do a little research on this one.
It looks like you're pretty fast on sprints, getting, after a little back of the envelope calculation, about a 12 on the 100 meter, which is better than a lot of the early season meet results I'm finding, but your mile looks a little longish; I'm guessing you probably sneed some endurance work. Your long jump looks pretty good, but your high jump seems better compared to the stats I'm seeing.
Do these numbers look competitive? For early season, yes. You'll need to maintain your training, though, and make some better times to stay in toward the finals.
This is doable, though. Obviously you have the natural ability, and the desire, or you wouldn't be asking this question. The real secret is going to be to train, and train hard, train like you really want it, and to put in the consistent effort. You'll have off days, and bad days, and days you just really don't feel like working, but do it anyway, because that is the persistence that you will get you to your finals and beyond.
Good luck, and I'd love to hear how you do.
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Q: This will be horribly, horribly long, because it is one of the biggest things to happen in this town in a while.
I have a 16-year-old friend named Caleb. He's a good kid, he doesn't drink, smoke, or do drugs, or anything like that. He does hang out with a bad crowd sometime (everyone here does). Well, Saturday, the high school kids (sophomores and up) had a campout in Scotland (a town next to us). Well, they were pretty much all drinking and stuff like that. Caleb got called Brittney, a freshman to come pick her up and take her there. He went to get her, and three eighth grade girls(Haley, Elizabeth, and Chani for reference) were there too, and he had to take them too, since they had nowhere to go. David, who just happened to be close by, hopped in the back of his truck while he was stopped. He was drunk and had some wine. Caleb didn't notice and didn't even find out until they were halfway there. He shared the wine with the girls, and were drunk by the time they got there. Caleb still didn't drink. While they were there, the girls got totally wasted. Haley had like 15 beers, and Elizabeth was throwing up all over herself when she got home. That's how McGregor (her dad) found out. He told the football coaches, who basically interviewed everybody involved. Cruz, Tony, Josh, Chase, Brett, Blake, Charlie, and a few other starters for the football team got suspended for a week. Basically, everyone is blaming all of this on Caleb. He's my friend, and I know he didn't mean to cause any of this, but I also know he screwed up. I just want to know who's fault you think it is.
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The thing that really strikes me about this entire situation is the lack of personal responsibility on the part of everyone involved, including the parents.
You tell me that Caleb hangs out with a bad crowd. Who is responsible for that? Caleb. While he may think he's doing these guys a favor by providing them a good example (which I really hope is his motivation for hanging out with these folks), that is a favor he do adequately from a distance. If, on the other hand, the motivation is popularity, then he would do well to decide why he wants approval from this bunch. Caleb needs to avoid these people, they will not help him.
The other kids involved should have used much better judgment in their behavior as well. Getting drunk is, quite frankly, a stupid and meaningless activity. That adults do it too only tells you about the adults, not about getting drunk. Mind you, I am not a teetotaler, I've had a drink or two in my life, but there is a great deal of difference between a pleasant flavor followed by a mild buzz and a beer binge followed by a massive vomit. The girls need to take a hard look at their activities as well, before a night of binge drinking turns into the kind of hangover that lasts nine months and eighteen years.
Now to the real sticking point though:
Where were Caleb's parents? Did they have any idea he was acting as shuttle service for the high school beer brigade? Where were all those girls' parents? Punishing the kids for something they did is appropriate, but the parents themselves really should be paying closer attention, as had they been more aware of their kids' activities they might never have gone so far.
Finally, blame is rather a waste of time. Saying that it is any one person's fault is rather missing the point, as every person in this situation (again including the parents) should have been more attentive to their own responsibilities in the matter. Yes, your friend is at fault, but so are all the rest of the people involved - they are at fault for their own actions or inactions.
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Q: how do you know when your in love?
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Here is a somewhat different perspective.
The butterflies in the stomach and all of the other physical things that some of the other responders have talked about are not love. They are chemical reactions in the body designed to encourage reproduction. Put another way, they are part of the way your genes reward you for finding a potential mate.
That said, let me also say that I do believe there is such a thing as love. Love is a value, or more precisely, to love something or someone means to greatly value that something or someone. If you value a person highly, be a it a parent, boy/girlfriend, or close friend, you love them. If, on the other hand, you don't know a person, but they make you all warm inside, you can blame chemical reactions for that.
Try getting to know the person, find out their likes and dislikes, and the things you have in common with them. If you do have enough in common to build on, you may very well have someone that you can have a loving relationship with. If the relationship is based just on tingles and butterflies, don't expect it to last.
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Q: Hey...I have this problem...I like to make up screennames and use my creativity to annoy the hell out of strangers with my best friend Katie. Is this good? -david walker/AKA george christ
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Only until someone reports you to your ISP for violating the terms of service.
Oh, and you could find much more productive ways to spend your time - here's a few creative thoughts:
Read a book about a subject that you find interesting but know very little about. Like wilderness survival. When the people you've annoyed show up to do you grevious bodily harm, you'll have the comfort of knowing that you can run off to the woods and survive on rabbits and wild berries until they no longer are hunting you.
Get off the computer and go get some exercise. You'll find the resulting endorphin rush clears your head nicely, and it will prepare you for the rigors of living in the woods.
Build something in your backyard, like a treehouse. Yes, seriously. You'll be able to get in shape, have place to run to when all the people you've annoyed show up on your front porch with torches and pitchforks, and it will burn up some the extra energy you've saved while sitting on the computer.
Enjoy!
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Q: TELL ME WHERE TO BEGIN! School starts in 2 days now... I cant set myself to just pick out an outfit. I love all my new clothes... just cnt pick! I need to pick something out tomorrow.... how do I start to make myself accept n outfit. I just dnt wanna wear the wrong thing... first day of hs. In years prior I could pick out so quick! Wt? Helllllp!!!!!
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Try this - pick the things you like the best, the things that make you feel your best.
Don't worry about what is going to make you accepted. Seriously. Think first about what is going to make you happy that you are you, and that feeling will drawn more people, not to mention people of better quality, to you than trying to fit into some other person's notion of how you should be. If someone has a problem with that they probably aren't someone you'll want to spend a great deal of time around anyway.
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Q: I'm confused. I'm having friends telling me I'm something..and then I'm not?
So I'm mostly portuguese. Parts of german, irish, etc.
Can you tell me what I fall under?
Middle Eastern
Pacific Islander
Caucasian
Or just OTHER.
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Human. Always first, human.
Past that, you'd be classified for the purposes of government forms and the like as caucasian. Portugal lies on the western tip of Europe, surrounded by Spain on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.
Now, as an interesting side note, theres a pretty good likelihood that you may have some Basque or Arabic in your background waaaayyy back, as much of the area was once controlled by the Moors, but not enough to count form the purposes of those forms.
Remember that this doesn't actually mean a great deal though. If you look at ethnicity mathematically, you find that at some point in the not too distant past, you claim almost everyone who has ever lived as an ancestor. Think about it for a second - you have 2 parents,
who between them had 4 parents (your grandparents),
who between them had eight parents,
who had 16 parents,
who had 32 parents...and so on.
If you figure each generation at a very generous 20 years, you find that even by the time of the American Revolution you have 2^11 ancestors, or 2048 people who you are directly descended from. Go back to the discovery of America in 1492, roughly 620 years ago, and you have 2^31 ancestors. That is over 2 billion people, and incidentally, probably more than the entire human population at the time (meaning that you probably have the same ancestors multiple times on different lines). My point here is don't take the ancestry thing too seriously, because on certain level we really are all related, and probably not so distantly as most people think.
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Q: I'm not relaying my whole story, but why do girls have to be such whores and bitches in junior high and high school?
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Ah, the great question - "Why are people irrational?"
Whether you realize it or not this is really the question you want an answer to.
You'll find that it's not just the girls, either. The boys are equally petty, vain, superficial and generally obnoxious.
Let me add a caveat - there are some people, even in school, who don't behave this way. When you find them, treasure them. You'll know them by their commmitment to achievement and their total disregard for what the vain, petty, and superficial think.
There are a number of reasons why people behave badly (irrationally); natural stupidity, bad upbringing, too much tv (and yes, I'm serious), and a generally useless education system are all contributing factors. In the case of your question, stop and think for minute - how are girls portrayed on TV? In video games? Take a look at Paris Hilton. GTA. TRW. Starting to see the problem?
That you asked this question, though, means that there is hope for you. You, in seeking to know why people act this way, have made a dramatic step toward rationality. Start by reading - maybe take philosophy if it is offered at your school. Take psychology if it's offered. Read Ayn Rand's books.
Oh, and one other thing; don't think it's just school kids. Every part of our society has it's share of superficial, ignorant, deluded people. If it weren't there to emulate, kids wouldn't. Ignore them, press on, and live a better, more thoughtful life.
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Q: I suspect my dad has bipolar disorder. Being around him, when he's going through his manic stages, is like being in a cult. He will tell people crazy things, apparantly from God. He told three different people that their child is not there's. He even told my brother that his uncle was his real father, yet my uncle denies it. My dad said he would not believe a paternity test. He tells me he knows the truth about all things and that one day he'll tell me. It's very scary sometimes.
I know he does drugs, because people have seen him do it. He will take speed while reading the bible, and go days without sleeping or eating. He smokes pot a lot because I can smell it. He's doing these drugs right in front of my mother, who has MS and is an involent. She can't speak or eat or move or even keep eye contact. My dad constantly takes care of her because he refuses to put her in a nursing home or let anyone else watch her. I think this is one of the reasons he's getting worse and worse. He's lost pretty much all contact with the outside world.
He will be fine one minute, then the next be completely irrational and snap at me and my 14 year old brother. My brother is becoming depressed because of how my dad treats him. He does not want to go to school or hang out with friends. All he wants to do is sleep or get out of the house. My dad sucked my brother into believing that if they prayed hard enough, it would cure my mother. I can only imagine how this made my brother feel when nothing happened.
I am worried about my dad, but I am also worried about my confused, messed up brother. My family constantly bad-mouths my dad, who bad-mouths them back. My brother feels like he has no one to turn to, and he doesn't know who to believe. I can tell my brother has been heavily brain-washed by my dad because when I try to talk some sense into him, he just spews out something my dad has said to him.
My dad thinks he's right about everything, and will not listen to anyone who tries to help him. Once he asked my cousin if the family is going to let him be crazy, so I think sometimes he does know that he has a problem. But he won't let anyone help him! I also think my brother needs to be moved to a better environment, but he isn't as strong as me as says he wouldn't leave dad.
I am 19 years old and searching for a full time job so I can get my own apartment. One of the reasons I did not go to college was because I didn't want to leave my brother with my dad. I don't know what I can do for my brother since he does not want to move, and I'm too afraid that if I take legal action or speak up, my mom will be moved to a nursing home. My dad treats mom so well, it's just himself and everyone else that he needs to work on! I know how bad nursing homes are because my mother was in one for a few years and some of her things got stolen and she would get sick a lot because they didn't understand how to take care of her like my dad does.
I'm so torn and confused, I feel like there's no answer that wouldn't leave us in shambles, but if you have any advice, I would appreciate it!
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First let me say I know some of what you're going through, as I went through some similar issues with my mother.
I would hesitate to to say that your father has Bipolar Disorder. Based on the symptoms you describe, this sounds much more like my mother's illness, schizophrenia. You can find information about the disease at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia.
The drug use, especially if it's confined to smoking marijuana, is probably self-medication against the symptons of the disease. THP, the active chemical in pot that creates the "high" is a dopamine blocker, which could potentially block some of the more extreme symptoms of the disease.
Your mom and your brother need more stable caretakers. My own experience with schizophrenia is the its sufferers generally do cut off contact with the rest of the world, in part because they can no longer distinguish their dream world from reality, making it more difficult to function in the real world, and in part because reality intrudes upon the world going on in their heads. This eventually includes turning against friends and relatives, even to the point of imagining that the friends and relatives are somehow trying to harm the schizophrenic. They also tend to greatly distrust any medical professional, as it is the doctor who is going to most quickly realize what the real problem is.
So now for the advice:
1) You're going to have to first get outside the situation yourself. Find that job and get that apartment, or room with freinds. you'll not be able to get a clearer perspective on the situation until you do.
2) Work on your dad. Try, and without being obnoxious about it, to talk him into seeing a professional counselor (at minimum). You may try taking the tack that caring for your mom puts him under a great deal of stress and that it could only help him to talk about that stress with a trained professional.
3) Work on your brother. Try, again as unobtrusively as possible, to talk him into moving out as soon as is feasible. This may be a problem if he is underage, of course, but he may be willing to at least take a long weekend out and clear his head a bit to give himself a fresher perspective.
4) Talk to a counselor yourself. Living in that sort of environment isn't good for anyone, and having someone who understands how the mind works can give you someone to bounce things off of, and may also help you work out your own emotions on the issue.
I'm truly sorry that anyone has to go through what you're dealing with now. I also know that it can be overcome, because I did.
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Q: How can i lose weight really really quickly? i need to lost about 3-4l lbs in a week or so...if u have ne suggestions, please tell me. Thanks!
~Cassie
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There are a couple of ways to do this. I'm going to tell you the one that is a good bit of work but is also safe.
Step 1) For the week or two that you're trying to do this, completely clean out your diet. You'll need to eliminate the sugars from diet, and as much salt as you can. You'll also need to drink only wqater for this period, and lots of it. No soda, no milk, no fruit juice, just water, about 60-80 ounces a day depending on your starting body weight. You also want to eat as little processed food as possible - fast food should go right out the window, as should prepacked frozen foods.
Step 2) Exercise hard for at least thirty minutes a day, concentrationg on aerobic activity. Walk, run, run in place, bike, swim, whatever, as long as you're doing it intensely for at least 30 continuous minutes.
The caveat here is that you may not still lose 4 lbs. You will, however, much more likely meet the size goal that you're looking for, and generally look and feel much healthier.
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Q: i have serious problems saying no to people. i dont know whats wrong with me.. please no smart comments.. its harder than it sounds
i practice saying no and stuff but when it comes to the time i just.. cant
i think its because ive had some bad history with my boyfriends hitting me when i wouldnt let them so as far as they would like
any adive ?
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It sounds like you need to do two things -
First, get away from anybody who doesn't take no for answer, particularly a boy who wants do things sexally that you don't. There are laws and they can be enforced, and if you're being hit or otherwise coerced into sex, that is illegal.
Second, it sounds like the problem is deeper than just having someone abuse you. At some level of consciousness, you've convinced yourself that this is "normal" behavior and/or that you don't "deserve" any better. You do. I'd recommend that you start with some counseling (if you've been abused, you need to talk about it with someone who knows how to untangle the mental knots that causes). I'd also recommend finding a book by a gentleman named Nathaniel Braden, Honoring the Self. You can order it from Amazon; you may also be able to find it at your local library. It's about how to realize that you are a rational person and that you owe yourself more than what you're presently giving yourself.
No one deserves coercion, no one deserves abuse.
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Q: This quistion is for guys.
I'm 15/f and i was wondering why some guys dont like to ask girls out, and if most guys are shy, and what guys like about girls.
I'll rate fives for non-gay answers!
~Melissa~
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I'll start by expressing my utter joy that I'm no longer a fifteen year old boy.
Here's the real deal. Must fifteen year old boys (and for that matter, most 16, 17, and 18 year old boys) are frankly terrified of the of the female of species. You frankly scare the hell out of even the most cocky of the boys in your age group. They don't know how to talk to you, they don't know how to act around you, and they surely haven't figured out how to be around you and not look like total clowns. Seriously, think about the guys at your school, then name five that have the first beginning of a clue how do deal with women on anything even remotely resembling a rational, adult level. (If you can, these are guys you want to hang out with, btw. Even if one of them is not Mr. Right, one of them will surely lead you to him eventually.)
What does a guy like most about a girl? Well, everybody, male or female, likes one thing - someone who puts them at ease, that they don't have to wear a false face around. Just be up front about who you are and what you want; in a friend, a relationship, and out of life. Even if the boys don't come running you're going to feel better about yourself for doing so, and that self-respect will show through and draw people with that same self-respect to you.
In short, don't worry about what the guys like, worry about being someone that you like. That's what the best guys like anyway.
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Q: my mom thinks i have too much clothes. the thing is, i don't really. i mean it's not that i have only 5 shirts or 5 pants or anything...not that little but i swear i've worn every shirt, skirt, and pants at least 100 times, dead serious. it's not that we're poor or anything, we're not. we could definitely afford more clothes. and no i cannot do chores around the house, we have a housekeeper. how can i get my mom to get over the fact that i DON'T have too many clothes??? i probably only have like 15 shirts and 10 pants and skirts...that's supposed to last me??? sorry but please help i will rate
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Ok, so here's a question for you to think on :
Why are you relying on your mom for the clothes?
So you can't do chores around the house. There are other ways to make a buck or two. If you are over 16, and even over 14 in some places, get a part time job that would allow you to buy some of your own things. Mom might just be impressed enough that she pitches in some on the price. If you don't meet the age requirements for your location for part-time work, then think about other avenues that you can use to get the cash. For instance:
You can't do the cleaning, you have someone to do that for you. Think about the other things that need to be done around the house. Does Fido need walksies? Does mom need someone to watch a younger sibling for a few hours while she runs errands? Maybe mom needs some help cooking, or even planning the family meals? Show mom some initiative, she may show you the money.
If the money just isn't going to come out of the household budget, try this. Find some subject you're good at and offer younger kids in your neighborhood tutoring. If you don't think you can tutor, trying learning basic web design, or some kind of craft skill (making jewelry, for instance) that you can learn in short order and then sell to your friends. At that point you're not just getting your new clothes, you're getting experience in how to run a business and getting a reputation for being a smart/creative/artistic person.
The whole point here is to take the initiative and find alternative ways to get the things that you want. You won't be able to rely on Mom eternally, and starting to learn now how to do and get the things you want with her help will only make you a stronger, smarter, and in this case, better dressed person in the years ahead.
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bio
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First, I am a rationalist.
If you ask me a question, prepare to have it examined under the cold and sometimes harsh light of reason. I'll do my best to provide the best and most rational answer.
Beyond that, I'm a musician, an armchair philospher, sometimes computer programmer, student of many subjects, and all around swell guy.
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Info
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Website: Gender: Male Location: Nashville, TN Age: 34 Member Since: September 2, 2005 Answers: 14 Last Update: September 29, 2005 Visitors: 1900
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