An Open Letter to Lindsay Lohan

Dear Lindsay,

You are at the crossroads of a defining moment. You are free to leave your gilded cage. Will you soar? Or will you splat against the window pane? Will your story be told as is Drew Barrymore's -- a story of triumph, accomplishment and esteem and (dare I say) joy? Or will your life story become an obituary about a life that might have been?

The choice is yours. Yes, Lindsay, how you author, direct and act in your life story from this moment on is entirely up to you.

Life happens for you, not to you. You -- yes YOU -- create the experiences in your life whether you realize it or not. This isn't about blame, shame, guilt or even credit. Those are judgment words and judgment is toxic to the human spirit. You did not get up out of bed on day wondering how you could screw up your life and then do just that. You, like everyone else, are doing the best you can with the light you have to see. And, Lindsay, some days you couldn't even find your flashlight lost at the bottom of your expensive trendy bag.

The light is there, I promise you. But it's not at a jewelry store. It's entirely within you. All you have to do is tap into it and light your way.

This is about taking full responsibility for the life you create. To do anything less, places you as a victim. And you most certainly were not born to be a victim to anyone or any thing.

Here's the thing…

If you created a s--- storm of life events you might as well go back and pick up the gifts you were meant to receive. I'm talking about the lessons you can learn that will positively change your life's direction, bring you more of the good stuff and less of the crap you've thrown upon yourself.

Here's the other thing…

You also created the highest of high moments in your life.You brilliantly used your innate gifts at their highest potential to experience sublime success. And, just as brilliantly, you began to throw it all away as if you weren't worth it somehow.

Now that's just babblecrap in the form of your own inner misguided thoughts and feelings. It's allowing yourself to be in service to other people's agendas instead of your own innermost calling and purpose in life.

Since you created your achievement you might as well go back and get the recipe of how to do it again. Examine how you showed up to achieve success and model that behavior. It's what you're here to do. I can't imagine being in jail, house arrest or the fodder for tabloid journalism is what feeds your soul.

Expressing your gifts is what will make your heart sing and give you the ability to fly freely, boldly and beautifully out of that gilded cage.

I'm rooting for you because I, like many people, love a story well told. ( thewrap.com )

READ MORE - An Open Letter to Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan Borrows $1,750 Gown, Hems it Herself, Returns it Totally Destroyed

Lindsay Lohan Borrows $1,750 Gown, Hems it Herself, Returns it Totally Destroyed - Lindsay Lohan Earlier this month, perpetually troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan made a pretty major red carpet appearance at the prestigious amfAR Gala, where she was decked out in a beaded gown by Theia. Given some of Lohan's regular fashion faux pas, we were fairly impressed with this ensemble. Apparently though, Lohan's dress didn't fare too well after the party was over.

According to Us Weekly, Lohan pulled some major strings to get the gown in the first place, having her dear friend (and occasional benefactor) Charlie Sheen call it in from noted stylist Phillip Bloch.

As the night progressed, Us reported that Lohan accidentally ripped the dress at an after-party and panicked, so she did what no other person in their right mind would ever do: She had her stylist friend run up to the bouncer, snag a pair of scissors, and hem it DIY-style.

"She turned it into a mullet! Only a fashiony person would do that! She's out of control and behaving really badly," a source told the mag. Frankly, we think a bad hem job is step up for the DUI-getting LiLo, but we can imagine the folks at Theia weren't too thrilled when their gown came back looking like this:

Same Theia Dress It's time for PR people to learn a very valuable lesson: Do not loan out a dress if Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan are the team behind the pull request. End of story. ( StyleCaster )

READ MORE - Lindsay Lohan Borrows $1,750 Gown, Hems it Herself, Returns it Totally Destroyed

Lindsay Lohan Chewed to Pieces in Pitbull Lawsuit

Lindsay Lohan Chewed to Pieces in Pitbull Lawsuit - As it turns out, Lindsay Lohan doesn't have much luck as a plaintiff in legal proceedings either.

Troubled "Liz & Dick" actress Lohan, who has experienced more than her share of legal woes in recent years, was shot down Thursday in her lawsuit against Pitbull, Ne-Yo and Afrojack over the 2011 song "Give Me Everything."

Lindsay Lohan Chewed to Pieces in Pitbull Lawsuit

Lohan had sued the trio, along with others, under New York Civil Rights Law, claiming that the song made "disparaging and defamatory statements" about Lohan, violated her privacy, and used her name for advertising purposes without authorization.

Oh, and she also claimed that the tune caused her "tremendous emotional distress."

Specifically, Lohan took issue with the lyrics, "So, I'm tiptoein', to keep flowin'/I got it locked up like Lindsay Lohan."

However, Lohan's claims went down in flames in U.S. District Court in New York on Thursday, as Judge Denis R. Hurley granted the defendants' motion to dismiss and tossed out Lohan's complaint.

In his ruling, Hurley found that the song, as a protected work of art under the First Amendment, doesn't violate the New York Civil Rights Law.

The judge also dismissed Lohan's claim that the songwriters used her name for advertising or purposes or trade.

"Even if the Court were to conclude that plaintiff had sufficiently alleged that her name was used in the Song for purposes of advertising or trade, the isolated nature of the use of her name would, in and of itself, prove fatal to her New York Civil Rights Law claim," Hurley found.

As for the claim of emotional distress? Yeah, that didn't fly either, with Hurley ruling, "even if the defendants used plaintiff's name in one line of the Song without her consent, such conduct is insufficient to meet the threshold for extreme and outrageous conduct necessary to sustain a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress."

On the plus side for Lohan, the judge decided not to impose sanctions on the actress, as the defendants had requested.

In her complaint, Lohan asked for a permanent injunction preventing any further distribution of the song, plus an injunction ordering the defendants to surrender all existing copies of the song to Lohan.

Naturally, she was also asking for an accounting of the profits that the song had generated for the defendants to date, and "compensatory damages in an amount to be determined in the Court."

Looks like she's the one who hit a bum note, as far as the justice system is concerned. ( The Wrap )

READ MORE - Lindsay Lohan Chewed to Pieces in Pitbull Lawsuit

Tyson sues Live Nation, charging embezzlement and millions in lost earnings

Tyson sues Live Nation, charging embezzlement and millions in lost earnings - Mike Tyson is enjoying a career resurgence, a second (third?) chapter in his life in which the former heavyweight champion is proving to be far sharper and funnier than we'd given him credit for back during his boxing days.

He's reshaped his image with a memorable cameo in "The Hangover" (you can't hear "In The Air Tonight" without doing Tyson drums anymore, can you?), a one-man show ("The Undisputed Truth") and appearances on shows like "Law & Order." And now he's trying to address some of his financial matters. He's filed suit against SFX Financial Advisory Management Enterprises, a financial services firm owned by Live Nation, charging that one of its advisers embezzled more than $300,000 from him, as well as cost him millions in potential future earnings.

 

Mike Tyson today. (Getty Images)

 

Tyson's suit claims that SFX has not given Tyson a complete picture of the embezzled money, and while SFX has returned some of the money, has asked Tyson to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Tyson's suit seeks more than $5 million in damages for breach of fiduciary duty, negligent hiring, unjust enrichment and other charges.

"Defendants did not secure, protect, safeguard and appropriately apply the Tysons' finances for their intended purposes," the case states, "but instead misappropriated said funds for the benefit and enrichment of SFX/Live Nation."

According to Tyson, the embezzlement prevented him from getting out of bankruptcy and forced him to turn down potentially lucrative opportunities. The advisor, Brian Ourand, was a trusted confidante who attended Tyson's wedding; Ourand has since left the company.

The AP was unable to reach Ourand for a response. Live Nation Entertainment Inc. said it had not yet been served with the lawsuit and thus could not comment on it.

Tyson continues to remain active in public life, both as an endorser and a performer. ( yahoo.com )

Blog : Step Apart | Tyson sues Live Nation, charging embezzlement and millions in lost earnings

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Mike Tyson pummels live nation with $5 million lawsuit

Mike Tyson pummels live nation with $5 million lawsuit - Mike Tyson is used to squaring off against opponents in the ring. But the boxing legend is hoping to best his latest foe through the legal system.

Tyson and his wife Lakiha are suing events giant Live Nation and its subsidiary, SFX Financial Advisory Management Enterprises, claiming that the person that Live Nation appointed to look after their finances embezzled from them, causing them damages "in excess of $5,000,000."

 

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson walks on stage with his wife Lakiha Spicer …

According to the lawsuit, the Tysons signed on with SFX in 2005, as Iron Mike was attempting to settle a bankruptcy that was severely hampering his earning potential. (The complaint claims that the bankruptcy prevented the Tysons from earning more than $225,000 in "non-fight" income.)

Brian Ourand (also named as a defendant in the suit) was appointed to handle the Tysons' finances on behalf of SFX - but instead, the suit claims, he embezzled more than $300,000 from the couple.

The Tysons claim that Live Nation didn't inform them of the alleged theft until they asked why Ourand had been taken off of their account, and were later sent a legal document directly, rather than through their attorney, that would have waived the couple's right to file a lawsuit if signed.

A spokeswoman for Live Nation has not yet responded to The Wrap's request for comment.

The alleged $300,000 theft caused a ripple effect, the suit claims. The couple were forced to mortgage their home, and had to borrow money "to fund the IRS," the lawsuit - filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday - says.

According to the complaint, they were also deprived of "lucrative business opportunities" while the bankruptcy proceedings dragged on, and were "forced to enter into an onerous bankruptcy settlement."

"Defendant Ourand and Defendant SFX/Live Nation deceived the Tysons in the worst possible way at the worst possible time when the Tysons needed them to conclude Mr. Tyson's bankruptcy proceedings," the suit reads.

The suit alleges negligent hiring, retention and supervision; conversion; breach of fiduciary duty; fraud; and unjust enrichment.

Along with an accounting of " the funds stolen by Defendant Ourand," the suit is seeking economic and compensatory damages, along with punitive damages, court costs and attorneys' fees. (TheWrap.com)

Blog : Step Apart | Mike Tyson pummels live nation with $5 million lawsuit

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REFILE-Reformer's drive to change Indonesia state firms hits roadblocks

REFILE-Reformer's drive to change Indonesia state firms hits roadblocks - On an overcast Saturday in early January, the man in charge of modernising Indonesia's state companies suddenly lost control of his prototype electric sports car and ploughed into the side of a mountain in East Java.
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan was unhurt, but the $300,000 bright red "Tucuxi", dubbed "Indonesia's Ferrari" by local media, was a write-off.

It looks like his chances of pulling off an ambitious reform of the bloated state sector are heading the same way.

More than a year after his appointment, most of Iskan's initiatives to fix state firms have either been revoked or blocked by parliament or remain stuck in ministries, according to government and parliamentary documents obtained by Reuters.

"The political challenge is still huge," said Iskan, who started his career as a journalist and still writes a regular column in his newspaper, in an interview. "Life is like that. It's difficult to make this country better."

Iskan has abandoned plans to start mass production of the privately funded Tucuxi, named after a type of dolphin.

But criticism over the crash -- he is being investigated by police for driving an unlicensed car on public roads, although no charges have been filed -- dented his reputation and further sapped his political capital, making it even tougher for him to battle powerful vested interests.

It is a frustration that, according to those close to him, is motivating the media mogul to consider standing as a candidate in next year's presidential election despite being viewed as a rank outsider.

"I would lie if I say I don't want to, I want to," Iskan said, when asked if he wanted the presidency.

He conceded he held only a small chance of winning, and declined to discuss his reasons for running because he was still a serving minister. But several people close to him said he saw the presidency as the only way to achieve change.

"Iskan is impatient over the lack of action just like any private sector guy. He's frustrated with the political pressure especially from the parliament," said a source close to Iskan who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

REFORM PRIORITY
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, two-thirds of the way through his second and final five-year term, has made reform of state companies a priority in developing the G20 economy.

Yudhoyono turned for help to Iskan, who made his reputation turning the near-bankrupt Jawa Pos Group into one of Indonesia's biggest media companies.

Just over a year since his appointment in late 2011, Iskan has struggled to implement any of his ambitious plans. On Jan. 23, he announced that he might have to cancel all his planned initial public offerings (IPOs).

It is not the first time Yudhoyono has picked a reformist and then failed to give them protection. His highly respected finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, became so exhausted by relentless politically motivated criticism she left in 2010.

Indonesia's 140 state-controlled firms account for a huge chunk of Southeast Asia's biggest economy -- their total revenues are estimated to have hit 1,500 trillion ($155 billion) last year, or nearly a fifth of gross domestic product.

Several of the companies have complete or near control of key industries such as energy, power and agriculture that underpin Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

"There is an ownership fetish -- the state wants to act as a entrepreneur," said James Castle, chairman of CastleAsia, one of Indonesia's leading consultancies for foreign firms.

"They are everywhere, acting like private companies, and they crowd out the private sector."

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN

Even Iskan's attempt to take control of the appointment of senior state company managers has largely failed.

In November 2009, Yudhoyono, criticised over repeated power cuts, gave Iskan the job of heading state electricity monopoly PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and agreed to allow him to choose his own board. The appointment was seen as a success.

As state-owned enterprises minister in 2011, he wanted similar freedom to make appointments free of political considerations. He discovered quickly that wasn't so easy.

Executives connected to political party chiefs and the presidential palace are on the board of more than half of the top 25 state firms, according to state-owned enterprises ministry data and the companies documents from 2012.

Two presidential decrees, issued in 2005 a year into Yudhoyono's first term, gave the authority to choose top managers of state firms to a "Final Assessment Team" (TPA) led by the president.

"These are, of course, assignments ... they are missions from the government," Firmanzah, a special advisor to the president with responsibility for administration and financial matters, said in defence of presidential staff appointments.

"This is to push for good governance."

ENEMY OF THE HOUSE

Iskan has also antagonised members of two parliamentary commissions with oversight of state companies.

"He is not an expert in bureaucracy, politics and lobbying. He's a businessman," said Muhammad Said Didu, chief commissioner of state planter PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV.

He faced a setback only a few months into the job when he was forced to revoke his first decree to give more flexibility to executives in state firms to take major business decisions.

Parliament warned Iskan the decree, which gave his ministry such powers as deciding share buy backs, was illegal.

"My questions are: Does he have the authority to do that? And is it in line with the state-firms law?" said Benny K. Harman, vice chairman of one of the parliamentary commissions overseeing state firms, who is from Yudhoyono's party.

Differences of interpretation and overlapping, sometimes conflicting, laws also hinder Iskan's attempts at major reform and can make executives afraid to act for fear of prosecution.

In 2012, he planned five state firm initial public offerings. Only one, builder PT Waskita Karya, went to the market and that had already been approved by parliament back in 2008, before he came into office.

Last month, he announced that all IPO and rights issue plans by state firms would probably be postponed because of technical and regulatory issues.

He declined to discuss a plan to create one of the world's largest palm-oil and rubber firms with $5.6 billion in assets, which had once been set for completion in March 2012.

"Changing the law in this country is like changing the Koran," senior Iskan aide Wahyu Hidayat told Reuters. "Next to impossible." ($1 = 9,680.5 rupiah) (Reuters)

READ MORE - REFILE-Reformer's drive to change Indonesia state firms hits roadblocks

A look at South Africa's justice system

A look at South Africa's justice system -- A look at the justice system in South Africa and what Oscar Pistorius faces after the double-amputee Olympic athlete was charged with premeditated murder in the Valentine's Day shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp:
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THE BAIL HEARING
The bail hearing in the Pistorius case represents a mini-trial to determine if he will remain in custody until a trial or can be freed with conditions. Defense lawyers offered written statements from the athlete and his friends to state their case. By offering the affidavits, the defense was able to enter the evidence without having to put their emotional client, who has broken down weeping a number of times in court, on the stand. Prosecutors offered their own version of events and called the lead police investigator, Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha, to give testimony. But by putting Botha on the stand, they opened him up to detailed cross-examination by Pistorius' lead defense lawyer, Barry Roux. Botha has since been dropped from the case.

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DECIDING BAIL
Pistorius faces the harshest bail requirements in South African law after the judge agreed with the prosecution's premeditated murder charge for the purposes of bail. Pistorius' lawyers must prove there is an ''exceptional'' reason to have him freed before trial. They also have to show that he doesn't represent a flight risk, that he will not intimidate witnesses and that he won't commit acts of violence or encourage others to do so. If Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair decides Pistorius might violate any of those terms, he can order him held until trial. If bail is denied, Pistorius can immediately appeal to a higher court. Pistorius is currently being held in Pretoria's Brooklyn police station, but those denied bail typically go to a prison.

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JUSTICE IN SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is one of just a few countries in the world that that has a court system that takes root in Roman-Dutch law. Because of this, those appearing in criminal trials do not have the option of a jury trial, which is common in the United States and other countries. Instead, a single judge will hear the entire case and then rule on a person's guilt or innocence. The judge can be assisted by two advisers during the trial. Those advisers generally offer assistance in looking at the more technical aspects of the evidence given at trial. If found guilty, a person can later appeal the ruling or the sentence they receive.

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THE PENALTIES
Premeditated murder, which Pistorius is charged with, can carry a sentence of life in prison. There is no death penalty in South Africa. A lesser murder charge carries a sentence of 15 years to life. Pistorius could still see his charge downgraded to culpable homicide, meaning that he unintentionally killed Steenkamp, which is what he maintains. A conviction on that charge carries much less time in prison. ( The Associated Press )

Blog : Step Apart | A look at South Africa's justice system

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Whatever happened to the British working class?

Whatever happened to the British working class? - A new survey suggests that the traditional working class has dwindled to represent just 14 per cent of the population.

One hundred years ago, Britain was a hive of industrial activity - with soot, smog and smoke choking the country’s crammed cities and burgeoning towns.

The vast majority of men (and rarely women) worked in mills, mines, docks and factories – and the flat caps they wore denoted their working class identity.

Few people then could envisage that a century later, this once dominant social group - the traditional working class - would have dwindled to represent just 14 per cent of the population.

Rex Features - The Likely Lads: Two working class men Terry Collier (James Bolam) and Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes) featured in the popular '70s sitcom - there are fewer of their like now it would seem

Yet that is the startling figure revealed by a new BBC survey, which suggests that as a nation we have moved on from the three-tiered class system of yesteryear that was made up of the working class, the middle class and the upper classes.

The BBC's Great British Class Survey contends that things are now much more complex with no fewer than seven social classes.

Among the new groupings identified in the survey are "technical middle classes", which represents six per cent of Britons.

They are prosperous, tend to work in scientific professions, but more culturally apathetic than their "established middle class" social siblings, who are more highbrow and account for 25 per cent of the population (by far the biggest group).

The survey - in which 160,000 people participated - also acknowledged "new affluent workers", who tend to be from working class backgrounds but earn more than their parents did and are more culturally active, although with few highbrow interests. They make up 15 per cent of the population.

Socially and culturally active (but also poorer and almost always urban renters rather than homeowners) are the 19 per cent of Britons described as "emergent service workers".

The joint smallest social grouping - at just six per cent of the population - are the "elite", who are the richest, more likely to be privately educated than any other class and much more inclined to enjoy opera.

Fifteen per cent of Britons are said to be part of the most-deprived "precariat", who largely rent their homes and - if they are employed at all - are likely to be menial workers such as cleaners.

So, it begs the question: whatever happened to the traditional working classes?

One of the authors of the study, Professor Fiona Devine, of the University of Manchester, believes the decline of industry is the most crucial factor.

"In the second half of the 20th century in particular, jobs in factories, steelworks, mines and other manual places of work were very rapidly lost.

"They were replaced by jobs in services and the growth of managerial positions.

"So you have two effects taking place here.

"Many of the traditional working classes got jobs in the service sector, which are still low paid, but socially very different from traditional industrial jobs.

"No longer are working class people as likely to be a trade union member and work and mix with exclusively men from the same streets.

"They began to encounter a much broader range of people than they would before and household incomes were boosted by having two earners.

"Younger working class people in the post-war era took advantage of improved education to find themselves managerial positions.

"The result has been a great deal of social mobility over the last 50 years."

Professor Devine highlighted this trend by pointing out that her own father was a postal worker, while her mother worked as a cleaner.

She also pointed out the fact that the average age among the traditional working classes is 66.

"They represent the last people to who could expect to hold traditional manual jobs," Professor Devine explained.

What also differentiates the traditional working classes from the "precariats" – and even more educated groups such as "emerging service workers" - is that they are very likely to own their own homes.

This is a result of Margaret Thatcher’s right-to-buy policy, which allowed 2.2million working class council tenants to purchase their homes between 1980 and 1996.

And this rise in home ownership – coupled with a huge decline in the proportion of social housing – has perhaps been the second most decisive factor in restructuring Britain’s social classes, according to Professor Roger Burrows from Goldsmiths College, University of London (whose father was a printer).

"Many traditional working class people during this era either seized the opportunity to buy their council homes or felt pushed into homeownership," explains the sociologist who contributed to the report while he worked at the University of York.

"The dwindling stock of social housing, combined with often poor build quality, suddenly meant they had become a place of last resort, reserved for only the poorest.

"This had a massive effect on those people who, for the first time in their lives, owned property – after all, only 20 per cent did during the 1950s.

"Many of these people had become more aspirational – and this had a big effect on their children, many of whom would now be considered new affluent workers or even members of the established middle class.

"It also had a big effect in breaking down working class communities and destroying working class power in the form of trade unions as people concentrated on paying off their mortgages rather than paying subs and striking."

Professor Burrows believes future changes to our class structures are likely to less revolutionary.

But in 100 years our multi-faceted society might look as just alien to future generations as the army of flat cap-wearing workers of 1913 look to us now. ( yahoo news )

Blog : Step Apart | Whatever happened to the British working class?

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The right career could double your earnings

Careers That Pay Twice Your Current Salary - Feeling stuck at your income level? The right career could double your earnings.

The Great Recession. The Lesser Depression. Whatever you want to call it, these last few years have been rough. But if you're starting to despair of ever making more money, don't lose hope.

"It is possible to double your income," says Susan Heathfield, management consultant and writer of the human resources site at About.com. How long that takes will depend on a variety of factors. Are you going after promotions within your company or looking for opportunities elsewhere?

One avenue to increasing your earning potential is education. "For some occupations, like accounting or human resources, more education increases your value to a company," Heathfield says. And with the right education, you could be poised to go after some of these more lucrative positions.

If you're ready to get serious about upping your earning potential, read on for some examples of careers you can switch to that might pay double your current salary.

Making $30K? Double it to $60K.

Are you pulling in around $30,000 per year and wondering what it would take to double that amount? If you've got a head for numbers, there are a variety of financial sector positions paying $60,000 - like personal financial advisor. If you're more interested in helping people, you might want to consider looking into a career as a dental hygienist.

Personal Financial Advisor

 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, personal financial advisors might help people with investments, taxes, or insurance decisions. They might also help others plan for retirement or education costs.

"This is a career with a lot of opportunity," says Heathfield. "The economic meltdown put people in challenging positions. Many don't know if they'll be able to retire. Personal financial advisors who can help these people plan for their future are going to do well."

By the Numbers: If you're looking to double a $30K salary, this career could be your ticket. The median annual wage for personal financial advisors is $66,580, according to the Department of Labor.

What Does It Take? Before you go after a career as a personal financial advisor, you will probably need a bachelor's degree, notes the Department. While employers typically don't require a specific field of study, degrees in finance, accounting, economics, mathematics, business, or law could be good preparation.

Dental Hygienist

 

Dental hygienists provide important dental care for their patients. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, they might remove tartar and plaque from teeth, apply sealants to help protect teeth, and take and develop dental x-rays.

"There is outstanding potential in dental hygiene," says Heathfield. "This is a marvelously growing field because you have the same thing happening in the dental field as you have in the medical field. Dentists and physicians are not seeing patients for everything anymore. The dental hygienist does almost all of the preventive care now."

By the Numbers: Dental hygienists enjoy a median annual wage of $69,280, notes the Department of Labor, making this another career path that could potentially double your $30K salary. Healthfield states that with the right credentials or experience, "the top pay in this field can go as high as $100K."

What Does It Take? If this sounds like the career path you're interested in traveling down, you'll typically need an associate's degree in dental hygiene, according to the Department. Some private dental offices might only require a certificate in dental hygiene.

Heathfield brings up a few other important points to consider if you're interested in pursuing this path: "Every state has their own licensing requirements for dental hygienists, so you'll have to check those out," she says. "And higher salaries come with experience - or if you go for a bachelor's degree."

Making $40K? Double it to $80K.

What if you're looking to double your $40,000 annual salary? Assess your strengths: If you're good at managing people, you might consider pursuing a career as a medical and health services manager. If you're more tech-savvy, look into a career as a software developer. Whichever way you go, you could be on the path to doubling your salary to $80K.

Medical and Health Services Manager

 

Medical and health services managers (aka health care administrators) coordinate the medical services of a health care facility, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That could mean handling patient billing, managing work schedules, and keeping up to date on laws and regulations.

"Health care will be expanding aggressively over the next few years," Heathfield says. "People that can manage others - perhaps with experience in the function they're trying to manage - will be in demand."

By the Numbers: For someone with the right managerial skills and experience, this could be one way to work towards that $80K target. The Department of Labor reports the median annual wage of medical and health services managers is $86,400.

What Does It Take? According to the Department, "prospective medical and health services managers have a bachelor's degree in health administration." Master's degrees in long-term care administration, public health, health services, public administration, or business administration are also common.

Software Developer

 

Software developers might design, test, and develop software to meet a need, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That could include analyzing users' needs, making flowcharts for programmers, and documenting applications for future reference.

"I think there's nowhere to go in this field but up," says Heathfield. "But a degree in computer science or engineering is critical if you want to be a developer." Why is it critical? Perhaps it's because school is where developers usually gain experience programming computers, according to the Department of Labor - skills which will help prepare them to pursue this career.

Once you've got an entry-level job as a software developer, Heathfield offers some pointers for climbing the ladder. "Work on multiple products and projects," she says. "Become the person that everyone in the department looks up to. Even if you don't want to manage other people, being a senior person in the department can make a big difference in income."

By the Numbers: If you like to combine your creative and technical skills, this could be one road to an $80K career. According to the Department of Labor, the median annual wage of software developers who design applications is $89,280, and for those who design systems software, it is a bit higher at $96,600.

What Does It Take? You'll usually need a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field to get started as a software developer, according to the Department - though computer science is the most common degree because it covers such a broad range of topics.

Making $50K? Double it to $100K.

What if you're making $50,000 a year? Wondering if it's even possible to reach six figures? It might be - but keep in mind that experience will play an important role in climbing to a salary of $100,000 a year.

Why is experience so important? Because most jobs that pay $100K - like a top executive or a human resources manager at a big company - require leadership skills that are earned over time.

Human Resources Manager

 

There's a good reason human resources managers bring in the big bucks. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, they might oversee recruiting, interviewing, and hiring employees. They might also be called upon to serve as a link between a company's employees and management.

"The trend in larger companies is more and more HR managers have master's degrees, and more people are taking tests like the SPHR (senior professional in human resources)," says Heathfield.

By the Numbers: Larger salaries, says Heathfield, tend to be found in bigger cities, and usually go to senior HR managers responsible for heading entire departments (like compensation) in a bigger company.

It's true, HR managers' salaries vary depending on location and responsibilities, but this career path could lead you toward that $100K goal. According to the Department of Labor, the median annual wage of human resources managers is $99,130.

What Does It Take? You'll need both education and experience to pursue a career as a human resources manager, according to the Department. HR managers usually need a bachelor's degree in human resources or business administration, though the Department notes that higher-level jobs often require a master's degree in labor relations, human resources, or business administration.

And, as Heathfield mentioned, experience is crucial. Before you climb the ranks, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to organize, manage, and lead others - as well as have a solid understanding of federal, state, and local employment laws, she says.

Top Executive 

Top executives are the big bosses - the presidents, vice presidents, and chief executive officers (CEOs) of small companies and big corporations alike. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, top executives might decide what a company's goals are and how it should go about reaching those goals.

"Top executive's salaries are dependent on their industry and how well their company is doing," says Heathfield. "But they also have all sorts of perks that ordinary employees don't, like stock options, separation packages, and bonuses."

Why do top executives earn the big bucks? "A lot of CEOs in small to mid-size companies might be the ones who started the business in the first place," Heathfield says. "They're leaders, they make decisions, they're accountable, they set direction well, they're achievers."

By the Numbers: This is a hard career to fit into a box, and as Heathfield noted, all kinds of different factors can affect a top executive's pay. However, according to the Department of Labor, they are some of the highest paid workers in the United States - their median annual wage is $166,910.

What Does It Take? That depends on a lot of factors. According to the Department, a lot of top executives have a bachelor's or master's degree in business administration or in something related to their specialized field of work. They might have been promoted from lower-level management, or from supervisory positions in their own firm. Education varies by position or industry, the Department adds.

What's just as - or more - important than their education, however, is their managerial experience. So don't give up on that $100K dream - it just might take a little more time to get there. ( yahoo.net )

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Most Women Misunderstand IUD Birth Control

Most women misunderstand IUD birth control - Most women had inaccurate perceptions about the safety and effectiveness of intrauterine devices (IUDs) in preventing pregnancy, including not knowing that IUDs are more effective contraceptives than birth control pills, U.S. researchers said.

In addition, many didn't know that the devices don't increase the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease, added researchers, whose work appeared in the journal Contraception.

"It's not clear whether women have an overly optimistic view of the effectiveness of the birth control pill or an overly pessimistic view of the IUD," said lead author Lisa Callegari, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington.

Whatever the source, these misperceptions lead to underuse of "one of the most safe and effective methods" of birth control, said Jeffrey Peipert, an obstetrics and gynecology professor at Washington University, who was not part of the study.

IUDs, which include the brand name products ParaGard and Mirena, are small plastic or copper-and-plastic objects inserted into the uterus. They can be left implanted for years, and are more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.

In contrast, the birth control pill has been found in real-world practice to be about 95 percent effective.

Callegari and her team surveyed more than 1,600 women between the ages of 18 and 50 who had visited one of four clinics in Pennsylvania. Five percent were currently using an IUD and another 5.8 percent had used one previously.

Only about one in five of the women correctly stated that IUDs are more effective at preventing pregnancy than the Pill, and just 28 percent knew that an IUD is more cost effective than the PIll when it is used for more than three years.

The women in the study were considerably more knowledgeable about the risk of disease related to an IUD, with 57 percent answering correctly that there is no greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease with an IUD compared to the Pill.

Peipert noted that IUDs have a bad reputation and so he's not surprised they might be viewed less well. Thousands of women sued the makers of one IUD sold in the 1970s because of injuries sustained from infections.

"It's not surprising, because of the history of the IUD in the United States, that people still have inaccurate perceptions of the device," said Rebecca Allen, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Brown University, who was not involved in the study.

Currently available devices are considered to be much safer, she added, but more education is needed, including among doctors, some of whom have outdated ideas about the devices.

According to a 2012 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 28 percent of women of reproductive age use oral contraception, followed closely by sterilization methods such as getting the fallopian tubes "tied," used by 27 percent of women.

The same study found that IUD use had risen from 0.8 percent of reproductive-age women in 1995 to 5.6 percent in 2010. ( Reuters )

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Super-Hot Plasma 'Rain' Falls on Sun in Amazing Video

Super-Hot Plasma 'Rain' Falls on Sun in Amazing Video - Loops of superheated plasma far larger than Earth rain down on the solar surface in a dazzling video captured by a NASA sun-watching spacecraft.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) watched as a medium-strength flare erupted from the sun on July 19, 2012. The blast also generated the enormous, shimmering plasma loops, which are an example of a phenomenon known as "coronal rain," agency officials said.

A huge loop of plasma "rain" falls on the sun in this screenshot from a video captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft on July 19, 2012.

\A close-up of a spectacular loop of solar plasma "rain" on the sun as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft on July 19, 2012. NASA released a video of the amazing sight on Feb. 20, 2013.

"Hot plasma in the corona [the sun's outer atmosphere] cooled and condensed along strong magnetic fields in the region," NASA officials wrote in a description of the four-minute video of solar plasma "rain", which NASA released Wednesday (Feb. 20).

"Magnetic fields are invisible, but the charged plasma is forced to move along the lines, showing up brightly in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength of 304 Angstroms, and outlining the fields as it slowly falls back to the solar surface," they added.

The $850 million SDO spacecraft recently marked three years in space. It launched on Feb. 11, 2010, kicking off a five-year prime mission to provide incredibly detailed views of the sun, solar flares and other space weather events.

SDO has delivered thus far, capturing more than 100 million images of our star as of late last year. Some of the spacecraft's most memorable shots over the last year are highlighted in another video, which NASA released last week to celebrate the mission's birthday.

But SDO has done more than just shine a light on the sun. The spacecraft has also helped scientists better understand comets, especially "sungrazers" like Comet Lovejoy, which survived a death dive through the sun's corona in December 2011.

And scientists used SDO to learn more about Venus' atmosphere during the planet's "transit" across the sun's face, from Earth's perspective, in June of last year. The Venus transit transfixed skywatchers and researchers around the world, as the next one won't come until 2117.

SDO isn't the only spacecraft keeping tabs on the sun, which is currently in an active phase of its 11-year activity cycle, with a peak expected later this year. NASA's twin Stereo probes also provide daily views of our star, as does the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency. ( space.com )

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5 Easy Ways to Bust Out of a Bad Mood

5 Easy Ways to Bust Out of a Bad Mood - Feeling the late-winter blues? It's tough to stay chipper when the skies are gray and spring feels like it couldn't possibly come any slower - but despite the fact that seasonal sadness is relatively common, it's important to pay attention to any persistent feelings of malaise. "[When experiencing depressive thoughts], first, you have to ask yourself if you are experiencing true clinical depression, or whether your feelings more fleeting, like with a bad mood," says Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

"When it comes to ordinary stress, it's all about how you think about it," says Witbourne. Clinical depression, on the other hand, is recognizable by a lack of rhyme or reason to your sadness. In these cases, there's usually something off in one's brain chemistry: "When someone is clinically depressed, serotonin drops - the chemical that keeps our mood elevated," she says. "While you could go see a doc and ask for anti-depressant like Prozac or Zoloft, if it's more of an isolated case, it's actually possible to change your brain chemistry with your thoughts." Here are few ways to think positive when you're having a horrible, no-good, very bad day - try these out to brighten your mood and put a pep in your step for the rest of the winter.

Be Pretty In Pink

In the early '90s, researchers looked at the effect of peppy rose shades on violent, incarcerated prisoners when painted on their cell walls. The study showed that it could calm aggressive and anxiety-filled prisoners. When surrounded by such a warm yet calming shade, the inmates couldn't be worked up even if they tried to be. The study authors believe that the hue causes heart muscles to relax and makes you feel more tranquil (temporarily, of course). Although the study wasn't about depression per se, it does show that colors can have a marked effect on mood. Hate fuchsia? No biggie. "Any vibrant color is a great way brighten your mood," says Whitbourne. So why not try to incorporate happy hues into your life? Swipe on on a vibrant gloss or lipstick, or paint your nails your favorite bight shade, and a good mood could be right at your fingertips. Literally.

Hit The Treadmill

If you're not feeling so hot (as in winter blahs, not mutant flu), science proves that working up a sweat can flood your brain with endorphins, the chemicals in the brain responsible for making you feel like a million. A Penn State study showed that even if you aren't a religious gymgoer, if you suddenly book a bike at Flywheel first thing in the morning (or plan to do your fave workout), you can feel happier - and more productive - for the rest of that day. What's even more interesting: If you've been down in the dumps and are feeling less than motivated to sweat it out, you're the one that's going to get the biggest happy high - and it'll kick in within the first twenty minutes of your workout. "Exercise is known to reduce depressive feelings," says Whitbourne. "Although you will experience marked brain changes within the first 20 minutes of your workout, I recommend sticking with it for at least 30 minutes to maintain the endorphin high, which will also improve your mood."

Eat Sushi

Some studies show that omega-3 fatty acids (which are found in fish such as salmon, shrimp, summer flounder, and tuna) can help lower depression-like feelings. One study found that consuming a fish-rich diet twice a week resulted in a lower risk of depression and suicide, while another demonstrated that those diagnosed with bipolar disorder who ate an omega-3 concentrated diet had a more even-keeled mood naturally after just four months. "Sushi is certainly one way to get the benefits of mood-boosting fish, but it's not necessary to eat raw fish to get this effect," says Whitbourne. "Plus, eating more fish can help improve your mental and physical health, too, which could make you feel better overall in the long run." Take note: The fattier kinds of fish tend to have more mood-boosting omega-3s (hence salmon's reputation as a superfood). Hate fish? Pop a fish oil supplement daily instead; it'll have a similar effect.

Live Like An Icelander

Think you need to be on a tropical island for everything to be all right? Maybe not. A 2006 study showed that Iceland might actually have some of the happiest people in the world. Close social connections, plus a strong arts and culture scene, may explain why many Icelanders remain content in the face of volcanic eruptions, sub-arctic temperatures, and days with as few as four hours of daylight. (Adorable horses and geothermal spas probably don't hurt, either.) So, while long winter days may indeed trigger seasonal affective disorder, Icelanders prove that you can beat it.

Make Use Of That To-Do List

While being laid-back and following the 'don't worry, be happy' mindset may seem like the way to go, experts say that having goals and reaching them could really be the secret to feeling fulfilled. So, redo that closet that looks like it's going to explode, finally take that German language class you've been talking about forever, or tackle whatever woulda-coulda-shoulda thing you haven't gotten around to yet. "Being more goal-oriented and more conscientious is absolutely a way to become less depressed," says Whitbourne. And don't make that checklist super-simple either-it's more effective to push your limits. Research shows that ambition, not low expectations, are deemed more valuable, and therefore can make you feel more satisfied with your life (and hence, in a better mood). Starting to feel better about life already? Get to it, girl! ( Spring Shape Up Guide )

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9 Ways to Damage Your Financial Standing

9 Ways to Damage Your Financial Standing - Are you truly in control of your money? Take a look at these easy ways you could be killing yourself financially.

1. Paying the minimum on your credit card balance. 

Doing this means you’ll pay more in interest and it’ll take you longer to pay it off. It would take almost 10 years to pay off a $1,000 credit card balance (at 14% APR) if you were to only make the minimum monthly payment. If you can, pay the balance in full at the end of each month.

2. Not having an emergency fund. 

What if your home goes into foreclosure? What if your health insurance doesn’t cover an important prescription? What if you get a divorce? An emergency fund is for the “what ifs” in life. We hope we never have to use it, but it’s there when we need it.

3. Not having insurance. Protect yourself and your stuff. The added security will leave you feeling more in control of your life, and it could save you financially in the case of an emergency or tragedy.

4. Having nothing saved at all. 

It’s no secret that spending money is much more fun than saving it, but it’s important to save at least a little, no matter what your income is. If nothing else, your small savings can double as your emergency fund. One of the best ways to get over the intimidation of putting away money is to set up an auto-transfer or direct deposit each month. That way, the money automatically comes out of your checking account or paycheck, and you’ll get used to living without it.

5. Paying too much for a house. 

Just because the bank approves you for a home loan doesn’t mean you can afford to pay that amount. The best way to determine what you can afford to pay is to create a budget. Add up all of your monthly expenses, subtract that from your monthly income, and you’ve got yourself a realistic monthly mortgage payment.

6. Being deep in debt without a game plan to get out. 

If you’re holding onto a lot of credit card debt, stop using your credit cards. Continuing to recklessly spend your money will only further hurt your financial standing, and the, “What’s a little more?” mentality has got to go. The first step to creating a game plan to get out of debt is to revisit your budget and factor in your monthly debt payments.

7. Spending more than what you’re bringing in. It’s budgeting 101 — don’t spend more than you have.

8. Not paying your bills on time. 

Use Manilla.com for automatic bill pay reminders, or set reminders of your own. When you don’t pay your bills on time, you’ll not only hurt your credit score, but you’ll also waste your money on late fees.

9. Not having a budget. 

It’s the root of nearly every one of these problems. Not having a budget means you may have no idea what’s going on with your money. You may not be sure how much you can realistically spend each week, and you probably don’t track what you do spend. All it takes is about 30 minutes, so sit down, create a budget and start taking control of your finances.

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Weather Channel Explores Rogue Planet Doomsday Scenario

Weather Channel Explores Rogue Planet Doomsday Scenario - What if a rogue planet swept through the solar system, altering Earth's orbit? Potentially, the death of all life on the planet, according to a new Weather Channel special.

"Forecasting the End," a new Weather Channel series, premieres March 21, exploring the possible results of a rogue planet fly-by. Rogue planets, or planets not linked to stars, may outnumber actual stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Myths about "Planet X" or "Nibiru" hold that a stealth rogue planet is headed this way (actually, it was supposed to hit on the Mayan apocalypse on Dec. 21, 2012).

In fact, the likelihood of a rogue planet swinging by is slim. Astronomers have yet to find any evidence that any of the planets in our own solar system are captured rogues. And the average space between rogue planets and other bodies in our galaxy is quite expansive, Bad Astronomy blogger Phil Plait has calculated. In other words, a collision isn't likely.

The first episode of "Forecasting the End" focuses on what might happen in this very unlikely scenario. Potentially, scientists say, a planet passing by could alter the orbits of the planets in the solar system, making Earth's orbit more elliptical.

A more elliptical orbit would be bad news for life. Earth orbits in a relatively thin habitable zone around the sun, which allows for temperatures where water can be a solid, liquid or gas.

This more elliptical orbit might not push Earth out of this zone, but could bring the planet close enough to the sun to create short, extremely intense summers and then far enough away for very long winters. This would create a shorter growing period and mass food shortages, even human extinction.

"Life on Earth is very much dependent on the orbit we are in around the sun," said David Bennett, a University of Notre Dame astrophysicist.

To make the series, complete with simulations of the world-ending scenario, Weather Channel director Brea Tisdale and crew filmed real people "reacting" to disasters, which they added later using computer graphics. In one shot of a volcanic disaster, the crew sprinkled flour from above to look like ash.

"The actors have to pretend that something terrible is happening in the sky above them, when actually it's a really sunny, nice day," said director of photography Doug Cheney. ( LiveScience.com )

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