Summary:

We all have habits, some good and some not so good. These are behaviors that we've learned and that occur almost automatically. And most of us have a habit we'd like to break, or one we'd like to develop.

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We all have habits, some good and some not so good. These are behaviors that we've learned and that occur almost automatically. And most of us have a habit we'd like to break, or one we'd like to develop.

For most people, it takes about four weeks for a new behavior to become routine, or habit. The following steps can make it easier to establish a new behavior pattern.

1. The first step is to set your goal. Especially when you are trying to stop or break a habit, you should try to phrase your goal as a positive statement. For example, instead of saying "I will quit snacking at night", say "I will practice healthy eating habits". You should also write down your goal. Commiting it to paper helps you to commit. It can also help if you tell your goal to someone you trust.

2. Decide on a replacement behavior. (If your goal is to develop a new habit then your replacement behavior will be the goal itself.) This step is very important when you are trying to break a habit. If you want to stop a behavior, you must have a superior behavior to put in it's place. If you don't, the old behavior pattern will return.

3. Learn and be aware of your triggers. Behavior patterns don't exist independently. Often, one habit is associated with another part of your regular routine. For instance, in the snacking example the trigger may be late night television or reading. You automatically grab a bag of chips while you watch. Many people who smoke automatically light up after eating. Think about when and why you do the thing you want to quit.

4. Post reminders to yourself. You can do this by leaving yourself notes in the places where the behavior usually occurs. Or you can leave yourself a message on the mirror, refrigerator, computer monitor or some other place where you will see it regularly. You can also have a family member or co-worker use a particular phrase to remind you of your goal.

5. Get help and support from someone. This is kind of obvious. Any job is easier with help. It works even better if you can form a partnership with someone who shares the same goal.

6. Write daily affirmations. Write your phrase or sentence in the present tense (as if it were already happening), and write it ten times a day for twenty-one days. This process helps make your goal a part of your subconscious, which will not only remind you to practice the new behavior, but it also keeps you focused and motivated.

7. Reward yourself for making progress at set time intervals. Focus on your goal one day at a time, but give yourself a small treat at one, three and six months. The rewards don't have to be big or expensive, and you should try to make it something that's associated in some way with the goal. Doing this provides you with both incentive and extra motivation.

Following these steps is no guarantee of success of course. Depending on the habit it may take several tries to finally make the change. But if you stick with it, you can do it. Good Luck.

Summary:

One of the best sitcoms not just of its time, but of all time, Seinfeld redefined the sitcom genre. No longer was it necessary to have contrived plot, a lesson to be learned, or some other ridiculous cookie-cutter approach. With Seinfeld, an episode could be about nothing and everything all at the same time. The show follows the lives of four friends living in New York City, stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld, his childhood friend George Costanza (Jason Alexander), his eccentri...

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seinfeld season 4 dvd review

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One of the best sitcoms not just of its time, but of all time, Seinfeld redefined the sitcom genre. No longer was it necessary to have contrived plot, a lesson to be learned, or some other ridiculous cookie-cutter approach. With Seinfeld, an episode could be about nothing and everything all at the same time. The show follows the lives of four friends living in New York City, stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld, his childhood friend George Costanza (Jason Alexander), his eccentric next-door neighbor Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards), and his ex-girlfriend Elaine Benese (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Together, they form one of the most unforgettable comedy teams in television history.

The Seinfeld (Season 4) DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere in which Jerry asks George to accompany him on a trip to Los Angeles where he'll be appearing on The Tonight Show. While in Hollywood, the two attempt to track down Kramer who recently moved there to become a star. But the trip goes awry when hotel maid Lupe can't grasp the concept of George's preferred bed tuck, Jerry loses his Tonight Show material, and Kramer is fingered by local police as the prime suspect in the "smog strangler" killings… Other notable episodes from Season 4 include "The Bubble Boy" in which George incurs the wrath of an entire township following his argument over a Trivial Pursuit question with a local handicapped icon who (for medical reasons) lives in a bubble, and "The Contest" (based on a real life Larry David experience) in which Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine place a wager on who can practice self-denial the longest… "The Junior Mint" and "The Handicap Spot" round out a year that is arguably the best season in Seinfeld's hilarious nine-year run…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Seinfeld (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 41 (The Trip: Part 1) Air Date: 08-12-1992

Episode 42 (The Trip: Part 2) Air Date: 08-19-1992

Episode 43 (The Pitch) Air Date: 09-16-1992

Episode 44 (The Ticket) Air Date: 09-16-1992

Episode 45 (The Wallet) Air Date: 09-23-1992

Episode 46 (The Watch) Air Date: 09-30-1992

Episode 47 (The Bubble Boy) Air Date: 10-07-1992

Episode 48 (The Cheever Letters) Air Date: 10-28-1992

Episode 49 (The Opera) Air Date: 11-04-1992

Episode 50 (The Virgin) Air Date: 11-11-1992

Episode 51 (The Contest) Air Date: 11-18-1992

Episode 52 (The Airport) Air Date: 11-25-1992

Episode 53 (The Pick) Air Date: 12-16-1992

Episode 54 (The Movie) Air Date: 01-06-1993

Episode 55 (The Visa) Air Date: 01-27-1993

Episode 56 (The Shoes) Air Date: 02-04-1993

Episode 57 (The Outing) Air Date: 02-11-1993

Episode 58 (The Old Man) Air Date: 02-18-1993

Episode 59 (The Implant) Air Date: 02-25-1993

Episode 60 (The Junior Mint) Air Date: 03-18-1993

Episode 61 (The Smelly Car) Air Date: 04-15-1993

Episode 62 (The Handicap Spot) Air Date: 05-13-1993

Episode 63 (The Pilot: Part 1) Air Date: 05-20-1993

Episode 64 (The Pilot: Part 2) Air Date: 05-20-1993

Each year, an unlimited number of Thanksgiving parties are held. Are you looking to host one this year? If so, have you decided which type of Thanksgiving party you would like to have? Unfortunately, a large number of party guests do not realize that they actually have a choice. Truth be told, you do. You can either have a causal Thanksgiving party or a formal Thanksgiving party. Although many party hosts choose to have casual parties, you will find that there are a number of benefits to planning and hosting a formal Thanksgiving party.

Perhaps, the greatest reason why many party hosts choose to make their Thanksgiving party a formal one is because they enjoy elegant events. How formal you would like to go is completely up to you, but a large number of party hosts request that their party guests arrive in formal apparel or, at least, in eveningwear. Although you may think that most of your guests would prefer to arrive in jeans, that isn’t always in the case. Many adults enjoy attending elegant events, but many are just unable to. Your formal Thanksgiving party may give your guests the excuses that they wanted to wear that elegant evening dress or suit that has been sitting in the back of their closet for ages.

Another reason why you should think about hosting a formal Thanksgiving party is because of the holiday. In the past, holidays were associated with formal and elegant events and attire. While these events do still exist today, it seems as many of us have gotten to use to tossing on a pair of jeans for Thanksgiving dinner. While that is still possible to wear casual clothing to a Thanksgiving party or dinner, a holiday as special as Thanksgiving should be celebrated in style.

If you enjoy planning parties, a formal Thanksgiving party may be right for you. Although all parties, including casual Thanksgiving parties do require some preparation; you will see that formal Thanksgiving parties require more. While this may be considered a disadvantage, it doesn’t necessarily have to be, especially if you enjoy party planning. A formal Thanksgiving party will enable you to show off your party planning skills. It is always assumed that those who plan elegant, formal parties are the best at what they do and all of your party guests will easily be able to see that.

If you do make the decision to plan a formal Thanksgiving party, you can choose to do your party in any way that you see fit; however, many party hosts make their formal Thanksgiving parties adult only. A formal, adult only Thanksgiving party has an unlimited number of benefits, all on its own. You many find that more guests are willing to attend your party, particularly those that are not parents, but even those who are parents will likely attend. Adults, whether they have children are not, always enjoy the opportunity to socialize in an adult setting and what better setting than a formal Thanksgiving party?

Although there is a good chance that you may be interested in planning a formal Thanksgiving party, there is also a chance that you might not be interested. As nice as formal Thanksgiving parties are, they are not required. As the party host, you have the ability to choose exactly what you want or do not want your Thanksgiving party to be.

Your visit to the doctor now contains a page where you sign that you acknowledge that the physician's office has notified you about their compliance with HIPAA laws. More often than not, you probably read through quickly or barely skim the authorization form before signing it. However, HIPAA laws are important, and they are in place to protect you from identity theft, being denied care, and/or health insurance coverage.

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, enacted in 1996. HIPAA laws created a new national standard in protecting your health information. As you see different physicians or become admitted to different hospitals, your health information should follow you. HIPAA delineates the need to properly protect your health information as it flows through to these different channels. As more and more transactions are completed electronically these days, HIPAA laws focus on the protection of your health information specifically through these channels.

So what does HIPAA protect? For you, HIPAA protects personally identifiable health information, such as your Social Security number, birth date, address, etc., as well as current, past, or even future physical and/or mental conditions or treatment. Such information may not be disclosed except for specific uses. Information that HIPAA does not cover must specifically be personally non-identifiable. In protecting this sort of information, there is more protection against identity theft and more recourse if such a thing should happen.

HIPAA also protects how health insurance providers may use your health information. These entities may use your information without your authorization only if they are sending you information, using this information to provide the best treatment or health care, or collecting payment on medical expenses, among other things. If disclosure of your health information does not fall under these categories, you must authorize the transfer of information in writing. Furthermore, because the government understands that highly technical language can be a barrier in understanding your health information privacy rights, any authorization must be in plain language.

This may all seem like unnecessary paperwork, but beyond identity theft, HIPAA laws also help those looking for health insurance coverage. Title 1 of the HIPAA laws oversees the availability and range of health insurance plans for those without perfect health. It outlaws any health insurance plan from creating discriminatory rules to create premium rates or deny coverage. HIPAA laws are quite extensive, but this gives you a look at how your health information is being protected and used. Your department of health should be able to give you further information, or you can search the government's Web site for the entire HIPAA law.