And the Survey Says ....

As businesses not only expand into global markets but more and more utilize a global workforce the strains on conventional communication tools and devices are obvious everywhere.  All great international communications are considering how to effectively utilize the new array of digital media - facebook, You tube, tweeter, blogs, text messaging, apps for smartphones, etc.  Just as the breath and depth of information itself is not lacking neither or the choices to deliver this data. 

So in considering the array of communication devices/tools currently available at your workplace, is there a place for a blog as a means of communication for a global organization?

Please respond to the following three questions:

1.  If a blog was developed with general information specific to this department how often would you access it? A. once a week B. once a month C. probably never

2. Given the confidentiality of business info would a blog still be worthwhile if the information was focused more on organizational changes, promotions, awards, community service events, etc.? A. Yes B. No C. Not sure
3. Would you prefer we considered facebook as our primary digital media? A Yes B. No C. Something else
For you to respond to the survey follow these easy steps:
A. At bottom of post there is a text box that's titled: "Post A Comment".  This is where you provide your responses in the form: question# - Letter matching your response such as 1 - A, or 2 - C or 3 - B
B. At bottom of this text box select drop down menu options and select "anonymous".  That way there is absolutely no way I will know the source of the comments.
C. Click on "Post Comment" and you're done.

Feel free to review the other post on this blog including those in the archives located on the right hand side.

From the folks at one of my favorite and most trused websites, WebTV

Understanding Trans Fats

Trans fats seemed like such a good thing once, enhancing the flavor, texture, and shelf life of many processed foods -- from cookies to frozen pizza. Unfortunately, they come with a health risk.

Trans fatty foods tantalize your taste buds, then travel through your digestive system to your arteries, where they turn to sludge.  Small amounts of trans fats occur naturally in beef, lamb, and full-fat dairy products. But most come from processing liquid vegetable oil to become solid fat.

Recommended Limits of Trans Fats

Like saturated fats, trans fats raise LDL "bad" cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease. But unlike saturated fats, trans fats lower HDL "good" cholesterol and may do more damage, says the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA advises limiting saturated fat consumption to less than 7% of daily calories and trans fat consumption to less than 1%. Given that a gram of fat has 9 calories, the following are the recommended trans fat limits based on calorie intake:

Total calories 1% of total calories = Trans fat limit

2,000 20 About 2 grams
1,500 15 About 1.5 grams
1,200 12 Slightly more than 1 gram
Trans Fats and Foods to Watch Out For

The FDA label ruling and consumer awareness of the dangers of trans fats have led many food manufacturers to reformulate products to reduce or eliminate trans fats. Today you can buy cookies and soft-spread margarine with zero trans fats. But trans fats still exist in some products. Carefully read nutrition labels on foods in these categories. Chose brands that don't use trans fats and are low in saturated fat in these products:

cookies, crackers, cakes, muffins, pie crusts, pizza dough, and breads such as hamburger buns
some stick margarine and vegetable shortening
pre-mixed cake mixes, pancake mixes, and chocolate drink mixes
fried foods, including donuts, French fries, chicken nuggets, and hard taco shells
snack foods, including chips, candy, and packaged or microwave popcorn
frozen dinners

The Meaning of Zero Trans Fat

Reach for the product whose label shouts "0 Trans Fats!" and what do you get? Maybe some trans fats. That's because the FDA allows that label on anything with 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving.


As a result, keep in mind this advice:

1. Even if you're a conscientious shopper, it's easy to ingest a significant amount of trans fats without knowing it. A bowl of "trans-fat-free" cereal (that actually contains half a gram) plus a slice of birthday cake at the office and some microwave popcorn in the evening add up quickly.

2. Get in the habit of reading nutrition labels, the ones headed "Nutrition Facts." Look at all the fats listed there. Keep in mind that saturated fat is also unhealthy. If the label lists Trans Fat as 0 g, look at the Ingredients List for the words "partially hydrogenated." Any oil that is partially hydrogenated is a trans fat. So a single serving of cookies could have as much as a half gram of trans fat and be labeled "0 TransFats." Be aware, too, that often a "single serving" is often less than an average person would eat.

Bottom line: When choosing foods with "0 grams trans fats," evaluate the total fat content including the amount of saturated fat. Choose foods that have the least amount of saturated fat and that use healthy fats such as canola oil in the product.

Here are some examples from the Nutrition Facts on food labels: 

Food Trans fats in a single serving

Cake mix 0.5 g

Frozen chicken and noodles 0.5 g

Blueberry muffin mix 1.5 g

Refrigerated crescent rolls 1.5 g

Stick margarine (1T) 1.5 g

Frozen beef pot pie 2 g

Microwave popcorn 6 g

The following are some examples of foods that list 0 g trans fats but contain partially hydrogenated oils, such as soybean or cottonseed oil:

Corn muffin mix

Pizza

Stoned wheat thin crackers

Cookies, including some cartoon-licensed brands

The Costs of Trans Fat-Free Products

Budget-conscious shoppers might be tempted to buy the cheapest brand of pastry, pot pie, or microwave popcorn. But don't make that decision at the expense of nutrition. Reformulating foods to reduce or eliminate trans fats costs manufacturers money. Some "0 trans fats" foods may cost more, although not all do. Again, be sure to read the nutrition label carefully so you know if you're buying a healthier version of the snack, cookie, cracker, or cake.

There's also concern that some food processors will remove trans fats only to substitute low-cost saturated fats -- another contributor to heart disease. But a 2006 marketplace survey published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that had not occurred except in one category: microwave popcorn.

What is a Normal Pulse?

Question:  What's a normal resting heart rate?
Answer:  Mayo Clinic/ Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.

For an adult, a normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats a minute. For a well-trained athlete, a normal resting heart rate may be closer to 40 beats a minute. For healthy adults, a lower heart rate at rest generally implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness.

To measure your heart rate, simply check your pulse. With your palm facing upward, place two fingers on the thumb side of your wrist — or place your index and third fingers on your neck to the side of your windpipe. When you feel your pulse, count the number of beats in 10 seconds. Time yourself with a timer or the second hand on a clock or watch. Multiply this number by 6 to determine how many times your heart beats in one minute.

Keep in mind that many factors can influence heart rate, including:
■Activity level
■Fitness level
■Air temperature
■Body position (standing up or lying down, for example)
■Emotions
■Body size
■Medication use

Although there's a wide range of normal, an unusually high or low heart rate may indicate an underlying problem. Consult your doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats a minute (tachycardia) or below 60 beats a minute (bradycardia) — especially if you have other signs or symptoms, such as fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath.

Best Public Golf Courses in Houston, Texas

Spring is here and you're ready to hit some balls.  The driving range is boring so the call of championship golf is primed and ready.  Houston is a big place with many golf course choices.  Of course, for a $35,000 initiation fee and a few hundred bucks a month you can play those wonderful private courses.  But for the rest of us, our adjunct advisory panel at 1stopforgolf  http://www.1stopforgolf.com/  and http://www.visithouston.com/  amongh others provides the following recommendations.

Redstone Golf Club (Humble, Texas) The Tournament Course at Redstone, designed by Rees Jones and David Toms is currently one of only 11 public courses across the country that hosts a PGA TOUR event... The Shell Houston Open is currently being played their right now. 18-hole public, 18-hole private. Green Fees: $125-$175

Black Horse Golf Club (Cypress, NE Houston) offers golfers 36 holes and has been ranked in the top ten of America's top 100 courses for under $100.  Green Fees: $40-$120

Wildcat Golf Club (South of Houston, Hwys 90 and 288) Home to two championship courses, Wildcat Golf Club is something of an oasis with its rolling fairways and terrific views of the Houston skyline and Reliant Park in the distance. Green Fees: $40-$75

Memorial Park Golf Course (Galleria/West Houston) 6001 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77007 - 713-862-4033 Through the years, Memorial Park Golf Course has hosted many famous golfers such as Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. It was also the home of the Houston Open from 1951 to 1963... The design is fairly straight-forward, while the course uses the ancient trees and its length as defensesMemorial Park Golf Course is known as one of the best municipal courses in the nation and is visited by more than 60,000 patrons each year. 18-hole (Public) Green Fees: $25-$50

The Woodlands Resort (The Woodland, N of Houston)The Woodlands resort offers up two very good golf courses, Panther Trail and The Oaks both characterized by tree lined fairways and subtle elevation changes.Green Fees: $70-$130

Cypresswood Golf Club (Spring, NE Houston) 21602 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, Texas 77373 - 281-821-6300 http://www.cypresswood.com/ Situated on over 800 acres of rolling, heavily wooded terrain along the confluence of Spring and Cypress creeks, this 54-hole golf facility offers three unique golf experiences... Cypresswood Golf Club's Cypress, Creek, and Tradition courses were voted "Best Places to Play" by Golf Digest 2002-2005. 54-hole (Public/Private) Green Fees: $35-$70

Houston National Golf Club (Northwest Houston) No matter what your level of play, the Houston National Golf Club will seek to enhance your enjoyment of the game..Houston National boasts the highest U.S.G.A. course rating in the greater Houston area. 27-hole (Public) Green Fees: $59-$69

 Timber Creek Golf Club   (Friendswood, SE Houston) is a 27-hole golf facility that was literally carved out of Oak and Pine trees. One million cubic yards of dirt were moved in to create the rolling look found in South Carolina.

Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club (Katy, Texas) - off Fry Rd., Katy, Texas 281-693-4653 - A very good links course that has plenty of character. Some holes are distinctively links, while others meander through heavy brush...Locally considered the top golf course in the Houston area, Meadowbrook Farms was designed by the legendary Australian Greg Norman and opened in 1999. 18-hole (Public/Private)  This masterfully designed Greg Norman golf course is characterized by it's sod-wall bunkers with white sand that surround greens that are generous, subtle and approachable. Advance reservations of 30 days required: Green Fees: $60-$80

Old Orchard Golf Club - 13134 FM 1464, Richmond, Texas 77469 - 281-277-3300 - http://www.oldorchardgolf.com/ - Old Orchard is truly a treat to play. You feel like you are actually playing in a pecan orchard. It is built on the former site of the Lazy C Ranch, which was at one time one of the finest quarter horse ranches in the world. The layout is superb, and the three nines have distinctly different feels. The course also changes with the seasons, since the pecan trees lose their leaves in the winter. Green Fees: $40-$60

Senna Plantation - A player's course. The layout is superb and requires plenty of shotmaking. The greens are undulated and tiered, and the course can play very difficult depending on the pin placements. The course is unusually picturesque for the Houston area, as it winds through trees and marshland. For the price, Sienna Plantation is the best public course in Houston.  Green Fees: $55-$75

Some other notables for their novelty and/or costs:
 

Tour 18 (Humble, Texas) 3102 FM 1960 East, Humble, Texas 77338 - 281-540-1818 replicates famous holes. No, the condition of the course isn't the plushest in the area -- and suburban Humble hasn't come up with the crashing ocean waves over rocky coastline of Pebble Beach. But there's ample accuracy of design, whether it's the Blue Monster of Doral, or the challenges of Shinnecock Hills, Oakmont, Harbour Town (the course lost its signature lighthouse replica in litigation) or even Colonial. Augusta's Amen Corner is the most exquisite offering -- the ghost of Arnie can almost be detected, advising through the hush of the lush pine roughs. Green Fees: $60-$110

Augusta Pines, Spring, NE Houston) characterized by small, undulating greens and plenty of water, offers a solid test on heaving land framed by tall pines.


Woodforest - Carved through the majestic pines and towering oaks of Northwest Houston. Strategically placed bunkers and trickling Fish Creek meander through the course making shot selection essential. Experience the course designed by the PGA’s own Steve Elkington.

Wortham Park  (East of Houston) 7000 Capitol, Houston, Texas 77281 - 713-921-3227 - Gus Wortham provides challenges not regularly found in Houston. Elevated tees and uphill carries to greens make you use all your clubs. 18-hole (Public)

Hermann Park - (South of Houston, Near Rice) 713-526-0077 The Hermann Park Golf Course is located on 407 acres of Houston's loveliest gardens, parks, and public spaces. 18-hole (Public) Green Fees: $20-$30 

 Brock Park - (NE of Houston) 8201 John Ralston Rd., Houston, Texas 77044 - 281-456-1350 Although this inexpensive city course is seldom in good shape, it does have more hills and undulations than most Houston courses, so it provides a different sort of challengeThe tree-lined course plays to 6427 yards, and the elevation changes are unlike most courses in the area. Brock Park is quietly tucked into the northeast area of Houston, far from the noise, but less than 20 minutes from downtown. 18-hole (Public) Green Fees: $10-$15

Improve Your Diet

The folks at Mens Health Magazine have great tips on improving the effectiveness of what you eat if the intent is to loose weight the lasting and healthy way:

Upgrade Your Diet

Your food choices should consist of lean protein, whole grains and good fat.  Too vague, need more specifics?  Ok, print this out for future reference:

1. Don't skip breakfast!  Studies have shown that this habit tends to lead to weight GAIN. Those who eat eggs for breakfast lose 65 pct more weight than those who don't according to the International Journal of Obesity.  Organic omega-3 eggs preferred.

2.  Peanuts reduce glycemic response to a meal giving you a feeling of fullness according to a study by the American College of Nutrition.  Try organic if possible due to the high levels of pesticide found in the product.

3.  Eat low fat yogurt.  In a study by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association helps you eat less and stay full longer.

4. Eat whole grains like oats.  Oatmeal is 100% oats and tasty mighty fine.  Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats is a good choice.  Sourdough causes the least blood spike than all other breads.  Baker's Bread seven-grain is a wise choice.

5.  Enjoy your fruits. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants.  Dried plums (prunes) help fight hardening of the arteries.  Oranges provide 130 percent of your daily vitamin C requirements.  Bananas are packed with potassium which helps reduce high blood pressure and stroke.

6. Eat your veggies.  So the food pyramid is right.  Spinach does help build Popeye muscles.  An added bonus is that its high in fiber and protects against heart disease.  Asparagus has been found to destroy cancer cells.

7. Some fats are good.  Olive and canola oils are high in fat. But it's monounsaturated and that the "good" fat.  Walnuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds  is high in fiber, good fat and besides they make a delicious snake.

8. Drinking heavily might not be bad.  Green tea is considered the first choice of nutritionist.  It's considered good for your heart, brain functions and fights cancer.  Add a squeeze of lemon and table spoon of honey and you might actually drink all of it.  Finally, surprise, surprise.  Coffee might be a good choice in an adult's selection of beverages.  For all the beneficial antioxidants you should use whole beans grinding just before brewing. My personal choice is Starbucks. 

Warning: Weightlifting Can Be Dangerous

An Ohio State University report of weightlifting injuries by those age 25 to 34 during the period 1990 to 2207, found the most common cause of injuries were dropped weights (66%).  No other cause was even close.  The most common body parts injuried were torso (28%) and hips (24%).  Now armed with the reality that the very place you choose to improve your health can harm it, one must ask what to do about it?

A few precautionary tips from the folks at realweightlifting.com:

Warm Up - A simple way to maximise weight lifting safety is to warm-up before your session. It’s a good idea to get the heart pumping and blood flowing before you begin your weight lifting. Five minutes on the exercise bike at a moderate pace is sufficient. The goal is to get your muscles and joints warm and pliable to reduce the chance of tearing anything as you lift.

Stretch - Unless you’re a competitive lifter or strength athlete, it’s a good idea to do some light stretching before lifting weights. Stretch the relevant muscles before your session begins, holding the static stretches for 8-10 seconds each.


Avoid Failure  - “Muscular failure” is defined as the point in a set where you have reached your physical limit, and have to exert all your strength and will to complete the last rep. Training to failure means you do repetitions up to the point where you couldn’t even begin to lift the bar for one more. Aside from it's negative effect on your gains, muscular failure is simply unsafe. Pushing yourself that far can be very dangerous – a lot can go wrong (think ligaments, tendons, blood vessels) when you’re that close to your physical limit. Training to failure is a surefire way to compromise your weight lifting safety.

Always use locks - Sounds simple, but sometimes, people get lazy. If the locks are on, weight doesn’t go flying everywhere should you drop a barbell or accidentally overload one side. Toes don’t like 45lb plates!

Train with ample space around you - Should something go wrong, especially with standing barbell movements like the military press, squat or snatch, you want ample space around you to offload the barbell.

Use proper form -  The importance of proper form really can not be stressed too heavily. Poor form is probably the number one cause of injuries in the weights room. If you train in the gym, have a trainer watch your form and give you feedback. Only increase the weight on a lift if you can maintain perfect form. For the majority of lifts, good form includes lifting the weight smoothly and under control - that means no extra jerking or swinging motions to get the weight up.

 

BBQ in America - The Rest for Houston, Texas



Bronze Medal Winners



My previous posts in the now famous BBQ in America series (posted in August 2010 and April 2011) have identified the Top 10 BBQ joints in the Houston area. (Rumored being considered for a Nobel, Pulitzer and Jeffersonian Award) However, from a population of hundreds, if not, thousands of choices many,  many more could have been named.  Here's SOME of the rest:

Baker's Ribs 2223 S Voss Rd. Houston 713-977-8725 http://www.bakersribs.com/

Bow to the Rib



BBQ Inn 116 W Crostimbers 713-695-8112

Otto's BBQ 5502 Memorial Drive, Houston 713-864-2573 http://ottoscatering.com/

Thelma's BBQ 3755 Southmore Blvd, Houston 713-228-2528



Guy's Meat Market 3106 Old Spainish Trail, Houston 713-747-6800 guysseasoning.com

Harlon's BBQ Original Location 6930 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, (713) 733-5687 http://harlonsbbq.com/mlk.html  Also located in Galeria Area and George Bush Airport.

Harlon's also has a small Soul Food menu - all things pork, turkey and meatloaf)

Virgie's BBQ 5535 North Gessner, Houston 713-466-6525 (In March a fire has temporarily shut them down) http://www.virgiesbbq.com/default.html

Smokey's BBQ 734 Greens Rd # B, Houston 281-447-8780 

Pierson and Co. BBQ 5110 TC Jester Blvd, Houston 713-683-6997 piersonandcompanybbq.com

 

Beaver's 2310 Decatur St, Houston 713-864-2328 http://www.beavershouston.com/

 Hopefully, you have found this series helpful and informative.  The crack evaluation team will now move to other matters of fun, fitness and travel.  TELL THE WORLD!

BBQ in America - The Almost Best in Houston, Texas

As a follow up to the ground breaking post entitled "BBQ in America - The Best of Houston, Texas" posted on this site August, 2010 (see archives for these recommendation) we now present selections 6 through 10.  Just to recap the original Gold Medal Winners for the Houston, Texas area were:
1. Goode Country BBQ
2. Burn's BBQ
3. Hickory Hollow BBQ
4. Pappa's BBQ
5. Swinging Door BBQ
5. Luling City Market

Now it's time the recognize the best of the rest:


Family Owned



6.  Demetris BBQ - 2911 South Shepard, Houston - 713-529-7326 (Other locations near Northwest Mall and Sharpstown). http://www.demeris.com/  This family owned business has been providing this delicious goodness since 1964.  All great restaurants tend to have a specialty or favorite.  What that favorite happens to be is in part driven by what you like.  Consequently, I highly recommend you and a fried order the Three  Meat BBQ dinner (about $11) and try all of the major food groups: ribs, chicken, brisket and ham or sausage.  Of course you can order less including sandwiches, tacos, etc.   Try it, you'll like it.



Love The Name



7.  Big Daddy's BBQ - 14097 Westheimer, Houston - 281-589-7199 (Near George Bush park).  http://bigdaddybarbeque.com/ They have several other locations but their quality can not be confirmed at this time.  This small little restaurant in the West Oaks part of Houston simply does BBQ right.  Long slow cooking produces predictably tender and flavorful brisket and ribs.  I'm talking fall off the bones ribs.  Dinners in the $6.99 range but my favorite is the all you can ear at less than $12.  Wow.  If you do this too many times please refer to my posts "Starting A Fitness Program for First Time" posted in January, 2011.

8. Tin Roof BBQ - 18918 Town Center Blvd, Atascocita (Humble) 281-852-5577 http://www.tinroofbbqandsteaks.com/.  Not much has changed since I first recommended this little gem on my post "BBQ - Humble, Texas" in December, 2009. Well they did relocate about 2 miles. They are now open on Sundays. Oh yes, you can order their 3-meat dinner the Tin Roof with double ribs anymore.  Regardless, if you're in the area drop by.  Covered outside seating available, live music and great atmosphere. 

9. The Swinging Door (REVIEW UPDATE)-3818 FM 359 Road, Richmond 281-342-4758 http://www.swingingdoor.com/ .  These folks have been selling their pecan smoked BBQ since 1973.  A little more pricey than most with the 3-meat combo going for $15.95 and their all-you-can- eat going for a whopping $21.00.  Note: Kobe beef is NOT on the menu.  Please be aware that these hard working folks are closed Monday AND Tuesday.



Not Just BBQ



10. Spring Creek BBQ (9 locations in Houston area including Atascocita - 5613 East FM 1960, Champions - 4220 West FM 1960,  Cypress - 25831 Northwest Freeway, Katy - 21000 Katy Freeway .http://springcreekbarbeque.com/index.html  This is a controversial selection to be sure.  When it comes to BBQ in Texas any recommended restaurant better be award-winning Memphis in May competing meats.  Unfortunately, Spring Creek is NOT in that category.  Yes they smoke their meats. Yes the ribs, sausage, chicken and brisket are all pretty good.  But definitely not slap-your-momma, look-for-your-grandma type of BBQ.  What allows them come in back door is all-you-can-eat veggies like green beans, potato salad, pinto beans and mac & cheese.  It's their wonderfully fluffy and hot out of the oven rolls that available at your table by the wait staff.  It's also that incredibly hot, delicious peach cobbler and blue bell ice cream offered at a separate station.  You can decide after you've eaten all of the above if you still have room for this great ending to the meal.  So no, the BBQ is not world class.  But the dining experience is extremely satisfying.

The Best Exercise Equipment

Seeking knowledge and understanding



I need a shirt



The question has plagued man since the beginning the of time. Caveman woke up one morning and found he had been eating a few too many brontosaurus burgers.  He was wondering "Should I lift more rocks, chase pigs or climb trees?"  The question, you know it: What exercise equipment burns the most calories?  Yes, we want to know what can we do the least and get similar results. (Not to be confused with my January post that explored how the burn the most calories focusing on technique not equipment.)

We sent our crack advisory panel to the four corners of the globe.  They asked that question in 137 languages and dialect.  After what seemed like many, many long months they returned to the mother ship and compared notes. 

Much to our astonishment the overwhelming consensus of these global leaders and visionaries converged on a single response: Go to exercise-equipment-review.org and review a study by American Medical Association.  Yep. That's what they all said.  Trust me. 

So we did.

The results of that study conducted several years ago was based on a fairly rigorous level of effort.  The results are as follows:

1.  Treadmill - 700 calories per hour

2.  Stair machine - 625 calories per hour

3.  Rowing - 600 calories per hour

4.  Skiing - 600 calories per hour

5.  Stationary bike - 500 calories per hour

As noted in the article "All pieces of equipment burn zero calories per hour if you don't use them." Darn, there's that fine print again!

Please Leave Your Comments

A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME PLEASE

Thanks for accessing my blog.  I hope you find the information helpful and informative if not entertaining.  Obviously, it takes time and effort to produce this blog at absolutely no cost to you.  All that I ask is that you share your anonymous thoughts and comments about any post you happen to read.  It doesn't have to be long or complementary.  Just acknowledge another human being was here.  Don't forget to browse the post archives.  Most of these posts are not time dependent and provides a more comprehensive source of information

It's like walking in someones home when the door was left open and a sign said "Come In".  Let's say you spent time noting the decor or some other observation that you think you could use later.  Once you finished you failed to sign the Guess Log at the front door as you exited.

Again, it takes a few seconds and you don't have to identify yourself.