Asha Anujeeva

Did you know that you can hire a Freelance Web Designer using the LimeExchange.com website?  The LimeExchange is an escrow-supported service that helps match up computer/Internet freelance experts with consumers that need to have projects done.  This is a unique service that charges no fees to the buyer.  The buyer registers with the website and posts information about the project that he wants to have done.  Then he searches through the provider list and invites some providers to bid on the project.  After the providers bid on the project, the bidder picks one and sends the payment to an escrow account.  Then the buyer and provider work together on getting the project done.  Once the project is completed to the buyer’s satisfaction then the provider gets paid.  I think this is a great way to do business - putting the money in an escrow account; that way no one gets cheated! 

LimeExchange gets their highly talented and skilled providers from all around the world.  In our global marketplace it is getting easier to work on computer and Internet projects with others that are far away from where you are.  By getting providers from around the globe, they can tap into a greater talent pool and ensure the cream of the crop!

I was reading in the time.com health and science section that an accidental discovery by scientists have left them with new knowledge that may prove helpful in predicting future earthquakes!  They were measuring how barometric pressure effected underground changes and discovered that there were changes shortly before a couple of earthquakes happened!  So the scientists are thinking that they may be able to use this technology to help predict earthquakes and give residents advance warning to get to safer places.  This is really big news and I’m surprised that I didn’t hear it on television news! 

I’ve always taken great care to only put charges on a credit card if I know that when the bill comes in I will be able to pay it in full.  I’ve been fortunate enough to always been able to live within my means.  Having said that, I know that there are a lot of people out there who are struggling through no fault of their own.  Some are victims of accidents that have left them unable to work; some are people who have been laid off from work and can’t find new jobs, and some are people who have just finished their college education and can’t find a job in their chosen field.  So a lot of people are struggling right now, and I know that I am one of the fortunate ones.  So far.  As you may recall, in a recent previous post I mentioned that our office is going to be laying off people so I have started a job hunt to protect myself from financial distress.

There is a clever website called bills.com/iq/ that has been designed to help people learn how financially sound they are.  The website does not charge you any money to use it at all.  You answer a series of questions about your finances (without having to give any information like your name or address or social security number.)  After you answer the series of questions it gives you a “report card” grade of a percentage and a letter (mine was 91%, an A!) and then it gives you hints and tips on how you might be able to improve your financial position, such as Consolidate debt.  I like this website; it was easy to use and very informative.

The FDA has lifted the salmonella warning on tomatoes, saying that it looks like the salmonella outbreak has slowed down enough for the ban to be lifted.  That’s good news for us tomato lovers!  The bad news is that they are warning against eating jalapeno and serrano peppers!  Now I don’t eat a lot of hot peppers – I love them but they don’t like me at all, so that warning really is not going to affect me personally, but I do think it is a real shame that we seem to be having so many problems with the quality of our food lately!  It makes me want to only buy from the local farmer’s markets.  I would love to buy from the farmer’s markets, but sometimes the farmer’s markets are not open when I have the time to shop!