Around the 'Net - SheSpeaks

Do You Want FREE Products?

Getting stuff for free is just plain fun! For most of us, money is tight and we have to work hard for every penny. So when we get something for free – well it is like someone just gave us back a bit of that time we spent working.

But most often, people aren’t just handing out free stuff. And if they are – well, that is just a little suspicious. Don’t take candy from strangers, right?

But there are reasons companies give away their products. One of them is to get people’s reviews and opinions.

She Speaks is a new online network that does just that -- it allows women to provide companies with feedback on their products.

The bonus for you is you get to try out (and keep) products and services for free! All you have to do is fill out a quick online feedback form once you have used the product.

If you are a female, US resident over the age of 18, you can join She Speaks for FREE by logging on to She Speaks and completing a short profile.

The profile tells She Speaks about the member’s interests and hobbies. Based on this information, She Speaks targets members with products and services of interest to try (and keep) free of charge. Once the member tries the product, they can come back and let She Speaks know what they think of the product. Did the member love it or hate it? Either way, they want to know. She Speaks shares this anonymous feedback with the company that makes the product or service. The company then tells She Speaks how the members have influenced their thinking about the product and She Speaks lets the members know.

I can tell you that there are household name goods lined up for cosmetics, hair care, wine, magazines, food, snacks, etc. I've personally tried Steam 'n Mash potatoes, Ghiradelli chocolate, lipstick, and a woman's magazine. Members receive the full product (and in most cases two full products) as if they had bought it in a store. They also receive a discount token for themselves for their first purchase and either a free sample or a discount for friends (as many friends as they choose to share it with.)

As far as I can tell – it is totally safe and all it will “cost” you is the time it takes to fill in the online feedback form. That sounds pretty darn “FREE” to me!

Around the 'Net - Bless This Chick

Bless This Chick

Nice graphics that you put together like a puzzle and create. Email your new graphic to yourself in sizes for avatars on most forums or slightly bigger for blogs, etc. The graphics are available in both Jpeg and PNG formats. You get to have some fun and create a new avatar.

Lifeguard

Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

"Working as a lifeguard at a Florida resort, Ned Kelly meets a woman he is wild about, the woman of his dreams. It feels perfect in every way -- except she prefers caviar and Manolo Blahniks and he is used to burgers and flip-flops. She is a guest at a luxurious hotel and he lives above a garage. So when Ned's cousin offers to cut him in on a rich deal he's been commissioned to execute, Ned can't turn him down. The plan is simple, just a fast break-and-enter. The risk is high and the reward even greater -- $5 million. But on the night of the heist, something goes devastatingly wrong. Ned walks away from his job, his town, and the woman he's fallen in love with. Runs away, actually, knowing that only velocity and secrecy can save his life. But who is pursuing him? The FBI? Whoever sabotaged the heist? Or is all somehow tied into his new love and his oldest enemies?"

Patterson lives up to his reputation with this fast pace and hairpin-turning plot. The twists just kept coming.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

Tagged

I got tagged by my friend Kim in Alaska at Scrapbook.com. You can see her blog at http://www.scrapbook.com/blogs/80091/view/73307.html. Now I have to say seven things about myself and then tag seven other people (who will then say seven facts about themselves and then tag seven other people).

1. I am a single mother to two wonderful children.
2. I don't often work for pay, but am very active in my daily life.
3. My favorite seasons are Spring and Autumn.
4. I am finally dating a very nice, considerate man. The first "true" man in ten years.
5. My favorite color is blue. My second choice is red.
6. I am 10 weeks shy of my 40th birthday!
7. I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise.

Go on and write something about yourself and tag 7 other people. Send a link back to here so your readers know where you got tagged from.

You're It!

QOTW - 5/13/07

In several of my groups, I post a QOTW (Question of the Week) each Sunday. I thought it would be interesting to share some QOTWs here in my blog. You get to learn more about me and, hopefully, some of you will answer so I can learn more about you, my readers.

1. Where do you live?
2. What is something unusual about where you live?
3. What is your favorite type of clothing?
4. Do you have a favorite collectible?
5. Have you met anyone from this yahoo group or any other one?
6. What is your dream vacation?
7. What is your favorite food?
8. What is something unique about you?
9. What kind of car would you drive if you could have any car you wanted?10. What are your hobbies?

1. Where do you live? Butler, PA, USA.
2. What is something unusual about where you live? This town's history includes the inventor and originator of the Bantam Jeep. The same jeep that the military drives.
3. What is your favorite type of clothing? Jeans that fit and a t-shirt.
4. Do you have a favorite collectible? Yes. I collect Noah's Arks, bookmarks, photo frames, Christmas ornaments, mangers, Americana, Angels.
5. Have you met anyone from this yahoo group or any other one? Yes, I have met several ladies from various scrapbook groups... Teresa, Brandy, Linda, Karen, Deb.
6. What is your dream vacation? I have several... I would like to see the ocean, Disney World, visiting my friends from my 12 Months of Christmas group.
7. What is your favorite food? I love food. My favorites are Italian, potatoes.
8. What is something unique about you? My first name... DawnLyn.
9. What kind of car would you drive if you could have any car you wanted? Dodge Durango.
10. What are your hobbies? Scrapbooking, photography, reading.

Professors Develop Cancer Protein

I found this article pretty exciting! I am sure most everyone of us knows someone that is battling or has battled cancer, so I thought I'd share. Hopefully, thankfully, this is another big step along the road to an eventual cure.

Oklahoma Professors Develop Cancer Protein
By Associated Press
Mon May 14, 4:04 PM

Two professors at the University of Oklahoma say they've developed a protein that can stop the spread of certain cancer cells without damaging normal cells.

Thomas Pento and Roger Harrison helped develop a fusion protein that keeps some types of cancer cells from ingesting a vital protein called methionine. The fusion protein doesn't affect normal cells because, unlike cancer cells, they can be healthy without that protein.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapies kill normal cells along with cancer cells, which often cause sickness and hair loss.

"Roger has created a mechanism that delivers these compounds specifically to the surface of cancer cells so normal cells won't be affected but only the cancer cells will be damaged," Pento said.

"So you can see it would cause a lot less toxicity and it should really be a lot more effective."

Pento is a Noble Foundation presidential professor of pharmacy at the OU Health Sciences Center; Harrison is an associate professor of chemical, biological and materials engineering on the Norman campus. They worked with other OU scientists, including Xiao-Ping Zang, Naveen Palwai, Megan Lerner and Dan Brackett, research director at the Health Sciences Center's surgery department.

Pento said the research started with breast cancer and expanded to include other types of solid tumors.

They found the fusion protein to be just as helpful in fighting lung, prostate and pancreatic cancers.

"It could be applicable to many types of cancer," Pento said, "but we've found that it's effective for those four types of cancer for sure."

Despite successful testing to this point, Harrison said the fusion protein will need another round of animal tests before moving on to years of human clinical testing.

Three phases of clinical tests could take two years each.

"So it could be in the order of 10 years," he said.

"It sounds so far away, but realistically, given the FDA and all the phases of testing, it could be done rapidly."

The two professors have applied for patents on their technology and plan to conduct animal testing themselves before launching their own company or licensing with a large pharmaceutical company to do it.

"If you don't patent it and get that protection, then no pharmaceutical company is going to spend the half to three-quarter billion dollars that it takes to do the clinical testing and to get this drug on the market," Pento said.

I'm Thankful For - 5/14/07

Yesterday was Mother's Day and since my children are young and I am a single mother, we don't really do anything special to celebrate this day.
Yes, I love the handmade cards Cameron made for me and the huge smile & hug I got from Cassandra. But I wanted a special day just for me.
As the day moved forward, three unexpected things happened (yesterday and today). Its these three things I write about now . . .

I am thankful for . . .

1. The pleasant and delightful call from Texas. I love hearing Cheryl's southern twang and her love in her voice for me. Thanks, Cheryl, for a truly nice surprise. Who would of thought that a member of my Yahoo group would call me? For Mother's Day?
2. The thoughtful call from my friend, Art. Art has proven not to be the most considerate person but still a kind friend. His call to wish me kind words for Mother's Day was truly caring.
3. The crossing guard, Sandy, near my children's school was so kind to me today. She bought me a small book titled, Feasting on God's Grace, and wrote a sweet note saying I was "doing a great job with my children." Her generosity brought tears to my eyes.
   

My day was special after all!