Improving Your Writing Skills Without Breaking the Bank

Writers are born, but like diamonds, they should be harnessed in order to become priceless.  That is why you need to always improve your writing skills especially when you are in school where there is regular flow of writing assignments such as research papers, reviews, and others.

Those who have money to spend enrol in writing courses in order to perfect their craft.  However, in this current economic climate, burning Benjamins on this endeavour is riskier than before.  You don’t know if you can immediately get back the investment you put into a writing course because hiring is very low.

For those of us who can’t afford to break the bank, so to speak, here are a few ways to improve our writing skills:

Be a voracious reader of intellectually-stimulating articles.  Operative words here are voracious and intellectually-stimulating.  Feast your eyes on content that are well-written, well-observed, and sharp. This way, you will unknowingly absorb good writing practices. 

Maximize writing tips posted online.  The internet is full of tips, steps, and advices about everything about writing.  There is no shortage of information about how to become a better writer. 

Write, write, write.  Practice makes perfect truly has a basis and reaps results.  You cannot expect yourself to be the skilled writer you want to be if you only write for only once a month, then you’ll always be a mediocre writer.

6 Lovely Models who were Unfortunately Born Male

Here are six sexy and gorgeous models who unluckily started their life as boys but they are genuinely femme now. 

Caroline Cossey aka Tula
Real name:Barry Kenneth Cossey

Caroline "Tula" Cossey

She was born in Brooke, England on August 31, 1954. Tula is one of the world's famous transgender and the first to be on the cover of Playboy magazine in 1991. She has fought for her right to be identified by the law as a real woman and can get married legitimately. Cossey worked as an exotic dancer in Paris to pay for her sex reassignment surgery. The amazon goddess appeared in James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” and in a music video of Duran Duran's “Rio”

 

Roberta Close
Real name: Luiz Roberto Gambine Moreira

Roberta Close

 
Roberta is the most renowned Brazilian transsexual woman. She was born in Rio de Janeiro on December 7, 1964. At the age of 20, she won Miss Gay Brazil and was dubbed as “The World's Most Beautiful Model”. In 1989, she underwent sex change surgery at Charing Cross Clinic in London. The stunning Brazilian also worked as a cabaret singer and hosted a late night talk show in Brazil.

 

Isis King
Real name: Darrell Walls

Isis King

 
The most controversial women who joined in America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 and 17. Isis King is the first transwoman to compete on the show. She was born on October 1, 1985 in Maryland. ANTM management cited their mission by casting Isis as Redefining Beauty.

 

Claudia Charriez

Claudia Charriez

With so much love and support for transsexuals, Janice Dickinson hired Claudia Charriez after the disqualification from Tyra Bank's reality TV contest ANTM Cycle 4.

 

Lea T
Real name: Leandro Cerezo

Lea T

Another Brazilian transwoman who joined in fashion world industry, whose father is a former soccer star Toninho Cerezo. She was featured in Riccardo Tisci's Givenchy Fall/Winter ad campaign in 2010.


Andrej Pejic

Andrej Pejic

 
The androgynous Serbian Australian model became a trend-setter in the industry that appeared in Marc Jacobs campaign in 2011. The blue-eyed fashion nymph can walk the stage ramp as either a man or a woman in various fashion events. With his long blonde hair, high cheek bones and womanly lips who would have thought that Andrej Pejic is a real dude.

3 Jamie Oliver's Luscious Chicken Recipes for his School Food Revolution Campaign

In 2009, famous chef Jamie Oliver started promoting his advocacy to promote a proper dissemination of awareness about the growing obesity crisis and bad health in the United States. His mission was to instigate a chain reaction of positive change through sharing his expertise on making nutritious dishes. Jamie Oliver says, “The time is right for people to rediscover the sense of pride, satisfaction and fun you can get from cooking for the people you love… I want to prove that turning around the epidemic of obesity and bad health doesn't have to be boring or dull in the slightest.”

He has a dream to inspire people to create unprocessed healthy recipes that are beneficial, and that includes a hale and hearty menu transformation through a Food Revolution Captain to raise awareness in local school, workplaces and homes.

And here are just three of his scrumptious chicken recipes to try:

Crunchy Garlic Chicken
 
Ingredients

1 clove garlic
1 lemon
6 cream or plain crackers , such as Jacob's
2 Tbsp. butter
4 sprigs fresh Italian parsley
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 heaping Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 large egg , preferably free-range or organic
2 skinless chicken breast fillets , preferably free-range or organic
Olive oil

Click here for instructions http://www.oprah.com/food/Crunchy-Garlic-Chicken

Parmesan Chicken Breasts with Crispy Posh Ham


Ingredients

2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 skinless chicken breasts , preferably free-range or organic
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon
1 1/4 ounces grated Parmesan
6 slices prosciutto
Olive oil

Click here for instructions http://www.oprah.com/food/Parmesan-Chicken-Breasts-with-Crispy-Posh-Ham

Chicken Chow Mein

Ingredients

Thumb-size piece fresh ginger root
2 cloves garlic
1/2 to 1 fresh red or green chile , to your taste
1 large skinless chicken breast , preferably free-range or organic
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 scallions
Small bunch fresh cilantro
1 baby bok choy
4 shiitake mushrooms , optional
4 ounces (2 bundles) ready-to-cook chow mein noodles
Peanut oil or vegetable oil
1 heaping tsp. cornstarch
1 can (8 ounces) water chestnuts
2 to 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 small lime

Click here for instructions http://www.oprah.com/food/Chicken-Chow-Mein

Blended Learning: The New Combo in K-12 Education

Blended learning in educational research denotes to a collaboration of diverse learning approaches. It associates traditional classroom techniques with cyber-mediated activities. This combined learning technique generates more cohesive method for both teachers and students. In earlier times, computer-based materials take part in a supporting role to physical or one-on-one instruction. Through new learning technique, online technology will be more imperative.

Some of the activities may be arranged around access to online web resources and interaction through social media such as signing up on online forums to intermingle with other distance learners in other learning environments.
 
It depends on the involved tutors and students on determining various approaches and learning forms. It also refers as the hybrid learning technique or a mixed mode of education.

 
Three Institutions that Offer Blended Learning

Rocketship Education - http://www.rsed.org/index.cfm
Mission: Eliminate the Achievement Gap
Rocketship Education is building a network of high-performing, urban, college-preparatory K-5 charter schools dedicated to our mission to eliminate the achievement gap within our lifetimes.
The Rocketship Public School Model combines traditional classroom instruction with Learning Lab, which enables individualized instruction through online adaptive technology and tutors; a parent engagement strategy that allows for advocacy on behalf of all children and their education; and a leadership development program that creates sustainable careers for highly effective educators.
Closing the achievement gap at a national level depends on building, executing, and scaling a revolutionary school model that encompasses the following initiatives: Innovate, Empower, Lead and Impact (View more > http://www.rsed.org/about/index.cfm)

Innosight Institute - http://www.innosightinstitute.org/
Mission: "Innosight Institute is a not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank whose mission is to apply Harvard Business School Professor Clayton M. Christensen’s theories of disruptive innovation to develop and promote solutions to the most vexing problems in the social sector."


T.C. Williams High School - http://www.acps.k12.va.us/tcw/
According to eSchool News website, "T.C. Williams High School, in Virginia’s Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), uses technology to create online and blended-learning environments that provide extra support to students who need it. Two of the school’s primary goals are to extend the amount of learning time and ensure that more students graduate—and early results from these programs are encouraging."  
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/04/03/virginia-high-school-uses-technology-to-increase-learning-time-boost-graduation-rates/)

Album of the Month: Back to School (Mini Maggit) by Deftones

I'm thinking of things that I must do before attending classes this school term. I just newly invested some cardigans, textbooks, multivitamins and other essentials that I need for this winter season at the college university. While preparing stuff for the learning institute, I was like tuning-in on Deftones' alternative-rap metal album Back to School (Mini Maggit). This is the first time that I hobble on their album. But it was actually introduced to me by my religion teacher in the conservatory, their hit singles were quite catchy and yes, I like it!

And whilst I'm searching on their music video on YouTube, I was fastened by one of the commenters named PrimalFactory777 on the video hosting service.

"This song is magic. I was the total opposite at the time. I was the bully, the big 6"3 guy who pushes around "nerds" and "losers". Now I realize how much of a failure I was back then and the way Iused to see the world was biased and wrong. This song definitely means a lot to me in a different way that it means to you.
It probably reminds you how hard I was. For me too. But we have different stories about the same era, the same situation. I love this song and Deftones as well.
I am sorry."

I'm just quite different from PrimalFactory777; I was belittled, demeaned and humiliated when I was in High School. Perhaps, I'm really kind to the fellow students who mortified me in front of many people. Constant fatigue, sleeplessness, and high level of anxiety are some of causes that injure my health, and this painful reminiscences is making me ill right now.

So, going back to the album, I find their other tracks really good such as the "Nosebleed," "Teething," and "Feiticeira." Of course, I will recommend the band on my other cliques. :) My entry is getting longer now…. Ciao!

First College Day High

As school is about to start in a few days, incoming college students are in rushing and doing their last minute preparations - moving to the dorm, saying goodbye to their room and pets and yes, even their tutor who weathered with them through high school, packing and unpacking their stuff, checking out their future college's website,  and of course, preparing their bodies and minds for a new phase in their young lives.  For some, college has started and the reactions are all but funny. This girl seemed to have really adapted a positive attitude- really positive that it looks a little creepy.

Adorkable Pre-school ID Photo

Our parents are the first ones to get excited and terrified during our very first day in school. This boy's mom was so anxious-excited that she took the time and money and tagged her son along to the barber shop and have his son that might cause him to be the subject of teasing at school. I guess she is just maximizing the phase where her child adores her unconditionally. The child is not the only who needs tutoring in the future, but his mom as well, that is on how to not make your son look like a dork in school.