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<title>Latest Articles by TheJule</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>Nativity Play - 4 Spoilers That Can Ruin Your Nativity Play and How to Avoid Them</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Culture_and_Society/Art/nativity-play-4-spoilers-that-can-ruin-your-nativity-play-and-how-to-avoid-them.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Culture_and_Society/Art/nativity-play-4-spoilers-that-can-ruin-your-nativity-play-and-how-to-avoid-them.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Although we live in the 21st century and the Information Age, there's no doubt about it...people still love to go see a live play. There's just no substitute for seeing real people perform on stage. And Christmas time offers an opportunity to see one of the oldest (and most beloved) live performances of all - the nativity play. Across this land, in church basements, school gymnasiums and other venues, dozens of nativity plays will be performed. Unfortunately, many of these plays will be ruined by lack of consideration for budget, design, rehearsal and audience reaction. Now we'll take a look at each of these spoilers and how to avoid them.

1. No Budget Planning

Even a small, little nativity play needs a budget and everybody knows this. However, most people fail miserably when it comes to planning for the play's budget. For some reason they seem to think a little play requires no budget planning; the money will just "magically" be there. Nothing could be further from the truth. All plays, no matter how small, need to have their budget carefully planned out. If you plan it correctly, your play won't cost you a fortune, but you still need a budget. Where's the money coming from? What is the total cost? You MUST know these things, so get yourself a budget. And of course, your budget affects all aspects of the production, in particular the design.

2. No Design Plans

What will your production look like? Most people just assume they know how a nativity play will appear. Guess what? They don't. They start getting the play ready only to discover they haven't a clue as to what kind of props to use, how many or where they should go. And they don't really know how to re-create an inn or a stable. If you want your production to be a success, you must design it right and from the beginning. And please...get someone who knows what he or she is doing. And the designing process shouldn't be rushed...anymore than the rehearsal process.

3. Rushed Rehearsals

Too often rehearsals for these kinds of plays are not done properly. "It's just a little nativity play, it can't be that hard." This is the attitude many people have and it sets them up for a big surprise...a big, bad surprise. Often the time is not taken to do rehearsals properly or they're just simply rushed through. Do yourself a favor - take the time. Make sure the actors know where to stand, where to walk, when to enter and leave and what lines to say. And make sure you perform at least one rehearsal in front of a test audience. 

4. No Test Audience.

A test audience for a nativity play? Oh, yes. You need one. You must know how the play will go over with a real audience. Does it look convincing...or funny? Can the spectators hear what's being said? The only way to answer these questions is with a test audience. You don't need a crowded room; just get a few people to sit in the audience section at the back during a rehearsal. Then ask for their opinions and take notes. Based on their reaction, make any changes you feel will improve the play. 

A nativity play can be loads of fun for the producers and audience alike.  But if you're going to put one on, you must take into consideration the budget, the design, rehearsals and audience reaction. Failure to do so can ruin the production. So please...plan your play carefully and you will avoid the spoilers. ]]></description>
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<title>Bad Breath Solutions - 5 Remedies to Cure Bad Breath</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/bad-breath-solutions-5-remedies-to-cure-bad-breath.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/bad-breath-solutions-5-remedies-to-cure-bad-breath.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Having bad breath can not only ruin your day, it can pretty much ruin your social life. Nobody really wants to get close to you when you have a bad case of "death breath." But there is no need to fret. There's something you can do. There are remedies you can employ to get rid of your problem once and for all. And you can try them out right in the comfort of your own home. Yes, you can say goodbye to bad breath...once and for all 

1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene. 

Do you brush your teeth? Do you floss them too? How often? Really, the frequency is important. One of the most common causes of bad breath is that people don't brush and floss enough. Or they brush, but don't floss...ever. You MUST do both, folks. No mouthwash in the world will take the place of flossing. Start with the most basic bad breath remedy: regular brushing and flossing.   

2. Eat Avocados

The avocado vegetable can be a great way to beat bad breath. Most people don't know this, but eating a little avocado can reduce the amount of your smelly output. Don't overdo it, but add a little avocado to your diet and see what happens. Most likely your breath will become much fresher. 

3. Increase Your Vegetable and Fruit Intake

We're not just talking about avocados here; increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables can help you fight bad breath. It concerns the reduction of the amount of animal protein that you consume. Animal protein can lead to an increase in unpleasant breath. You don't have to become a vegetarian (unless you're already one) but the more you fill up on veggies, the less room you have for burgers and hotdogs...and the better your breath becomes.

4. Don't Let Your Mouth Get Too Dry

You don't need to drink constantly, but if your mouth gets too dry, that can lead to bad breath. How? There isn't enough water in your mouth to flush out the microbes (bacteria) that can cause bad breath. So you do need to drink enough water keep your mouth moist. Besides, a dry mouth just doesn't feel good.

Bad breath can be beaten, and it can be beaten by using some pretty simple remedies. And this can be done right in the privacy of your own home. You don't have to be a 
social hermit because of this problem. ]]></description>
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<title>Bad Breath Cure - 5 Tips to Alleviate Your Bad Breath</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/bad-breath-cure-5-tips-to-alleviate-your-bad-breath.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/bad-breath-cure-5-tips-to-alleviate-your-bad-breath.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Before you can defeat the enemy, you must know the enemy. Therefore, the most effective way to remedy bad breath is to find the root cause of it. At times it may seem impossible to defeat this problem, but fear not.  This condition is so common that 25% of people suffer from foul breath and you should know that it can be cured. 

The most common causes of bad breath are microbes, food, tobacco, artificial teeth and parched mouth. And each of these causes can be treated. Now we'll look at each of them individually. 

1. Mouth Microbes

Mouth microbes are the major cause of what is known as chronic bad breath. This is the kind that doesn't want to go away. However, good oral hygiene practices can eliminate this form of unsavory breath. Regular brushing and flossing is the key. Mouth microbes live in the food particles trapped in your teeth and on your tongue. That's why flossing is so critical here. And you might even consider gentle tongue brushing, just to be on the safe side. Get in the habit of regular brushing and flossing and this form of unpleasant breath will leave you alone. 

2. Food
 
If you ever smelled someone's breath after they ate onions or garlic, then you know food can definitely cause bad breath.  And this is the short term kind...it's not permanent, but distressing anyhow. The only thing to do in this situation is eat a breath mint or use a freshener to cover up the odor. In this case masking is the answer because the smell originates in your gastric region and will go away on its own. You just have to wait.  

3. Tobacco

If you smoke you should quit...all right, you've heard it all before and you're in no mood for a lecture. Fair enough. Unfortunately, tobacco causes chronic bad breath and the only way to remedy it is to stop smoking. The smoke adheres to your mouth and leaves you vulnerable to foul breath and gum disease...and cancer. If you smoke, please consider giving it up. If you do, your breath will clear up. 

4. Artificial teeth

In this case, mouth microbes team up with artificial teeth to give you chronic bad breath. How? Artificial teeth that aren't cleaned properly horde food particles and the microbes go to work on them just like unbrushed natural teeth. The solution here is simple: clean your artificial teeth regularly. 

5. Parched Mouth

Interestingly enough, parched mouth can cause short term or chronic bad breath. Liquid helps to flush mouth microbes out of the mouth and if the mouth is too dry the microbes won't be removed. You need to regularly moisten your mouth if you suffer from this condition. Not only will your mouth feel better, but your smelly breath will be reduced or eliminated. And a regular brushing and flossing routine is a must if you have parched mouth; it will combat foul breath.  

Once you know the enemy you can defeat the enemy. Find out what is the cause of your bad breath and then take the appropriate steps to eliminate it. When you have found a cure for your bad breath that works, you'll be starting a whole new life. ]]></description>
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<title>Bad Breath - What Causes Bad Breath</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/bad-breath-what-causes-bad-breath.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/bad-breath-what-causes-bad-breath.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Having bad breath can change your life for the worse, both personally and professionally. And the grim truth is people most often won't tell you; they'll just gossip and snicker behind your back. There's no doubt about it - bad breath is bad news. However, there is a way to handle this issue. But the first thing you must do is discover the root cause of this problem. 

The Most Common Causes of Bad Breath

Do you suffer from "morning breath"? Many people who suffer from bad breath have discovered that the morning is the worst time for them. If you're one of these people then you wake up with a foul odor emanating from your mouth that subsides after the morning brushing of your teeth. But as the days wears on, that smell slowly crawls back into your mouth and people are once again avoiding you like you have the plague. 

Occasionally the cause of bad breath could be due to what you ingest or put in your mouth. We all know what someone's breath smells like after they've eaten a meal that included garlic or onions. Pungent food is a classic cause of foul breath. And so is smoking. If you just love cigars or can't go a day without taking a puff of your favorite brand of cigarette, this will cause bad breath for sure. And let's not forget everyone's favorite vice - alcohol. Beverages containing alcohol are well known to cause unpleasant breath.  

Masking Won't Help in the Worst Cases

People often try to cover up their bad breath by using various fresheners. These often take the form of gums, mints and sprays. These fresheners can cover up the odor for several minutes or maybe an hour. If the smell was caused by something you ate, then this tactic might work since the foul breath is only temporary to begin with. But if the chief cause is more serious such as poor oral hygiene, the fresheners will only mask the problem and not eliminate it. The terrible breath will only return.

Chronic bad breath is known as halitosis. If your breath is bad all the time, regardless of what you eat or drink, then your problem is indeed chronic. Many times this is caused by bacteria living in your mouth. The best way to get rid of it is by careful brushing and flossing. And don't think for a moment mouthwash can take the place of flossing. As long as food particles are left in your mouth, bacteria can act on them to decay your teeth and give you bad breath. No mouthwash in the world can "neutralize" those food particles...only flossing can remove them. When choosing toothpaste, look for those than contain baking soda and peroxide as their main ingredients. 

Bad breath can be conquered, but not by ignoring the problem. First, recognize you have a problem then set out to beat it. You'll feel confident and be more confident around people. ]]></description>
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<title>Bad Breath - The 3 Prong Approach to Deal with Bad Breath</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/bad-breath-the-3-prong-approach-to-deal-with-bad-breath.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/bad-breath-the-3-prong-approach-to-deal-with-bad-breath.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Picture this: A man's at a party and a woman across the room catches his eye. So he moves on over to start up a conversation with her. He introduces himself and as soon as she opens her mouth - he recoils in horror. Why? Bad breath. Her breath is strong enough to kill an elephant. He just has to back away. Most people don't want to deal with a situation like this; they just want to get away from it. But if you have bad breath or know someone who does, then you must deal with it personally or as a friend or relative of the individual who has to struggle with it.

1. Clean Up Your Own Act First

Be honest with yourself. Do you have bad breath? Really, don't try and fool yourself, because you sure won't be able to fool others. If you do have dreadful breath, others will definitely know you do. And think about this: would you want to put up with someone's foul oral odor? Of course not, so don't make other people put up with yours. Do yourself a favor and make sure you have good oral hygiene. If you know you have a 
nasty breath problem, then correct it. If you can't, then seek the help you need. You will most definitely be glad you did.

2. Then Help Others

This is what would be known as the "hard part." At least, many would see it as very difficult. Most of the time it just isn't easy to tell someone they have bad breath. No one wants to stroll over and tell someone (especially someone they like) that their breath is causing people to pass out. But you would be doing them a favor; perhaps a big favor. On occasion, bad breath is a symptom of a serious medical condition. They might be very ill and not even know it. If someone's breath smells horrible, you should muster your courage and tell them about it.

3. How to Go About It

You don't have to blurt right out "your breath stinks!" You can gently ease into it by offering the oral offender a breath mint then casually suggesting to him/her that they might want to see a doctor. When they ask why you can say it's due to their bad breath and you're worried about them. Or you can just start talking about oral hygiene in general and tell them that odorous breath could be a sign of poor health and then offer them a breath mint. Most people will take the hint. If all else fails, come out and tell them they have a problem. Remember, you could be saving the life of the person in question.

In all walks of life, most people don't want to deal with bad breath. They just want to get away from it. If you have bad breath or know someone who does then please, don't run away. Find a way to deal with it. You'll be happy you did. ]]></description>
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<title>Nativity Play - 5 Tips for Putting On a Play Everyone Will Love</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Family/Holidays/nativity-play-5-tips-for-putting-on-a-play-everyone-will-love.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Family/Holidays/nativity-play-5-tips-for-putting-on-a-play-everyone-will-love.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ People love a good Nativity play. It's fun, entertaining and inspirational. If you're thinking of putting one on then go right ahead, but just remember...it can be a challenge.  There are just a few things you need to remember to help your play go smoothly.

1. Nobody Likes a Chatterbox
Seldom do professional actors perform in Nativity plays. Most likely you won't have any in yours either. Your actors probably will be friends and family members. If you're lucky, you might have a performer from a local actors' troupe. What all this means is you'll have trouble with your performers hitting their marks and remembering their lines. Best solution: don't have a whole lot of lines. Just have a few memorable lines and the audience will love it. That's a lot better than having the actors mumble and fumble their way through a bulky script.

2. Music, Music, Music
You won't need a lot of lines if you have good music. Music sets the tone and creates atmosphere for the play. And being a Nativity play you'll want lots of atmosphere. Music will be your ally. Let the audience hear those tunes and you won't have to worry about your performers flubbing their lines.

3. Live Music, Too
Not everything has to be pre-recorded. Get a piano player in there (with a piano, of course) and belt out some live music. It's a live play after all, and it should be accompanied by live music. People can hear pre-recorded music anywhere and everywhere, just like they can see a story unfold on TV. But they're coming to your play to see a live performance. So give them live music.

4. Use Good Costumes
Nobody expects you to get 2,000 year-old robes for the performers to wear, but you need some threads that look at least slightly authentic. If your actors wear their everyday clothes...well, it won't look like a Nativity play. Check with local schools, churches and playhouses to see what costumes you could beg, borrow or purchase (cheaply). And if you're putting the play on for a school or a church, they might already have a supply of costumes you can use. So take the time to have a look around.

5. If You Can Get Experienced People, Then Do So
Maybe you can't get professional actors, but maybe you can at least get people who have acted in plays before. Try and see if you can. You don't need Oscar winners here; you just need some people who have experience performing on stage. When selecting your performers, look for people who have experience first. Maybe Uncle Joe can help (or Aunt Petunia or Cousin Larry). The more experienced actors you have the more smoothly your play will go. 

Putting on a Nativity play can be a lot of fun and create memories you'll cherish for a lifetime. But it has to be done properly. Plan things out in advance and you'll be very glad you did. ]]></description>
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<title>Fastest Way to Learn Spanish - Top 10 Ways to Learn Spanish Fast on the Web</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Culture_and_Society/Language/fastest-way-to-learn-spanish-top-10-ways-to-learn-spanish-fast-on-the-web.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Culture_and_Society/Language/fastest-way-to-learn-spanish-top-10-ways-to-learn-spanish-fast-on-the-web.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Can you really learn Spanish fast? Yes - at least to a certain extent. You can pick up key phrases and sentences pretty quickly. It will take you longer to achieve a complete command of Spanish (unless you're linguistically gifted) but a very basic knowledge can be acquired swiftly. All the ways listed below will teach you how to become acquainted with written or oral Spanish, or both, in a short time period. Now, let's take a look at them...

1. Online Forums
Have you ever participated in a forum before? If you haven't and you want to learn Spanish, now is the time to join one. There are plenty of forums on the Web dedicated to helping people learn Spanish. Once you find a forum you like, you usually have to register before you can interact with the other members. All you need is a name and a functional email address. Then you can browse the comments from the other participants and add your own. You'll find that this interactive environment will help you pick up key Spanish phrases pretty quickly. Remember, forums will help you learn written Spanish, but since you can't actually hear the words being pronounced they won't do a lot for your oral grasp of the language.  

2. Online Videos
Google Video, YouTube, Yahoo Video...there's more to them than entertainment value. The video sites are online knowledge banks and they can aid you in your quest to learn Spanish quickly. These sites contain many videos that are mini Spanish courses. You can actually see and hear people speaking Spanish. And some of the videos offer more extensive training, usually for a fee, of course. You'll quickly learn to pronounce key Spanish phrases this way. 

3. Online Translation
There are services on the Web (like Google's) where you can translate English into Spanish. Sentences, paragraphs and even entire web pages can be translated using these services. And for free. This is a golden opportunity for the Spanish student to learn by translating English text into Spanish. Of course, this only applies to written Spanish, and bear in mind the translation is not high quality. 

4. Have People Teach You
Do you have Spanish speaking friends? Do they have the time and inclination to teach you Spanish? Learning from another person, one on one, is a great way to learn any language. Unfortunately, you may begin to feel like a freeloader if you don't pay them.

5. Online Newsletters 
Sure...all e-newsletters contain sales pitches, but the good ones are more content than advertisement. And you can learn a surprising amount of written Spanish from them. They are definitely a source to be considered.

6. Websites
Websites often provide free lessons in Spanish, both oral and written. They frequently have entire courses available on the site covering various topics like the weather, accommodations or medicine. Of course, you'll probably have to pay to get in-depth education. 

7. Ebooks
Download them and read them. Here are little Spanish courses in digital format that will help you pick up written Spanish pretty quickly. They vary in length and intensity. Some concentrate on the most common phrases while others cover the entire Spanish language. Some of them are free and some you have to pay for. Some even come with audio files so you can hear the words and phrases being spoken. 

8. Audio Downloads
A great way to pick up oral Spanish. These downloads can have you speaking the most common phrases very quickly. The big benefit is that you can hear the words being spoken. But keep in mind most audio downloads are not free. 

9. Blogs
Not quite as interactive as forums, but still quite handy to pick up written Spanish for free. And as long as the blogger is adding fresh content, you will have the opportunity to learn regularly - at your own pace. 

10. Courses
The best has been saved for last. Courses available from the Internet cover both written and oral Spanish. They usually include ebooks, audio files and interactive games all in one package to help you learn Spanish quickly. You may not completely master the language using an online course, but you sure will pick up many useful phrases that you can use the next time you want to converse in Spanish. 

Yes - you most certainly can learn some Spanish quickly. Perhaps not enough for you to speak Spanish like a native, but enough for you to ask one of the most important questions of all: "where's the bathroom?" ]]></description>
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