Opher Ganel
Living in , MD
Total page views: 131,619
Published Content: 55
Fans: 59
On AC since: 11.19.07
Bio:
Researcher, teacher, photographer, story-teller. Creativity is my escape from the day-to-day.
Researcher, teacher, photographer, story-teller. Creativity is my escape from the day-to-day.
Education/Experience:
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Interests:
Science, international current events, reading, writing, movies, photography, investing, travel.
Science, international current events, reading, writing, movies, photography, investing, travel.
Motto:
Occam's razor cuts sharply
Occam's razor cuts sharply
Displaying Results 1 - 55 (of 55)
Far above Antarctica, near the top of the atmosphere, three balloons float, each larger than a major league baseball field, lofting tons of scientific equipment three times higher than airliners fly. How did they get there? More importantly, what for?
By Opher Ganel | Published 11/30/2009
When my mother-in-law was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, we felt shocked and helpless. Could we do anything more than give emotional support? The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training provided a triple-win solution.
By Opher Ganel | Published 10/2/2009
Your kid is going overseas. Perhaps she's visiting family abroad or staying with a friend during the summer. Now you have to figure out how to keep your kid safe from a continent away. The following are ten top travel safety tips when your kids fly alone.
By Opher Ganel | Published 8/27/2009
Dogs afraid of thunder storms exhibit anxiety and panic. Left alone in a thunder storm, they may try to scratch their way out of a crate or pen, or butt their head against a gate. In extreme cases they may injure themselves, and/or damage your home.
By Opher Ganel | Published 8/18/2009
The 11th Star Trek movie, directed by J.J. Abrams, and written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman stars a new cast with Leonard Nimoy in a supporting role. Overall the movie is good and may revive the Star Trek franchise. It is, however, far from perfect.
By Opher Ganel | Published 5/29/2009
Contemporary landscaping addresses today's hectic, high-stress life-style. It provides a sanctuary, a place to spend quiet time with family and friends, without excessive maintenance. Here are 5 DIY modern landscaping ideas for your unique space.
By Opher Ganel | Published 4/21/2009
Green living doesn't mean suffering in the heat. You can go green, use less air conditioning and save money, all while staying comfortable. Here are eight simple yet effective tips on how to go green using less air conditioning while staying cool.
By Opher Ganel | Published 4/3/2009
Planning a wedding? Even with a rough economy you want unique wedding favors. Here's an idea for unique wedding favors that let you treat your friends and family, while keeping to a reasonable budget - personal wine bottles with a customized label.
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/12/2009
Spring is in the air and it's time for a road trip to shake off those winter blues. Whether budget is tight or not, saving gas money during Spring Break vacation is just good common sense.
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/11/2009
The summer season in Antarctica is winding down: field camps pulled in, groups of scientists heading north. Just one huge helium balloon still floats 110,000 feet above the ice. Dozens have done so before, but this one is different.
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/9/2009
Medical studies suggest improving your METs level may save your life. The following explains what METs are, how they measure your current fitness, and how to increase your METs level.
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/3/2009
Math seems hard for many kids. Here are 11 fun and easy math tricks to find out what a whole number is divisible by.
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/30/2009
When moving out of the dorms and into off-campus housing there are several options, each with advantages and drawbacks. The following suggests some precautions to take at the outset to keep yourself and your parents financially safer.
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/6/2009
The following potential room-mate issues could turn your dream-come-true into a nightmare. Address them now, and save yourself and your room-mates unneeded fights and arguments later.
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/5/2009
Without a reasonable routine, living with several room-mates in the same house could raise issues that fester and ruin a perfectly good off-campus home life. Following these suggestions on a routine basis can minimize friction.
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/5/2009
Colleges often require freshmen to spend a year in the dorms. Should you stay in the dorms longer, or move to off-campus housing? These important benefits of off-campus housing could help convince your parents to help.
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/23/2008
Living off-campus is great, but only if you know what to expect. Instead of college room and board (say $9500/year at a mid-Atlantic state university) you pay about $600/month per room in rent. However, what hidden costs lurk when living off-campus?
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/23/2008
Custom T-shirt sites let you design your own custom T-shirts. Unique shirts for less than an off-the-rack mall shirt could be a perfect yet cheap Christmas gift for a friend or sib. You can even make money from your designs and slogans.
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/16/2008
The "Big Three" are pleading for a $36 billion bailout a few weeks after asking for "just" $25 billion. How can Ford, GM, and Chrysler be saved without such massive taxpayer bailouts?
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/3/2008
The SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers are nicely designed, with cool features and reasonable sound quality at the right price. Unfortunately, these wireless speakers' reliability leaves something to be desired.
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/2/2008
Merchant card services pricing isn't straight-forward and many traps and hidden fees can squeeze extra money from you. These are the top 10 traps and hidden fees and what to ask a merchant card services company to avoid them.
By Opher Ganel | Published 11/26/2008
If you're eating out often, the following top 10 tips for eating out on a budget can save you a bundle.
By Opher Ganel | Published 9/19/2008
Love relationships are different from other relationships. Relationship advice that works with colleagues or friends may strangle your love relationship. This relationship advice can help you avoid sabotaging your love relationship through too much modesty and politeness.
By Opher Ganel | Published 7/29/2008
Some believe setting your thermostat higher while you're away wastes electricity by running the A/C harder to cool the house when you return. This article examines that, and shows how much electricity a programmable thermostat can save you with little discomfort.
By Opher Ganel | Published 7/17/2008
The realistic prospect of $10/gallon gas could fuel a surge in Web usage unlike any before seen. When a drive to the mall costs $10, will you go as often? When gas for getting to work costs $12/day, will you still commute? The Web may save you thousands of dollars each year.
By Opher Ganel | Published 6/4/2008
Columbia House DVD Club offers 7 DVDs for $0.49 each. What's the true cost of this introductory offer? Is it worth joining the Columbia House DVD Club? What should you buy there vs. elsewhere? This article reviews the Columbia House DVD Club and offers best strategies.
By Opher Ganel | Published 5/19/2008
Akaroa, a popular New Zealand travel destination 50 miles from Christchurch, is a 150 year old French town on the shores of picturesque Akaroa Harbour. Ringed by mountains, with waterside cafes and restaurants, multicolored homes and boats, Akaroa is worth an extended visit.
By Opher Ganel | Published 5/12/2008
Though only 40 when taking Lipitor, I'd often be talking and suddenly stop to look for a word. Temporary or even permanent amnesia or memory loss has been reported by some. This article explains what may cause the problem and what you can do about it.
By Opher Ganel | Published 5/2/2008
Part 1 of this series described the traps and scams you face when playing the Mega Millions lottery. In the following you'll find the 9 top Mega Millions lottery strategies to use if you decide to play anyway.
By Opher Ganel | Published 4/17/2008
The Mega Millions lottery and so-called services around it can scam you out of your money. You can easily avoid Mega Millions lottery traps once you know how.
By Opher Ganel | Published 4/11/2008
Just outside Baltimore, Boordy's "Stew in Our Juices" in March and "Red, Whites, and Bluegrass" in April offer a perfect Sunday date or fun outing with friends. Both combine food, wine, and live music, in the relaxed atmosphere of a 19th century Baltimore County farm.
By Opher Ganel | Published 3/18/2008
Looking back, the 2008 Republican presidential primaries teach us important lessons. These lessons can be applied to the upcoming general elections. An old fable about a man facing execution and his quick thinking also holds a useful lesson.
By Opher Ganel | Published 3/8/2008
Your plane takes off and you're on your way. Suddenly your plane hits turbulence. Your hands clench on the armrests, your knuckles turning white. You're holding the plane up by the armrests. Feverishly you wonder, what are the odds of my dying in a plane crash?
By Opher Ganel | Published 3/5/2008
You're hungry enough to eat a cow but don't have time for a full meal. You step into a McDonalds or Burger King ready to order a heart attack special. Oops. All you have is a $100 bill and they won't accept anything over a $20 bill. What ever happened to legal tender?
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/26/2008
Trust is crucial to the well being of your relationship. With trust as the basis of your relationship, anything is possible. Without trust your relationship will not survive long. Here are top tips from a Marriage and Family Therapist on building trust in your relationship.
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/26/2008
McMurdo Station is an American town outside the borders of the US. Isolated in an inhospitable environment, the community here is left to its own devices for leisure activities. With everyone carrying out or supporting research, this is the strangest American town.
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/21/2008
In June 2008 BGE's residential electric rates in Maryland will increase by 5.5%. This will make rates 82% higher than in May 2006. Relief is unlikely anytime soon. What's the secret reason for these increases?
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/21/2008
Solar power systems for private homes are becoming more affordable as time goes by. Tax incentives make them even more so. The following provide some guidance on sizing a system and approximate costs and incentives.
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/6/2008
Back in the early 20th century, travel to Antarctica was long and dangerous. These days the journey is by air and takes only 3 days, not counting weather delays. Nonetheless, it is anything but ordinary.
By Opher Ganel | Published 2/4/2008
Mortgage rates are lower than they've been in years, and close to their lowest in decades. Refinancing your mortgage is once again becoming attractive. But how do you know if they're low enough for you to refinance now?
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/31/2008
Many religious communities fight against gay marriages and abortion rights. This fight runs contrary to three crucial concepts of our society and religious faith, and endangers our republic.
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/27/2008
Web publishers are for-profit companies, their main purpose in life maximizing profit in any legal way possible. Does this mean that they should ignore the interests of their authors?
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/19/2008
Antarctic cruises are expensive, with most over $5000/person. If you know how, you can visit the frozen continent free of charge. Cooks, carpenters, mechanics, fire-fighters, doctors, nurses, janitors, dining assistants, etc. are all needed to support research in Antarctica.
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/18/2008
"The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth" (Ecclesiastes, 1:5). The daily path of the sun in the sky is so ingrained that "as sure as the sun rises" is used to express complete certainty. Imagine when this doesn't hold true.
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/16/2008
The federal tax code is impossibly complex. Usually this means you end up paying more taxes than you're legally required to. Sometimes, however, the intricacies of the tax code offer up a tasty bit of free money, if you know what to do.
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/13/2008
With many credit cards not charging annual fees, what you want to look for is a credit card with a good cash-back program. Cash-back credit card issuers are tricky, however, and what you see is rarely what you get. So what are some of the best "free money" plans out there?
By Opher Ganel | Published 1/2/2008
"Nothing is certain but death and taxes," said Ben Franklin. Taxes, tariffs, fees, it seems someone always has their hand in our wallets. But are taxes really needed? Can we eliminate them altogether? Our national debt has reached another record - can you pay your share?
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/16/2007
If you're like most of us, your New Year's resolutions are not too different from last year's. This is simply because we usually don't deliver on our resolutions. Why is that? And more importantly, what can you do to make your new New Year's resolutions come true?
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/14/2007
When outside a cold wind is blowing, and everything is covered with snow, here's a perfect way to warm up your holiday. Be it a get-together with friends, or a romantic evening with that someone special, this drink is sure to warm and cheer you up.
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/12/2007
If you teach a large class, open questions exams will use up a great deal of your time grading the exams. The simplest solution is using multiple choice exams, but this requires carefully crafting the exam to make sure it separates your good students from your poor ones.
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/6/2007
Last summer my daughter hosted an exchange student from France. Over the two week visit Charlene's calls totaled 20 minutes - a very reasonably number. Much less reasonable was the phone bill that arrived several weeks later. The international calling section was nearly $90!
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/3/2007
Arguments have been made for and against the government allowing homosexual couples to marry. Some have called for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman. While I agree the government should not provide homosexual marriages...
By Opher Ganel | Published 12/1/2007
Energy conservation doesn't mean what you've been told. Energy is always conserved in closed systems. Drive your car and the fuel's energy becomes motion and heat. Touch the hood after you drive and you'll feel the heat. So why should we reduce our use of oil and gas?
By Opher Ganel | Published 11/30/2007
Many freshman level college courses have exams made up of multiple choice questions which can be quickly graded by the teaching assistant (TA). Knowing how college instructors write multiple choice questions can give you an edge and improve your grade.
By Opher Ganel | Published 11/26/2007
My wife's Nissan Sentra started having engine problems at 74,000 miles. The problem was diagnosed as a blown head gasket. This part is normally expected to last well over 100,000 miles, and with the hefty rates charged by mechanics the estimate was $1600.
By Opher Ganel | Published 11/21/2007
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