5 tips for keeping organized at home

1. Make a list: Yep, it's that easy. Make a list of things you need to accomplish. Maybe make the list for the next day the night before, then have it waiting for you next to your bed so you won't forget. Maybe make multiple lists; one list for the week or month or year, and a shorter list of daily things needing done. This will help you keep organized. You can even break things up into lists for different places, one for home, one for work, one for church, etc. Maybe you even need a daily planner or a calendar to help you keep your lists.
2. Do one thing at a time: Focus, focus, focus. If you start a task, finish it! Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately too many people become disorganized by not keeping that focus. They begin a job, then don't finish it because they move onto another job, or because their interest is sparked in a different direction. No! Keep your focus. Do one job at a time. Eventually you'll get a bunch of jobs accomplished and you'll feel more organize.
3. Get rid of clutter: I'm not talking about the garbage in your waste baskets, though that needs to go out too. I'm talking about all the things you have that you really don't need and will never use again. Got two lawn mowers? Why? Do you need two lawn mowers? Maybe you do, but if not, sell the other one on craigslist or someplace. If you have more than one set of dishes, get rid of one of them. Have a gigantic book collection? How many of them are you really ever going to read again? Donate some to the library. By getting rid of a lot of things you don't truly need, this will simplify your life, give you less to worry about and allow you to become more organized.
4. Don't wait: You get up from the table after eating dinner and decide the dishes on the table can wait. You need to relax after a meal and what better way than to plop down in front of the television. But oops! Next thing you know, several hours have passed and those dishes are still waiting. Ah, well, you're tired now. The dishes can wait until morning. This ever happen to you? Or something similar? It could have been avoided if you'd dealt with the dishes when they needed it. This goes for a thousand other things around the house. When you see something needing done, do it! Don't wait. You'll never get organized if you wait.
5. Get a professional: If you are in truly dire need, contact a professional organizer and seek help. If you need help finding a professional organizer in your area, contact the National Association of Professional Organizers. I bet they can lend a hand.

10 basic safety tips for motorcyclists

1. Be ready with your brakes: When cruising along, keep at least a finger on your brake lever and and a toe near your rear brake pedal. It might seem cool to breeze down the highway without a thought in the world, but when that idjit in a mini-van who is only interested in entertaining his kids in the back seat decides to swerve towards you, you'll be ready.
2. Stay aware of your environment: Keep your eyes open and always scan around you, especially when you are sitting still at a red light. Remember that you are a small object compared to other vehicles, and most drivers are more familiar with seeing larger vehicles on the road. They might not be looking for you, or even able to see you. So it's up to you.
3. Be patient: Don't plow through the light as soon as it turns green. This is good advice for any drivers, but especially for motorcyclists because other drivers who won't see you.
4. Keep some room between you and other vehicles: This not only gives you space, but it gives you time. How's that? It gives you time by allowing you more of a chance to react to other drivers. So when that idiot next to you opens his car door without looking, you'll either already be safe because you're not near him, or you'll be just far enough away to be able to react.
5. Remember there are times to hit the gas: Yep, it might sound like a conundrum, but there are times to speed it up a little. Remember that other drivers have a hard time seeing a motorcyclist, especially drivers not familiar with bikes. This means they're not going to be expecting you in their blind spot. Give them some help. Just move ahead a little so you're not in their blind spot. Especially helpful when coming to red lights, so the other drivers can clearly see where you are.
6. Lights, lights, lights: Keep your high beams on during the day. This allows drivers to see you better. In fact, it's probably safest to keep your high beams on at night, unless you're behind or directly facing another vehicle.
7. Don't always trust your mirrors: Remember that blind spot? You have one, too, or more correctly, your bike's mirrors have a blind spot. Remember to turn your head and scan around you whenever changing lanes or making a turn.
8. Keep an eye on those tires: That's right. Check your motorcycle's tire pressure often, and daily check the tires for nails or glass or anything else that could cause a leak or bust. Keep in mind that a flat tire on a motorcycle is a lot more dangerous than it is in a car.
9. Prepare for long rides: If you're taking your bike across country for vacation, or for any similar long trip, you need to get your body ready beforehand. Even if you ride every day, unless you're used to riding for hours at a time, your muscles aren't going to be quite familiar with being on a motorcycle for long periods. You're going to be sore. You're going to be cramped. And this can make you a bit more dangerous on the road. If you're planning a long trip, about a week before leaving you should try to get in plenty of extra riding time, at least a few hours a day. This will help get your body, and your mind, more prepared for those long trips.
10. Wear a helmet: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You hated to hear it, but it had to be said. Believe it or not, it could save your life. Helmets not only protect from blunt trauma, but they can also save a rider from a broken neck.

5 great restaurants in Lower Manhattan

Bull Run

You can find the Bull Run Restaurant and Conference Center down on William Street between Pine and Wine Streets. This is supposedly a favorite place to eat for all the Wall Street big shots, and it's easy to see why with the fancy, huge bar that greets you at the entrance and the even fancier restaurant area. Despite the high-class quality of this place, I didn't think the prices were all that outrageous, but I just had a shrimp salad and coconut cake to eat (both of which were fantastic), and a glass of red wine to drink (also fantastic, and I'm not much of a wine drinker).

Centrico

If you are into real Mexican cuisine, you've got to stop by Centrico for a meal. I kept it simple and just had tacos, but boy were they some good tacos! Washed them down with a cocktail made of beer, lime and chile on ice. Really, some fine, fine Mexican food. I think we spent not quite $20 per person, which I think is more than reasonable for a pretty fine restaurant. Centrico is on West Broadway. If you're not overly adventurous, you can still order the tacos and have a great feast.

Craftsteak

If you're into steak, this is the place for you. I had a prime rib steak that would melt in your mouth; yeah, it cost $50, but it tasted like it! I also had some oysters that were great, and an English root beer that might be the best root beer I've ever tasted. The inside of Craftsteak struck me as a little weird, sort of a mix of modern and Medieval, but it worked. You can find Craftsteak on Tenth Avenue near West 15th Street.

Nobu New York City

Probably the finest Japanese restaurant I've ever eaten at, especially for the food. The atmosphere is nice, too, making Nobu a place where you don't have to dress up, but you don't want to go in looking like a slob either. I had rock shrimp with some kind of sauce that was to die for. For a drink, I ordered a pineapple martini, which apparently has real pineapple and pear juices and vodka. Nobu can be found on Hudson Street at the corner with Franklin Street just south of the Holland Tunnel.

Borgo Antico

This restaurant on the inside has a rustic, European feel to it. And maybe that's appropriate since this is an Italian restaurant. I ate fettuccine with veal and a salad covered with an Italian cheese and a lemon vinaigrette. And the prices really weren't that bad, especially considering the quality of the food. Visit Borgo Antico on East 13th Street, about a block south of Union Square. 2010 Update: Unfortunately, this fine restaurant has closed.

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10 health benefits of bananas

1. Ulcers: Bananas are a great food for ulcer patients, one of the few foods many ulcer patients can eat without suffering setbacks and pain. Why is this? Bananas lower the levels of acid in gastric juices in the stomach, and build a protective coating inside the stomach.
2. Minor burns: Yes, bananas can provide pain relief from minor burns and other wounds. The best way to accomplish this is to mash up the inside of a banana, then wrap it in a cloth or paper towel and place it on the burnt area. Pain relief should begin quite soon.
3. Energy: Sugar provides he body energy, and bananas have three types of natural, healthy sugars: fructose, glucose and sucrose. So get a little pep in your step by starting your day of with a banana.
4. Anemia: Anemia is the most common of blood disorders, usually being a decrease in the normal number of red blood cells. Guess what helps with anemia? Iron. Guess what fruit has lots of iron? Bananas. The iron in bananas helps stimulate the growth of hemoglobin in the body, which can help with anemia.
5. Blood pressure: Bananas are also quite high in potassium, which can help to reduce blood pressure (and possibly help against all heart disease). The potassium in bananas helps to combat sodium, which is a big no-no for those with heart conditions and high blood pressure.
6. PMS: That's right. Bananas are even good for the pains of PMS. It's the high levels of vitamin B6 in bananas which help to regulate blood glucose levels, which affects the moods and pains of women suffering PMS.
7. Cramping: All that potassium in bananas also is good for cramping, allowing the body's muscle to more freely contract and expand. This is especially important for the athletic.
8. Constipation: Bananas are a natural, light laxative, allowing the body to deal with constipation without turning to diarrhea. It's all that natural fiber found in bananas that helps with this trick. But if you have serious health concerns, always consult a doctor.
9. Depression: Believe it or not, bananas are great for lifting ones mood. Bananas contain tryptophan, a mood leveling protein also found in turkey. And like chocolate, bananas contain norepinephrine and serotonin, which can help one relax. Also, the vitamin B in bananas helps to calm the nervous system. Put all this together, and you've got a natural high.
10. Smoking: That's right, bananas can even help those who are trying to stop smoking. The combination in bananas of vitamins A1, C, B6 and B12, along with all that potassium, helps those who are trying to quit smoking from nicotine withdrawal.

10 health benefits of coffee

1. Type II Diabetes: This one isn't fully confirmed yet, but several studies have suggested that chlorgoenic acid found in coffee will help to stave off Type II Diabetes. The studies have shown that those who drink coffee in moderation seem to have a statistically lesser chance of developing Type II Diabetes, which is the non-inherited form of Diabetes.
2. Cancer: According to the Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School, studies have shown that those who drink coffee are 50 percent less likely to suffer from cancer. Most specifically studied were breast, rectal and colon cancers.
3. Parkinson's Disease: A study done over 30 years shows that those who drink coffee have a much lower chance of contacting Parkinson's Disease. Still, it's not known a hundred percent if coffee actually helps stave off this disease, or if other factors (such as environment or personality) were the causes. Always check with your doctor if you believe you are suffering from a disease or ailment.
4. Antioxidants: That's right, coffee is actually a natural antioxidant source. Antioxidants help to keep the blood clean, thus possibly helping to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. But remember to drink coffee in moderation; too much coffee, and caffeine, is not good for your health.
5. Cirrhosis of the liver: Cirrhosis of the liver is a common ailment among alcoholics, though others can suffer from it too. Fortunately, several studies have shown that those who drink coffee regularly are 80 percent less likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver. Nothing wrong with that!
6. Losing weight: Coffee really can get you doing in the morning. In fact, it boosts your metabolism which can also help to burn off calories. That combined with the fact coffee is naturally low in calories, makes coffee a prime drink for losing weight. Just keep in mind it's all the sugars and creams added to coffee that can make it fattening.
7. Asthma: Medicines for asthma almost always contain high does of caffeine because caffeine helps with the symptoms of asthma. So what's more natural than coffee for intaking some caffeine?
8. Natural diuretic: Need to shed a little water weight? If so, then you should try drinking coffee. Not only is coffee a natural diuretic, but it also naturally cleanses the stomach as it passes through. Beware, however, because this is not true for everyone; some people have shown to have upset stomachs after drinking coffee. So just try a little and see how your body reacts to it.
9. Gall stones: Coffee apparently lowers the levels of cholesterol in stomach bile, thus helping to prevent the body from building up gall stones. Studies have shown this works best for those who drink lots of coffee.
10. Exercise: Coffee is even good for exercise. No, it won't give you supper muscles, but the caffeine in coffee gives your body some extra energy, which can allow you to run or workout all that much longer, and possibly harder. As always, beware ingesting too much caffeine.