The 6 Most Common Mistakes You're Making with Rice

Over a billion people depend on rice as a food staple. But surprisingly, there's some confusion about how to cook it. Do you stir it? Should you let it boil the whole time? What's the proper liquid-to-grain ratio? Do you cook white rice the same way as brown? We asked our food editors to clear up the questions surrounding this starchy staple. Find their advice for making the fluffiest rice, below.

6 Common Rice Cooking Mistakes:

1. Following Directions on the Package
"The directions given on packaging are usually wrong, even from reputable producers. If you're using a new bag from a company that you're unfamiliar with, use this technique: Make a small pot using 1/2 cup rice and 1 cup of water (for brown rice, change that to 1/2 cup rice and 1 1/4 cup water). You're looking for fluffy rice where each grain is tender and holds its individual character. If you don't add enough water, the rice will be underdone and likely burn on the bottom before it's done gently steaming. If you add too much water, the rice will be sodden, mushy, and overcooked. So cook it, taste it, and adjust your rice-to-water ratio accordingly for larger pots of rice the next time."

2. Treating Brown Rice Like White Rice
"When cooking brown rice, use 1/4-1/2 cup more water per cup of rice than you would for white rice."

3. Not Letting It Steam
"Let the rice sit covered for 10 minutes after it's done cooking. Then fluff it with a fork."

4. Stirring It
"NEVER stir your rice! Stirring activates starch and will make your rice gloppy. That's what makes risotto so creamy."

5. Not Adding Salt
"Rice is like pasta--you have to salt the water, or else you'll have bland rice. I put a 1/2 tsp. to a tsp for each cup of rice."

6. Cooking It at a High Temperature
"Start with a boil, then bring it down to a low heat. If you cook rice too quickly, the water will evaporate and the rice will be undercooked. Low heat keeps kernels intact."

Rosie O'donnell Engaged To Marry Michelle Rounds

Rosie Odonnell, the famous US chat show host, has announced that she's engaged to partner Michelle Rounds whom she started dating in the late-summer of this year. Congratulations to the pair, even if the news seems quick. O'Donnell has a history of relationships since coming out back in 2002 and has been married before - to former Nickelodeon marketing executive Kelli Carpenter back in 2004. Carpenter moved out in 2007 though, despite the pair being parents of three adopted children; O'Donnell then went on to date Tracy Kachtick-Anders for two years, splitting up in February this year. 

Given that it's perhaps not surprising O'Donnell has announced an engagement so soon after meeting Rounds; a source told Us Weekly that the television personality's other half "is very attractive and friendly. Rosie was really proud and showing her off... They seem really happy." Speaking on 'The Rosie Show' the 49 year-old had told her audience that she expected to marry over the festive season. The pair made their debut as a couple only in September at the Rosie Theatre Kids Gala in New York. 

Elsewhere it's been announced that O'Donnell will appear as a special guest in the second season of Lisa Kudrow's 'Web Therapy' next year. Reuters reports that other cameos will come from Conan O Brien and MINNIE DRIVER.

Extending Your WiFi Range

           If you use a wifi network at home, there are undoubtedly limits to where you can access the signal. You might get a strong connection at the kitchen table, but take your laptop to the living room and you lose the signal. If you're looking to boost your signal a few feet or get a strong connection all the way upstairs in the back bedroom, we've got a handful of simple tricks and more advanced techniques to get you on connected to your home wifi from anywhere in your house. Here are things you should considered to know.

1. Move your router
2. Technical tweaks
3. Invest in network extension options

For more details about this article read this article - Upgrade Your Life: How to Extend Your Wifi Range

Stop the Fashion Madness!

Celebrity fashion trends should not necessarily be repeated at home, behind closed doors, let alone on the streets of America. The problem with celebrity fashion trends lately, is twofold, however. On one hand, it seems that every celebrity is copycatting the latest trend without much thought to being the tenth person at the Grammys wearing a metallic and plus size dresses. The other part of the celebrity fashion trend crisis that we are facing at this very moment, is that there will be everyday people following these fashion trends in a city near you.

Stop the Metallic!

Innocent bystanders were blinded at the recent Grammy Awards by the glaring display of metallic dresses and gowns worn by far too many celebrities. Trendy should not mean that every starlet in Hollywood gets to wear their designer's interpretation of metallic fashion. Even the most reputable designers chose to adorn their celebrity model in the glimmer and glare or metallic materials. When more than three celebrities wear the same style of fashion at a red carpet event, it becomes too trendy. The problem with this metallic trend is that there are now factory workers for Walmart piecing together silver and gold ensembles that will sell for $12.99 in the stores. Blame the celebrities for this fashion trend when you see ther return of Disco.

What this Means to You

Expect an unusually large number of women to wear blinding metallic dresses and gowns to the next wedding reception you attend. Silver sequins and gold glitter will make a comeback at commercial retail stores like Target and Walmart. Payless will bring out the metallic spike heel collection and your grandmother will purchase a pair of gold metallic house slippers.

Skinny Jeans Belong on 110 Pound Runway Models

Nicole Richie at starving weight and banned runway models who didn't meet the minimum weight rules will look good in skinny jeans. Other celebrities, posed at the right angle, will pull off the skinny jean with a pair of three inch heels and some photo editing. The skinny jeans celebrity fashion trend is running wild in Hollywood.

Straightforward Tips About Background Check

Many people who read the below writing about "Background Check" agreed that it increased their understanding, not just about the main term, but also other specific "Background Check" words, such as "Background Check Criminal Form Free", and "Fingerprinting Background Check" or "People Search Software".

Background check might seem a lot of trouble but it always pays off at the end. There's no telling when you might unearth particulars about a soon-to-be member of staff that proves them inappropriate for the job in question. In such instances, you should go on to the next candidate.

It is important to carryout a background check on a tutor before granting the permission to teach your kids. The essence is to find out if the person has any bad past records. The tutor's last place of work can be contacted to get detailed information on why the person left. You might be surprised what vital info you could unearth from a simple background check, sometimes even without digging too deep. A claimant once declared himself fit for an advertised security job because of a stint in law enforcement. Wish someone would have made it clear from the start which side of law enforcement it was right to be on – he was an ex-con.
High security jobs as a matter of necessity always require serious background checking. Whoever is employed must pass at all levels of competence, especially qualifications and integrity. Since they will be handling highly sensitive information, equipment, and transactions, no one can afford to have them any less capable.

Now that this writing has covered some truly remarkable, and also insightful hints concerning "Background Check", let's see if the other part of this piece will touch somewhat on other related aspects.

In view of the fact that many people have fallen victim of fraudulent practices in recent times, background check is becoming prominent. People are now becoming very careful with the persons they interact with. Some people go about the whole search themselves while others hire professionals.

Before accepting any tenant, landlords should conduct background check. This is for the children's safety. It is also to prevent any form of implication. Some landlords get dragged to court innocently because they harbor criminals as tenants without knowing.

Victoria's Secret: A Lesson in 'Curvy' Hypocrisy

Leading lingerie retailer Victoria's Secret claims they have a committment to showing curvaceous women in their campaigns, and yet most of their models are a size zero or two.
With consumers calling for more realistic representations of women in the fashion industry, do you think VS is behind the times.
Take a look at some of their leading "voluptuous" stars and decide for yourself if these are what you consider to be "curvy" women.

Gabrielle Union Responds to Claim She Broke Up Dwyane Wade’s Marriage

The estranged wife of NBA star Dwyane Wade is seeking damages against Gabrielle Union, whom she alleges broke up their marriage.

Siohvaughn Wade claims the actress “apparently decided to take her role” of seductress “beyond the films and into the home of a married man… in the presence of his two minor children.”

Her husband, a guard for the Miami Heat, recently requested sole custody of their two sons, prompting Siohvaughn Wade to add the Union lawsuit to a prolonged, ugly divorce case.
Now Union is firing back.

In a statement furnished to Gossip Cop, the actress’ legal representative says:
“Each and every allegation made is entirely false. Ms. Union wasn’t in the state of Florida or Illinois where and when each of these allegations are said to have occurred.”

“These false accusations were previously made approximately one month ago in family court. Not only was Ms. Union not named a defendant at that time but the court ultimately rejected these claims as frivolous.”
“Gabrielle apologizes to the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois for tying them up with erroneous claims when there are real victims who should be receiving the legal attention they need.”