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Advantages and Disadvantages of VoIP: Know Them Before Switching to VoIP Service

2008-12-30T23:00:00.000-08:00

Author : Juzaily Ramli

Today, more and more people are consciously making an effort to learn about Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP. One thing that they all look for is whether or not VoIP can act as an alternative to the good ol telephone service, which has made such an impact in the lives. Can VoIP replace the humble telephone for good? One way to find out is to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of VoIP.VoIP offers many advantages for you. Among them are:1. VoIP is a whole lot cheaper compared to your normal landline telephone. With a residential VoIP plan you only need to pay about $9.95 for the most basic service up to about $39.95. For a business VoIP plan, the cost would be somewhere about $49.95 to $99.95 and comes inclusive with a separate fax number.2. The VoIP modem (which is free) is delivered to you in only 5 to 10 days. Or you could buy it at your local store for same day service and get the VoIP provider to credit it against your bill.3. The services which are considered as extras in your regular landline telephone service, such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Voice Mail, 3-Way Conferencing, Repeat Dialling, and Call Block are now standard services with your VoIP. In short, you dont have to pay extra for these extra services. They come free with the package, including the most sought after service: unlimited calling, either local or long distance.4. With VoIP service, there is no charge for any incoming calls, which cannot be said for US cellular service providers. The same also holds true for outgoing local calls, which depends on your talk plan.5. With VoIP service in North America, local is always inclusive of US, Canada, some countries in Western Europe, parts of Asia, and parts of Latin America. For countries which are not already included, there are international plans available which cost a lot less than that offered by the standard long distance services providers. Another way is for you to make occasional calls without a plan, but for far lower charges per-minute compared to the usual long distance plans. For VoIP services in Europe, Asia and elsewhere around the globe, this also applies (more or less) in reverse.6. With VoIP service, you dont need to have a computer. Just take your average phone cable from your VoIP modem and plug it into your regular desktop or portable phone.7. With VoIP service, you can activate every phone jack in the house. First, disconnect your house internal phone wiring from the regular telephone service at the phone box outside (most probably on your front wall). Then, simply take the VoIP modem and plug it into any existing wall jack inside your house. However, this option is not available for those who live in apartments.8. With VoIP service, you can choose your own virtual phone number in almost any area code that you wish for at a very low price (around $5). This way you can have friends and family dial a local number that will then ring on your phone. The drawback is that you cant make outgoing calls, as its not considered as a real line phone line.9. With VoIP service you can have low cost 800 numbers. This way it will be free for people to call you and yet will not be too hard on your pockets. There are monthly rates fixed for you, but they vary according to the provider. Generally it could cost you about $5 for the first 100 minutes per month, and somewhere about 4.5 cents per minute beyond that.10. Some VoIP service providers offer a service that could locate you called Find Me at other numbers that you provide, either in sequence or simultaneously, should you fail to answer your call. If you still dont answer, your call will then go to your Voice Mail which can be retrieved later.11. And finally, the icing on the cake: You can take your home or office phone with you wherever you go. Just bring your VoIP modem with you, and when you get to your destination, plug it into any high-speed internet connection. You could be in a hotel room in the Caribbean, at your friends or relatives house in Paris or even at the airport. No matter where you are, one youre plugged in, you can make as well as receive calls on your regular phone number. Charges are based on your home location. You could be in New Zealand and if anybody were to call your office or home number in Atlanta, they would never know that youre not really there. And if you make calls, your regular caller ID still shows.As with everything else, with advantages there are certain disadvantages, even for VoIP services:1. If you utilise a cable connection for your Internet, your upline is 2 to 10 times slower than your downline. This means that, although you can hear crystal clear what the other person is saying, they may not necessarily hear you. This could lead them to hang up (as they dont know youre on the line), or to them telling you to call from a regular phone and to get off the speaker phone.Even though VoIP companies insist that 256K should be sufficient for a clear signal, it does not seem to be the case. Thankfully there are ways to overcome this obstacle if you have a very knowledgeable VoIP support tech. Consult your VoIP service providers about this.2. The quality of high-speed connections may vary, as it is dependant on many factors, including the number of other users on your cable line, or your distance from the nearest DSL booster node. This means that the VoIP quality may vary daily or during each call.3. During your calls, when there is no one speaking, there is a silence that could lead the other person to think that the line has gone dead. This is especially true for those who have become so used to hearing a slight buzz when using a regular telephone. Instead of being bombarded with many people asking are you still on the line? you should first explain this silence that you will encounter at the very beginning of your conversation.4. When using VoIP service, you may not be able to activate a new credit card, as the computer at the other end will claim that you are not calling from a home phone. The reason for this is yet unknown as VoIP providers have yet to answer this.5. While conversing, you should never allow anyone to put you on silent hold, as the VoIP service may disconnect you when it doesnt hear anything. It assumes that you are no longer on the line, thus disconnecting you after a while.6. If you have an upline signal that is not capable of relaying your call, and when you cannot get through, all that youll be hearing is a recording stating that Your call cannot be completed at this time, which can be very annoying if it happens often.7. Sometimes, your VoIP service will just cease to work. How to solve this depends on your provider. Mostly it will take some unplugging and replugging of various connections: VoIP modem, router, cable connection, DSL connection. It all depends on your provider and the solution (and sequence) that they provide you with.8. And finally, in what is the worst disadvantage among all, if you lose your Internet connection for whatever reason imaginable, you lose your telephone service. Should you decide to depend almost entirely on VoIP service, then you are strongly advised to have a cell phone with you at all times. This also works in your favour as you can set your VoIP service to call your cell automatically should you not answer your VoIP line.The verdict? Commercial VoIP service is an actual telephone service, compared to the likes of messenger services (computer-based) or Skype (which insists that it is not a telephone service). Of course it has its disadvantages, it has no video (at the moment that is) and has some minor glitches. Yet these glitches can be put up with when you realize that you can save anywhere from $30 to $100 a month. These glitches may be a big issue if you plan to use VoIP for your office, but if you have a cell phone with you for back up, youd have no problems at all. You may find yourself joining the huge number of users who have gone 100% VoIP, with the intention of never again using the telephone. Juzaily Ramli is the owner of VoIP Tutorial website that discusses on all things VoIP including

Postcard marketing for tourism industry - The great cheap marketing tool

2008-12-16T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : David Kan

As a travel agent marketer, or a hotel promotion, all you need
is a good marketing tool is a cheap cost and high effect,
contribute to the brand building and create a good relation with
your visitors.

These things can be obtained when you use postcard to market
your services in the local community. And here are the reasons:

1)Postcard is a low cost marketing tool but high visible.

Postcard marketing is very affordable. Postcard cost less than 2
cent each to produce I you print them using your own computer or
have them printed professionally for about 7 or 8 cents each.

You can print 4x6 inch postcard on your own computer for less
than 2 cents each. Or you can reduce the cost down to about 1
cent each if you print 4 at a time on 8 Â½ x11 sheets of card
stock and then cut the sheet into quarters.

In fact, standard sized postcard is 38% cheaper than using
regular size letters.

2)Postcard can be created very easily.

You can use your own photos illustrating your services, your
hotel image, designed with Adobe Photoshop, or Adobe Image Ready
to create a good helpful collection of your own postcard. This
collection will be very good for you to build your brand, or
will be cost effective if you rotate it in your postcard
marketing campaign.

There are many ready packages of postcard organization some
professional website, so if we do not want to design by
ourselves, we can buy these postcards with a reasonable price.
Try to find a good supply on Net by Google or Yahoo! Search
tools.

3)Postcard is cheap and easy to send.

The current postage for mailing a postcard in the US is just 23
cents. That is 38% cheaper than the postage for selling a letter.

This reduce the postage rate applies to postcard that are at
least 3 Â½ x5 inches but not over 4 Â¼ x6 inches.

Now, there are services online which can complete all the
process of postcard marketing for your company with an
appropriate rate. Visit www.usps.com/mailingonline to use its
cheap services and reduces your cost into 90%.

4)Everybody read postcard

Postcard doesn't waste time of people. There are no envelops,
just a picture and your message. Almost 90% receivers will read
it and feel friendly than any other kinds of advertising. It is
because postcard is delivered "ready to read"... especially if
you keep it brief and look like a message from a friend to
friend. And postcard doesn't take up a lot of space. Your
customer can carry them in their pockets easily...

5)Big respond

This high rate of readership is the main reason why postcard
postcards produce a bigger responds than other type of direct
marketing. With other types of direct marketing you often lose
prospects that would have respond to your offer-but they never
saw it.

Postcard are an excellent low-cost alternative to email when
there are junk mail are sent to prospects everyday, your
prospects will often delete them without read even an legitimate
one. Postcard is not, no one receives too much postcard that
they even don't want to read!

6)Your competitors can not know your postcard marketing campaign.

A new marketing campaign often imitated by your competitor
because it is visible on multi-media lines. But postcard is the
contact between you and your prospects. It is difficult for your
competitor study anything from yours, unless you want them get
over you by sending postcard to their office or their private
house.

7)Get immediate result

Because postcard is simple and easy to use, they produce results
quickly. You can finish your postcard marketing campaign from
designing to sending within a week and starting get replies 2 or
3 days later. One of the benefits of using first class postage
for a regular size postcard is that it will be mailed back to
the sender if it has a bad address, which can help you update
your list.

You can ask the receivers to bring the card into your office for
special discount, there for you can calculate the respond rate.

Your postcard can brand you and your business in ways that most
marketing material cannot. If you start and stick to a regular
postcard marketing program, you and your business will gain a
quite a reputation, perhaps even a little notoriety.

8)Postcard marketing is rather targeted.

You can send it to chosen prospects, and gain the highest
effective. Postcard enables you to spend your entire advertising
budget on your best prospects. You don have to pay for
advertising to a large audience in order to reach a few good
prospects.

Here are some ways to use postcard.

1) Referrals-send postcards regularly to your friend, your
frequent clients or other best contacts and ask them for their
referrals.

2) Thankyou notes - use postcard to say Thankyou for business,
referrals or information and say that you appreciate their
helps. Your postcard receiver will be so surprised and please
that you took the time. 3) A follow - up offer or services -
after the client use or buy your services, send them a discount
offer for a related services or product within 30 - 60 days. Don
not miss the opportunity for an after - sale contact.

4) You can also announce a price - increase time and encourage
your customer check in to use it at current price.

5) Gift certification or coupons: show your best customers that
you appreciate them by sending a gift certificate that they can
use anytime in the next year. You should leave a space on the
postcard and encourage they fill out their friend or colleagues
name and give it to someone else to introduce them to your
business.

6) Announce an event - send postcard to let your prospects know
about events like a seminar in your hotels...

7) Introduce new services such as a new city tour for children
traveling over many educational sites in your city...

8) Build your website traffic- use postcard mailing to tell
people your site is there and when you make significant
additional which can give them many interesting information.

9) Recognition- sends out a postcard to let people know your
good news about accomplishments and awards or reviews you have
received.

10) Just stay in touch. People like to be remembered and
postcard is economical and easy way to say " thinking of you "

11) Remember special days of your clients: send a holiday
greeting a Thankyou not for Thanksgiving. If you keep track of
special dates in your customer lives like birthdays or
anniversaries, you can send them a colorful postcard letting
them know you are thinking of them.

You can register a forum account to read more 15 articles of
postcard marketing in the Tourism Marketing Forum. Click this
link:
.

Category : Hunting

Why You Should Never Quit Your MLM

2008-12-11T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : Robert Borhi

Listen to this and tell me if it sounds familiar to you. You've
looked over all the material and decided to join a new mlm
company, maybe your first one, maybe not. The products look
great, the company looks professional, the promo material is
slick, and the website has a flash presentation. This is going
to be great! Surely everyone I talk to will be interested and
I'll be able to quit my day job in no time!

But then reality sets in. Your first product order costs you
$125, and every month you have to order an additional $125 in
products to stay qualified. You're buying leads every month for
$50. You are spending another $25 per month in pay per click
ads. On top of the money, you have to spend time away from your
family going to meetings, doing presentations, and working the
business online. After a few months your spouse is getting
grumpy at all the time and money you spend on the 'new venture'.
The pressure mounts, your downline isn't growing, more money
goes out than comes in, and you decide to quit.

What's wrong with this picture? And what do I mean when I say
you should never quit your MLM?

Truthfully, most people who are involved in mlm, whether they
are a success yet or not, have had the above experience. It is
actually a common scenario, because mlm is an easy come, easy go
situation. People can get started for a relatively small cost
compared to starting another business, but the reason they join
in the first place is usually because they don't have enough
money in their lives. So if they aren't making money quick, most
people will either quit mlm entirely or move on to the next
opportunity, hoping that one will be the big, quick, easy
money-maker. And it's easy to quit an mlm, you just stop buying
the products or press a button on the company website, and easy
go.

Here is the reason you should never quit. For the average person
with a day job, MLM is the easiest, most cost-effective way to
have your own business that can grow over time to give you an
unlimited, passive income. And you can do it in your spare time
while keeping your day job.

If you are planning on joining an mlm, or evaluating your
present company, here are some things to think about.

If done right, you should be buying products every month that
you or your family use, at a price you can afford every month.
Perhaps join an mlm that has products you are already buying
locally. That way, you are just shifting the same money around.
Or better yet, find a way to sell enough products to customers
to stay qualified every month. Many people hate selling, but
these days you can sell online and avoid the face to face
presentation, at least until you overcome the fear.

If done right, you should be marketing your business every week,
or every day if possible. Set an advertising budget you can
afford and stick to it. Look for inexpensive ways to advertise.
Some ideas are business cards, a sticker of your website url on
your car, a small classified ad in your weekly newspaper, and
free online advertising.

At a minimum, plan on doing your mlm for at least 3 years
without making the big money. This means, make a decision to
commit to the business no matter what until you find a way to
make it work. Be realistic in how much it will cost you. If you
achieve success sooner, then great! If not, after three years of
really working the business you will learn enough to keep going,
and more importantly, know why you should keep going.

Over time, if you are working the business, the right people
will show up and join you. You will be using great products
every month at a price you can afford, and you will be doing
something to build your business every day. Network marketing is
not a get rich quick scheme; it is really a way for you to put a
little effort in over a long period of time to reap the rewards.
I've heard in said that in mlm you will get paid in the future
for the work you are doing today, which is much different than a
traditional job. But the rewards will be much more lucrative!
Never quit!

Category : Software

How to Catch Bass Fish Successfully Every Time

2008-12-06T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : Baalaji Baashyam

Bass fishing is an enthralling sport. Every one will aspire to come out successfully in any sport or game. To be a good ang Text | Downloadler one should know the information that is discussed below.Depth of the waterAny water body will have three layers. They are deep layer, middle layer and surface layer. The surface layer will be warmer than the middle layer and the middle layer will be warmer than the deep layer. Before heading for the bass fishing you need to know the existence of the three layers and should be able to find out the temperature of the three layers. Thermometers can be used effectively to measure the temperature of the different layers of water.Bass fish prefers comfortable temperature. Hence in hot weather condition the bass fish will remain in the deep layer as it will be cold. During cold weather condition the bass fish will try to remain in the middle or top layer.Temperature of the waterThe metabolism of the bass fish is influenced by temperature of the water. There is no second opinion that bass fish can withstand temperature fluctuations better.Bass fishing can be done thorough out the year when the temperature of the water is around 70 -75 degree Celsius. The bass fishing is possible even when the temperature is around 32-39 degree Celsius. When the temperature of the water becomes cold the movement of the bass fish is getting slower. This piece of information will help the anglers immensely to get big boog is possible even when the temperature is around 32-39 degree Celsius. Try and know as much as possible about the nature and habitat of e fish you can successfully select the place for bass fishing. Once the place is selected thinking in the lines of bass fish will increase you chance of enjoying a successful bass fishingMapKnowing preferred habitats of the bass fish is possible though the map that contains the complete details of the place selected for the bass fishing. You need to find and select a map that has even minute details like length, depth and slope of the surface of the water body. Any beginner who goes follow the above mentioned process will surely know where and how to catch the bass with success every time he ventures into water. Signup now at Bass fishing Tackle Guide and receive a FREE copy of our best selling e-book "A complete guide to bass fishing"

Category : General Hobbies

Nsauditor: Network Security Auditor

2008-11-30T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : Varuzhan Kankanyan

Conducting a network security audit isn't very easy the first
time you do it. You've got to either purchase a commercial audit
package and learn how it works or assemble your own adhoc
toolkit from open source offerings. Either way, you're looking
at hours of effort to get even a quick look at the security
condition of your network.

Now you can conduct an initial audit in just minutes, with a
total cash investment of only $37, thanks to Nsasoft's Nsauditor.

Nsauditor is a network security scanner that allows to audit and
monitor network computers for possible vulnerabilities , to see
all open ports on your system and owner program names, including
the process loaded modules, kernel objects, memory details,
remote address and state of connections, dns name, country where
from, service associated with connection, possible trojans
associated with port and service description. All the mentioned
features are provided with a user friendly graphical
interface.The product contains a built-in database of known
vulnerabilities, which allows you to select the items for
scanning and add custom entries. Nsauditor can reveal and
catalog a variety of information, including installed software,
shares, users, drives, hotfixes, NetBios, RPC, SQL and SNMP
information, open ports. It can also audit password and security
policies as well as make a variety of attack probes, such as
stealth port scans, HTTP/CGI server auditing, registry auditing.
In addition, over 35 network tools for scanning, sniffing,
enumerating and gaining access to machines, dns and whois
lookups, Finger, e-mail validate, Traffic emulator, HTTP traffic
generator and intrusion detection system based on security
events log analyzer are included. The program can sniff and use
brute-force and dictionary attacks on LM and NTLM password
hashes and expose the insecure ones. Nsauditor does OS detection
and automatically creates OS fingerprints which are not included
in database. The outputs of scanned reports are in HTML and XML
formats.

http://www.nsauditor.com

Category : Meditation

Cialis Some points to take care

2008-11-24T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : Steve Jackson

If the male organ does not get enough blood during sexual intercourse, the erection of the organ does not become strong and sustained. This inability in erection is a sexual dysfunction which affects the Mens health and leads a male person to impotence. Some times the problem is called the erectile dysfunction condition.There are a number of methods in vogue to tackle this problem. However, the best and easiest non surgical taken treatment for erectile dysfunction condition is to use any kind of PDE-5 Inhibitor oral drug. There are a number of effective drugs available in the market all of them are equally effective to fight erectile dysfunction conditions.Tadalafil Phosphate, whose brand name is Cialis, is one of the best medicines in this category. Use of Cialis, blocks the enzyme called PDE-5 (Phosphodiesterase-5) which ultimately increases blood flow through the sex organs and causes firm and sustained erection.The medicine should be taken orally one hour before sex. This medicine may be taken with or without food. To get better effect of the medicine some sort of sexual excitement will be required for easy and quick erection. Before treatment of erectile dysfunction condition, you must visit a doctor who should thoroughly check up your body conditions.Your doctor will not allow you to take Cialis if you are already using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. Because, taking Cialis with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease in blood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack. The medicine is not be allowed in case of patients having Kidney, prostate or heart problem. During your sexual activities after taking Cialis, if you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain or any other problem you should immediately stop the activities and call your doctor right away. Cialis should be taken only once a day. Minimum 24 hours should be allowed between doses. Some times erections become painful after taking Cialis and in this situation stop all sexual activities and immediately seek help of your doctor. Some times erections last longer than 4 hours. But a prolonged erection can damage the penis. In this situation immediately take help of your doctor. We have pointed out the above problems which some times may happen to persons using Cialis. As such we will always suggest to buy Cialis only if your doctor prescribes for you. You should find a Cialis pharmacy where you can purchase the medicine against a doctors prescription. Also the medicine can be purchased from the over the counter stores. It will be Cheap Cialis and a doctor prescription may or may not be required to buy Cheap Cialis. Cheap Cialis Pharmacies are spread throughout the country in over the counter stores or in the Internet stores. Cialis online is also available through web sites. There are thousands of web sites selling cheap Cialis and you will find innumerous advertisements of these on line stores. Steve Jackson is an associated editor and a contributing author to the Eupharma.de for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit http://www.eupharma.de for more information on Cialis, Viagra.

Category : General Health

VoIP Technology - Talk is Cheap!

2008-11-23T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : Johnny Mayer

VoIP products are integral to the most advanced and reliable
VoIP and Voice over ATM platforms currently sold by leading VoIP
telecom and networking companies worldwide. VoIP products based
on VoIP enabled technology products employ Voice over Packet
chip processors, VoIP PCI and cPCI communication boards and VoIP
media gateway modules (PMC form factor).

VoIP companies provide voice over packet (VoIP) processors for
OEM implementations of voice communications over packet networks
or "VoIP". Each VoIP processor features low bit rate Vocoders, a
State-of-the-art Echo Canceller and T.38 compliant fax relay.
High and medium density gateways, residential gateways and
integrated access devices (IAD) are among the major users of
VoIP chip processors. These VoIP solutions power client
applications from small gateways and IP phones... An As an
indication of market size... one major VoIP provider has over 10
million ports installed and growing rapidly.

VoIP Products - Gateway Network The entire VoIP gateway network
is based on continued advances in VoIP media boards that offer
field proven solutions. Product design of proper PSTN interfaces
is a critical factors in VoIP deployment. How can small or
medium-sized gateways compete in the market? By implementing
cost-effective solutions for enterprise or small POPs and fast
market penetration into new and emerging markets. On the other
hand, large VoIP gateways are designed to meet major carriers'
operational requirements.

VoIP Products - Market Driven The rapid VoIP market expansion
for VoIP Gateways led to the large diversity in VoIP products.
Today, VoIP providers may choose from different sized gateways
for VoIP networks of different sizes. Also, Mediant VoIP
gateways enable carriers to address multi-regional requirements
and strengthen economics of deployment. For instance, providing
PSTN signaling and compression technology deployed in over 75
countries is quite a challenge. Fortunately, VoIP technology may
quickly enter new regions and conserve precious bandwidth in
hard-to-reach offices.

AudioCodes Ltd. is a market leader in voice compression
technology and is a key originator of the ITU G.723.1 standard
for the emerging VoIP market. AudioCodes enabling technology
products include VoIP, CTI and call logging communication
boards, VoIP media gateway processors and modules.

For more information on VoIP
and emerging VoIP
technology, visit AudioCodes

Category : Holidays

How to Save Money On Your Homeowners Insurance

2008-11-21T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : Adam Henley

You may be able to save hundreds of dollars a year on homeowners insurance by shopping around for insurance. You can also save money with these tips. Spend some time shopping around. Check consumer guides, insurance agents, companies and online insurance quote services. Try some of the top name online quote providers, like the ones at http://www.HomeownersExclusive.com/homeinsurance.html. This will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which companies have the lowest prices. But never consider price alone. The insurer you select should offer a fair price and deliver the quality service you would expect if you needed assistance in filing a claim. Also, ask them what they would do to lower your costs.Consider a higher deductible. Increasing your deductible by just a few hundred dollars can make a big difference your premium.Ask your insurance agent about discounts. You may be able get a lower premium if your home has safety features such as dead-bolt locks, smoke detectors, an alarm system, storm shutters or fire retardant roofing material. Persons over 55 years of age or long-term customers may also be offered discounts. Insure your house NOT the land under it. After a disaster, the land is still there. If you don't subtract the value of the land when deciding how much homeowner's insurance to buy, you will pay more than you should. Don't wait till you have a loss to find out if you have the right type and amount of insurance.If you've kept your coverage with one company for several years, you may receive a special discount for being a long-term policyholder. Some insurers will reduce their premiums by 5 percent if you stay with them for three to five years and by 10 percent if you remain a policyholder for six years or more. But make certain to periodically compare this price with that of other policies.Make certain you purchase enough coverage to replace what is insured. "Replacement" coverage gives you the money to rebuild your home and replace its contents.An "Actual Cash Value" policy is cheaper but pays only what your property is worth at the time of loss - your cost minus depreciation for age and wear. Ask about special coverage you might need. You may have to pay extra for computers, cameras, jewelry, art, antiques, musical instruments, stamp collections, etc. Remember that flood and earthquake damage are not covered by a standard homeowners policy. The cost of a separate earthquake policy will depend on the likelihood of earthquakes in your area. Homeowners who live in areas prone to flooding should take advantage of the National Flood Insurance Program at floodsmart.gov.If you are a renter, DO NOT assume your landlord carries insurance on your personal belongings. Purchase a special policy for renters Adam Henley. Visit Homeowners Insurance Tips for more ways to save.

Category : General Insurance

A Guide To Belt Buckles

2008-11-16T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : Eddie Tobey

A belt buckle is an integral part of a belt. Buckles made of plastic, metal or wood are the most common kinds of buckles. Buckles on cowboy belts, cowgirl belts, Texas belt buckles, war belts, military belts etc are a few other different kinds of belt buckles seen in the market. Belt buckles that are on fancier belts for evenings wear are studded with stones or embroidered, the most popular and expensive being the rhinestone ones. These belts are for show rather than for any real purpose. Latest kinds of belt buckles in the market are the digital ones, scrolling ones and the light up belt buckles. These are especially good for a night of dancing or fun and frolicking. People who can afford fancier belts can also get customized belt buckles that have some form of engraving or other message on them. Silver buckles can also be custom made on order. Gold belts and designer belts set with turquoise buckles can also be custom made for some exclusive kinds of belt buckles that would be noticeable. Some individuals also wish to own some uniquely designed belt buckles that are exclusively made on order. For those who wish to make a statement, Harley Davidson belt buckles would be the best choice. Bigger the buckle the more noticeable would the belt be. Individuals with rebellious nature usually prefer these huge buckles that go with western belts or otherwise large belts like the rodeo belts. There are even available in the market a kind of belt buckles known as the rebel belt buckles and punk belt buckles. Buckles with funny faces on them or those that are themselves shaped funny are also a craze with the younger population. Large sized buckles would especially go well with belts made of animal and reptile skins like kangaroo hide, alligator skin, brown snake skin, crocodile skin and black snake belts. Funny belt buckles like the star wars buckle, led display buckles, and spinner buckle are also popular with the kids. Since a belt buckle can be changed on a belt in most of the cases, many prefer to keep a few buckles so they can be change the buckles whenever they fancy. Belt buckles are also available cheap and would be available in any shop selling belts. Buckles for belts that hold guns like the military belts or the gun belts have a different kind of buckles that are stronger and can hold the extra weight on the belt. Firefighters, bikers, and gunmen etc wear different kinds of belts that have belt buckles different from the regular ones. Also available are belt buckles with religious symbols for all those pious individuals out there. Eagle shaped and dragon-shaped belt buckles are one the most common that might catch one?s eye in a belt buckles display in a belts shop. One only needs to shop around for that perfect belt buckle to buy. Since a number of shops deal with belts and belt buckles, available in the market is a wide choice and an individual would only need sufficient time and energy to shop around. Belt Buckles provides detailed information on Belts, Belt Buckles, Leather Belts, Western Belts and more. Belt Buckles is affiliated with Custom Belt Buckles.

Category : General Lifestyle: Fashion

Perfume Your Garden and Home with Gardenias

2008-11-04T23:00:00.001-08:00

Author : Jeanette Joy Fisher
One of my favorite plants is the large white-flowered Mystery Gardenia (gardenia jasminoides) that grows to about 5' tall and wide. The perfume-like scent adds an exotic feeling to gardens. Plus, the large white flowers show up well in moonlight when many people more likely get a chance to take pleasure in their garden.If you want to enjoy gardenias, plant them where they get sun. Most people plant gardenias in the shade because these plants love the same soil as shade-loving camellias and azaleas. However, gardenias can take full sun and prefer at least half a day of sunlight. Gardenias will not bloom well in the shade.Don't over water your gardenias. Keep the soil surface moist, but not soggy. Don't let them dry out too much during flowering or they will drop their buds. To keep your plants from drying out, mulch well.Gardenias also like rich organic soil, azalea/camellia fertilizer, and iron. If your gardenias get yellow leaves, they most likely need more iron. During the growing season, feed your gardenias every three weeks.Don't get harsh when pruning gardenias. They need some leaves left on the stock so they can get nutrition. Prune after blooming but before fall so the plant gets a chance to grow and form new flowers for the next spring bloom.Gardenias bloom from late spring well into summer. Besides the glorious creamy-white blooms, they give your garden a gorgeous deep green backdrop all year long.Plant gardenias near your entry door to welcome guests and yourself with the invigorating perfume-like scent. Just one or two flowers floating in a bowl of water fills your home with natural fragrance. With over 200 species of gardenias, you're sure to find just the perfect variety at your local nursery for your garden.Copyright Â© 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.Jeanette Fisher, author of Joy to the Home and other books, teaches interior Design Psychology. Free "What Is Design Psychology" Report
http://designpsych.com
Category : Marriage

Business Development

2008-10-30T23:00:00.000-07:00

Author : Assaf Katzir
The essential stage of any businessBusiness development is an essential stage of any business. Either it is in the beginning of the road or it is in the middle of the road. For a young business it is essential in order to develop required markets, products and services. For a mature business, while it has a solid ground of customers and activities, naturally, it would like to relax and enjoy the fruits of success; thus, this is a critical stage that requires a future plan that will enable the business to survive and grow.Basing on existing products/services eventually will bring to profit's margin decrease, market portion decrease and customers desert in favor of an advanced technology or newer products/services. In order to cope with the above mentioned a business must be prepared with the next "thing" (product/service...) that will ultimately lead the business to a future growth.

Business development continuityBusiness development continuity is important for the following reasons:
Market survival - The existing product will reach the end of its life cycle and will disappear.Revenue growth/new money - Insert money to the business from new activities with higher profit margins.Maximize exploitation of infrastructure/assets/current capabilities - Existing resources which are not fully exploited by the business, for instance: existing sales force that can expand the variety of the products that it sells, a factory that does not work in full capacity and existing customers' repository that can be addressed with additional products/services.
Business development does not have to be a new product/service or a new market. It can be anything that will expand the ranges of the business activities in one or more of the followings:

Business Development PossibilitiesExpand the amount of customers - Reach new customers while using additional marketing channels, additional geographic areas, addressing to potential customers that have not exposed to the business products/services etc'.Expanding products variety - Creating a "family" of products based on existing product, creating similar products (small differences from original) such as: new flavors in food products, additional scents in cosmetic products etc'.Expanding products' types - Create additional products' categories that do not have a direct relation to the major product of the business. In this case there is an advantage to products/services that can use the business capabilities such as: technology, distribution channels and customers. Good examples are a restaurant that adds catering services and a vineyard that provides wine workshops.Adding value to the product - When the main product of the business has competitive and saturated environment, the competitors offers identical products. When the only way to compete is with the product's price, a good solution will be developing additional value to the product, something that will provide a clear competitive advantage over the competitors and will enable to charge appropriate premium for the value added product. For instance: A famous chewing gum company (Orbit) advertised that while chewing their chewing gum the PH level is more balanced. With this campaign their product had an extra value over the competitors.Enter to new fields - using business resources and assets in order to expand business activities with additional fields that are different than the current ones. It is possible to use existing resources like technology, human resources, equipment and etc' in order to establish a new activity or purchase activity/company that is already working in this required field.Business Development ImplementationBusiness development as an integral part of the business activity.Allocate time and resources for business development.Define objectives and goals - schedule, budget and annual growth in revenue/profit.Sourcing.SWOT analysis of the business - Identify strengths and weaknesses of the business (customers, suppliers, competitors etc') and identify the threats and opportunities that the business has or might have in the future. Most of the business development ideas are not coming as an epiphany, but as a product of hard work of capabilities analysis and market analysis and then finding relevant niches.'Out of box" thinking - There is a major importance for creativity and different thinking in order to identify the opportunities before the competitors.Networking - Meetings with entrepreneurs, customers, suppliers, attending in relevant exhibitions and conventions etc', in order to acquire ideas, cooperation and acquisitions. More info about networking is available at http://www.business-starter.com/Networking.htm .Chosen ideas' examination - Business plan preparation Critical stage in order to implement the chosen idea.Complete definition of the idea, how does it work (in some cases a model or prototype is required) and who will use it.Targeted market analysis - similar solutions, competitors and potential market.Risks analysis - Competition, entering bar for competitors, existing alternative products etc'.Budget - Required initial investment, development, production, marketing and sales costs (including penetration stage).Highly important that additional people will review the business plan and will provide their objective feedback. There is a natural tendency for an entrepreneur to disregard some of the weaknesses and risks. Additional review can provide these risks and weaknesses the right weight.Alternatives analysis and taking a decision.

A preparation of implementation plan should start after the decision was taken. The plan should include monitor and control through the implementation process.Business development of a company is the basis of inserting new income to the business, of exploiting opportunities on time, of growth and it is necessary condition for business survival in the long term.Assaf Katzir is the owner and CEO of Katzir Soze Investments Ltd
Additional useful information for management, start-ups and small businesses is available at http://www.business-starter.com.
Category : Business:Management

Dancing with the Stars: Episode 4 - Season 3

2008-10-04T23:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Cinthia Razakalalao
Episode 4 of season 3's Dancing with the Stars featured the beautiful, graceful slow waltz and the dramatic, intense paso doble.In general the contestants fared significantly better with the slow waltz than they did with the paso doble. Of all the stars performing the paso doble, sadly no one was able to embody the true character of the dance.Mario Lopez, with his mariachi-infused style of paso doble, lacked the definitive posture of the paso doble fundamental in portraying the essence of the matador. While he managed to hold his head down with a slight tilt to appear as though he was defiantly looking down upon the bull, he failed to shape his body to achieve the position of the matador who has to hold the cape to his side with his hips swung as far out from it as possible to avoid the bull's attack. Had Mario been a real matador, the bull would have rammed right into him and tore him to shreds.Furthermore, Mario's facial expressions lacked the fierce intensity that a matador would display in a real-life bullfight scene. Challenging a bull is no walk in the park. Blood and sweat are shed, clothing is torn apart, adrenaline is rushing. A paso doble dancer has to convince the audience he is right inside the bullring with the bull and must stop at nothing to show dominance and control over his mighty adversary with an arrogant stance, strong body shapes and movements, and a powerful use of his cape.The paso doble is the one Latin dance where the man really ges to shine and show off. Taking on the role of the cape, the lady takes the back seat and frames the matador. Vivica Fox, with her over-the-top diva attitude, overshadowed her partner by coming on too strong. While swift and passionate, the cape does have a feminine side to it as it swirls around the matador. A good dose of fabric softener was in order as Vivica looked stiffer than an air dried towel in the role of the cape.Meanwhile, Sara Evans did the very opposite by looking like a flimsy chiffon cape that floats gently in the air, but will not move swiftly with every movement of the matador's. She danced last night as if her heart was not into the dancing at all. Clearly the paso doble does not match her sweet, laid-back personality, yet as a ballroom dancer, you can't just dance the steps; you also need to be able to 'act' and become your character.The best performances of the evening last night belonged to the waltz dancers, which comes as no surprise considering the slow waltz is often the first dance beginner ballroom dancers learn because of its slow tempo and easily recognizable beat.In my opinion, Monique Coleman and Louis van Amstel's waltz was the best of the bunch and deserved higher scores. Once again, Monique proves to be versatile and consistent. She illuminates and moves the audience in the standard/smooth dances just as well as she thrills and amazes them in the Latin dances.While beautiful and well-performed, Willa Ford and Maksim's rendition of the waltz did not strike me as extraordinary as the judges made it out to be. Willa Ford's posture in dance hold was not always consistent and faltered in promenade position. From the slight rigidity of her movements, I also got the feeling that her partner Maksim was carrying her through the entire routine to ensure she would move farther and faster.In the standard/smooth dances, the man holds the responsibility of determining the pace and the length of the steps. Hence, a female celebrity partner dancing with a professional male partner will usually have a greater advantage over the male celebrity partner dancing with the professional female partner whose job is to follow the leader and not lead him. Though without a doubt a much better dancer than Willa Ford, Joey Lawrence could not compete with professional dancer Maksim in the waltz.Who should go? I'll say it every week and I'll keep saying it every week until he finally goes: Jerry Springer. He's done the waltz already; he can go home now.Who will end up going? A toss between Jerry Springer and Sara Evans (although you can never be too sure with the voters at home).
Category : Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV

Turning Off An Allergic Reaction

2008-08-22T23:00:00.000-07:00

Author : Jane Thurnell-Read
Wouldn't it be good to have a safe, non-drug technique that you could use to minimise allergic reactions? Well, there is one. It was devised by Dr Jimmy Scott, the originator of health kinesiology, a complementary therapy.It's a simple way to turn off an allergic reaction by tapping acupuncture points. The sooner you start doing this after experiencing symptoms, the more effectively it works. One of the good things about this procedure is that it doesn't matter if you don't know what the offending substance is.As soon as you start to feel an allergic reaction, even if you don't know what it is causing the problem, tap each of these points for about 20 to 30 seconds:1. Tap beside the nose at the inner corner of each eye2. Tap on the eye socket bone just below the centre of the eye3. Tap either side of the breast bone just below the collar bones4. Tap the sides of the torso, straight down from the armpit and level with the nipple5. Tap near the lateral corner of the little toe nail at the base of the nail (on the outside of the feet)6. Tap the centre of the balls of the feet7. Tap near the lateral corner of the second toe nail (the second toe nail is the one next to the big toe, tap on the side furthest away from the big toe)8. Tap near the medial corner of the big toe nail (that's the side nearest the other foot)You can tap in any order, and you can tap as many points as you wish at the same time. Other people can help you tap too. The sooner you start the tapping the fewer symptoms you will get. Have a few practices before you really need it.If you're in a public place it may be difficult to tap your feet, so just concentrate on tapping the first four lots on the upper part of the body. I once did this when my sons were young and I attended a play by a theatre company. The theatre company used some coloured smoke, and even though I was sitting well back I started to have an allergic reaction to it - coughing. I knew my sons would die of embarrassment if I got up and had to push past everyone in the row - as luck would have it I was sitting in the middle of a row. So I decided to tap surreptitiously - my children would have died of embarrassment even more if people had noticed their mother tapping her face furiously! Within a few seconds my symptoms started to abate. I was surprised at how effective it was in this far from ideal situation when I couldn't do my normal vigorous and determined tapping.This will not fix your allergies, but it will relieve the symptoms caused by the current exposure. To deal with the underlying process I suggest you contact a health kinesiologist. I'll be explaining more about what's involved in that form of treatment in the next newsletter, but if you want to contact one now, phone 08707 655980 or go to www.hk4health.co.ukJane Thurnell-Read is a writer and researcher on health, stress, alternative medicine and happiness. Visit her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.com for tips and information on how to live a happier, healthier life no matter how busy you are.
Category : College

Resume Action Verbs - Use Them to Add Pizzazz and Power to Your Resume

2008-08-19T23:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Carla Vaughan
Writing a resume does not have to be difficult, especially when you include some of these resume action verbs. They get the prospective employer's attention. They add dimension to your qualifications. They strengthen and enhance your accomplishments. Use them to add pizzazz to your resume.Resume action verbs make your resume more professional. Here are more than 350 resume action verbs to show prospective employers just how capable and qualified you are.Resume Action Verbs List:Accelerated, Accomplished, Achieved, Acquired, Acted, Activated, Adapted, Addressed, Adjusted, Administered, Advanced, Advertised, Advised, Advocated, Aided, Allocated, Analyzed, Answered, Anticipated, Applied, Appraised, Approved, Arbitrated, Arranged, Ascertained, Aspired, Assembled, Assessed, Assigned, Assisted, Attained, Audited, Authored, Automated, Awarded, Balanced, Boosted, Briefed, Budgeted, Built, Calculated, Catalogued, Centralized, Changed, Chaired, Charted, Checked, Clarified, Classified, Coached, Collaborated, Collected, Combined, Commanded, Communicated, Compared, Compiled, Completed, Composed, Computed, Conceptualized, Condensed, Conducted, Conferred, Conserved, Consolidated, Constructed, Consulted, Contacted, Contained, Contracted, Contributed, Controlled, Converted, Coordinated, Correlated, Corresponded, Counseled, Created, Critiqued, Cultivated, Customized, Decided, Decreased, Defined, Delegated, Delivered, Demonstrated, Designated, Designed, Detected, Determined, Developed, Devised, Diagnosed, Directed, Discovered, Dispatched, Dispensed, Displayed, Dissected, Distinguished, Distributed, Documented, Doubled, Drafted, Earned, Edited, Educated, Eliminated, Emphasized, Employed, Enabled, Enacted, Encouraged, Enforced, Engineered, Enhanced, Enlarged, Enlisted, Ensured, Entertained, Established, Estimated, Evaluated, Examined, Executed, Expanded, Expedited, Experimented, Explained, Explored, Expressed, Extended, Extracted, Fabricated, Facilitated, Familiarized, Fashioned, Finalized, Fixed, Focused, Forecasted, Formed, Formulated, Fostered, Found, Founded, Fulfilled, Furnished, Gained, Gathered, Generated, Guided, Handled, Headed, Helped, Hired, Hypothesized, Identified, Illustrated, Imagined, Implemented, Improved, Improvised, Incorporated, Increased, Indexed, Indoctrinated, Influenced, Informed, Initiated, Innovated, Inspected, Inspired, Installed, Instituted, Instructed, Insured, Integrated, Interpreted, Interviewed, Introduced, Invented, Investigated, Inventoried, Issued, Joined, Judged, Justified, Launched, Learned, Lectured, Led, Located, Logged, Maintained, Managed, Marketed, Maximized, Measured, Mediated, Merged, Minimized, Mobilized, Moderated, Modified, Monitored, Motivated, Navigated, Negotiated, Netted, Observed, Obtained, Opened, Operated, Ordered, Orchestrated, Organized, Originated, Outlined, Overhauled, Oversaw, Participated, Performed, Persuaded, Photographed, Pinpointed, Piloted, Pioneered, Placed, Planned, Predicted, Prepared, Presented, Presided, Prevented, Printed, Prioritized, Processed, Produced, Programmed, Projected, Promoted, Proofread, Proposed, Protected, Proved, Provided, Publicized, Published, Purchased, Qualified, Queried, Raised, Ran, Rated, Reached, Realized, Reasoned, Received, Recommended, Reconciled, Recorded, Recruited, Reduced, Regulated, Rehabilitated, Related, Remodeled, Rendered, Repaired, Replaced, Reported, Represented, Researched, Resolved, Responded, Restored, Restructured, Retrieved, Reversed, Reviewed, Revised, Revitalized, Routed, Saved, Scheduled, Screened, Searched, Secured, Selected, Separated, Served, Shaped, Shared, Simplified, Simulated, Sketched, Sold, Solved, Sorted, Spearheaded, Specialized, Sponsored, Staffed, Standardized, Started, Stimulated, Stored, Streamlined, Strengthened, Structured, Studied, Summarized, Supervised, Supplied, Supplemented, Supported, Surpassed, Surveyed, Tabulated,, Targeted, Taught, Terminated, Tested, Tightened, Totaled, Tracked, Traded, Trained, Transcribed, Transferred, Transformed, Translated, Transmitted, Traveled, Treated, Trimmed, Tutored, Typed, Uncovered, Undertook, Unified, United, Updated, Upgraded, Used, Utilized, Validated, Verified, Vitalized, Volunteered, Weighed, Widened, Won, Worked, WroteWhen you write your resume, use these resume action words to add depth and meaning to your qualifications and accomplishments. Employers want to see action and these action words will give your resume the boost it needs to get the attention it deserves.For more information about Resume Action Verbs, follow this link to: How to Use Resume KeywordsCarla VaughanCarla is the owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.If you want to learn more about the importance of Resume Action Verbs, click here: Resume Keywords
Category : Business:Resumes-Cover-Letters

Affiliate Programs: Why They Work and Why They Don't!

2008-08-10T15:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Richard Moore
Here it is in Black and White:Don't make the same mistakes many new
marketers do. Don't give up!I've heard tons of discouraging stories about
affiliate programs. And, quite honestly, I was
one of them some years ago.It is a common story. You get into the Internet,
surf a bit, find this website about how you can
make money and say: "Baboooom, I can do it too".
So you start TRYING to sell marketing products,
ebooks and money tree schemes. You try getting a
referral that will get a referral that will get
100 referrals promoting a supposed "marketing tactic".The fact is that 95% of these people don't ever
make a single red cent.Why?Fact #1 - Because most of these "gold mines" do not
work and many of the products are junk.Fact #2 - Because the market is SO saturated, there
is SO much competition it is virtually a pain to peer
in. Plus, newbies don't have a chance to compete with
the guys that REALLY know Internet marketing. It makes
sense, right?Fact #3 - With no straight forward "down on the
table money" you are not going to get quick quality
traffic, no matter what they say.This is the MAIN reason why most Internet Marketing
newbies get discouraged, and just refuse to continue
fighting their way through.It is SO important to make the right start and to keep
in mind that you CAN succeed!Look. I will never get tired of repeating this over
and over. Do not just try promoting marketing
products. Find your niche, and explore other markets.
There is so much money to be made with it! I personaly
try a new niche evrey month or two. Once I have one set
up and running I look for another. If one is not
working as well as I want it to, I drop it and move on.
The ones that seem to really interest people I will
stick with and make work.
(It takes real commitment and perserverince)Pets, umbrellas, golf, kitchen, gardening, horror
movies, piano lessons, wine, cosmetics...the
possibilities are virtually endless. If you do it the
right way, you WILL make a consistent stream of
incoming money. This is the REAL Internet Marketing.Refrain from the advice of fake gurus that have never
ever made a buck applying their auto proclaimed "hot
secret techniques".I don't make all my income with my marketing
products and services. I'm making
decent money form it but, I also started out, and
still do niche marketing. In fact I am starting a
brand new website for Health and Beauty For Men and Women.
It will sell real, heath products just like your local
health store. No scams or quick fixes. You know what
I'm talking about. We've all seen those ads for pills
or a powder for example that claim to help you loose weight and look like a super model in ten days…Yeah, Right!You could have a Spanish recipe website , a guitar website, a women's product website, a general topic book website, a general discussion forum website...Like I said, I am always planning to explore new markets.
With these kinds of sites , I make money promoting other
people's stuff (affiliate marketing).That is, I sell their products and I get a commission.
I just need to build a website, provide good content
and get the traffic by applying different techniques
(I describe exactly what I do in the Marketing Master
Course) When you do this correctly, you have a real
Money Machine that can work on autopilot.There is no secrets here…The way I made it
in this business was by researching, studying,
contacting people, asking questions... testing, testing and testing somemore.You can look at it this way…I see this as if I were playing an exciting game. Not something to drive me crazy or worry about or walk away from.Do you want it to be an exciting winning game for you
too?It is really all up to you. You just need to try and avoid mistakes (we all make one every now and again, but learn from it!) and, take it one step at a time and don't get discouraged.You can do it! I know because I did.Richard D. Moore is the President and Founder of IncomeNow! Marketing Masters. We were established to provide information, tips and reviews relevant to all things pertaining to online business. We are quickly growing and becoming one of the most popular internet and home business resource sites available. We give you new and innovative, up to date real and honest information and techniques to start and/or grow your online business. Everything from advertising to marketing to search engine optimization. Free ongoing one on one support for all subscribers to IncomeNow! Can We Help You? You Bet We Can!
http://www.incomenow.9k.com
Category : Business:Affiliate-Revenue

How To Write An Ebook, One Article At A Time

2008-08-08T07:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Shelley Lowery

It's amazing how long it took me to start my first ebook I didn't think of myself as an author. I knew that information was creating a fortune for others, but who was I to think I could write a book? I knew all the reasons to do it. The task just seemed so daunting. I started out writing and submitting articles. It didn't seem as hard, although sometimes the words came slow. The old story of use it or lose it is so true. Once I started getting some positive feedback, I could feel a shift in my thinking. The more I wrote the easier it got. As my articles began to circulate the feedback began to increase. Maybe I am a writer! Web sites and newsletters starting picking up my articles and some ezines were publishing everything I submitted. I started writing more articles, and they started becoming easier to write. It was an ever increasing cycle. The ideas started coming faster. It got to the point I always had more ideas in my mind than I had time to write. Before I knew it I had over 60 articles and my output was getting faster. I began to realize that with a little editing to make the articles flow together, I could begin writing books. I now had my own built in database. Now the ideas for articles are becoming ideas for books. I have tons of articles to expand into chapters and I can link them together into a quality book. So the next time you sit down to write an article, realize you're really writing a mini book. Once you start getting in the habit of writing articles, realize you are writing a book, one article at a time. If this dummy can do it, I know you can!! About the Author John publishes the "Street Smart Marketing". Subscribe now and receive a bonus copy of John's new ebook, "Street Smart Secrets Of Success." mailto:streetsmart@makenetmoney.com

Category : SE Positioning

Carb Loading: Nutrition for Mountain Biking

2008-08-01T02:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Mike Herman
One of the most common practices to improve athletic performance is through nutrition for mountain biking.Athletes who participate in endurance riding know about getting nutrition for mountain biking by storing extra energy in the muscle tissue for endurance riding.The right nutrition for mountain biking is essential for endurance riding and is commonly referred to as "carb loading."Glucose is the fuel the body extracts from the breaking down of carbohydrates.The glucose, called glycogen, is stored in the liver and muscle tissue.The more glucose (bloodstream) and glycogen (muscle tissue) the body can access when in endurance situations the longer the muscles will continue performing at an optimal level and avoid fatigue.The newest scientific findings suggest that athletes should eat a diet of 70 percent carbohydrates three days prior to an event, and physical workouts should get shorter prior to an event.The increased carbohydrates should come from reducing protein and fat and not by simply increasing caloric content otherwise weight gain can result.A diet of higher intake of carbohydrates should be only temporary as an extended high carbohydrate diet decreases other essential nutrients.Go For It Outside: Nutrition for Mountain Biking Leads to Great Fitness, Exercise and HealthFeed your great outdoor spirit with mountain biking for fitness and exercise.Mountain bike riding is low impact, gets you off the treadmill, and into the great outdoors.Now you know about nutrition for mountain biking, but is the price of equipment standing in your way?Good used equipment can save you serious bucks and get you on the fast track to fitness outdoors.If you don't want to ride alone all the time, check out the social scene as well.Go online, and you'll find mountain bike cycling groups and great resources for places to ride.Just don't forget the safety equipment! See the world and all its glory right from your handle bars!For More About Nutrition Your Health Visit Us for Sports and Excercise Nutrition.
Category : Recreation-and-Sports:Cycling

MLM Recruiting Success- 10 Commandments of MLM Recruiting in Network Marketing

2008-07-29T14:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Doug Firebaugh

The Ten Commandments of MLM Recruiting by Doug Firebaugh

1) Thou Shalt Recruit through Your prospects eyes.

So many times when we are trying to recruit, online or offline,
we do not take the time to see what our prospect is seeing. Your
prospect is looking through THEIR eyes, not yours, and has no
clue to how you see things...the only thing that matters to them
is how THEY see things...and the recruiters who take the time to
learn what their prospect is looking for, what is important to
them, and what isn't, will have huge success. Your prospect has
a dream for their life, and you must look through that "dream
lens" of theirs, and see what they are looking to happen with
their life, and show them how you can help them get it.

2) Thou Shalt Focus on Relationships, not just Distributorships.

Power Recruiters in this business understand that the Gold in
this business is a long term relationship, not a short term
distributorship. That is why most people cannot recruit...they
are focused on a paycheck, not people...(CLUE!!!!!)Power
Recruiters also know that people are more ATTRACTED to someone
who cares about THEM FIRST- then the business. You must be a
friend first, before you will ever get to second base...and what
makes more sense?

Recruiting for a Long term retirement producing business, or a
short term paycheck? If you focus on your prospect and learn
about THEM as a person, not just as part of the process, you
will find your results will skyrocket. Relationships are
magnetic...Magnetize your Distributorship with Relationship
Recruitng!

3)Thou Shalt Garner Leads Everyday.

Leads are the lifeblood to any distributorship. And most folks
play the " Baking game" in recruiting. Instead of going out and
getting new leads daily, they go out and hold onto their
existing leads, and wait for them , like a cake in an oven, to
bake and turn into HOT leads and ones that will come into their
business. Are you a chef? or a leader? You MUST have a
methodical plan and system to create and find leads daily, and
to quit the "baking game"..which in reality is the "faking
game"..you are faking at doing this business by holding onto
leads that you hope will turn into prospects, even after a
negative response, but never do. The Magic is in the
Multiples....and the Lotto is in the List. Continue daily to get
at least ONE MLM lead a day to create enough numbers to talk to
that will create enough of a paycheck to talk about.

4) Thou Shalt Draw Them In.

When you recruit, you must draw your people into your
"world"..We have a saying at PassionFire..."Meet them in their
world, and then lead them to yours..."..What that means in order
to attract and draw your prospect into your presentation or
conversation, you must start in theirs ...Find out what is
important to them, and the what they want out of life...then
wrap your presentation around that. Ask lots of questions, and
paint a picture with your words with them obtaining their
dream....look them in the eyes, smile, touch their arm, nod your
head, talk their language...don't get too technical...and meet
them first where they are in life...and then take them to where
you can lead them....that's Power Network Marketing Recruiting.

5)Thou Shalt Educate, not Regurgitate.

You must understand that Recruiting is an education process ,
not just informing and regurgitating facts. People want to
learn...that is their nature when they are looking at doing
something...but many folks "Dump" all they know on them, and
suffocate them with Information, not education. Recruiting
through an Education Focus is a process, step by step, not a
Firehose program. And educating the prospect also is giving them
the information they want to learn about, not just what you want
to talk about.(CLUE!!!)Education is a whole less intimidating
way to recruit too...all you say is..."I don't know if this is
for you or not ...worse thing that could happen is you could
learn something.."

6) Thou Shalt Communicate Hope, Possibilities, and Belief.

When you recruit, you should have a presence about you that
screams Hope! Possibilities! Belief! And that is what you create
in your words...."How would it feel to have total
freedom?"...Imagine you obtaining that house you want for your
family.."..." Wouldn't it be incredible if...".."Can you feel
the joy with..'... All people are looking for more Hope in their
life, the hope that life will turn out better than it is. All
people are looking for more possibilities to increase and
improve their life. And all people are looking for more belief
that they are on the right track, and belief they can have a
more richer and fulfilled life. You must create an environment
of Hope, Possibilities, and Belief when recruiting. That
"oxygen" will prove to be Explosive..

7) Thou Shalt Know the Fortune is in the Follow Up.

It does no good to make a presentation and do all the initial
recruiting steps...if you don't Follow Up. Get this: Follow Up
is where you get paid! The earlier steps are just leading up to
it. If you want to create a fortune, create a system to follow
up, and stick to it, and make it duplicatable as well. If you
discovered a Gold Mine, you would want to finish digging and
finding the gold vein. It's the same in the follow up. There is
no paycheck with out a call back! (CLUE!!!!) The fortune is in
the Follow Up...No Follow Up, no Check going Up!

8) Thou Shalt Not Close...But Navigate.

We teach "Navigators" to get the decision for the
application...why? The last word in close..is Lose....and if a
person doesn't close someone, they see that as a losing
situation....how about navigating them to a decision that is
right for them, and without pressure, help them make a decision
that is right for their life...Can you be persuasive?
Absolutely! but be mindful that if this business is truly NOT
for them, they may know someone who it is for......What are
Navigators? They are simply phrases that help guide the prospect
to the finish line. They are Powerful, and deadly....

9) Thou Shalt Shake the Dust Off Your Feet.

The Greatest Teacher that ever lived told His Disciples "If a
town doesn't find your message in accord...shake the dust off
your feet...as a testament against that town...". Incredible
advice! Understand these 3 things: ...Not everybody is for this
business. ...There is no one blinder who can see, but won't.
...They aren't rejecting you, but themselves from success. If
you carry with you all the negatives that you can get in this
business, they become "Anchors' on your business. Release them
and shake it off, and move forward. Look for people who are
looking for you...

10) Thou Shalt Know the R.I.A.F.O.L. Rule.

What is that? It stands for Recruiting Is A Form Of Leadership.
Period. Why is that True? ...You are asking someone to follow
your lead into a business. ..You are asking someone to follow
your lead into a business. ...You are asking someone to follow
your lead about a product... ...You are asking someone to follow
you into an unknown future.

And when you recruit, people are looking to FOLLOW you, not just
sign up with you..(CLUE!!!!). They will be looking for Strength
and Solidity in you and your direction and Leaderhip. The most
Powerful recruiters in the world have a Leadership Presence and
focus about them If you are not strong enough to follow, you
will not be magnetic enough to join in Network Marketing.

Leadership is the secret to magnetic recruiting..You are asking
someone to follow your lead...but first, you have to be worthy
of following.

These are the Ten Commandments MLM Recruiting...use them and let
them Empower your Business... Doug Firebaugh PassionFire Intl
http://www.passionfire.com

MLM Leadership copyright 2005/all rights reserved. Copying
allowed with copyright notice

Subscribe to the Network Marketing MLM Training Letter- PF HEAT

http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_3.html

Category : Software

Live In Care: An Economical Home Care Alternative

2008-07-29T08:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Ife Odu
Home care assistance can be expensive especially when care is needed in 12, 16 or 24 hour shifts. Live-in care is provided to clients who need around the clock assistance and supervision with their personal care needs such as bathing, dressing, oral and skin hygiene, mobility assistance, medication reminder and with housekeeping services such as meal preparation, cleaning of the clients' homes, feeding the clients and medical escorts to doctor's appointments.The live-in rates are priced on a daily basis and the service is best suited for the elderly client who lives alone and wants to live in the comfort of his/her own home. This needed service helps to assure the relatives of the elderly client, that their loved one is being provided and cared for at home. Live-in care can also be provided on a temporary basis, for instance if an otherwise active client needs help at home while recuperating after having surgery.The caregiver although a "live-in caregiver" still maintains her own residence, where she goes whenever she wants a break or a vacation. Although a great economical alternative, not every client is a live-in candidate. For instance, the client that has dementia or some other ailment that keeps him up at night, will not benefit from this type of service, because the caregiver needs to be alert at all times to care for the needs of the client. In a case like this, the hourly companion service should be offered, so as to maintain the quality of care being provided and also to maintain the good health of the caregiver.Co-owner of a Home care agency in Houston Texas. Has worked in the home care industry for over 8 years.For more information about various home care options available to Senior citizens, visit http://www.alphacare.us or email alphacare@aol.com
Category : Home-and-Family:Elder-Care

Worlds First Sports Stadium Publicly Declared Haunted!

2008-07-27T19:00:00.001-07:00

Author :

On Saturday, September 18th, 2004, Rochester Paranormal had been invited to conduct a private tour and investigation of Frontier Field in Rochester, New York, for the purpose of discovering whether or not, there might exist conclusive evidence as to the potential presence of any apparitional phenomenon.Rochester Paranormal has achieved one of the highest success rates of any private research team within the United States, regarding their consistency for acquiring apparitional and anomalous evidence based on the combining theory and talents of Psychic Paranormal Researcher Director J. Burkhart & Psychic Medium Ms. Lee.Yes, Frontier Field in Rochester NY is certainly haunted and backed by photographic evidence which show conclusively evidence of numerous forms of spectral activity taking place within the stadium, making this quite possibly the worlds first certified haunted sports arena.Mano a ManoAt one point during the investigation, paranormal researcher Director J. Burkhart had found himself between the arrival of a group of negative entities and that of the small human group which had accompanied himself and Ms. Lee during their investigation.Director Burkhart, being a psychic medium, had positioned himself between the two groups in both communicating and photographing the arriving entities in also assuring the safety of his companions, of which is also publicly on display through the Fear At Frontier web site.Dealing with "hostiles" has always been an acceptable part of our research said J. Burkhart.Rochester Paranormal<a href="http://www.rochester-paranormal.com" target="_blank">http://www.rochester-paranormal.com</a>Photographic Evidence Of Haunting<a href="http://www.fearatfrontier.com/attractions/rpindexpage.html" target="_blank">http://www.fearatfrontier.com/attractions/rpindexpage.html</a>

Category : General Environment

Kansas Real Estate - The Middle of the Country

2008-07-27T15:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Raynor James
Located in the exact middle of the country, Kansas is an agricultural state where you can escape the rat race. Kansas real estate is inexpensive and plentiful.KansasKansas is about as Midwestern as it gets when you think of stereotypes. Agriculture dominates the state with wheat fields flowing throughout the state. While you will not find oceans or rivers, the state provides plenty of opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing and a variety of outdoor activities. Football and basketball are popular throughout the state. If you're living in a high stress – high cost state, Kansas represents an opportunity to step back from the chaos. You'll find a much more relaxed pace of life and affordable cost of living in the state.Kansas CityOften mistaken as a boring place, Kansas City is actually a booming city. Development and expansion seems non-stop and has resulted in a bit of city sprawl. Still, the city is surprisingly cosmopolitan. Renovations to the downtown area, particularly the River Walk on the Missouri River, make the city a vibrant hub of activities and nightlife. Stroll over to the Westport area and you'll be in the hub of luxury shops and high-class restaurants. Kansas City is a barbeque town and the city knows how to produce the finest barbeque food in the world. Make sure you try it. For racing enthusiast, Kansas City has recently built a major speedway.Much of Kansas City is actually in Missouri, but we are including it here because of the name. Confusing, eh?LawrenceSitting on the Kansas River, Lawrence is a great little college town. Home to the University of Kansas, the town is a liberal little town in a state known for being conservative. You'll find brick buildings and odd little shops in the town. Basketball rules in this town with the fans living and dying with each game played by the college team, the Kansas Jayhawks.WichitaWichita is the biggest city in Kansas since Kansas City is often considered to be a city in Missouri. Formerly a fairly downtrodden place, Wichita has seen a revival with development in the downtown area and along the Arkansas River, which divides the city. There isn't anything particularly attractive or unattractive about the city. It is just a solid place to raise a family and very inexpensive.Kansas Real EstateKansas real estate is very inexpensive and in abundant supply. A single-family home in Wichita will set you back in the $150,000 range, while you'll need an additional $80,000 in Lawrence. The same home in Kansas City will run roughly $190,000.As was typical throughout the Midwest, Kansas real estate did not appreciate at any great rate in 2005. Ranked in the bottom ten among all states, Kansas real estate appreciated at a humble rate of 5.5 percent.Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner. Visit our home buying page to view and buy Kansas real estate.
Category : Finance:Real-Estate

Cricket is a popular and enthralling game

2008-07-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Ella Wilson

Since the very early days; man evolved many things to express his latent talent. Sports are the invention of this latent talent. There are innumerable sports which are played all over the world. All have their own significance and value for its players. Some sports are very popular and eagerly followed and loved while some are not equally popular. Cricket is one of the most popularly viewed games in the world. It has gained great popularity in recent time. There is craziness and enthusiasm among cricket fan is the reason that has contributed a lot in making the game quite popular.What is cricket? Cricket is a game played in open big green field. There are two teams and each has eleven players including one captain, one wicket keeper and remaining being batsmen and bowlers. Cricket is not a game of running or achieving target between pitches. If it had been so, it wouldnt have engulfed entire world in its grip. The whole world seems to be crazy behind the game of cricket. Two versions of cricket are played in the present times. These are test match and one-day matches. Earlier, only test matches were played but with the introduction of the short version, more and more people have become attracted to the game.There were only few countries like England and Australia, which would play cricket in beginning. But the popularity of cricket attracted even those countries that were not playing test match. Afterwards, West Indies, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and more recently Bangladesh, Kenya, UAE and Canada have also entered the world of cricket. A total of nine world cups, including ongoing one in West Indies has been played till date. Australia has been most successful team in the world who has won this prestigious title three times. West Indies have won it twice while Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka have won it once. Cricket has given many famous personalities to the sports world. Fans all over are crazy to catch a glimpse of their favorite cricketers. A number of records has been made and broken in the game of cricket. This has contributed towards bringing cricketers into the limelight. Cricketers all over the world are revered and respected by flowers of the game. Cricket is game of passion and enthusiasm for cricket fan. Popularity of cricket is growing day by day. In, cricket nothing is certain and constant. Any player or team has capacity to turn match in its favor. A player or an entire team has to work hard to prove their best abilities on the field. There are very renowned personalities in cricket that are remembered by almost all. Allen Border, Clive Lloyd, Sunil Gavaskar, Imran Khan are some of the players who are remembered by all. Now, cricket is no more the medium of self-expression. It involves money, name and fame for cricketers as well as for member of cricket board. Cricket, now has become a medium of making money for some aspiring youngsters. Cricket has evolved some new stories in recent past. Crickets name is, now associated with controversies. Ella Wilson is a cricket fanatic. She simply loves the game and tries to catch live action no matter where she is.At Stickiewicket she works on Online cricket score,World Cup,Cricket , Fantasy Cricket and Cricket News among other things.You can see her works at www.stickiewicket.com

Category : General Sports: Outdoors

Building a Custom Subwoofer Enclosure - What to Know

2008-07-26T14:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Mark Berger
Custom subwoofer enclosures are for when you want to put some subwoofers into your car but don't want to run stock boxes. By a stock box, I mean one that either comes with your subwoofer or simply one where you can only fit one 12" sub.If you buy two 12" subs, or perhaps two 10" subs for instance, you'll likely either have to build your own box or get someone to build you one. It's important to remember every subwoofer has an "optimal" subwoofer box size in order to maximize clarity and sound performance. You can check the manufacturer's website of your subwoofer to see what this optimal size is.You can also skip building the whole optimal performance box in exchange for simply something that will fit into your trunk, but it won't sound as good as if you built one to the specs on the manufacturer's website.
e holes for where the subwoofers go and drill a terminal plate int
Another thing to keep in mind when building your box is to keep all edges perfectly straight. Try to use vice grips to hold the pieces in place before and after gluing, and be sure to place scrues evenly across the construction.Use a router to machine tho the back to run the subwoofers out the back.Even if you haven't done the greatest job on your subwoofer box, the MDF wood required to build isn't that expensive. You can always try another one, or use the one you just created. The first few boxes we created here at EuroEnclosures weren't that great either, but you can always tune your deck for less bass output if your box rattles a bit on higher DB output levels.However, should you want to build the "optimal" box for your subwoofers, be sure to check the manufacturer website of your subwoofers before building.Please visit our website for more on subwoofer enclosures and construction at http://www.euroenclosures.com
Category : Automotive:Mobile-Audio-Video

Online Car Insurance Try to Save Your Money

2008-07-25T19:00:00.001-07:00

Author : David Hunter

One of the best places to look for affordable car insurance is the Internet. There are many places online to get a quote, but it takes quite a bit of time to find the cheapest one. Most of insurance companies claim to provide you with the best insurance plans available. But no one can offer the same rates for all types of cars. Thats why you should make a little research when selecting an auto insurance company.Many of car owners think they have the most affordable auto insurance plan, however this is not always the case. They pay high insurance premiums, just because insurance market is ever changing and they cant find competitive quotes. New companies enter the market every year, and there are discounts from time to time. It is a good idea to get multiple quotes from different insurers and compare them. This is a time consuming process, but worthwhile. Youll be amazed how much you can save on your car insurance.Most of insurance companies offer special discounts if you buy coverage through their website. You can also crawl several websites that offer insurance quotes and find some decent ones. But keep in mind, a good insurer should guide you thoroughly and help you to get the right type of insurance that will fit your needs at the best possible price. The best thing is to find a good insurance broker. Most of insurance brokers offer their services online. They will search tons of recourses for the best quotes and you wont have to do it yourself.However, if you have decided to search for quotes on your own, and found the one you like, you can choose whether to accept the quote right then or to receive it by mail. In both cases youll save your money. But make sure you provide correct information on the insurance application form. Even insignificant mistakes can influence on the money saving rate.When choosing a car insurance provider follow these simple rules:1. Search for an insurance company that provides excellent customer service and has a simple application procedure that provides different money saving quotes.2. Make sure their website is secured, unless you want your personal information to become available to a third party (no one does).3. Gather as much information as possible about the insurance industry before buying insurance. And the Internet will help you greatly in this task.4. And finally, dont forget to make sure they provide quotes for the place you reside in.Finding cheap car insurance online is not an easy task, and you need to spend some time to get the best possible one.For more information about car insurance and other insurance products visit Wawanesa Insurance. David Hunter is an author from California. He likes playing golf and driving sports cars.

Category : General Insurance

OnlineShop

2008-07-25T18:19:00.001-07:00

Glass Computer Desk
Graco Nautilus
Haribo Gummi Bears
Internal Frame Backpack
Kiddopotamus Snuzzler
Kitchen Small Appliance
Kitchenaid Dishwasher Stainless
Leather Executive Chair
Lego Clone Wars
Linksys Wireless N G Router
Logitech Cordless Keyboard Mouse
Logitech Game Controller
Macintosh Laptop
Magnetix I Coaster Toy
Martin Acoustic Guitar
Mens Sandals
Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard
Multifunction Printer Scanner Fax
NEC Multisync LCD Monitor
Neutrogena Skin Care
New Garmin Nuvi
Nintendo Wii Classic Controller
Nylon String Classical Guitar
Pampers Cruisers Diapers
Playstation 3 Game Controller
RCA Am Fm Clock Radio
RCA Portable DVD Player Discount
Rmote Vibrator
Samsung Flat Panel TV
Schwinn Electric Scooter Shop
Schwinn Recumbent Bike
Seiko Chronograph Watch
Sharp Aquos LCD HD TV
Skateboard Shoes Shop
Slim Portable DVD Player
Soffe Shorts
Steven Raichlen
Swiss Army Pocket Knife
Targus Backpack
Teeter Inversion Table
Titleist Golf Balls
Toys For Babies
Travel Backpack
Unlimited MP3 Downloads
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker
Womens Dress Sandals

AStore

2008-07-25T08:03:00.002-07:00

Convection Toaster Oven

Dreamfields Pasta

Dual Suspension Mountain Bike

Engagement Diamonds

External Frame Backpacks

Fisher Price Baby Monitors

Free Arm Sewing Machine

Frigidaire Air Conditioner

Garmin Nuvi Pocket Vehicle GPS Navigator

GB External Hard Drive Seagate

Astore

2008-07-25T08:03:00.001-07:00

7 Inch Digital Frame

Athletic Running Shoes

Bissell Vacuum Cleaners

Bob Revolution Stroller

Bosch Drill

Bowflex Treadmill

Braun Electric Shaver

DVD TV Series

Horizon Organic Milk

Wilson Tennis Racquet

How To Choose Your TV Satellite Dish Service

2008-07-24T19:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Christopher M. Luck

What is the best way to figure out which TV satellite dish to go with? We are constantly bombarded with the advertisements from every TV satellite dish company imaginable, which can make figuring out which one you want difficult. It is true that a dish can improve your home many ways. It will help you get better television reception and increase the number of televisions to which you have access. You and I both know, though, that it can certainly be expensive. The best way to figure out which is the best deal is to compare satellite companies and systems. The best place to make your comparisons is online.You probably use the internet to price compare a lot anyway. You probably check out prices on books, CD?s, appliances, and even cars via the internet. So why wouldn?t you do the same thing when trying to figure out who can give you the best deal on a TV satellite dish and programming? Take the time to sit down and make the comparisons to make sure that you are getting the best product for the money you are spending.When it comes to making the actual comparisons, there are a number of things you can and should look for. Look first at programming options. Make sure that the companies you are considering have a package that fits what you are looking for in your programming. If they don?t have what you want or need, it doesn?t matter how little they may charge for their TV satellite dish service. Also, check out on line reviews to find out if the companies are reliable and if they have good customer service available to their customers. Find out what the monthly charges are as well is how much you are going to pay for installation and start up.Also, just to make sure you are making the right decision, you may also want to compare cable prices to TV satellite dish service prices. Check out the pros and cons of TV satellite dish service and cable to make sure that you pick the one that will work best for your entertainment needs as well as where you live. The two services often offer many of the same options, but which one is best often depends on where you live or what specifically you need.Choosing a TV satellite dish service or cable service can be a big decision. The only way to make sure that you are getting what you want at the best price possible is to research and price compare. By using the internet, you can sit down and quickly educate yourself on available TV satellite dish and cable companies as well as consumer reviews and information on those companies. In the end, you will be able to get the best satellite service for your money by just doing some quick and easy research. If you would like the latest information on the dish satellite, or find more of my personal articles like the one you just read, visit my technology blog.

Category : General Computers and The Internet

Music And Movies Download Sites - Are They A Scam?

2008-07-24T17:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Harry Rackers

Surfing the Internet, looking for music and movies to download, you will find a lot of so called Download Sites . These sites do not provide you with music, or movies to download, no, they provide you with file sharing soft ware you can use to search for, and download music, movies and games. Most of them also provide you with cd burning soft ware and they have a helpdesk for those members who run in to problems with their downloading.These sites are under attack.First of all there is the entertainment industry that wants to shut them down. They claim that these file sharing programs are used to download copy right protected materials.This is true of course, but lots of people download and trade files legally on file-sharing networks.You can, for example, legally download music from hundreds of bands and thousands live concerts, as well as multiple software titles and games. File sharing has enabled music fans from around the world to build the largest library of recorded music in history. File sharing is not illegal as long as you obey and comply with all relevant copyright laws. Sharing copyrighted material without permission could be illegal in your country.In America the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) are leading the fight against the sharing of copyrighted music. Others, like Hollywoods MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) are also starting to get involved and are taking legal action against the music and movie download sites.It will not be easy to shut down these download sites. Especially since the Internet has no borders, it will be an almost impossible task, to get all the countries in the world to agree on how to legislate Internet downloading.Another attack on music and movies download sites comes from, what I call, seasoned Internet users. They claim these download sites are a scam, because they charge for something you can get for free.Well, you could get it for free, that is true. These download sites provide you with soft ware to search for and download files from the Internet. They provide you with soft ware to burn these files on a cd should you wish to do so.All this software is available for free on the Internet, but for an Internet novice it could be a daunting task to look for this kind of soft ware, to decide which soft ware to use, how to use it.On top of that they have to make sure that they do not download spy ware, ad ware or what ever. Joining a download site and have all the info in one place is not a bad option for most of them. Another advantage is the fact that these download sites provide a help desk for their members.Is it a scam if you provide info that people could get for free elsewhere?Consider this.You are looking for a telephone number, so you look it up in the phone book.Say you do not have the right phone book, you can go out looking for it.You probably can find this free info in the library.You can also pick up the phone and ring an information service.They will provide you with this free info and they will charge you for it.So, is this information service a scam?I do not think so, and I also do not think that the music and movies download sites are a scam.Provided of course that they tell you what you can expect from them before you sign up with them, and that they deliver on this promiseIf you want to join a download site, chose one that gives a guaranty that you can have your money back if not satisfied.Once you have joined, test out everything, especially their helpdesk.If you have no questions, ask them a few things you know already, just to test their response.And last but not least, do not hesitate to charge back your money if you are not completely satisfied.Happy downloading! Harry Rackers is W.M of Download music, movies, and games .

Category : General Art & Entertainment: Web sites / Internet

Pay Per Click Advertising the Sandbox and SEO

2008-07-24T11:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Joe Regan
Most new websites jumpstart their traffic with a pay per click advertising campaign, especially new sites that fall victim to the Google "sandbox". Before I go over the role of Pay Per Click and SEO or "Search Engine Optimization", we should cover the Google sandbox which is one of the big reasons why Pay Per Click is going to always be a very important of Search Engine Optimization.What is the Sandbox? The sandbox it quite simply a theoretical box that holds sites for months keeping them out of the real world results for a certain period of time, which allows Google to assign a trust rating to the website to help keep spammy sites from shooting to the top of the search engines using shady tactics to make a quick buck. Most of the time, a new site will stay in the sandbox for 6 months to over a year. Because there are such a wide variety of opinions of the "Google sandbox" I will stick to my experiences as the SEO for a local small business. I have found that while it is possible to rank for easy non competitive terms, it is impossible to rank for more competitive searches while you are a victim to the dreaded "Sandbox". My best advice is to keep working your site so that when you do come out, you will hit the ground running.Now that we have briefly covered the "Sandbox", how does pay per click fit into the big picture of SEO? There are several ways. The first is the ability to fill in the cracks for terms that you do not rank for. The second being if you are in the sandbox, sheltered from the outside world, you can buy your way into what ever you would like. This allows you to see what terms provide high quality traffic, which will help you to see what direction you need to take your site optimization. Pay per click allows you to be on the first page for any term no matter if your site is 2 weeks old, or 2 years old. A lot of sites continue to take part in pay per click for the life of thier site because the return on investment is seen to be good enough to keep the account active. Be sure to do your own testing when choosing pay per click sites so that you find your happy medium.In order to have an effective pay per click advertising campaign, there are several you will need to take. Google Adwords is my personal favorite so I wrote this article assuming that is what we are using.Your first step will be to write an effective title and description for each of your sites major topics. This link must convince the prospective searcher to click on your ad to view your site over your competitors. You need to place careful thought into catching your users' attention while helping them to see the relevancy of your site to their search.For the second step, you will need to buy keywords for each of your ad groups. This basically picks which search terms you want your listings, or ad groups, to be displayed on. As you can see, it can be a very time consuming to maintain a pay per click as you may end up with 10 targeted adgroups with a hundred or so keywords each. Sites like Yahoo's Overture as even more time consuming because you must bid on the terms in a way that encourages bidding wars. This causes you to micromanage your account to get the most you can out of the program.I hope you can now see a bigger picture so that you know what to expect. The Internet is still a very new medium, and is getting more competitive everyday, but as with any other business there is still a lot of money to be made for the ones with the time and dedication to work hard.If you are interested in outsourcing part or all of your
website, contact us at rasesolutions.com. We can help you outsource everything
from web development or
Graphic Designs to
Search Engine
Optimization so you get the best price for the best work in the industry.
Category : Business:PPC-Advertising

9 Steps to Unique Articles

2008-07-23T16:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Hans Hasselfors

1 Remove your limits Reduce your subject to a single core word and then brainstorm around it. For example, if you're trying to write about "Study Skills", expand your thinking to "School". Now jot down everything that comes to mind when you think about School, and when you run out of ideas start asking yourself open questions around the subject and noting your answers. Examples: What did I enjoy about school? What scared me? What did I wish I'd known from Day 1? This will help you get back into the mindset of someone struggling with school issues of all kinds and you'll start to get a feel for their concerns and worries. 2 Restore your focus Once you've started to understand the general feelings of your readers, allow your mind to focus back on your original topic of Study Skills. From your new perspective, what questions would you ask? What would you want to know? Is this really a "Studying" issue or is it more about Time Management or being able to work without distractions or being paralyzed by the fear of not doing well? 3 Be your audience Write each question on a separate sheet of paper; don't stop until you have at least ten and preferably more. Stay in the mindset of your readers until you feel you've asked every major question that concerns them. 4 Take a step back Put your pile of question aside for a few hours, overnight if possible. Don't consciously think about them; just go about your day as usual. Give your subconscious time to process them without any further prompting from you. If new questions come to mind jot them down somewhere safe and then forget about them. 5 Get out your pen and write When you're ready, sit down with your pages of questions and simply start to answer them. Writing your answers by hand can give you access to ideas that might be missed if you type them. Don't edit yourself at this stage. Using Speech to Text software or a digital recorder can also be helpful in bypassing the internal editor. Imagine someone sitting in front of you asking for advice and just talk to them. Keep your tone natural and conversational and stay with the question-and-answer format. 6 Edit lightly Trust your first instincts. Proof-read and correct any obvious errors, but don't do any major editing until your piece has had time to "sit" for a while. Again, leaving it overnight will give you a fresh perspective the next time you look at it, but even if your deadline doesn't allow for that it's important to give yourself a break from it. When you're pushed for time, writing several articles at one sitting can create enough change of focus to make you "forget" the one you've just written. 7 Polish it up Short articles are unlikely to need major editing if you've written them as described here. They will flow easily and naturally already and having each Q & A on a separate sheet makes it easier to select only the ones you want. Your job now is to put them in a reasonably logical sequence and make sure they're understandable and that the reader is led smoothly from one question and answer to the next. 8 Top and tail it Write a brief introductory paragraph as a "teaser" for the main article. Many article directories now put the first paragraph of each piece into RSS feeds which are picked up by other websites, so you'll want to make sure that your two or three major keywords appear at least once in that first paragraph. Write another short paragraph to summarize the major points of the article and provide some ideas for the reader to explore the subject further. Don't of course forget your own resource box: use the format SubmitYourNewArticle.com for your link, so when your article is converted to html your link will automatically be live. 9 Submit it! This Article Was Published By Hans Hasselfors, from SubmitYourNewArticle.com. Get the net working for you. Join a community of like-minded authors and publishers and make your living online. Become a member of our article directory: http://www.SubmitYourNewArticle.com

Category : General Marketing

Mabeka: Gorilla Teacher

2008-07-23T04:40:00.001-07:00

Author :

s="view_date">December 31st, 1969Download asan class="view_auth_prompt">by by

How to Give Personalized Gifts to Women and Children

2008-07-21T00:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Monique Hawkins
Are you one of those people who becomes ecstatic when you receive any gift no matter what it is? All of us are like this! Why do we get so happy? It's because we know that the buyer has gone through great lengths to search for a suitable present they know will please us.Gift certificates, pre-paid gift cards, and even cash are given more often as gifts these days. This is because our busy lifestyles, work and family schedules, and driving the kids all over town leave little time for in-store gift shopping. As a result, many of us to turn the Internet, but still feel that online shopping lacks that personal touch.In reality, you don't have to that way. It might take a little more work, but shopping online enables you to not only find the perfect gift, but also get it personalized for your friend or loved one.Here are ideas for personalized gifts for both children and women.Personalized Gifts for ChildrenKids love gifts! They have a way of bringing smiles and laughter from any child. Children will tear open any package, even if it is not for them. Although children rarely appreciate the gifts they receive, their parents do. Furthermore, gifts bearing the child's own name make treasured keepsakes.Many online bookstores sell children's books that can be personalized. Gift book categories include books for babies, toddlers, and older children. Holiday books and special books can also be found. Simply choose a story that matches the interest of the child. On the order form, fill in the personalization information.Most books can be personalized with the following information: age, boy or girl, date of occasion, first name, nickname, last name, home town, state, name of older child (brother, sister, friend, or sometimes a pet), names of other friends, a dedication, and whom the book is from.Once the book order is received, the book printer replaces all the names and places in your chosen story with those of the child! The recipient becomes the star of the story. The action takes place in the child's town, with his or her friends as the co-stars. The book is then hardbound and shipped.To find a store online, search for "personalized children's books."Personalized Gifts for WomenWomen love gifts as much as kids. This is especially true when lots of thought and consideration have been put into a gift. Men who are tired of buying the same chocolate, wine and flowers gifts should consider a personalized gift for their special woman. Imagine a completely personalized romance novel, with your sweetheart as the star! Much like the children's books described above, her personal information is inserted into a mainstream romance novel. However, the degree of personalization is much more detailed.In addition to the basic information such as name, town, kids, pets, etc., you can include your name as the main male character (if you are the giver), her favorite music, perfume, physical characteristics, her car, where she works, and much more. Several sites also offer the romance stories in "mild" or "wild" flavors, depending on your (and her) tastes. If you thought roses made her grateful, wait until you make her the star of her very own romance novel.To find a store online that offers this service, search for "personalized romance novels" or "personalized romance stories."Most of us are just happy to get some attention not only on a special occasion, but also at any time! You can bring a smile to a friend or loved one's face all through the year when you surprise them with a personalized gift they will never forget. This will bring special memories that will last forever.Copyright 2006 Monique HawkinsEstablished in May of 2005, http://www.My-Music-Box.com is a music box gift store specializing in music box products such as inlaid ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms décor, whimsical carousel music boxes, and musical jewelry boxes. The company provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages. Owner Monique Hawkins is also the author of the blog "What You Never Knew About Music" http://whatyouneverknewaboutmusic.blogspot.com, and owner of the eBay store "Monique's Music Box" at: http://stores.ebay.com/Moniques-Music-Box Monique can be contacted at (540) 858-2885.
Category : Shopping-and-Product-Reviews

Internationally Acclaimed Author and Lecturer, Marianne Williamson, Calls for Personal and Global Change on Internet Talk Radio Show January 19th

2008-07-20T17:40:00.001-07:00

Author :

Internationally acclaimed author and lecturer, Marianne Williamson, will discuss the current spiritual climate, how weve all been challenged by recent global events and share ways in which we can see the gift in the face of change on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 at Noon Pacific (3pm Eastern) on the VoiceAmerica Broadcast Network (<a href="http://www.voiceamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.voiceamerica.com/</a>) She will be the featured guest on Waking Up in America, hosted by Dr. Valerie Kirkgaard and Gail Elen.Marianne believes the secret of success is to realize that the crisis on our planet is much larger than just deciding what to do with your own life. The only work that will ultimately bring any good to any of us is the work of contributing to the healing of the world. Her new book, The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life, she declares that while we are not responsible for the bad things that happen to us, the universe is always primed to give us a new beginning, if only we can forgive, atone and trust that our loving attitudes and good works make a profound difference.An internationally acclaimed lecturer and the bestselling author of A Return to Love, The Healing of America, A Womans Worth, Enchanted Love, and Illuminata, among other works. Williamson has done extensive charitable organizing throughout the country in service to people with life-challenging illnesses; and is the founder of The Global Renaissance Alliance, a nonprofit grass-roots organization dedicated to introducing spiritual principles into our political discourse.We are very excited to be able to have Marianne Williamson on our show and share with our listeners her thoughts and experiences along her spiritual path as a teacher and as a student, said host Dr. Valerie Kirkgaard. What I am committed to is having powerful, important conversations and for people to rethink their priorities by sharing with them leading practices from some of the most notable individuals who are changing the world around them, one soul at a time, such as Marianne Williamson. You can hear Waking Up in America with Dr. Valerie Anne Kirkgaard on VoiceAmerica.com live every Wednesday at 12:00pm PST with re-broadcast 12 hours later. To access the show, listeners need to log on to <a href="http://www.voice.voiceamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.voice.voiceamerica.com/</a> Listeners with questions, comments or opinions are encouraged to call in live, toll-free at 1-888-335-5204. Archives of her past interviews are also available On Demand at <a href="http://www.voice.voiceamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.voice.voiceamerica.com/</a>Waking Up In America is Internet Talk Radio with a Social Conscious. Their editors are experts in their fields and work each day to make this world a little better for all of us. It is their belief that we do have the power to influence political and social agendas through our voice. By participating and supporting important conversations and the issues facing our society today, you get to say how life goes too. It is also important to have a place where both sides of the story can be heard. That is what we strive for at Waking Up In America.Each week Dr. Val and her editors will keep listeners up to date on national and international events, welcome intriguing, dynamic guests and challenge listeners to be the change they want to see in the world and to have powerful conversations. About Dr. Valerie Anne KirkgaardDr. Valerie Anne Kirkgaard, PhD, is a retired Marriage Family Counselor and the creator of the Kirkgaard Method of Directed Breath, a unique method of clearing emotional blocks. Each week on Waking Up In America Dr. Valerie brings you new and different techniques to handle the life's ups and downs with grace and ease. For more information on Valerie go to <a href="http://www.heavenincorporated.com/" target="_blank">http://www.heavenincorporated.com/</a> About SurfNet Media Group, Inc.SurfNet Media Group (<a href="http://www.surfnetmedia.com/" target="_blank">http://www.surfnetmedia.com/</a>) (SFNM:OTCBB) is an Internet digital entertainment media publisher producing and broadcasting live and on-demand talk radio content streamed globally 24/7. SurfNet produces and broadcasts over 100 talk programs weekly on its channels, VoiceAmerica (<a href="http://www.voice.voiceamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.voice.voiceamerica.com/</a>), To reach specific niche communities, we have launched two new branded channels to provide genre-based content -- VoiceAmerica Business (<a href="http://www.business.voiceamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.business.voiceamerica.com/</a>) and VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness (<a href="http://www.health.voiceamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.health.voiceamerica.com/</a>). In addition, by the completion of Q1 2005 we expect to launch two additional branded channels, VoiceAmerica Faith (<a href="http://www.faith.voiceamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.faith.voiceamerica.com/</a>) and VoiceAmerica Sports (<a href="http://www.sports.voiceamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.sports.voiceamerica.com/</a>).

Category : General Domain Names

THE GODDESS RETURNS - The SAGA OF AMBERLIN Continues.

2008-07-20T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Brad Swift

THE GODDESS RETURNS - The SAGA OF AMBERLIN Continues. In this
next year it is my intention to complete my next 'visionary
novel,' the story of Amberlin, the first 'fully enlightened
being' who comes to Earth in a female's body.

I invite your participation by reading the saga of Amberlin as
it's being written and offering constructive questions and
comments. Here's the beginning of Chapter 2 of The Goddess
Returns:

Chapter 2

"Top bunk or bottom bunk tonight?" Jonathan asked as he entered
Amberlin's room, even though he knew the answer.

"Bottom, please. The top is too high," Amberlin replied. As he
lowered her into bed, she asked, "Will you tell me a story, Papa
Jon? One of your real ones?"

He sat on the bed next to her and chuckled. How she loved his
stories, especially the "real" ones about his life growing up
that had at least a thread of truth in them. He paused for a
moment, trying to think of one he hadn't told her recently.

"How about the time I met a real spiritual sage?"

"Sure," Amberlin replied, then, "What's a spirit sage?"

"Spiritual sage," Jonathan corrected her. "That's someone who
has devoted their life to seeking a closer relationship with
God, and who often shares their spiritual journey with others."

"What was the spiritual sage's name?" Amberlin asked as she
snuggled down in her bed, preparing for the story.

"His name was Mo Zoloff, and I met him not too far from here, in
a retreat center outside of Black Mountain."

"I know where that is kinda'," Amberlin said.

"Yes, well, it's only about an hour or so drive from here, but
when I first went there I was staying even closer at my family's
summer cabin, just outside of Black Mountain. It was the summer
after I graduated from high school. I wasn't really a freelance
writer yet, but I sure thought I was, or at least I knew that's
what I wanted to be."

"How did you meet Mo?" Amberlin asked.

"Well, like I said, I heard him speak at this retreat center. I
remember it like it was yesterday, even though it was, well
let's see, close to 30 years ago."

"That's a long time, Papa Jon."

"Not really, sweetheart. It's really just a blinking of God's
eye," Jonathan replied. Closing his own eyes, he could picture
the rustic, assembly hall filled with people, awaiting the start
of Master Mo's talk.

I sat about two-thirds of the way from the front. I could have
sat closer but I felt out of my element. This was my first time
to be in the presence of an actual guru from India, least that
what I thought Master Mo was at the time. You can imagine my
surprise when a white man in his mid- to late-30s wearing a
white t-shirt and black, baggie pants strolled on stage. There
was a sturdy table sitting in the middle of the stage. He
stepped out of his sandals and climbed onto the table, where he
sat cross-legged facing the audience. The room was already about
three-fourths full, but Mo continued to sit there with his eyes
closed, meditating, I guess.

As the room filled, he continued to sit quietly, apparently lost
in his own reflection. The minutes dragged by. I began to fidget
in my chair, as did a number of other people, then we would all
grow quiet again in anticipation of Master Mo's talk.

Finally, the figure in the center of the stage opened his eyes,
and gazed around for a moment, a smile growing on his face,
before he finally broke the silence. "I'm thrilled to see so
many people gather here for a 2-hour silent meditation." There
was a moment of surprised silence as everyone glanced at each
other before realizing it was a joke, then the whole audience
burst out laughing as Master Mo joined them. As the laughter
finally died down, he spoke again. "And so we begin."

And so we did, and for the next hour I sat mesmerized by the
quiet man with the deeply moving and inspiring message. He
challenged the audience to look within themselves for their own
spark of divinity. He accused our Western culture of looking too
much to the East - to places like India and Tibet Â¬ for our
spiritual sages. He suggested that is was time for us in the
Western hemisphere to create our own spiritual leaders, and he
even went so far as to suggest that there could be a spiritual
sage sitting right there in our own seat.

I was so moved by his message that by the end of the talk, I
ignored my customary shyness and approached him on the stage,
along with a number of other people enthusiastic about what
they'd heard. When it came my turn, I handed Mo my business
card. I'd had them printed the week before with my name and
phone number on them, and under my name the bold declaration,
"Writer."

"I'd like to help you share your message with more people," I
stammered. Mo smiled knowingly, nodding his head. "Come see me
tomorrow - noon time. Don't be late."

I nodded in return. I wasn't sure how I was going to get myself
back the next day but I knew I would, and I did. In fact, I was
back at the retreat center before 11 o'clock, which was a good
thing, because I had failed to ask Mo where we would meet. It
took me close to an hour to find out where he was staying. He
had one of the dorm rooms just like everyone else, although he
wasn't sharing it with anyone, like most of the retreat
participants were.

I knocked lightly on the door, wondering what in the world I was
doing there, but then I heard Mo's calm, soothing voice telling
me to enter, so taking a deep breath and squaring my shoulders
like my father had taught me, I turned the handle and walked in.

Mo was sitting at one of the desks scribbling in a notebook.
Hearing me enter, he looked up from his work and smiled warmly.
"Ahh, my young writer friend who is going to make me famous by
sharing my message with the rest of the world. Come in my
friend. Make yourself comfortable," he said, pointing to a
nearby chair.

As I sat down, I gazed around and realized that the only light
in the room, other than that filtering in from the window, came
from a dozen or so candles distributed throughout the room.

"I was just capturing some thoughts from my meditation," Mo
explained, noticing my puzzled look. "We can turn on some lights
if you prefer."

"No, this is fine," I replied, trying to hide my nervousness. "I
appreciate your taking time to see me."

"Oh, it is my pleasure. I am intrigued to meet such a young
writer, especially one with such an aura of destiny and
premonition surrounding him." As he said this, Mo stood up from
the desk and walked over to the nearby bed where he sat
cross-legged.

"First, let's address the reason you thought you were coming to
see me, your interest in writing about me. When I return to my
ashram, I will have someone send you background information
about my work and me. Upon reviewing it, if you need additional
information including an interview, I'll be only too happy to
oblige. Will that work for you?"

"Yeah, sure," I replied. "That would be great." Then mustering
up my courage, I continued, "What did you mean, the reason I
thought I was coming here? For what reason am I really here?"

Mo only smiled at first, nodding his head. "Why, so I could
confirm for myself that what I was picking up from you was
indeed true, and if true, so I could share it with you."

"And what did you see?"

"Your manifest destiny," Mo replied.

"My what?"

"Your manifest destiny," Mo repeated. "You can think of it as
fate - a future event or events that are inevitable. Of course,
that might be a bit overstated. We do continue to exercise free
choice, so nothing is completely inevitable, although yours
might be as close to inevitable as I've ever seen."

I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention
as Mo spoke. I wasn't too sure I wanted to know my manifest
destiny, but then again, how could I refuse. After all, at 17
years of age I could use as much help with my future as the next
recently graduated high school student. "Pull your chair over
next to the bed. Don't worry. I won't bite. I just need to make
a stronger connection."

I did as Mo instructed. Funny, looking back on it now, I
probably should have been more concerned about what this strange
little man might do to me, but for some reason I wasn't at all.
I was mostly concerned that he might tell me that my "manifest
destiny" was to be a bum, or to fail at everything I tried.

I sat there in my chair, just a foot or two from where Mo sat on
the bed. He instructed me to close my eyes and to take several
deep breaths. Around the third or fourth breath, I felt a light
pressure on either side of my forehead and realized it was Mo's
hands lightly touching me. They stayed there, just barely
perceptible. I started to open my eyes, then thought better of
it.

After what felt like a minute or two, I heard a voice. It didn't
sound like Mo but it must have been since there wasn't anyone
else in the room. The voice was about an octave lower than Mo's
and with a strong, foreign accent that I hadn't heard before or
since.

"What did he say, Papa Jon?" Amberlin's sleepy voice brought
Jonathan back to the present, but he continued in silence for a
moment before answering.

"Well, sweetie, he told me I was destined to be a protector and
preparer - someone who would prepare the way. That's what he
said."

"A protector and preparer for what?"

"He didn't exactly say, but he did tell me I would know at the
right time," Jonathan replied, grasping Amberlin's hand that had
snuck out from the cover and squeezing it gently.

"And did you?"

Jonathan pondered the question for a moment before replying. "I
guess I can best answer that question this way. I believe God
sometimes gives us a second chance to fulfill our destiny, and I
certainly feel like he's given me a second chance to fulfill
mine."

He paused again, unsure whether to continue, then added. "I feel
like you're my second chance. I'm here to protect you and to
prepare you so you can fulfill your own destiny."

He wasn't sure whether Amberlin had heard this last comment. Her
eyes were now closed and her breathing had become slow and
shallow, but as he turned to cut off the light next to her bed,
he heard her whisper, "Papa Jon's my protector and provider,"
and she sighed as she turned on her side and snuggled deeper
under the covers.

Jonathan leaned over and kissed her temple. "That's right,
sweetheart. As long as there's breath left in this body, I'll
always be here for you. I won't make the same mistake twice." He
straightened the covers, then turned and tiptoed from the room,
but as he returned to his bedroom, he remembered leaving Mo's
room over 30 years ago.

His hand had been on the door when the question suddenly
occurred to him. "Master Mo, could I ask you one last question?"

"What is it, son?"

"Well, it seems to me that, often times, spiritual matters come
in three's, you know, like the Holy Trinity. I was just
wondering if there's a third word to go along with protect and
prepare?"

Mo considered the question then smiled. "Yes, you could say
there is. It's purpose. The one you will protect and prepare
will bring purpose to the world. Go in peace, Jonathan."

As Jonathan reached Rose and his bedroom, he braced himself for
what he might face on the other side, but as he entered the room
he breathed a sigh of relief. Rose was already in bed and
apparently asleep. He quietly changed into his pajamas, then
walked over to RoseÂ¹s side of the bed to kiss her goodnight. As
he bent over her, he paused and gazed as her face, oh so
familiar, after close to 30 years of marriage. He realized now
that when he had taken the vow to prepare and protect Amberlin,
that it included protecting her from his own wife, and from the
whole community where they lived and that Rose was such an
integral part of. The task that lay before him loomed much
larger than he had, at first imagined -- much larger and much
more important too.

Â©2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article
can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article
and this resource box are included.

Category : Networking

How to Choose the Right Duvet Cover

2008-07-19T16:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Eric Morris

There are different sizes of duvets made to accommodate different beds. There are various duvet cover sizes made to cover and protect duvets made for different beds. The most common sizes are twin, full, queen, and king. It is important to get the right size duvet for the bed, or people will either have a duvet that is too big and makes it difficult to sleep, or one that is too small and does not provide warmth for the whole body. The depth of the duvet is not much of an issue. When purchasing sheets, it is important to see that the sheet will fit over the entire mattress, but each duvet usually has a similar thickness. A standard-size duvet cover will fit snugly around a duvet of the corresponding size. A twin duvet cover is the smallest available. A twin size bed is about the smallest size of bed available, other than children?s beds or cribs. The standard measurements for a twin-size duvet cover are 64 inches by 90 inches. A full-size duvet cover is bigger than a twin but still much smaller than a queen or king. Full size duvet covers are wider than twins, measuring 86 inches by 90 inches. Queen-sized duvet covers are the second largest, measuring 108 inches by 90 inches. King-size duvet covers are the largest at 102 inches by 108 inches. It is important to note that larger duvet covers usually cost more than the smaller seizes, but it is often impractical to buy smaller duvet covers. People need to be fully covered when they sleep during the cold winter months, so buying a smaller duvet to save a little money is not a good idea. Duvet Covers Info provides detailed information about luxury and discount duvet covers, as well as duvet cover sets, sizes, materials, and more. Duvet Covers Info is the sister site of Slipcovers Web.

Category : Home Furnishings

Metaphysical Development & Disciplines Part 1

2008-07-19T12:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Leonard Lee

The Need for a GuruIn the spiritual, metaphysical path, various disciplines and exercises are conducted to aid the awakening and the unfoldment of the faculties and virtues of the divinity within. To attune with the Higher Self, one is required to undergo the process of purification and to carry-out meditative exercises. Meditation, concentration, visualizations, chanting, esoteric rituals, and other spiritual disciplines are utilized as aids on the path of spiritual and metaphysical development. In order to tread the metaphysical path a spiritual teacher or Guru is indispensable as a way-shower. The Guru or Adept having been on the spiritual path for many years, or for the greater part of his/her life, or even for several lifetimes is qualified to guide the enthusiastic aspirant. Treading the spiritual path alone without outside assistance and guidance is a difficult task. Only a few great souls are able to do this. However, it should be noted that according to tradition and occult revelation, even great souls like Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad had Guru-Chela relationships with Spiritual Masters, both physical and non-physical. External spiritual preceptors are here to "push" or motivate the aspirant, just as the inner divine Master is present within our beings to "pull" us inwards, to help us gravitate towards the Inner Light.Learning from books has its disadvantages; firstly, one is unable to bask in the presence of a Guru. A genuine Guru radiates powerful energies that stimulate slumbering souls in his immediate vicinity. The Master's aura prompts the energy-level of those around him to step-up in frequency. By constantly being in the presence of a Guru one gradually transforms one's microcosmic vehicles to a higher expression. One accelerates spiritually by being in the proximity of a Spiritual Preceptor. It is like a magnet that induces iron bits to become magnetized just as it is simply by the association.Secondly, books do not provide all of the keys or knowledge necessary that would open metaphysical doorways to higher worlds or to higher states of awareness. Many keys are omitted in books. Thirdly, books hardly present a two-way interaction that a Guru-Chela relationship offers. From these three points (and there are more) it can be seen how necessary it is to have a Way-Shower. Genuine spiritual/metaphysical teachers are not easily found or met. One meets a real Spiritual Guide partially because of spiritual merit. There is an occult saying, "When the student is ready the Master appears." The student has to prepare himself for the Master's advent by attaining a certain soul-level, by spiritual works and study. It should be realized, however, that those individuals passing themselves off as Spiritual Gurus and Metaphysical Masters are hardly what they claim themselves to be. Here lies the problem for the occult tyro--how to discern the true Master from the "false prophet," or the wolf in sheep clothing and the true Shepherd of the Spirit.In the traditional teachings of Christianity we are told that St.Peter, one of the Apostles of Christ, guards the portals to the Kingdom of Heaven. He holds within his hands various keys that would unlock the gate and allow the soul to pass the threshold and enter into a world of heavenly delight, to a land where one could pluck and eat the fruits of the Tree of Life. The average Christian interprets this teaching literally. In truth, this is merely an allegory, an esoteric precept referring to the principle that a Spiritual Guru or Murshid, (St.Peter) is necessary to guide one's spiritual development. The Spiritual Guru holds and preserves the keys of metaphysical (mystical/magickal) development. By applying the keys (the cosmic laws and spiritual principles) that the Guru transmits to his disciples, it would be possible to acquire a spiritual consciousness (the Kingdom of Heaven) and consume the fruits of the Tree of Life (a constant awareness of one's immortality).In the early days of Christianity, "priests" functioned as Gurus and not merely as preachers. In the centuries that followed, the priesthood lost the keys to Heaven because of their corruption and degeneration. They subsequently grew envious of those that did possess the keys, the gnosis or spiritual, esoteric knowledge. This was one of the factors that instigated the attack of the orthodoxy upon the Christian sects called Gnostics. These Gnostics were the custodians of the secret, esoteric, spiritual teachings of the Essenes, the Master Jesus and the other divine avatars.Now it should be realized that not all Spiritual Gurus are of the same evolutionary level. They are of various initiatory grades. Some Gurus offer their services specifically to the masses, to the average person on the street; others are here on the physical plane to help higher-evolved persons, or those of disciple status to attain the first and second planetary initiation. Rarely do we find Gurus who are real Adepts and Masters guiding those who have heard the call of the soul to attain liberation, enlightenment, and the ascension. Each person who is interested in metaphysical and spiritual culture will find himself at the doorstep of the Guru most appropriate to his present state of soul development. When he grows spiritually to a certain point with the guidance of his Preceptor, he may eventually find himself being led to other Gurus of a higher grade or different ray-ashram for further esoteric instructions or for developing a different soul-quality..Metaphysical DevelopmentIn the Path of metaphysical development it would be advantageous and worthwhile for the spiritual aspirant to study the spiritual teachings of various religions and philosophies. Anything that would help refine one's soul-character and expand one's metaphysical knowledge is beneficial. The student should be equally comfortable studying the teachings of Alchemy or Zen. By the exploring of various teachings we do not imply that one should build one's spiritual philosophy upon the foundation of syncretism. This would hardly work if we strive to integrate the superficial, dogmatic aspects of religion. What we would like students of metaphysics to probe is the essence or core of religions, back to the source of all religions, or to the Gupta Vidya--the Ageless Teachings. In the Old Testament, for instance, we were admonished by God to walk the ancient paths (Jeremiah 6:16). This "ancient path" is an esoteric term for the Ageless teachings, or the Ancient Wisdom. Followers of the "New Age" movement may consider the revelations received through the phenomenon of "channeling" as something novel; however, the essence of what is revealed is nothing new and is to be found in the spiritual teachings of all ancient cultures. We admonish the novice not to focus on or speculate too much upon what lies above in the cosmos. It really does not matter what or who lies "up there," whether it is "Ashtar," "Kryon," or the "Pleaidians," or any other beings flitting around in their merkabah vehicles; what really matters is what lies within you. Pay attention to that, to the task at hand. Improve your character, your spirituality, your evolutionary status, and your awareness. Unfold unconditional love and compassion. Beware of self-complacency and arrogance, thinking that you know everything, or more than others.The first step of spiritual unfoldment is the purification of the lower aspects of the microcosm of all psychical and physical toxins, negative energies, psychological complexes and fixations, karmic effects, record, and memory; and the transcendence of the false ego. Not only should these unwanted energies be discarded or transmuted, the spiritual aspirant should also be vigilant that they no longer be generated by the mind and emotions or attracted into the microcosmic force-field by establishing a point of attraction through negative thinking and feeling. Conversely, the aspirant should strive to express the divine qualities of the Spirit, such as compassion, tolerance, affection, beauty, order, generosity, selflessness, etc. In Patanjali's Yogic philosophy these two steps are called Yama and Niyama. They comprise the dos and the don'ts in religious moral teachings.According to Patanjali's metaphysical system of development, breathing and physical exercises should next be conducted to maintain healthy and vital bodies. These are called Pranayama and Asana, respectively. Pranayama actually means the control of the life-force within the physical/etheric body, and not to the control of the breath as some occultists would have us believe. Asana means "body-position." In Hatha yoga we are taught various asanas to help maintain a supple, healthy, vital body. Although beneficial to a certain degree, in our metaphysical system of development we do not stress Hatha yoga too much for this form of yoga actually belongs to the Lemurian Age (the Third Race) where physical cultivation was the basis of spiritual unfoldment. In the days of Atlantis (the Fourth Race), it was Bhakti yoga that was of certain importance, for it helped cultivated the emotional nature. In our present Aryan Age (the Fifth Race), Raja yoga is indispensable for it aids in the development of our mental nature. Metaphysical development should therefore, be concentrated more upon the mental/spiritual plane for it is the most appropriate for our present Soul-Race. Below is a tabulation and clarification of the above information:1) The First Race -- Polarian - No yogas, involutionary race.2) The Second Race - Hyperborean - No yogas, involutionary race.3) The Third Race - Lemurian - Hatha yoga, related to the physical/etheric principle.4) The Fourth Race - Atlantean - Bhakti yoga, related to the emotional/astral principle.5) The Fifth Race - Aryan - Raja yoga, related to the mental principle.6) The Sixth Race - Unknown - Yoga unknown, related to the Buddhic principle.7) The Seventh Race - Unknown - Yoga unknown, related to the Atmic principle.But to return from our digression:Following Pranayama and Asana is Pratyahara, or the withdrawing of the senses from external stimuli. This act of withdrawing the senses results in Dharana, a deep concentration upon some inner point within the consciousness. Deep and intense concentration of a lengthy period establishes the state of Dhyana, or meditation. The culmination of the Dhyana-state is Samadhi, or a higher form of consciousness where one experiences the state of bliss and peace. There are various consciousness levels in Samadhi; for simplicity sake we may designate them as "Christ Consciousness" and "Cosmic Consciousness." The former is related to the Soul-Consciousness of the Higher Self, or the threefold aspects of the Soul--the Higher Mental, Buddhi, and Atma. The latter on the other hand, is related to the Spirit-Consciousness of the Monad, the Divine Spark within the microcosm. The eight steps of the above are often called the "Eight-limbs of Patanjali."In metaphysical development we strive to attain ever higher states of consciousness or awareness. In mystical teachings this is often illustrated as a climb towards a mountain peak and we are often advised by mystics to climb the highest mountain. In Holy Scriptures, when the tale is told of mystics "going up" to the mountains to pray and meditate actually refers to an inner ascent in the consciousness and not to an actual physical journey.In the early stages of metaphysical development it is advisable for the neophyte to introspect and reflect upon the various elements forming his present desires, motivations, ideals, attitudes, beliefs, and feelings--all of the psychological stuff forming his world-view, his belief-framework, his religious-view, and his understanding of life as a whole, as well as its purport. There is much that we take for granted, much that we assume to be true because humanity as a whole or certain groups of humanity have believed in them for centuries. We have been taught many things as "truths" by our elders, our religious leaders, and pedagogues and we accept them at face value without any meaningful effort in reflecting whether they are of any real substance whatsoever. This the neophyte has to rectify first and foremost in his consciousness. The beginner in metaphysical development has to know why he is on the physical plane and for what Cosmic purpose. He has to discover the meta-philosophical truths concerning life and death, and the real reason why he embarks upon metaphysical study. In short, the neophyte has to awaken himself from his ignorance at the first Cosmic level. Until he realizes that in his present condition he knows nothing, the neophyte has not yet arrived at the state where he may acquire true knowledge.Metaphysical development entails getting rid of the demons of the mind, the idols that drains one's energies. Idols are not simply statues made of wood and stone; they may be anything at all. Idols at our present stage of soul-unfoldment are glamours and illusions of the psyche. We may define idols do be anything that distracts the soul from carrying-out its evolutionary obligations. Thus, television or the obsession of psychic powers may be considered as idols, and irresponsible Gurus teaching psychicism sans spiritual unfoldment as fabricators of idols. This in fact is one of the avenues of dis-service (dark services) offered by the Fallen Angels. In Islamic tradition Harut and Marut were the two Fallen Angels that taught humanity psychicism/occultism irresponsibly. Low-calibre paranormals and metaphysicians perpetrate this shameful tradition.Nowadays, people who are interested in psychicism are so eager to unfold paranormal powers. It should be realized that this is not a spiritual goal, because sometime and somewhere along the spiritual path psychic powers would have to be renounced as they simply blind our inner eyes to the spiritual state of Light-Consciousness, symbolized by the saviour-gods in the world mythologies. Psychicism prolongs our needless stay in the lower dimensions. Psychic powers may corrupt the human soul.Getting rid of or destroying idols is not an easy task. In order to do this we need the help of the Christ-Krishna force, or the light of Muhammad. Invoke their power into your lives; pay more attention to their presence until the intrusion of the demonic idols lose their power and hold over you. In the end you will truly become a holy one, unattached and untainted by anything of this world--"to be in this world but not of it."[Note: This paper contains images which may be seen as originally published at our website]Copyright 2006 Luxamore Leonard Lee aka LuxamoreMetaphysical teacher, counseler, healer and merchant of occult/magickal items of Indonesia.Arabian Nights Magick: talismans, mustika pearls, kerises, etc.Animal Totem Pearls: Magickal Bezoar Mustika Pearls from Indonesia.

Category : General Metaphysical

Delta Cutting 9000 Jobs

2008-07-19T11:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Lance Winslow
Now in bankruptcy, Delta will be cutting 9000 jobs. The move is an attempt to save an average of 3 billion dollars. There are many drastic cuts from the top executives down to the rank and file. No one will survive these cuts and in the end it maybe the airline itself which does not make the cut. Twenty-five percent of executives will get pink slips in their Atlanta Office.Delta is planning on also getting rid of nearly 80 aircraft and not renewing 40, which are on lease. Delta is also working with their employees on a profit sharing plan as an incentive for the employees to keep their chins up and offer additional cost savings at every level.Meanwhile Delta continues to have a strong following of travelers and is still viewed by customers as one of the best airlines to fly. Delta has maintained for years one of the best satisfaction ratings of any airlines and proimises to keep it that way even with the addtional cost cuts.Delta is changing its strategy to become a point-to-point type operation like their successful and smaller rivals rather than a giant Spoke-and-Hub type airline? Will it work? Hard to say, everything is still up in the air. Delta although deluged in debt is determined to delete costs and decisively compete as a cost efficient and dominating airline that it has been for decades. Will this dedication to develop a new direction prove decisive for Deltaâ™s destiny?"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Category : Article Writing

Marketing With Blogs - Part 4

2008-07-19T04:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Priya Shah
In the first three parts of this article series on marketing with blogs, I discussed the reasons why blogs are excellent tools for marketing, and provided some tips on using your blog to brand yourself, boost your reputation and sell your products and services online.In this article, I provide specific tips on using your blog help you boost your marketing ROI and visibility online.#7: Use Good SEO PracticesBesides using keywords appropriately, take the time to learn about using trackbacks, pingbacks, good linking practices and basic SEO techniques.Remember that in blogging, public relations equals PageRank. The more you link to others, the more they will link to you.Submit your blogs and feeds to directories and search engines.#8: Track Your ResultsKeep track of your sales, inbound links, citations by using tools like adtrackers, Blogpulse and Marketleap. Also offer your readers incentives to participate in surveys.This information is very valuable because it will help you understand what your market needs and how to give it to them.It will also help you understand how much your blogging is helping your marketing efforts so you can tweak your methods and get more out of them.#9: Listen And LearnWhen weâ™re blogging we usually stating our opinions openly. As bloggers itâ™s all right to be controversial and frank while blogging.But what happens when a potential customer posts a nasty or rude comment? Some bloggers think its OK to be rude right back, and even go so far as to call that person names.I donâ™t believe thatâ™s the way to treat someone who take the trouble to sign-in and post a comment on your blog. For all you know they may have a genuine problem and could be speaking for others who have experienced the same.Being rude will not only lose you a customer, it will also expose you as someone who is too immature to handle customer complaints.Granted, some customers can be a pain in the butt, but everyone deserves to be heard. And handling nasty or rude comments with restraint will not only demonstrate your maturity, but build your customers respect for you.People prefer doing business with someone they like and trust. So if you want your blog to be a place where your potential customers can interact freely and openly, I suggest you learn how to handle brickbats as well as bouquets with grace and maturity.It used to be said that the internet was the great leveller because it empowers small businesses to compete with big businesses. But blogs have completely levelled the playing field for marketers.Anyone with an internet connection can now sell their products and services solely on the basis of the quality of information they provide.And that's the reason blogs are creating a revolution in marketing online.Priya Shah is a partner in the search engine marketing firm, SEO & More and writes an online marketing blog. Request the detailed version of this whitepaper Boost Your Search Engine Visibility With Blogs And RSS here.This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.
Category : Spam

Set Yourself up for Trade Show Success

2008-07-16T10:40:00.001-07:00

Author : Denise O'Berry
Of the many mistakes small business owners make, a big one is participating in trade shows and business expos without a strategy for turning those marketing opportunities into sales. Here are five tips to get you started.1. Have a goal. What do you want to get out of the event? Most small business owners think sponsoring an event will bring them a ton of business. Not necessarily. Follow up is critical.2. Make sure the audience is your market. If your company is a business-to-business provider and the event is for consumers, the likelihood of new business is slim. Sponsoring an event that doesn't include your target market is just a waste of money. Do your homework.3. Don't dismiss "expensive" events right away. Just because an entry cost is high doesn't mean you can't afford it. You could offer to work on the organizing committee, perform specific duties for the event, or donate a product or prize in return for partial payment.4. Introduce yourself before the show. If at all possible, get a postal mail or email list (or both) of attendees from the trade show host. A week prior to the show, send a notice introducing yourself to them and inviting them to stop by your booth.5. Plan for follow-up. Before you sign up for the show, have a plan in place for how you will follow up with those prospects interested in what you have to offer.About the AuthorDenise O'Berry frequently speaks to professional organizations, is the author of three booklets, and several "how-to" manuals. She writes a weekly small business column, hosts an online small business owners forum and is called upon regularly by publications such as Entrepreneur, Bank Rate Small Business, Florida Trend, Inc., various newspapers, radio and television to provide expert comments on small business issues.http://www.whatspossible.com
http://www.justforsmallbusiness.com
http://www.deniseoberry.com
Category : Insurance

Intelligent Stock Trading

2008-07-11T21:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Sam Chim -
If you want be a successful penny stock trader, youâ™ll need to be an intelligent trader. There are very few requirements to start trading in penny stocks. It can be broken down into three main things.

1. Money:

The money we are talking about is not just the money that is sitting in your bank account. It is not the money that you use to pay for your rent, your car or your food. Penny stocks can be extremely unpredictable and although you might make a great deal of money it is also true that may lose everything, so it is important especially when you are starting out with penny stocks that you only use money that you can afford to lose. After you have built up a nice profit, you can re-invest your profits from past trades which will snowball your earnings.

2. Knowledge:

This is without a doubt the single most important factor in determining whether your budding career as a penny stocks investor will be a spectacular triumph or a dismal failure. If you are a newcomer to investing of any kind there are various guides you can buy and it is a good idea to read several of these before spending any money.

Penny Stocks: The Next American Gold Rush by Dan Holtzclaw
Stock Investing for Dummies by Paul Mladjenovic
The Guide for Penny Stock Investing by Donny Lowy

These are all good and although they will not help you with specific decisions such as whether to buy a particular penny stock, or when to sell, they give you a good background on how it all works and are invaluable in building a good knowledge base.

3. Make A Plan:

Before you investing any money, make an investment plan and stick to it at all times. This will help you become disciplined and will also help you organise your time and investments. Keeping things simple will result in less stress. Your plan should consist of the investments you are going to make and why and how much you are investing in them. It should also include your exit point (the price which you will sell your investment at to take profit) and also the time you want to allocate for your investments each day (i.e. The time it takes to monitor and research them).

Now you have got all the major elements in place you are set for the roller coaster ride that is the world of investing in penny stocks But remember that knowledge is the most powerful tool you have to make your penny stocks successful so start learning today.

How to Choose a Computer Training School

2008-07-09T04:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Natalie Aranda
Since the birth of the internet, the computer industry has been filled with potential jobs. It not only has become one of the leading industries in the world, but it has provided many students with the opportunity to do what they love best.Although computer jobs are popular, they are anything but easy. In order to get a great job in the computer field, one must have a lot of experience, CBT, and education. Luckily, there are dozens of different ways to get a degree. However, with so many different routes to take, it can be difficult to choose a computer training school. As long as you have the tools to pick your career path, it should be smooth sailing.The first thing you need to ask yourself is what kind of computer field you want to go into. With hundreds of different careers in the industry, it is crucial to narrow it down to a few options. There are programs that include web design to basic programming. Nonetheless, you need these tools to make your mark in the world. However, it may be smart to find out what careers are "hot" in the market. Some positions are quite hard to find, while others make millions of dollars a year. If you want to make money, it is important to find the jobs that will get you there.After you decide what type of career you would like in the computer industry, it is smart to research the training schools around your area. You can do so by searching the term on Google or going to specific sites. Many people prefer http://www.computer-schools.us/, where they can type in their area and see the opportunities available. Surprisingly, many students are actual professionals already in another industry, who are looking to expand their skills. Training centers can be found either online or offline, depending on the amount of time you want to spend training. If you want to get your computer training done quickly, it is recommended that you devote most of your time training and perhaps finding an internship in the process.For those who want prominent training but don't know where to look, then New Horizons learning center may be the place to go. New Horizons is one of the largest IT training companies in the world. With great flexibility and convenience, students are able to get their certification quickly on their own time. It is great because New Horizons offers three types of programs. While there are in person training sessions with a traditional teacher, there are also online courses. This web training is the newest trend, as e-learning has become one of the biggest education markets in the past decade.If you are unsure about this specific program, there are many other great CBT programs such as Global Knowledge. Global knowledge offers hundreds of programs for professionals and newcomers alike. This company has trained fortune 500 companies, as well as businesses worldwide.Overall, there are hundreds of different options when choosing the right computer training program. With the internet now expanding to e-learning, CBT has become fairly easy and convenient. You can easily get certified if you devote just a few hours a week to the program. No matter what you decide to do, it is important that you have the drive and the passion. After researching the program you want to take, and figuring out the type of career you want, it is essential to work hard and study the long hours. With such an extensive career, it is vital that you know all of the information taught to you. This is anything but an "easy" get through it program, where you can sleep the entire time. If you put in the effort and the hours, you will surely come out on top.Natalie Aranda writes on training and technology. For those who want prominent training but don't know where to look, then New Horizons learning center may be the place to go. New Horizons is one of the largest IT training companies in the world. With great flexibility and convenience, students are able to get their certification quickly on their own time. It is great because New Horizons offers three types of programs. With the internet now expanding to e-learning, computer training and CBT has become fairly easy and convenient.
Category : Computers-and-Technology:Certification-Tests

How to Begin a Lesson Plan

2008-07-09T02:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Andrew E. Schwartz
DEVELOPING LESSON PLANS: In developing lesson plan formats, two things are paramount: extraordinarily careful documentation and room left for possible changes. Sloppy accounting of the direction your class will be going is worse than none. And documentation that doesnâ™t have leeway for change is almost instantly obsolete. The types of plan formats generally used are the: outline, sentence outline, narrative outline, narrative. The primary difference is in the amount of information and narrative in the body of the presentation. Your plan for a presentation should be at least a sentence outline or preferably a narrative outline.READING LESSON PLANS: All maps have common information, called the legend, which tells you how to read them. The lesson plan should also have a legend (the cover sheet) which tells the trainer what the learning environment will be. The cover sheet includes the course title, the lesson title, the length of time for the lesson, the target audience, the performance objectives, the evaluation procedures, and the equipment and supplies needed for you and your students. Although your department may have a specific format for this information the purpose is more important than the format.MAKING INFORMATIVE LESSON PLANS: --The course title or lesson title should accurately reflect the content of the lesson or course and be stated simply. --The length of time for the lesson should include time required for lesson presentation and suggested time, date, and hour at which lesson delivery would be most effective. --The target population entry shgould answer several questions. What skill level will the trainees have? Is the content appropriate for the audience? Will the audience be homogeneous, or a âœmixedâ group of people with different backgrounds, ages, and job skills?Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortiumCEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Category : Shoes

Pin the Tail on the Oil Donkey

2008-06-26T16:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Austin Culley

For all your kids out there trying to come up with an essay topic to write about, why not bump those grades up by doing a little research on oil. Not peanut butter oil, or olive oil, but oil - the kind that helps to run the car you hope to one day drive.DonkeysNow, first of all, what exactly is an Oil Donkey? Well, it's actually called a Nodding Donkey, and what a Nodding Donkey does is help pump oil out of the ground so that we can get our paws on it. You can find a good picture of one of these donkeys at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodding_donkey. As a matter of fact, outside of this article, you could probably find a whole lot of information about oil, otherwise known as petroleum, at this Wiki Web Site. It's a great resource for information.Dinosaurs and DiatomsOil is considered a "Fossil Fuel", meaning that it is an organic substance that comes from the fossils of animals who have long parted the earth. Many people think this means that oil comes from dead dinosaurs; however, it is more likely that oil was formed from the bodies of very small creatures such as diatoms and foraminifera.DecompositionAfter a long period of time, the skeletons of these fossils decompose to turn into thick deposits of mud. Over thousands of years, layer upon layer of this mud builds up, and the lower layers become hard as rock. Time, pressure, and heat caused from the earth's core is what is believed to turn this organic decomposition into crude oil and natural gas.DrillingDeep within the earth there are a few different places where oil and gas pockets can pool together. One of these places can be in porous rocks, such as sandstone, which is a rock that has spaces in it and looks like a sponge close up. This is one of the places we collect oil from by drilling a well hole deep into the ground to get to it. After the well hole is drilled, the oil is pumped out and refined into different products we use in everyday life, like to run our cars and heat our homes if it gets cold.Our Dependence on OilYou see, this is a great subject to do an essay on because oil is an important part of our lives. We depend on it for many things that help make our lives more comfortable. Good luck with your essay, and I hope you get an "A". About The AuthorAustin Culley is the Vice President of Oil-Net.Com Inc.http://www.oil-net.com

Category : Kids - Teen

Fiddle Tab Makes Learning Fiddle Fast and Easy

2008-06-24T13:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Elan Chalford
Learning fiddle tab is so intuitive and so easy that a student picks it up in five minutes. This is true even for five-year-olds.Before starting this examination of fiddle tab, let's recall what standard musical notation looks like. The familiar dot-shaped notes on or between the five lines of the musical staff represent exact pitches of musical notes.The dots show the pitch. Sharp signs or flat signs influence that pitch. The clef sign also has an effect.Rhythm symbols that show the relative duration of the notes. Other musical terminology, often Italian, indicates the speed of the rhythm. Allegro con brio, for example, means "lively, with enthusiasm."Musical notation tells nothing about how to play the music on any given musical instrument. It is designed to be used with all musical instruments.Fiddle tab, on the other hand, tells exactly what string to play and what finger to use. It's intuitive and easy to learn.But it shows the information in a form that only fiddle players can use. It is not universal. Because it is so focused, it is simpler.On the fiddle tab staff each space represents a string. The top space represents the E-string, the next one, the A-string--and so on.If you placed a violin with its side, with the neck extending to the left of the body, you would see the strings in exactly the same relationship. If you then reached both hands to pick up the violin, with your left hand under the neck, you would be in position to finger the strings the normal way.Numbers indicate what finger to use. The number 1 is the first finger--the pointing finger, 2 is the middle finger, 3 the ring finger and 4 the pinkie. An 0 means use no finger. Leave the string open.The only question remaining is placement of the fingers. We begin with the placement that would produce a major scale. This is the most common tradition in Western music. Itâ™s common to all the melody instruments that Iâ™m aware of, and to singing as well.All music teachers start with this basic instruction: the do-re-mi of music. These first three notes of the scale are found in countless childrenâ™s songs: Are You Sleeping, Brother John?, Row, Row, Row your Boat, and, in the inverse order, Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had a Little Lamb, London Bridge is Falling Down, Three Blind Mice.That sound, and the relationship of the fingers that produce that sound, underlies fiddle tablature, as I teach it. Any variation from that finger placement will be indicated by the letter L or H. These letters guide the student to place the finger lower or higher than usual.Rhythm indication in fiddle tab is similar to musical notation, but simplified.A simple line under a number is called a stem, just as in music notation. It shows the same thing, one beat of rhythm. Two numbers that have stems joined by another line (called a "beam" in music notation) would be played in one beat.The development of standard musical notation in Western music was a great achievement. It led to the richly complex beauty, power and mystery of great music.Learning this system is no easy matter. In Europe, a hundred years ago, kids going into music learned to sing solfeggio. This meant translating musical notation into do-re-mi.In current practice, the difficulty of learning to read music is overcome by fingering notation over the particular note. This is true for keyboard, violin, or brass and woodwinds. Numbers over certain notes aid the student in translating the symbolism of the notational pitch into physical actions.The American Suzuki Method also uses finger notations over every note. The student has only to intuit when to change string. In this respect it differs not at all from classical violin pedagogy.In the method that I use, which we may call the fiddle tab method, I show the student tab charts after the initial stage of learning to play a scale. I have never had a student fail to learn how to read tab charts in one lesson. It is intuitive, natural and easy.Making the transition to reading music later has, likewise, been no great challenge. Some students simply begin Suzuki Violin Book One, with its easy pieces. They quickly learn to read.Students who prefer fiddling can use Beginning Old-Time Fiddle, by Alan Kaufman. It has both fiddle tab and musical notation. It's an excellent resource for the transition from tab to music notation.For more information about learning how to play fiddle using tab charts, set your web browser to Learn to Play Fiddle. You will find an abundance of information and free tab charts.Elan Chalford, Fiddle Coach
Learn to Play Fiddle without Reading Music
http://fiddleguru.com
Category : Pregnancy

Third Wives Club: Banner Relationships & Making Them Work

2008-06-22T19:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Jan Verhoeff
Nobody dreams of being the Third Wife. When you marry for the first time, you're full of hopes and dreams for long-term marriage relationship, the whole shebang, including a 50th wedding anniversary and all that includes. If that relationship blows up in smoke and disaster, the average person may actually still have enough persistence to try again… And still have some hope left.When the second relationship turns to ashes, the phoenix may not reappear as a standard of hope, but an avoidance of doom. The fear of growing old alone may pound in your chest, it may keep you awake at night, and you may suffer great anxiety because of your own fears. And yet, the prospect of saying "This is my third husband" terrorizes your mind.You look back at two failed marriages and think of the karma… The weight of the world is on your shoulders. Gloom and doom shall follow you. You're a looser! You can't even make a man happy. And you loose sight of the reality…The chances are good that your first marriage ended before it began. You and your spouse married young, without the necessary understanding of what marriage was all about. Your relationship started out a miracle and sunk into despair. Without proper tools to keep it alive, it died. Quickly on it's heals someone promised you all the right things, said all the things you needed to hear, and you fell for the "line". A second marriage solved all your current problems and you struggled to grasp and hold onto 'the dream'.I'm not resolving you of any responsibility. That would be your choice and view.Justification for your position appears on the horizon and you can see some semblance of hope reappearing in your life. You have another chance. A man in your life who just might be 'the one' and you risk it. You take that step, one more time, risking your heart to yet another who might trample it into the dirt.And you wonder - how to make it work.As a single woman attempting to make it work a third time, trying to revive the hope of 'maybe', I searched for answers and found a simple page of ideas. It's even on a free site, a place where one might go just to express thoughts and hopes. http://www.freewebs.com/luckslec offered a bit of hope, a few suggestions, and a place to seek answers. Links to other helpful sites are there in the lineup, along with practical suggestions.Then I wondered… Is there hope?Jan Verhoeff is a writer. Her short stories and articles often touch the hearts of readers seeking answers and solutions. Life solutions come in short supply, but hope is everlasting. If you're seeking hope, solutions for your life, or a business answer, visit http://janverhoeff.com Jan presents marketing solutions for business of all kinds – including affairs of the heart.
Category : News-and-Society:Relationships

Manitoba's Education System

2008-06-19T11:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Dave Lympany
Public Education in Manitoba is provided free to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged under 21 years. As with the rest of Canada, education is a Provincial responsibility to administer.
For education in Manitoba, students are legally required to attend school between the ages of 6 and 16 years, although most students continue until they are at least 18 years to receive a graduation diploma.Under the initiative Schools for Choice students may apply for admission to any public school in the province. It is extremely important that you find out when the registration period is to ensure that your kids get the places at the schools you want. The registration normally takes place several months before the year starts (I.E. register in Feb. for September). Contact the particular school to find out the precise details. There may well be an administration fee charged to register your child!Publicly funded elementary and secondary schools are administered by Manitoba's School Division/District Boards with the school year usually running from the beginning of September through to June 30th. However, there may be variations to this within different school divisions. Most schools close down for the months of July and August as well as breaks at Christmas and Easter.There are a number of different types of schooling options available for education in Manitoba. The choices are Public, Independent, French immersion, Francais, and Private schools. Parents also have the option of home schooling their children. There are two languages of instruction available, English and French. French can either be taught as French Immersion (where French is the second language)or Francais (Full Time French).Elementary and Secondary SchoolsKindergarten and Elementary Schooling generally starts at the age of 5 years, although some school boards have different age cut off dates. The student will attend 5 days of either morning or afternoon classes. Kindergarten has 400 instructional hours per year. It is normally part of the school that your child will attend in Grade 1 and is good preparation for full time school.This age or younger is a very good time to think about saving for your child's post secondary education. Fee's for post secondary education are very expensive. There is a savings plan available in which the Federal Government will input a percentage of your contributions. These are called Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP).Children start Elementary school at the age of 6 years (Grade 1) and stay there until they are 10 years old(Grade 4). There are certain subjects that are required in these grades; these include Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Health and Physical Education. Middle school covers 11 to 14 years of age, grades 5 to 8. These grades cover the same subjects as the earlier grades. Senior 1 to senior 4, covers 15 to 18 year olds. This curriculum is based around a credit system. To Graduate from Senior 4, students need to achieve a certain amount of credits. Credits are given for different subjects and courses that the student can take.Transfer From AbroadStudents who are coming to Manitoba from a different school system should submit an official statement of previous standing, such as a report card to the school they want to enroll in.
You should also have the previous school records and transcripts, copies of course outlines and content. After considering a number of factors including the students age, records and test results they will be placed in the appropriate grade.Post Secondary EducationThere is a good variety of Post Secondary Education in Manitoba with plenty of high quality institutes to choose from including four Universities. Brandon University - which is located in Manitoba's second largest city - offers small classes, a compact campus and a diverse student population.
College Universitaire de Saint-Boniface (CUSB) - located in Winnipeg. It is the only French language post secondary educational institute in Western Canada. Offering university and vocational programs and is affiliated with the University of Manitoba and offers U of M degrees.University of Manitoba - also in Winnipeg is Western Canada's oldest university and one of the largest in Canada. It has 17 faculties and four schools offering a wide array of programs. The U of M also has a continuing education and distance education division.The University of Winnipeg - is medium sized and offers undergraduate degree and pre-professional programs. The University also has courses through its continuing education and distance learning centres.There are a number of Technical Colleges that offer a wide range of different programs. There are also technical training institutions and private vocational institutions.Student LoansAs with all of Canada, the Post Secondary education in Manitoba is NOT free. Several years ago, the Canadian Government launched RESP's to help parents save for their children's future education needs. These are great if you start them early, but if your kids are about to start when you land it is too late. (see link above for more details).The Manitoba Student Aid program is a scheme that provides supplemental financial assistance to eligible post secondary students with limited finances. The amount of assistance you receive is based on financial need. There is a maximum amount available to each student and not everyone will receive the maximum.There are a number of different factors that will qualify you for a loan, but you must be a Manitoba resident, a Canadian citizen or Permanent resident and you must be enrolled or qualify to enroll as a full time post secondary student in an approved program at a designated school to be able to apply. There is both Federal and Provincial assistance available and both loans are interest free whilst you are a full time student and for six months after your studies end.Dave Lympany emigrated to Canada with his family in 2003 and has developed http://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com - the free information resource for Canada and Canadian Immigration. With over 150 pages of great content, the site is continually expanding and regularly updated and is an excellent resource for Immigration, Relocation, Research and Travel.
Category : Reference-and-Education

Competition in Franchising; It Gets Ugly

2008-06-15T23:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Lance Winslow
It is amazing the amount of competition and modern franchising today in the United States and starting in the rest of the world also. Competition in the marketplace is good for consumer prices and for customers, but when it gets ugly it serves no freeman. And it is amazing how quickly the competition can get very ugly.Franchising companies try to expand their brand name through out the regional area in order to compete in the marketplace for the largest percentage of the market here. The franchising is a method of rapid expansion with out huge amounts of capital outlay. A company like Starbucks has all company-owned stores and a company like McDonald's has mostly franchisees or independent business owners and some corporate stores that they own themselves.Most small businesspeople in any town hate to see a franchise organization come in and compete in their market sector. For instance if you own a hair salon and a franchise hair salon comes in to the shopping center next door to you then you realize you lose business and market here to them. Additionally franchising companies have thousands of stores and their business models are generally more efficient and they also come with a brand name that people know about.The competition in franchising gets ugly from the very beginning for instance in my over two decade years of experience in franchising I have noticed how many towns we went into with good old boy network's and trying to get the planning commission to approve one of our projects we always noticed that the friends of the local businesses that we would be compete against showed up at the city Council meetings or the planning commission meetings in order to make us look bad or prevent us going into the market.But this is not the only ugly part of franchising, as other franchise stores it may also be hair salons will attempt to get the information and find out your training methods and your operation manuals and even try to get your vendors to not do business with you or spread gossip in order to limit your credit lines. As a matter of fact amount of dishonesty in competition with something that always had bothered me while I was in business before retirement.I would expect that competitors would turn to the dark side and cheat as I have been involved in team sports and watched this happen also on the field. But one thing I never understood was why government agencies such as code enforcement and federal regulatory bodies would take sides with the competition and start investigations on your company. It seems that if the government agencies were true to free enterprise and capitalism they would be more like a referee.Unfortunately this is not the case, because once an investigation is opened on your company they need to justify why they are doing it and are therefore they work very hard to find something wrong so they can give you a fine. In fact they go so far as to send out press releases that they are investigating you, as if to try to get public relations for their own agency. It is as bad as the Donald Trump "Apprentice" show, layer each contestant blames another for something that went wrong. There is no such thing as a level playing field in business the United States of America no matter if it is at the city level, state level or federal level.If you are in the franchising industry you can expect your competitors to pretend to be franchise buyers and call you up at least once a month and try to get all the information they can from your sales force, secretaries and get a copy of your Uniform Franchise Offering Circular to see what you are doing. Needless to say, in franchising the competition can get ugly. Please consider this in 2006.Lance Winslow
Category : Business:Ethics

Business Podcasting

2008-06-10T02:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Ryan Hoback, www.WhatIWantPodcasting.com

Portable audio and video players are everywhere. With this new
technology comes the fast growing industry of podcasting. So how
does your business use Podcasting?

Podcasting has evolved over the past year as a new medium for
broadcasting. It has merged the terms "ipod" with "broadcasting"
and formed what we now know as "Podcasting", or personal on
demand casting as industry insiders are labeling it.

Major corporations are just now beginning to see the benefits of
podcasting on a national basis. But the best part about this new
industry is that it serves the local city and state communities
as well, by using nanocasting services. Nanocasting is a model
for commercial podcasting based on established media and direct
marketing principles. Nanocasting differs from early podcasting
by beginning with a clear definition of the target audience, the
business model, the revenue model and use of a system
specifically developed for targeting commercial audiences called
RTS (Really Targeted Syndication). The objectives go beyond
advertising, sponsorship and subscription based thinking to use
podcasting in very creative, customized, commercial applications
designed to achieve specific measurable business goals.

In order to develop a highly effective business podcast, the
first and most important factor is targeting; a plan must be
developed that identifies your ideal customer. Podcasting is a
medium that offers unparalleled access to niche markets, based
upon consumers accessing content on-demand to their specific
tastes. In most cases these podcasts are series, where
subscription based "tagging" or RSS technology, allows the user
to click a subscribe button once, and receive all the updates to
come in the future as soon as their published.

This sort of medium, coupled with this technology, allows
businesses to identify consumers, and it gives direct input into
their lifestyle preferences, habits, wants and needs. This makes
podcasting an extremely viable and quantifiable business tool.

Here is an example I will give you:

Let's say you are Pampers Corporation; you have newborn mothers
and expectant mothers all over the world buying your diapers and
using your products for their kids. At the next P.R. and
marketing meeting when the discussion arises, "How do we better
reach our mothers?", and "What will form a stronger bond with
our company over Huggies?"

You mention podcasting, and here is an idea for free. "Well, how
about we utilize this new medium of podcasting to target our
mothers with informative audio and video podcasts. We can put
out 10-15 general 1-3 minute podcasts, which will detail an
array of topics from "what to do about diaper rash" to "choosing
the right size diaper for your baby"." This will give mothers
the ability to go to the website to hear and see this
information, or better yet, they can subscribe to the Pampers
feed and receive on demand updates to their personal MP player.

This is how a business can integrate podcasting on a national
level, and be highly effective with their usage of the
technology. On a smaller scale, podcasting can be used to target
highly specific niche demographics, using nanocasting models.

Here is an example:

Let's say you are a local accounting firm with a customer base
of anywhere from 1,000 clients to 50,000 clients. You have been
sending out monthly newsletters and quarterly advisory notices,
however you are looking for a more effective medium to get this
information across to your clients.

You can develop an audio podcast, which can be used in streaming
emails as well as downloaded to personal devices that will cover
these important topics. You could develop a standard 5 minute
nanocast, which speaks on the specific topics of information you
are looking to make public, and do it through an appealing
listening experience.

Another example could be local restaurants, looking to offer
promotions to customers to help drive traffic in their business.
Nanocasting allows you to target specific demographic regions;
states, cities and even zip codes. A restaurant could use a
local podcast directory to reach markets that are centralized to
his location and will convert into new customer traffic. You can
already imagine the local pizza shops' weekly podcast featuring
their half off secret item of the week; you have to know the
secret word to get half off the item.

Business podcasting is an incredibly valuable advertising,
marketing, and public relations tool for any business, when
practically applied. The idea behind podcasting, regardless of
what size business you may be, is; define your market clearly,
and be creative with the information you are relaying. These
concepts, mixed with a professional podcast production, will
lead your business to on-demand success with your target
audience.

Category : Pets

Finding Cheap Airfare for Indian Travel

2008-06-04T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Mansi Aggarwal
The land of myriad cultures, staunchly rooted in tradition, the habitat of millions of people belonging to varying religions and the country known for its distinguished historyâ¦India is a place worth visiting in the Asian continent.Though India covers a small area on the globe, the country earns a widespread popularity. Apart from producing some of the universally eminent personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla, Sachin Tendulkar and the like, India has many other lures that add credit to its name. People from all across the world come to India to experience the divine grace and charisma in the cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Vrindavan etc. The great Indian temples most of which are an emblem of Indian mythology have been mystifying people in all corners of the world since ages. What to say about the contribution made by India in the wonders of the worldâ¦US President Bill Clinton too couldnâ™t resist the enticement to bask in the glory of globally acclaimed Taj Mahal.This mesmerizing country recognized and memorized for several reasons including the hospitality of Indians can be explored at ease and without a second thought. The reason being the economical air fares from all over the world to India. For instance* If you are placed in Los Angeles or San Fransisco, a flight to Indian subcontinent will just cost you $1039. The decision of which Indian metropolitan to land like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai etc. is at your discretion. The rates remain uniform for all the cities.* From Dallas or Houston to any of the Indian metros the air ticket is available for a mere $1159. The rates do not vary in case you board the flight to India from Chicago, Detroit or Minneapolis.* It is still cheaper to fly to India from New York, Boston or Washington. The fare to Delhi can be purchased at the petite amount of $949. While going to Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and other cities will cost you $1,119.These rates might slightly deviate with your choice of airline but not much. The entire information about some of widely accredited airlines to India such as Jet airways from USA to India, Luthfansa, British airways, Singapore airways and so forth is accessible online. Once you brief yourself with all requisite nitty-gritties you can book make your reservations there and then. Besides these acknowledged airlines there are some others that will facilitate you with economic airfares to India clubbed with good and reliable service. What more can one ask for that almost all of these airlines frequently pop up with heavy discounts on their various packagesâ¦!So relish the twin pleasures of feeling the getting lost on the mother earth of Buddhism, a land that stands as a paradigm example of unity in diversity that comes with the least expense on air fare but maximum enjoyment and everlasting memories.Mansi aggarwal writes about indian travel guide. Learn more at http://www.meet-india.com
Category : Article Writing

Used Embroidery Machines

2008-05-27T12:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Bryce G Werllington

Used embroidery machines can be the most cost effective for novice embroiderers as well as for new embroidery companies just starting up. For the novice embroiderer who wishes to buy their first embroidery machine, this is generally the smartest way to go. A used embroidery machine can be significantly less than a new embroidery machine. It allows the buyer to try out a specific brand or model of used embroidery machine they are most interested in as well as being able to try out embroidering itself with much less risk. If they buy a used embroidery machine that they dislike or if they do not enjoy embroidering, they have not invested the same kind of money, as they would have if they bought a new embroidery machine.New embroidery companies can also benefit from purchasing a professional used embroidery machine. Much the same as for novice embroiderers, as used embroidery machine permits buyers more flexibility. Professional embroidery machines are very expensive and can cost anywhere from $7000 to well over $35, 000 for the embroidery machine alone, not including software, accessories, or materials. Used embroidery machines can be found for significantly less which makes start up costs for the business more reasonable and can mean the difference between success and failure for new embroidery businesses. Buying a used embroidery machine also gives they buyer a chance to use a specific brand or model and decide if it is really the one they wish to buy new in the future.Used embroidery machines can be found from a variety of sources both locally and online. Most embroidery machine stores will offer used embroidery machines as well as new. This is generally the best place for novice embroiderers to start looking. Companies may prefer to start online, as they are more likely to find more selection from the bigger suppliers listed as well as better prices.Both novices and companies should be sure to find out how many hours of use the used embroidery machine has, what work has been done on it and what kind of warranties are offered. Used embroidery machines are not less expensive if you buy a machine that doesn?t work or will break down shortly after you purchase it. There is always some gamble when buying a used embroidery machine, but you can eliminate most of this by buying through a reputable company and asking the right questions. Safewebhost (http://www.safewebhost.net.com) offers a variety of internet services including domain name registration, web hosting, website development, search engine marketing and content writing. As part of their search engine marketing, they have created a sewing resource center Central Sewing (http://www.central-sewing.com) with information on sewing, embroidery and quilting.

Category : Work at Home Moms

What to avoid to make your website design effective?

2008-05-21T04:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Veselin Andreev Andreev

The effective design is this one, which is maximum simplified, conformable to your users because they are your main purpose. This one, simply and clearly announcing what is your website about. This one, quickly offering the users exactly what they are expecting to see on your pages without being troubled with insignificant information. The big mistake made by lots of web designers is to project their activities from their own point of view, without thinking about user.Factors, damaging the website design effectiveness? Additional time needed for website downloading? Badly written content? Complex design, abundant in elements? Difficult navigation, incomprehensible for user? No validated program languageAdditional time needed for website downloadingYour pages downloading time is extremely important. Your users will shut your website down very quickly if you make them wait more because of your slowly downloading pages. The other sites are on a mouse click away from them.? Not important if you are talking about graphics, multimedia, scripts, applets - be cautious about their location on your site. Don't put them without judging their position, just because you or your designer had an idea about it. Design them small-sized, too.Badly written contentThe text that is ready for print has nothing to do with the text for the Web. According to Jacob Nielsen, Web usability guru, users have more difficulties in reading the information on computers rather than on printed editions. They rather scan it than read it profoundly. Huge text blocks are unreadable and couldn't allow them to do it. Means to make text more readable and effective could be effectuated by using: ? separate paragraphs? titles? subtitles? indentations? bullets? bolds? hyperlinks? different fonts and sizesComplex design, abundant in elements? Don't complicate users work by complex and abundant design making the website not to be clear in terms of its downloading and its appearance on their screens.? Avoid frames. They could seriously damage your website usability.? Having a site, made on FLASH you can't explain fast and clear to users what his content is about, what it would be useful with, what they could win, using your services, because only its downloading will take several minutes. If you insist however on including FLASH elements, much better variant is to insert them in a detached small file, with definite size, but inserting it, you have to possess some clear purpose. It refers much more to your home page, which is your website main portal.? Don't leave your pages without comprehensible title tags, clearly explaining what is your page about (title tag is the page title you see on the top of the browser).? Don't leave your site home page without text, explaining to your users who you are and what you are talking about on your site.Difficult navigation, incomprehensible for user? Don't upset user by bad navigation, making him feel lost. He could enter your site by each of its pages, not only by the home page. If he/she enters by another one, he/she must understand what is his/her position on your site, where he/she could go by clicking the corresponding link.? Don't leave your site without a site map. The site map gives user the possibility to orientate fast and easy on it.? Always put on each of your pages a link to the home page plus the firm's name and logo, making them also a link to the home page.? Don't allow the existing of a orphaned page, where a user could find lost.? Don't change the default color of the hyperlinks, because users are expecting to see them exactly that way. When a text is blue, the user is used to thing it is a link, and if it is purple, that it is a visited link. The different colors from the default ones will throw them into confusion.? Don't make blue a text that is not a hyperlink. That will also confuse them.? Don't put a link that leads to the same page, except these that go to other page sections.No validated program languageThe code your site is written in is validated depending on browsers from different types and versions.? Incorrectly written program code will make your site users close it immediately due to its bad appearing in their browsers.? The correctly written code is the best way to ensure on your pages the properly appearing of as more as possible browsers. It includes old versions and versions that will be published. Veselin Andreev is one of the Svilaves founders - website design and promotion services, the quality and effect of which are aiming at the successful development of their clients business. Read the exact details of their services on the address: http://www.svilaves.comcontact@svilaves.com

Category : General Web Development

PHRs model by Blue Cross Insurance

2008-05-21T03:00:00.001-07:00

Author : usha rani

High quality health care today simply means having the right information in the right hands and at the right time. You may be an individual or a family, every body need concurrent access to health care information that might be discrete among a number of physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, and other health care providers. But in fact we are many years away from the system that are fully interoperable. Consumers would have superior access to the health care information they require to optimize their health and health care thanks to a new personal health record (PHR) model being urbanized by Blue cross health insurance plans.America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) worked jointly to recognize the core health care information to comprise in PHRs, and have urbanized and pilot tested standards, which allow consumers to move PHR data when they actually change their coverage. This ensures that PHRs would surely be portable from health insurer to health insurer as customers have requested. Members of the two teams cover about 200 million people.The industry model PHR by Blue cross insurance is in fact private, secure web-based tool preserved by an insurer, which contains a consumer's claims and organizational information. PHRs allow individual patients and their chosen caregivers to look and manage health care information and play a better role in their own health care.Consequently of health insurance claims filed on behalf of consumers, insurers have most information required to give PHRs, and are in an exclusive position to build them for customers in the near term. PHRs are different from the electronic health records, which providers normally use to store and run detailed clinical information. A projected 75 million people have PHRs throughout health insurers, with millions more planned for the service during 2007.Physicians tend to encourage insurers to accept a reliable set of core PHR data. Health insurers would carry on innovating in the PHRs they expand, but the aim is to slot in core data elements into every PHR. These elements comprise patient histories, medications, immunizations, allergies, risks, plans of care, and much other information, which physicians recognized as the key data. The health insurance groups of people have set an objective of incorporating the core data elements and implement the standards for portability from a previous insurer to a new insurer by 2008. Usha Rani is a Copywriter of Blue Cross Health Insurance. She written many articles in various topics.For more information visit: Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance. contact her at forhealthplans2@gmail.com.

Category : General Insurance

Forehead Jewelry is Not Anti American

2008-05-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

Author :

head Jewelry is Not Anti American &nbsp;by: Henrietta JacobsonMarch 10, 2003 --- No the Intuitive Eye (patent pending) is not Anti American. It is forehead jewelry and was inspired by Henrietta Jacobsons practice of Kundalini yoga, which has nothing to do with Islam or the Middle East.The word Yoga comes from the Sanskirt root "Yug" meaning to join. Yoga literally means yoke or union and speaks of the union of the individual spirit with the universal consciousness. The basic techniques evolved in the monasteries of India & Tibet over a period of thousands of years. Even though Kundalini yoga originates out of India, it was brought to America in the 60s with Yogi Bhajan. Kundalini Yoga, the Yoga of Awareness, consists of simple yogic techniques that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter his or her age or physical ability. It is a complete science that includes breath(pranayam), yoga postures (asanas), sound, chanting (mantra) and meditation.It is designed to provide you with the experience of your highest consciousness through the raising of your Kundalini energy. It is like counseling through the body instead of the mind.Americans may think if someone is wearing something on their forehead they are from the Middle East. Sikhs wear turbans but are not Islamic, Muslim or from the Middle East either. The confusion seems to come from the practice of Middle Eastern Dance or belly dancing. The title "Belly Dance" is a direct translation of Arabic "raks el-batn". Raks is to dance and batn means belly. Most belly dancers wear headpieces and Indian & Egyptian women wear forehead jewelry. This of course has not stopped Americans from wearing belly chains and armbands or even belly rings.So why be afraid to wear your Intuitive Eye. Teens are wearing them, brides are wearing them and women that meditate are wearing them.Henrietta Jacobson<a href="http://www.goldpenny.com" target=new>www.goldpenny.com</a><table width=100% cellpadding=8 cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor=#dddddd><tr><td>About The Author The Intuitive Eye (Patent Pending) has become a meditation tool for some and a unique piece of jewelry for others. As a single mother Henrietta, a psychiatric nurse and pharmaceutical consultant spent 10 years raising two boys. With previous training and experience in sewing and fashion design, she had always had a passion to design jewelry. It seemed only natural once the children were grown to return to that passion. She enrolled in a jewelry design course finally ready to follow that dream. Kundalini yoga and meditation provided the inspiration for the design of the Intuitive Eye. Kundalini yoga is a wonderful tool for enriching a womans life and has become an important part of Henriettas life in many ways. It is a type of yoga for women of all ages; it is like counseling through the body and cells instead of the thought processes to heal the mind, body and spirit. Henrietta is currently working on a unique and full Chakra Jewelry line! <a href="mailto:Henrietta@goldpenny.com">Henrietta@goldpenny.com</a></td></tr></table>

Category : Hot Rods

Three Key Facets Of Successful Network Marketing

2008-05-20T09:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Kirk Bannerman

Network marketing has many aspects, but promotion, persistence,
and patience are three key elements which are critical to
achieving successful results.

PROMOTION is the lifeblood of network marketing. Whether you are
using online methods or offline methods, or a combination of
both, you must constantly strive to get your offering in front
of a targeted audience.

There are thousands of published sources that deal with specific
methods of network marketing (both online and offline), but the
key point to be made here is that you must have an active
promotion campaign designed to bring in a steady stream of new
prospective downline members.

PERSISTENCE is a key element in network marketing success.
You've gotta "just keep on keepin' on", even though frustation
levels can be quite high at times.

After you have been at it a while, and have a downline large
enough to provide reasonably accurate statistics, you will
probably find that about 95% of your downline members are
dormant and do nothing at all. Its easy to get down in the dumps
or take it personally when you encounter so many "do nothing"
people.

Therefore, it is really important work with and actively support
the 5% or so that are serious about participating. And clearly,
an active and effective promotion campaign will continue to
bring in increasing numbers of potential participants so that
while 5% is small on a percentage basis, it can still be a
sizeable amount from a pure numbers standpoint.

PATIENCE is vital. You can expect that it will take about a year
before the awsome power of geometric growth kicks in.

A classic illustration of geometric growth is the frequently
used penny-a-day example.

If you save one penny on the first day, and double it every
successive day, (day two you have 2 pennies and day three you
have 4 pennies, and so on) how much will you have at the end of
30 days? The answer, to the astonishment of many, is $5,368,708!
Amazing, but true.

Its a sad statistic that most network marketers fail and it is
often traceable to the fact that they did not exhibit enough
persistence and patience to continue constantly promoting their
business for the year or so that is required for success.

Network marketers that stick with it for a year or more often
end up becoming the proverbial "heavy hitters".

In closing, I would like to encourage you to increase your
chances of becoming a successful network marketer by always
keeping a clear focus on "the three P's" of Promotion,
Persistence, and Patience.

Category : Software

What Guided Nutrition And Exercise Will Do For You, Your Pregnancy And Your Baby

2008-05-18T13:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Jackson

In this article, my aim is to sensitize you about fitness, weight control and nutrition; make you aware of the health benefits in being fit, eating good food and doing regular exercises during pregnancy. Sure, you may be aware that exercise brings about fitness, but do you willingly engage in exercise for fitness and healthy living? The benefits of exercise when you are pregnant are so huge, yet most women are disposed to abhor exercise routines at this critical stage of their lives, because of the age old myth that exercise is inimical to pregnancy. The truth, however, is that exercise is beneficial for everyone including you, because it strengthens nerves and bones, regulates metabolism, ensures proper circulation of blood and nutrients to all the cells and tissues of the body, including the fetus .Healthy Mothers, Safe Delivery And Healthy BabiesFit pregnant women give birth, without delivery problems, to healthy babies. However, even though exercise is essential for fitness and good health, knowledge of suitable exercise is necessary because unhealthy exercise is counter productive. Combination Of Good Food And ExerciseGood food is synonymous with good health only when complemented with regular healthy exercise, if not, weight gain becomes a risk, especially during pregnancy and afterwards. Conversely, eating right and exercising properly will ensure proper absorption of food nutrients, make you fit and able to control your weight gain rate during pregnancy and afterwards.Expert AdviceYou should be familiar with one type of exercise or the other, most of which you learnt in school and neglected, but the truth is that there are special exercise routines for different kinds of people, and today you can find online specific ebooks dealing with exercise regimen for children, old people, athletes, sick people, and pregnant women.Recipe For Healthy EatingSome of these ebooks combine both exercise regimen and healthy recipes that provide the level of nutrition for both you and your baby, because eating right during pregnancy will make you healthy. It is also essential for your babys growth and development. Exercise, Nutrition and Pregnancy:Your nutrition, fitness and weight control during pregnancy can not be over emphasized if you consider the need to ensure the safety of both yourself and child. So look for that informative ebook that covers everything from the daily vitamin and mineral intakes needed, and foods that actually help with your pregnancy discomforts.Finally, it is only if you are fit that you can easily go through labor and give birth to a healthy baby without delivery problems. And with good food and exercise for weight control during pregnancy, you will also be able to lose your pregnancy pounds and revert to your pre-pregnancy shape a few weeks after you give birth to your healthy baby. Neshah writes for your sound health He recommends Preg Weight control or Easy Pregnancy Weightloss or Pregnancy Fitness for all the information necessary for pregnancy without tears.

Category : General Weight Loss

Tips For Lowering Your Auto Insurance Quote

2008-05-17T23:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Terje Ellingsen
Do you have many claims? If so, you should do all you can to reduce them or even endeavor to file no claims at all. Why do I bring this issue up in an article about lowering your auto insurance quote? Because the number of claims is the single factor that to the highest degree influences the cost of your insurance premium. Let me give you an example: Let's say you have 5 years of no claim. Most companies will then give you an unbelievable discount of your premium, some of them even 75%! It goes without saying that this is the most powerful way to get cheap insurance.How can an insurance company do this? Look at an insurance company as a big box of money dropped in by people who gets security in return. What the company does is simply to reallocate the money that is left when the payments for damages are deducted.People that have many damages and file many claims, must pay a higher premium and thus get a higher car insurance quote.But a safe driver that avoid claims, is rewarded with a lower one. Fair enough?If you are new to insurance - or even if you have had insurrances for some years, but feel you lack knowledge about it. - I'll advice you to learn the basic auto insurance terminology, before you start to shop around. It can help you, not only to get a low cost insurance but also to make the correct coverage decisions for you. Let's do a little test: Do you need PIP coverage? What does PD coverage mean? What is BI coverage?Do not accept the first quote you getIf you ask an insurance company for a quote, you can be almost hundred percent sure you'll get a better one from at least one other company. Comprehensive marketing research the recent years has shown that prices for a new six-month policy with comparable coverage can vary greatly between different companies. And we are talking about spreads in rates of at least $500So, equipped with this knowledge both you and I know that it pays to do a little legwork and shop around for car insurance.Most insurance companies have a form of questions you must provide answers to in order to get an understanding of your security situation. It is really astonshing, how much the criterias for determining the price can vary between companies. What one company may consider a high risk factor another company may view as a minor risk. So why not take a little time to compare rates for a number of different companies?The first thing you should do before you start this comparison is to go through your insurance coverages and keep your auto insurance policy on hand. Then go online and start to shop around. The internet is probably the most comprehensive, fastest and easiest way to find a decent vehicle insurance quote.And what's even more incredible, many insurance companies now offer some great discounts for buying the policy over the web - a discount that come in addition to the no-claim discount described above.How is this possible? To handle an insurance sale in general cost money for the companies. However, a sale on the internet will cost less money than selling it over the counter. They do not have to involve human resources if you purchase it online. Thus the companies save money on your internet purchase, and a part of this saving is passed on to you as a discount, a significant discount if you buy from the right company.Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the
website cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com
Terje gives advice and helps people with automotive issues like how to get cheap car insurance and auto owners insurance
in general.
Category : VOIP

High Blood Pressure Alternative Treatment - Supplements and Lifestyle DO Make a BIG Difference

2008-05-15T07:01:00.001-07:00

Author : Paul Newland
Hypertension affects over 20% of the population and more and more people are now looking to high blood pressure alternative treatments and lifestyle changes to improve their health. In fact, if you read about the side-effects of your current medication, Iâ™m sure you will be tempted to take a look at alternative treatments as well.High blood pressure, or hypertension, is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the resistance the blood encounters as it is pumped through the arteries. Blood pressure is represented as the systolic pressure (when the heart is contracting) over the diastolic pressure (the pause before the next beat).If your resting blood pressure is consistently over 140/80, you have high blood pressure.High blood pressure is not actually a disease but is an indicator of increased risk of stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. It is also associated with coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, kidney problems, obesity, diabetes, food allergies and endocrine gland problems which cause hormone imbalances.According to health and longevity expert, Dr Joel Wallach, when considering a high blood pressure alternative treatment the most common reason for high blood pressure is a calcium deficiency. As a result, people suffering calcium deficiency diseases - such as osteoporosis, arthritis, kidney stones, muscle cramps and twitches etc â" also suffer from high blood pressure.It can be a silent disease, however other symptoms can include dizziness, a red face, headaches, fatigue and ringing in the ears.Diet and Lifestyle for High Blood Pressure Alternative TreatmentThere are some lifestyle and dietary changes you can make, starting immediately:â¢ Drink approximately eight glasses of water per day.â¢ Quit smoking and avoid caffeinated drinks.â¢ Consume a high fibre, low fat diet with plenty of vegetables.â¢ Avoid sugar, refined flour, fried foods and margarine.â¢ Reduce your intake of red meat.â¢ If you're overweight - you need to lose weight and finally,â¢ Stress management can also have a dramatic affect and is being used by a number of medical practitioners.Health Supplements for High Blood Pressure Alternative TreatmentNatural health supplements for helping high blood pressure should include:â¢ Plant derived colloidal minerals - which contain a highly absorbable form of calcium and other minerals andâ¢ Calcium and magnesium supplements can work well â" make sure you buy something high quality because these two minerals are in fact very hard for the body to absorbâ¢ Essential fatty acids as fish oil may reduce the 'stickiness' of the blood and help by reducing levels of 'bad cholesterol'.â¢ A good multivitamin complex is useful as a high blood pressure alternative treatment and should contain Coenzyme Q-10, antioxidant vitamins A, C & E and the herb Hawthorne Berry. These provide nutritional support for the cardiovascular system.When combined with a sensible diet, weight loss and some exercise, you will be amazed at the results you can achieve without the use of heavy drugs.
Of course, we always recommend you work with your health care professional - in fact tell him or her you would like to start with a high blood pressure alternative treatment program. That way your medication can be monitored and reduced as the effects of lifestyle and nutrition begin to assist you on your way to better health.Copyright http://www.Global-Longevity.comPaul Newland is a health writer, sports training consultant and martial arts instructor and manages the Global-Longevity.com website.
He is the author of numerous health information books and guides, including the Wellness Report, The Ultimate Antioxidant Report, The Selenium Report, The Bird Flu Report, The Ultimate Nutrient Guide and The Essential Fatty Acid Report and The Ultimate Sports Nutrition Guide - available Free (for a limited time) through Global-Longevity.com
Category : Motivation

Can Seller Financing Help You Sell Your Property Fast?

2008-05-12T02:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Phyllis Espinoza
You may be an investor or rehabber who buys and sells properties frequently, and the quicker you are able to turn around your properties, the more profitable you are. However, when you sell through conventional means, put the property on the market and then try to find buyers who qualify through an institution, it may be 2 months to several months before you find a buyer who qualifies. Meanwhile the property may be sitting vacant and at risk of being vandalized, and you are still paying taxes and insurance on it.
Is there a way of speeding up the process of advertising and selling the property?There is a solution: Advertising your property while offering Seller Financing.By offering Seller Financing you are in a way acting as a bank and extending financing to buyers who would not qualify through an institution due to poor credit, no credit history or past financial problems such as bankruptcy. Seller Financing expands the base of potential buyers for your property, and this alone increases your chances of finding a buyer much more quickly. It also allows you to work out the terms of the new Note with the buyer that are more agreeable for both of you.What happens if at some point you decide you no longer want to act as a bank and receive and manage these monthly payments?What if you do not want your money to be tied up in this way and instead want to re-invest it?There is also a solution: Once you create the new Mortgage Note at closing, you can sell it for Cash by doing a Simultaneous Closing.Many Note investors buy these new Notes for cash at closing or shortly after, a transaction commonly known as a Simultaneous Closing. The seller receives the down payment from the buyer plus his cash from selling the Note, and is free of the property. The Note investor now acts as the bank and receives the monthly payments from the new Note.You will have accomplished all this in about 30 days, as compared to selling the property by conventional means in 2 to 4 months, or more. This allows you to turn your properties around much quicker so that you can consider other investments.If you are a homeowner looking to sell your property quickly because you have been relocated through your job to another city or state, or because of other personal reasons, you may also want to consider using the above techniques. Selling quickly means no traveling back and forth while the property is for sale, no headaches about possible vandalism, no additional taxes or insurance to pay.But this method is not for everybody. A seller willing to go through this process has to face the issues that usually realtors and lenders go through, such as setting the sales price, screening buyer's applications and dealing with title companies. Some people are more willing than others to do this.To make this work, the seller needs to be organized, have the house documents in good order and be willing to do some homework. That's why there are more investors and rehabbers using this technique than there are homeowners. But the ones that venture into this new territory can be well rewarded at the end.If you want to sell your property quickly and get cash on closing, this may be your best way to go!Phyllis Espinoza is an expert in Simultaneous Closings, an emerging field of creative real estate financing, and the owner of the website http://www.simultaneousclosing.com. Her goal is to help as many people as possible by making this useful technique better known.
Category : Finance:Real-Estate-FSBO

The Factors that Play a Role in Your Web Site's Ranking

2008-05-08T11:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Courtney Heard
Have you ever had a proposal, estimate or quote for search engine optimization work and wondered what goes into the pricing? What makes one site need more work than another? Why do some sites increase rankings faster than others? Why do some sites get more traffic from their top page ranking than yours?There are so many aspects of a web site that can decrease or boost your search
engine rankings. Each web site is as unique as DNA and as such, will react
differently to different marketing treatments.What are these different factors that go into your web site's ranking? Here is a list of
the most important aspects:1. The State of Your Site Prior to the Optimization - Your web site can have many
different attributes that contribute to it's ability to rank well or not so well. Your
site's PageRank for example, if your PR is a 0/10 or 1/10, it's going to take a lot
longer and a lot more work to get your site ranking well. If your site is poorly
designed, contains frames or is written entirely in Flash, a lot of work will be
required to redesign your site so that it is search engine friendly. If your site has
very few incoming links, a fair amount of link development will have to be done in
order for you to see the rankings and traffic you're after. A web site that has been
around for a while and developed it's PageRank, has a search engine friendly design
and obtains links on a frequent basis, will be able to reach top positions much faster
than other sites, once an optimization campaign is under way.2. The Keywords You Are Targeting - Some keywords are less competitive than
others. If you search Google for a keyword or keyword phrase, you'll see at the top
of the results how many web pages are listed in those results. That is the amount of
web sites that are competing with yours to reach top page placement for that
keyword or keyword phrase. For example, the keyword phrase "web design" has
approximately 303 million web pages listed in the results, whereas if you search for
my name in quotations, "courtney heard", you will see that there are only 508 web
pages listed in the results. It is therefore, much easier to rank well for the keywords
"courtney heard" than is is for web design. This is why you must choose keywords
wisely. With tools such as wordtracker.com, you can find out approximately how
many searches are performed for a given keyword or keyword phrase. The more
competitive those keywords are, the higher the cost will be to optimize your web
site and the longer the optimization will take.3. The Size of Your Target Market - If your site is targeting a global market, it will
take a lot more effort to reach the top ten search results than if your site is
targeting a regional market. It also depends on what sort of market you're targeting.
If your site sells a product that only a small group of people will be interested in
purchasing, your site will be optimized easier than if the product or service
appealed to the global population. For instance, the keyword phrase "real estate"
will require a lot more effort to reach top page placement for than "real estate
canada" and even "real estate vancouver".4. Competitor Sites' SEO Campaigns - You might find that once your optimization
campaign is under way, your site jumps and slips and jumps and slips several
times. This can be due to many things, but the one we'll look at is your competitor's
sites SEO campaigns. If your competitors are aggressively optimizing their own sites
for search engines, they can also be achieving new rankings and displacing your
site. This brings us to our 5th and final point...5. Your Own SEO and Link Development Campaign - Your own link development
and SEO campaign should be thorough, covering all the aspects of a well optimized
site and utilizing all your resources for obtaining incoming links. If your SEO
campaign isn't approached properly, your competitors can surpass you in the
rankings easily. You must be aware of your competition and adjust your efforts
accordingly.As you can see, there are many, many things that make your site unique in the
services it requires. Some sites can reach top page placement by just changing a
title tag, while others wait 6 months to even be listed on Google. The bottom line is,
educate yourself, ask questions, choose the right SEO company and be patient. In
time, your top page placement will come.Courtney Heard is the founder of Abalone Designs,
an Internet Marketing and SEO company in Vancouver, Canada. She has been
involved in web development and marketing since 1995 and has helped start several
businesses since then in the Vancouver area. More of Courtney's articles are available
at http://www.abalone.ca/resources/
Category : Business:SEO

Thousands of Anxiety and Panic Attack Sufferers Missing Out On UK Disability Benefits

2008-04-28T20:00:00.001-07:00

Author :

Thousands of Anxiety and Panic Attack Sufferers Missing Out On UK Disability Benefits &nbsp;by: Ali SinclairThousands of Anxiety and Panic Attack sufferers miss out on Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance in the United Kingdom every year. Why? Because many are not aware that they are eligible and so simply do not apply.Disability Benefits are not means tested and are not affected by savings. Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance are awarded based on the applicants need.Anxiety and Panic Attack sufferers aged 16 to 65 should claim Disability Living Allowance if their condition is such that they require help from another person with personal care and/or getting around. Disability Living Allowance comprises two components, the care component and the mobility component, the applicant must have needed the support for a minimum of three months. If Anxiety or Panic Attacks inhibit a persons mobility to the extent where they are unable to go out without the support of another person, because they may Panic, run off into the Road, or need support and encouragement, then they may be eligible for the Lower Rate of the Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance. To qualify, the applicant must satisfy the disability condition for the lower rate mobility, the applicant must be so severely disabled physically or mentally, that they cannot walk outdoors without guidance or supervision from another person most of the time.If the sufferer needs support and encouragement from another person to manage their personal care, such as reminding to have a wash, help washing and bathing, reminding to take medication, help choosing clothes and getting dressed, support when having an Anxiety or Panic Attack, then they may be eligible for the care component of Disability Living Allowance. The lower rate care component may be awarded if you are so severely disabled physically or mentally that you cannot prepare a meal for yourself if you have the ingredients or you are so severely disabled physically or mentally that you require in connection with your bodily functions, attention from another person for a significant portion of the day, whether during a single period or a number of periods. To qualify for the middle rate care component, the sufferer must require continual supervision throughout the day in order to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others, or require similar supervision throughout the night. The higher rate may be awarded if the sufferer requires supervision both day and night. Anxiety or Panic Attack sufferers aged 65 or over, should apply for Attendance Allowance, and should have needed support from another person for a minimum of six months. There is no mobility component for Attendance Allowance, and only two rates of the care component. To qualify for the lower rate care component, the claimant must require continual supervision throughout the day or night in order to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others, to qualify for the higher rate, the claimant must require this supervision both day and night. If Anxiety or Panic Attack suffers are not sure if they are eligible, the Disability Benefits helpline can advise. If in doubt, claim! It is advisable to seek the help of a Welfare Rights organization when completing the claim form, as they will be familiar with the qualifying rules, and can gather the right information for a successful claim. Millions of pounds of Disability Benefits go unclaimed every year in the UK, if you meet the qualifying rules, its your right, claim it for the help you need to manage Anxiety and Panic Attacks. Disability Benefit Rates April 2005 to April 2006<pre>Attendance Allowance weeklyLower Rate 40.55Higher Rate 60.60Disability Living AllowanceMobility Component Lower Rate 16.05Higher Rate 42.30 Care ComponentLower Rate 16.05Middle Rate 40.55Higher Rate 60.60</pre><table width=100% cellpadding=8 cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor=#dddddd><tr><td>About The Author Ali Sinclair is an accredited Welfare Officer (Institute of Welfare Officers), and is currently studying Social Care. Ali works in local government, her work involves advising on Welfare Benefits and Disability Benefits. Ali can be contacted at <a href="mailto:webmaster@attakkpanic.co.uk">webmaster@attakkpanic.co.uk</a> or go to her website for more information about Anxiety and Panic Attacks at <a href="http://www.attakkpanic.co.uk" target=new>http://www.attakkpanic.co.uk</a>.</td></tr></table>

Category : Health Organizations

Project Management Training: Surrex Project Management Solutions

2008-04-28T18:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Bharat Bista

iTEACH: The Project Management Training SolutioniTEACH is the project management training solution; a proven methodology based on years of experience using training concepts and approaches from top project managers and training executives originally developed by "Surrex Project Management" a premier provider of project management strategies.Pioneering in the development of this quickly configurable, flexible and collaborative training software that can be applied to diverse industries. Complex training content can be condensed into bite-sized pieces that are easily digestible using the Surrex iTEACH proprietary (training, education and context help) software. This collaborative approach to training, powered by iTEACH, is one that you can depend on to become the cornerstone of professional development for all of your knowledgeable workers, from the inexperienced to the accomplished veteran. This dynamic training system goes well beyond off the shelf presentations that are given by academic professionals and trainers using static systems; customizing all of the training solution presentations to match the dynamics and culture of each client company. This means users maximize the abilities of this utility and training and are better prepared to apply the concepts immediately.The implementation of iTEACH (training, education and context help) software solution provides a single framework to contain and link all of enterprise wide training materials. iTEACH will assist enterprise team members to become more collaborative in their approach, ensure that the training materials are well organized, and provide a framework for real time support, all this related directly to their work and in the context of their duties.Since iTEACH is a very flexible and dynamic system, it will configure and tailor the training solution to meet the specific needs of enterprise and training to designated staff members on system utilization. iTEACH was designed from the ground floor up to mitigate many of the training challenges that are created by traditional training tools and concepts.iTEACH Utilizes Three Main StrategiesDynamic Context PathwaysIn reviewing most static training systems, it is quickly discovered that most information needs to be put into context. iTEACH is quickly configurable. Tabs and context pathways can be quickly added so the users can access "Knowledge Nuggets" combined with other relevant information to give a complete understanding. For example, consider two distinct tabs, under each tab, there would be a "tree" hierarchy allowing a drill down to the correct training materials context. Each piece of the training material can be related differently to other pieces of information and have a drill down path to create a different context applicable to the needs of the knowledge worker accessing the information.Creation of "Knowledge Nuggets"Small snippets of information, reusable with multiple additional relevant pieces of information to gain complete context, are called Knowledge Nuggets. For example, a single screen for Change Notices may be used in several places with different links creating a different context. The underlying relational model of iTEACH, allows for one change, and cascades through the whole system. Collaborative ApproachThis works in two ways. First, key users can update the information on the fly. With iTEACH, a small revision doesn't mean a complete recompiling of a .PDF document or training manual. Second, iTEACH allows any document type to be referenced and linked. As a result, Visio, PowerPoint or a Word document can be part of the training materials instead of artifacts on a person's desk. Because of the dynamic nature of the iTEACH system it can also be used for varied applications in operations, processes and reference indexes.With a primary focus in total customer satisfaction in the course of many IT projects, there are times when all does not go as planned. Through customer service methodology, which focuses on early issue recognition, Surrex uses a proven successful approach to containing possible problems before they get out of control. Many companies can provide outstanding service when things are going well; Surrex strives to provide outstanding service both when things are going well and especially when they are not.Project management training itself does not make projects effective; it just makes them more efficient.Project management training teaches how to initiate, implement and execute the project; in short, it trains how to elevate the project towards its height. Author: Bharat Bista - Edited by Web Publicitee (Bruce Cullen)Article Reference : Project Management Staffing -iTEACH - Project Management Training

Category : General Computer: Programming

Why are domain names so important?

2008-04-28T08:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Antonio de Sousa Santana Carlos

Selecting a great domain name is important for two reasons:
first, a catchy and memorable name helps people remember it; and
second, a well-thought out name will enable you to attract
people through the search engines. Your domain name is, in
essence, the logo of your online business. It needs to express
who you are, what you do, and what products or services you
offer.

The bottom line is that a good domain name can go a long way
toward generating traffic to your Web site and building your
reputation. That, in turn, will result in more customers and
better sales.

1999 was the year of the big dot-com boom, and there was a
feeling that there were huge sums of money to be made from the
web - but back in 1999 people seemed more concerned about
branding than business plans. Inspired by the success of names
like Amazon.com, a raft of dot coms came (and went) under
snazzy-sounding titles. There was a huge land grab for virtually
all words in the English dictionary, plus every other
combination of words people could think of. Most of these sites
were never developed, but domains were often priced at huge
prices.

Premium domains are high quality domain names that are for sale
and only available in the secondary domain market.They have
excellent marketing and branding value, but also serve as an
investment.

As good dot-coms become more and more scarce, the demand and
prices for premium domain names has continued to increase.

"A domain name's importance emerged as a valuable element of an
organization's brand, and the numbers validate this trend," Matt
Bentley, CEO of Sedo.com, told the E-Commerce Times. "Though
we'll likely never see the sale prices of 1999, when domains
like business.com fetched $7.5 million, valuations for key
domains have definitely begun to elevate to demonstrate their
importance to business and organizations all over the world."

The dot-com crash that saw hundreds of start-up businesses on
the Internet close up shop in 1998 and 1999 is not discouraging
new Net entrepreneurs. A record number of domain name sales in
2005 shows that business presence on the Internet is stronger
than ever.

A domain name that reflects an organization's brand and
offerings is vital to driving new business.

Last year saw an explosion of growth for the secondary domain
marketplace, as more organizations purchased the ideal domain
name to drive their brand.

http://www.idealurl.com

Category : Traffic Generation

My favorite Sacramento restaurants: The world's best barbecue sandwich is inside a little Sacramento restaurant.

2008-04-26T13:00:00.001-07:00

Author : boots72

My favorite Sacramento restaurants: The world's best barbecue sandwich is inside a little Sacramento restaurant:Hello, and thanks for tuning in to today's show. We're going to take a closer look at one particular bbq sandwich that I love more than any other. We took our mobile stand around town (courtesy of A Southern Komfort Cafe) for feedback on this spicy hot-link sandwich that I love to talk so much about. We're riding around in the Carmichael, CA. area, looking for someone to give us their take on the world famous sandwich. Oh, there is a woman walking out of the store! L.W. Seals: Hello, how are you doing today?Lady: O.K. , and you?L.W. Seals: Great. We don't really mean to bug you at all, but we're going around the city all day today, getting feedback from everyone who tries this delicious bbq sandwich, courtesy of A Southern Komfort Cafe. Lady: BBQ sandwich? What's is it made of? L.W. Seals: This is the world famous bbq pork hot-link (basically hot sausage) sandwich that is one of several dishes on the menu at A Southern Komfort Cafe, a Barbecue/Soul food restaurant in sacramento. Lady: Well I'm not really very familiar with the Sacramento area, so I would'nt know where that's located.L.W. Seals: Actually, it's located in Citrus Heights. Here's a flier if you are ever in Northern Sacramento. There's a coupon on it and everything.Lady: Thank you so much. I am a fan of spicy foods. However, I usually don't eat a lot of barbecue. L.W. Seals: Well, here you go...Try this, and tell me how you like it...Lady: Wow, that is actually pretty good. I think it may be the best lunch sandwich I've ever had. I'll probably need a few wet-naps to clean my hands with, but I think it's well worth it. Do you have any more fliers or business cards?L.W. Seals: Bingo! Here ya go. Feel free to pass them along to all of your friends and family. Here's a bottle of water to wash it down. Lady: Thanks.I will definately pass the word on. Thanks again.L.W. Seals: No problem. Thank you for your time.Well, whether you like Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Japanese, Thai, or other types of food...Next time you visit Sacramento, make a trip to A Southern Komfort Cafe. "It Must Be the Sauce!!"You already know that I think it's the best barbecue sandwich in the world, but you don't have to take my word for it. Hey, that little kid's trying to take off with our cart! Get back here...Gotta go, hope to see you soon!http://www.webspawner.com/users/southernkomfort/ L.W. Seals is a creative writer/researcher. For more info. on A Southern Komfort Cafe, please visit:L.W. Seals is a creative writer/researcher. For more info. on A Southern Komfort Cafe, please visit:A Southern Komfort Cafe's blog

Category : General Food

Hollywood Celebrity Memorabilia Auction - Actor Lends A Hand To Support Hollygrove, Home for Abused Children

2008-04-26T00:00:00.001-07:00

Author :

n class="view_date">November 21st, 2004ends A Hand To Support Hollygrove, Home for AbuRaised within an artistic community in Hollywood, actor Eric Etebari learned firsthand about the plight of abused children when he was just 6 years old. While attending Vine Street Elementary School, Eric had several of the kids from the Hollygrove Home for Abused Children as his classmates!Best known for his role as the enigmatic Ian Nottingham in Warner Bros./TNT's "Witchblade" -Etebari's advocacy for abused children is also due, in part, to the example set by his great grandmother, who fostered sixteen boys on her farm in Bucks County, PA.In December 2001, Eric's devoted fans rallied to support a charity of his choice, and launched their 1st annual Hollygrove Auction Campaign with items from Erics projects. To date, the Eric Etebari Fan Club (<a href="http://www.EricEtebari.com" target="_blank">http://www.EricEtebari.com</a>) has contributed over $20,000 to Hollygrove's Theatre Arts Program.Hollygrove has now launched its own entertainment memorabilia auction on eBay (<a href="http://www.Hollygrove.org" target="_blank">http://www.Hollygrove.org</a>) which runs from Monday, November 15th through Monday, November 29th and is presented as the combined effort of AOL, InStyle Magazine and Hollygrove's Board Member, Lauren Shuler Donner. "This is a kick ass auction!" Eric exclaims. "It's a validation of the motion picture community coming together to support and offer hope for a brighter future to society's challenged children. We want them to know they are special and that we care about them."Etebari's contribution of autographed "Witchblade" memorabilia, joins over 362 items donated by Paramount, Universal and Warner Bros. Studios-including the mask that George Clooney wore in the 1997 film "Batman and Robin" and the1957 Marilyn Monroe Final Shooting Script "The Prince And The Showgirl." There are scores of personally signed items donated by a star-studded list of TV & film personalities including: Jim Carrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Richard Donner, Hilary Duff, Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Avril Lavigne, Susan Sarandon, Will Smith, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Walker, John Woo and Denzel Washington. Don't miss the unique assortment of items from the films: Shrek, the X-Men, and Spiderman, and specialty pieces from TV shows including, Friends, Star Trek, Witchblade to name a few.Claim YOUR special slice of Hollywood magic now - by going to <a href="http://www.Hollygrove.org" target="_blank">www.Hollygrove.org</a> or directly to eBay <a href="http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZhollygrovekidsQQsatitleZQQsorecordsperpageZ25QQsosortorderZ2QQsosortpropertyZ3" target="_blank">http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZhollygrovekidsQQsatitleZQQsorecordsperpageZ25QQsosortorderZ2QQsosortpropertyZ3</a>Please Note: Eric's donated items end on Ends Nov-26-04 18:09:56 PST. (various items close from Nov. 25 thru Nov. 29) So put down that drumstick and get your bid in before it closes! The history of Hollygrove:Founded in 1880, originally known as the Los Angeles Orphans Home Society, Hollygrove Home for Abused Children is the oldest, non-sectarian facility for children in Southern California. Since its inception, Hollygrove has cared for more than 15,000 children. Today, Hollygrove serves abused children who have been removed from the custody of their families by the court. Very often, these children suffer from a combination of disorders including post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and cognitive disabilities. Hollygrove provides a safe & secure environment, with a nurturing family atmosphere. Hollygrove is a place where children can learn and grow, while healing their emotional and sometimes physical wounds. Hollygrove's mission, in addition to crisis intervention and meeting immediate needs, is to place these deserving children in stable, permanent homes so that they can become healthier, happier people who will be able to contribute positively to society.To contact Hollygrove directly, please call: Voice: 1.800.864.KIDS (323)463-2119

Category : Free

Motivation and Commitment

2008-04-25T07:00:00.001-07:00

Author : John Vinturella
Why do people start small businesses? The most frequently cited motivation for business start-ups is to allow the entrepreneur to achieve independence; money is secondary. Is this surprising? The other reasons named most often are that an opportunity presented itself, a person took over the family business, or the person simply wanted to be an entrepreneur. Identify your motivation.For context, what reasons might people offer for joining a large corporation? For choosing a government career? A union job? Certainly, many people desire security, fringe benefits, and a predictable career âœtrajectory.âWhat kinds of people start businesses? Their skills are seldom different from those of people who succeed at working for others. The more successful entrepreneurs tend to be proactive, assertive, and highly observant. They are efficient, quality-conscious, and good at planning and procedures. As business operators, they are committed to "partnership" with employees, customers, suppliers, and their community. Would these skills or personality traits lead to success at any professional pursuit?Most entrepreneurs value control, freedom, flexibility; and self-reliance. They generally desire responsibility and personal fulfillment. Most entrepreneurs are not "gamblers;" they have a preference for moderate risk (What is the largest financial risk that you would consider moderate?). They are always searching for opportunities, and willing to pursue some.These are merely general characteristics. How might we apply them to our own fitness for, and commitment to, the entrepreneurial lifestyle? We need to ask ourselves some tough questions:Do I really want to start or own a business? What are my real reasons for considering going into business? The motivation must be strong enough to sustain you when the excitement of the startup has passed, and the everyday grind begins.Is there a product or service that fits my talents or desires? How should I address the opportunity? About 65% of new businesses are startups, 30% purchases of existing businesses, with the remainder inherited, promoted or otherwise brought into ownership. About 11% of the businesses operate under a franchise name.Am I ready yet? Why do you think so many new business founders are in their 30s? Perhaps it is because they have enough experience to be confident, yet are still flexible enough to take some risk. Do you think entrepreneurs are born (demanding parents, ethnic tradition) or made? Is it for you? If so, identify what additional skills or knowledge would increase your readiness.For women and minorities, there are additional considerations relevant to their chances of success. Do they have to be "better" to make it, or is entrepreneurship the only true meritocracy? Is any disadvantage only at startup?Do I have an adequate support structure? If you have a spouse, or are relying on some other form of family support, make sure that they understand the sacrifices involved and the pressures these will put on relationships.Can I place developing this business over other interests and goals for the foreseeable future? Am I willing to take on the personal demands of entrepreneurship? For example, can I work a full day as an employee of another firm, then work at my coffee shop evenings and weekends until it can support me full-time? There is more to life than work, and maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle can be a challenge for the self-employed.Can I muster the resources to make the venture a success? Do I respond well to continuous pressure? Once I make the venture a full-time pursuit, can I live without a regular paycheck, a predictable work schedule, and for a while without vacations and other benefits? Even after startup, business concerns seldom end when you lock the door at closing time. Am I prepared for the possibility that I might lose my money and property, and damage my health and self-respect?There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, only those that best reflect your feelings on these issues. Similarly, if your feelings indicate that you should not take the entrepreneurial path, it is certainly not a sign of weakness or any other sort of deficiency. It is more likely a decision that reflects the best life-work balance for you.John B. Vinturella, Ph.D. has almost 40 years experience as a management and strategic consultant, entrepreneur, author, and college professor. For 20 of those years, Dr. Vinturella was owner/president of a distribution company that he founded. He is a principal in business opportunity sites jbv.com and muddledconcept.com, and maintains business and political blogs.
Category : Mobile Phones

Dan Rather: A CBS Icon Gone, But Somehow Still On

2008-04-25T00:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Tom Attea/NewsLaugh.Com

As you know, Dan Rathers long career as the anchor of CBS News has come to an end in a not entirely mutually agreeable way. Since he has been part of the American mindscape for four decades, we thought wed include a note about his farewell in our culture section.We have all seen the trend toward pretty and youthful news announcers, and Mr. Rather simply does not fit that bill. We might ourselves intuit that at age 77, it may be about time for him to remove himself from the center stage at CBS News, if he had not been told there was no longer a place for him there.Yet such thoughts are countermanded by listening to his alertness, seeing the relative youthfulness of his face for his years, listening to his serious mindedness, indulging his ever-brewing sentimentality, and, most importantly, knowing he has always tried his best to do fair and intelligent reporting.Listening to the current landscape of comparatively trivial and overenthusiastic performers who currently conduct much of broadcast journalism, his serious intent and ready scowl can be appreciated even more.Were glad he has found a new outlet at HDTV and, given the many other opportunities he seems to be offered to appear on one program or another and comment with his Texas twang, were certain hell hardly disappear onto a New England trout stream for long. Hardly. In fact, somehow he just keeps appearing.We wish him rewarding work and inner peace for as many more years as he cares to present himself to our view and his commentary for our consideration. Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway and has written comedy for TV. Critics have called his writing ""delightfully funny" and "witty" with "good, genuine laughs."

Category : General Humor

Telephone Sales Basics for Start-ups

2008-04-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Author : Jo Ann Kirby
Everyone picks up the telephone to do business. Yet the word âœtelemarketingâ has many negative connotations for people. However, telemarketing is merely a term for conducting business over the telephone. Whenever you pick up the phone at work to make or receive a call you are âœa telemarketerâ. Over the years telemarketing has evolved into the following applications:1. Business to Consumer2. Business to BusinessWithin these classifications, there are two separate functions: inbound and outbound. Inbound is generally thought of as customer service, and outbound is used for sales or surveys.
CSR is telemarketing shorthand for Customer Service Representative. TSR is telemarketing shorthand for Telemarketing Sales Representative.In order to increase response rate, many firms use a combination of direct mail and telemarketing.Generally the telemarketing call follows the mail piece. If the client or prospect requires additional information, a follow up first class mail piece, fax or email is sent.A soft sell works best for long term buyer -seller relationships. Each prospect call begins by letting prospects know the organization might be able to solve problems/fill needs. We then ask a series of questions to determine what their situation is and how the products can best help them. The offer is made and we ask for agreement - also known as the close. Repâ™s are expected to overcome objections and show how close a match the products are to the prospectâ™s needs.The steps in a sales presentation:1. Opening2. Offer3. Trial Close4. Objections5. CloseMost Telemarketing units use a âœscriptâ, a written, planned presentation. Actually, all salespeople use planned presentations; but as no one can see the telemarketer, these can be written down. A good script is used as a guideline as opposed to a verbatim speech. The presentation should inject some of the repâ™s personality and be flexible enough to personalize each call.During the course of an âœaverageâ day a Telephone Sales Rep will:â¢ Dial the telephone 200 timesâ¢ Reach voice mail 80 times (out of 200)â¢ Reach a decision maker to make a presentation 20 times (out of 200)Telemarketing is no longer the stepchild of companyâ™s marketing efforts, in many cases telemarketing has become the focal point for dynamic expansion. As the cost of field sales endeavors continues to rise, more and more firms are using telemarketing to cost effectively increase their business. In 1988, US News and World Reports published a report citing 8 million telemarketing jobs by the year 2000. At a time when most telemarketing employment seemed to be part time (targeted for housewives, students and retirees)or hard sell boiler rooms, this number seemed tremendous.Today when most telemarketing positions, particularly in the business to business arena, are being held by experienced full time professionals, perhaps 8 million just scratches the surface.Jo Ann Kirby is president of KRG Communications Group. She has 20 years experience in sales, telephone sales and sales management and an extensive background in training and development. Her background also includes extensive b2b telesales management experience. Jo Ann has been published in The Toastmaster, NAPPS Network and Commerce magazines. More can be found at http://www.krgcommunications.com
Category : Investing

Tax Basics For Startup Home Businesses

2008-04-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Author : Kim Haas
I don't claim to be an accountant, nor very well versed in the art of creative tax preparation, but I do have a bit of experience in handling the day to day and month to month taxes. For the past five years, I have learned first and foremost that the most important thing in business is to keep accurate records for tax purposes.I always dread the end of each physical year when it's time to do the annual tax returns. It can be quite overwhelming for a beginner, but don't be scared... the IRS is very helpful in getting you on the right track and providing information to help you get through all the forms with a minimum of hair loss.If you will be generating an income from your business, (which is your whole purpose right?) you will need a federal tax ID number so the tax guys can associate your business to your name. This doesn't sound like much fun, but believe me, it's better to do it right the first time around than to have to deal with them after they discover that you have been running a business and not claiming your income on your taxes.You can get all the IRS publications on how to get your Federal Employers Identification Number (FEIN) from http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/ which will also provide you with a wealth of information regarding business startups, record keeping and and tax information.You will need to get a state sales tax identification number. This number is to identify you and help you keep track of your sales tax. You will need to charge a sales tax on tangible items that you sell. Sales taxes are based on your geographical location, so you will need to know what your state sales tax rates are and what the policies are for your particular state on sales tax and taxes on services. You can contact your local tax agency for assistance.There are significant tax savings for those who are running a home based business. You are entitled to certain credits, deductions and allowances. In order to claim these savings, you must first and foremost keep accurate records of the daily workings of your business.Since you will be "self-employed", you will be responsible for paying your own income tax, social security and medicare as well as any employee taxes if you have any employees. Property tax and sales tax are also your responsibility to report and pay them in a timely manner. Failure to do so could result in some pretty stiff fines.The IRS provides publications which are very helpful for starting a home based business. It would be a good idea for you to call your local IRS office and request their business startup package. They are more than happy to send you anything you need to start your business off on the right foot when it comes to taxes. I personally recommend the following booklets along with the startup publication:Tax Guide for Small Business (Publication 334)
Business Use of Your Home (Publication 587)
Self-employment Tax (Publication 533)
Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax (Publication 505)These booklets will provide you with all the necessary details to get you started. It will also contain a list of other publications that you may find useful and will guide you through the necessary steps for getting right with the IRS.Every transaction your business makes, will have an effect on your taxes. You make a sale, you will owe sales tax in most cases. This tax is reported monthly on a form ST-1 which will automatically be mailed to you prior to the end of each month once you have established your state sales tax ID number. You will also need to check into industry specific taxes. For instance, I have to file a quarterly ST-8 for my husband's business, which is a Tire Tax form in which we must collect and pay a "use tax" for any tires that are sold.Home based businesses also have certain tax advantages. You may be eligible for deductions such as a portion of your mortgage interest, auto expenses, phone expenses and depreciation for equipment such as your computer. Other tax deductions are for items such as certain membership fees related to your business, postage, software used for your business and copying and reproduction costs such as business cards and flyers.Dealing with business taxes can be very intimidating if you've never done it before but it doesn't have to be. Most tax agencies are very helpful in answering your questions and helping you get the proper forms. If you make a mistake in your tax forms, don't worry -- the tax agencies will find the mistake and correct it, but it's best to make sure you get it done right to save any penalties incurred if mistakes are found by the tax guys.Kim Haas is a WAHM and Founder of Womans-Net.com, a popular online networking community focusing on working from home and women in business and owner of http://Article-Host.com. To learn more about Kim, visit http://kimberlyhaas.comCopyright 2005 Kim Haas
Category : Finance:Taxes

Facing Your Daily Stresses And Anxieties As a Mother Or Father

2008-04-23T15:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Stanley Popovich

Many parents today have to deal with maintaining a family and
also maintaining a career. This can produce a lot of anxiety and
stress. As a result, here is a list of techniques that a parent
can use to help manage their daily stresses and anxieties at
their job and/or in the household.

Sometimes, we get stressed when everything happens all at once.
As a parent, you may experience those times when you have to
take care of your family and also do your job at the same time.
When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to
find something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of
the problem. A person could take a walk, listen to some music,
read the newspaper or do an activity that will give them a fresh
perspective on things.

When facing a current or upcoming task in your household or
career that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, divide the
task into a series of smaller steps and then complete each of
the smaller tasks one at a time. Completing these smaller tasks
will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances
of success.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small
notebook of positive statements that make us feel good. Whenever
you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write
it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you
in your pocket. Whenever you take a break from your chores open
up your small notebook and read those statements.

In dealing with your anxieties at your job, learn to take it one
day at a time. While the consequences of a particular fear may
seem real, there are usually other factors that can not be
anticipated and can affect the results of any situation. Get all
of the facts of the situation and use them to your advantage.

As a Layman, I know that our anxieties and stresses can be
difficult to manage at our place of work and in the household.
The more control you have over your stresses and anxieties, the
better off you will be in the long run and the easier it will be
to achieving your goals.

Category : Music

Keeping Affiliates Motivated and Selling

2008-04-22T18:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Kevin Robb

Running an affiliate program is becoming easier and easier with
all of the software and help available now. But keeping your
affiliates motivated and selling isn't quite so easy. If the
success of your business rests on how well your affiliates do,
you need to make sure that you provide your affiliates with the
right tools to get the job done. This may take some time and
effort on your part in the beginning - but it is an investment
in time and effort that will greatly pay off in the end.

If you are already running an affiliate program for your product
or service, you know that a great number of people sign up for
your program, never to be heard from again. You can reduce the
number of unproductive affiliates you have by staying in touch
with them constantly. Remind them of their usernames and
passwords. Tell them again where to log in to check their stats
or to get creatives. Keep them informed about new product lines
or changes in policies or procedures. Keep them up to date on
related news.

Just make sure that you stay in touch. Pay attention to who your
top sellers are, and make sure to contact them personally on a
regular basis. Also pay attention to who your worst producers
are, and stay in touch with them constantly as well.

One reason that most affiliates don't perform well is that they
don't have any leadership or guidance. You can easily change
this by writing a marketing course. You can even offer it for
sale to non-affiliates. But make it available to your affiliates
free of charge. If you don't want to write a course, see about
buying master resell rights to a course that has already been
written, and make that available free of charge to your
affiliates. It doesn't matter what method you use, as long as
you tell them how to market the product. Provide them with sales
copy and creatives. Keep the information up-to-date, and request
feedback and input from your affiliates. Set up a support forum
where they can come together to share ideas and learn new
things. You might also consider forming sales teams - small
groups of affiliates who meet on a regular basis, share ideas,
and keep each other motivated.

Keep your sales copy and creatives up-to-date. Provide new
material for your affiliates to use on a regular basis. Just
providing them with a text link and one banner doesn't generate
much excitement. Provide them with sales letters, testimonials,
reviews, ads, banners of varying sizes and shapes, and anything
else you can think of. Make sure that your affiliates know the
new material is there for their use. Listen to your affiliates,
and get feedback on your sales material.

Hold Virtual Meetings. Set up a chat room where your affiliates
can attend a virtual meeting on a monthly or quarterly. Answer
questions, give away 'door prizes', have motivational 'speakers'
and anything else that you can think of to make the meetings
informative and enjoyable. Remember Amway? Have you ever been
invited to one of those meetings? The point of the meeting is to
inspire your affiliates - get them so excited about your product
or service, that they can't wait to get out there and tell the
world! Hold contests for your affiliates. Make the prizes
worthwhile. Award a first, second, third, and grand prize for
the highest sales in a given time period. Contests are great
motivators.

Give your affiliates the recognition that they deserve. Every
month, in your affiliate newsletter, give recognition to the
best performers. Give them small bonuses. You could also set up
a payment structure that awards higher commissions for a higher
volume of sales.

Do everything that you can to make sure that your affiliates are
succeeding and making money in your program. If they are
succeeding and making money - your are succeeding and making
money as well! Their success really is your success.

Category : Business

Groups Assist the 'Make Money Online' Syndrome

2008-04-21T18:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Michael Fowler
William Shakespeare once wrote; "The world is a stage on which everyone is a player" ... and in Network Marketing, each player must play his/her part. To make money on the internet, working from home, you need to find the players that play their parts.Making money online is much easier when everyone is part of the performance...Groups play a large part in forming such an association. A Yahoo group is easy to form and allows communication to flow freely amongst the members. Keeping everyone informed of latest developments and ideas, is easily done through groups.To truely realise the "make money at home" principle, you have to communicate and allow people to interact with each other. Team players are known to be more likely to make money online, than their individual opposites. Many minds are greater than one.Groups are a think tank of ideas that can transform an individuals personal performance by injecting new ideas and methods into their flagging marketing strategies. To make money online, you sometimes need the sort of push that a Group can give you.While some groups live a short life, many have been around for over 6 years or more and still give that sort of unconditional support that a new person needs, to make money on the internet. Failure rates are lower when a group is active and being led by motivational methods. The Group structure produces loyalty and belief to many people.Anyone who is serious about learning how to make money online, should ask if there is a support group available within the business and then check it out, to see how active the group is, by looking at the mailing figures. Most groups record the number of posts made in any particular month. 78 or more would indicate some moderate activity.Belonging to a number of groups is also a great way of relationship marketing. Joining groups that are aligned to your own personal interests, often foster a great number of business associates. Those are the sort people who are most likely to play their part.Always remember that to make money on the internet, you have to socialise and be online on a consistent basis. Plugging people into an online group will also help you in your quest to make money online.Michael A Fowler, M.B.A. is the editor of the Internet's premier work at home resource: Work from Home Journal.An Online Trainer, Mentor and Coach, Michael has been helping people to succeed online since 1998.http://www.the-mba-way.com | Goldcard43@aol.com
Category : Ovarian Cancer

Get More Out of Your Tabbed Browser

2008-04-21T07:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Jon Schmedt

Being someone that spends most of the day on the internet, I
have often looked for ways to simplify and speed up my daily
tasks on the web.

A few years back, I luckily stumbled onto the Mozilla browser.
Needless to say, I am now totally hooked on the tabbed browsing
features.

Background:

For those who are unsure about what tab browsing is, a tabbed
browser allows you to open a new web page without having to open
a new browser window. So, multiple web pages can be loaded in
the same window making it easy to switch between different sites
you find on the internet. When you're done surfing the web, you
only have to close one browser window even though you are
viewing multiple web sites.

Requirements:

This article will be most useful for those using the Mozilla
Firefox browser. You can also benefit from it using Internet
Explorer, but since I.E. doesn't support tabbed browsing yet,
you will end up with multiple windows open on your desktop. If
you have not yet tried Firefox, I highly recommend it regardless
of whether or not you plan on reading this article. It's free
and can be downloaded at http://www.mozilla.org

Let's Get Started:

In this article, I will explain how you can unlock additional
tabbed browsing features built in the Firefox browser. Then, we
will learn how to open multiple web sites with one click through
the use of JavaScript. Finally, we will create your own
personalized home page that provides quick access to your
favorite sites.

STEP 1: Unlocking additional Tabbed browser features in
Firefox

One difference I noticed between the current Firefox version and
previous Mozilla releases is that by default, Firefox does not
provide an option to make all external links on a web page open
in a new tab versus a new window. After reading more at the
Mozilla site, I found out that this option is available, but
just needs to be unlocked. There are a couple of ways to unlock
this feature. But, I find the quickest way is to do the
following.

- With the Firefox browser window open, type (about:config)
without the parenthesis in the address line where you would
normally type a URL. This will list the main configuration
parameters for the Firefox browser with their current values.
Cool huh..?

- Scroll down the Preference Name list until you see
browser.link.open_newwindow. Double click on this line.
Change the Value listed in the text box from 2 to 3.

Now, whenever a link on a web page attempts to open a new
window, the site will load in a new tab instead. Now it's time
to take advantage of this feature. In the next step, you will
learn how to open all of your frequently visited sites in one
browser window with one click.

Note: You can also unlock this feature by creating a user.js file that will store additional
configuration parameters.

More information on how to do this and additional tricks is
available at http
://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/tips#beh_reuse

STEP TWO: Load Multiple Sites in Tabs Using
JavaScript

Now that the browser settings are set to load all external links
in tabs, we will begin creating a personal home page that will
take advantage of this feature. To do this, we'll create a basic
web page in html that will call on the use of a simple
JavaScript. To start, create a new .txt file in Notepad.

If you are new to html programming for the web, don't worry. You
can copy and paste the code examples below if you like. The page
won't look fancy, but you can improve on it in your spare time.
I've also created a code generator form to help with this
article at http://www.4allgo
od.com/?mod=26 It will create all the necessary html code
for you to view, customize, and use.

One neat feature JavaScript provides is the ability to open
windows on the computer. Using JavaScript, we can open multiple
sites with a single click. In this example, I will load some web
sites that I frequent. On your page, just replace the links with
your favorite sites, or use the code generator
form to make your own links.

HTML/JAVASCRIPT CODE EXAMPLE:

<html>

<head>

<title>Personal Home Page for Firefox </title>

var Engines = new Array (

"http://www.google.com",

"http://www.yahoo.com",

"http://www.ask.com"

);

var Classifieds = new Array (

"http://www.4allgood.com/adlandpro.php",

"http://www.4allgood.com/classifieds",

"http://www.4allgood.com/freeadposting.php"

);

var Finance= new Array (

"http://finance.yahoo.com",

"http://www.forbes.com",

"http://www.sharebuilder.com"

); function openPage (favorites)

{

for (i = 0; i < favorites.length; ++i)

open (favorites[i]);

}

</script>

</head>

<body>

<h1>A Sample Home Page for FireFox</h1>

<a href="#" onClick="openPage(Engines); return
false;">Search Engines</a>

<a href="#" onClick="openPage(Finance); return
false;">Financial News</a>

<a href="#" onClick="openPage(Classifieds); return
false;">Online Classifieds</a> </body>

</html>

CODE EXPLAINED:

Using javascript, the links to each of your favorite sites can
be listed in an array. Then, using the openPage function, we can
open all sites in the array whenever a link is clicked. This is
done by running the function as the onClick event occurs. The
variable names can be anything you like. (ex. var Whatever = new
Array) In the sample, I gave the variables a name according to
the type of sites listed in the array.

The openPage function will find and load all of your favorite
sites listed in the arrays. To call on the function, just enter
the function name followed by the variable name. Ex.)
openPage(Classifieds);

Once you have copied and pasted the above code, or the code
issued by the generator form into NotePad, save the file as
favorites.html.

STEP 3: Putting it all together into One Time Saving
Feature

If you have followed steps one and two, you should now have a
page that will allow you to open multiple sites in tabs with one
click. You can easily add additional arrays, or edit the links
contained in the arrays to include all of your most frequently
visited spots on the web.

To get the best use out of your new favorites.html page, you can
set it to be your home page. This way every time you open the
browser, all of your favorite sites can be loaded quickly.

Here's how to set the home page in Firefox.

- With the favorites.html page open in your browser, click on
Tools -> Options.

- Now, click the "General Options" icon located in the upper
left corner of the Window

- In the Home Page Option section, click on the "Use Current
Pages" button.

You now have your own home page with your favorite sites just
one click away. I hope you found this to be as fun as I did to
create. If you have any questions, or add-ons for this article,
please feel free to contact me at my web site.

Category : Hair Loss

Customer No Service - How to Lose a Loyal Customer!

2008-04-20T23:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Phil Gerbyshak
So today was the day where I almost stopped going to my favorite supermarket here in Milwaukee. If you're in Milwaukee, you know the one I'm talking about: the cool one downtown that has 1000 different types of produce, and a whole aisle dedicated to gourmet coffee and teas. The one with the free samples, the wine tasting and cooking courses. Yeah, that one.Anyway, today I went to the market to buy a few things for dinner. I knew it was going to go wrong because my usual entrance to the parking lot was gated off by shopping carts lying on the ground to block my path. OK, I'm flexible, I'll drive around.The second thing was when they were out of my favorite glass bottles of skim milk. It's the best way to drink milk, in my humble opinion. They had every flavor except for mine.Next, I tried to check out by "paying by touch." Let me tell you, this can be the best system in the world, you just sign up with your driver's license number, your credit card number, your preferred customer number, and your phone number, and away you go. Notice I said CAN be the best. Many times, my preferred card number doesn't work in the system, and it doesn't take the savings off of the bill, and tonight was one of those nights.Now this would have been okay, had the checker just used the house card and given me the lower price so my debit card would be billed the correct amount, however she did not know how to do this. Instead, she said to go over to the service counter and someone over there would help me out.Skeptical, I walked over to the service desk to see 3 clerks talking to each other and cutting out something that was much more urgent than me and the 4 other people in line. For some reason, after a few minutes, one girl asked to help me. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I told her my dilemma, and she proceeded to go through my bags, re-scanning things and writing down what she thought was the correct cents off. I'm no cheapskate, but five dollars is 2 gallons of gas! Of course, she was doing all of this in her head, and didn't let me see the slip, and of course didn't do it correct, ripping me off to the tune of about 20 cents, plus I had to re-pack my own groceries.To add insult to injury, there was no ramp open to go down to the parking structure I was forced to use, so I had to grab my bags and carry them, with my wife, down 3 flights of 10 stairs.This is maddening to me! It's so easy to do things right. Here's how I would provide customer service.Plainly mark the entrances that are closed, and advertise it on your stores website, thus alleviating some of your customers' frustrations, and provide the alternative entrances.If you're out of something, put a sign up that lets me know when it's going to be back so I can return and buy it then, and apologize that you're out. A little sign is all I ask, not a big production.Make the error in favor of your customers, and scan the house savings card whenever in doubt. And give your checkers the ability to fix this, instead of sending us over to the service desk.Offer something extra to customers when your computer systems don't work as planned. It doesn't have to be a lot, but give me a coupon for a free loaf of bread, a free deli sandwich, or something nice. It's not my fault your preferred system doesn't work.Use loyalty cards for EXTRA things, not to get the every day lowest price. Why am I going to scan my preferred customer card if I know I don't have anything that's on sale? I'm not, that's why.That's all I've got. See, it wasn't so hard, was it? Making customer service great is a lot easier than you though. And oh yeah, you won't lose me as a customer if you at least try. Thanks!Phil Gerbyshak publishes the Make it Great! blog at http://MakeItGreat.blogspot.com. It's updated many days with thoughts about how to take control of your life and stop letting it take control of you! He also has a personal website at http://Gerbyshak.com. Feel free to stop in anytime or give me a call at 414.640.7445 so I can help you make it a great day!
Category : Writing & Speaking

Sewing Supplies For New Sewers

2008-04-19T05:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Bryce G Werllington

What sewing supplies do I need to start sewing?The most obvious sewing supplies would be sewing machine and fabric. While less, obvious, there are a few more sewing supplies that the novice sewer will require to successfully complete their project. These other basic sewing supplies include patterns, thread, bobbins, sewing machine needles, regular sewing needles, scissors, pins, measuring tape and chalk line. Where do I find these sewing supplies?Most sewing supplies are easily located at local sewing stores, fabric stores, craft stores and department stores. They can also be located on numerous sites online.What is the difference between scissors and shears?When purchasing sewing supplies, novice sewers will be faced with the choice between buying scissors or shears. Scissors have blades less than 6 inches long and two finger holes the same size. Shears on the other hand have a large hole for the fingers and a smaller hole for the thumb. The blades on shears may be straight or bent and is more than 6 inches long. What are sewing notions?Sewing notions are another way of saying sewing supplies and can include tools, materials and sewing aids such as snaps, zippers, buttons, scissors, seam rippers, blades and pressing cloths. Safewebhost (http://www.safewebhost.net.com) offers a variety of internet services including domain name registration, web hosting, website development, search engine marketing and content writing. As part of their search engine marketing, they have created a sewing resource center Central Sewing (http://www.central-sewing.com) with information on sewing, embroidery and quilting.

Category : Work at Home Moms

When is the right time to refinance your mortgage?

2008-04-18T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Mark Lambie

You"ve heard that interest rates are down and you think it could be time to refinance your existing mortgage, but the entire loan application process was so exhausting during the initial loan that you aren"t sure it"s worth the hassle. You could very well be right, but there are some things you can do to help decide whether it"s time to refinance your mortgage.

The first thing you need to verify is the interest rate for your existing mortgage and the interest rates being offered across the board for new loans. If there"s not at least a one and a half to two point difference, you"re probably not going to be significantly better off to refinance your mortgage. Here"s why.

Remember those closing costs on your initial mortgage? You probably paid for an appraisal, perhaps a home inspector"s services and even a survey if you have rural property. Depending on how long it"s been since your original loan, you may be faced with having all those processes repeated. Especially if you are going with another lender, have had the existing mortgage for at least two years, have made major modifications to your home or property, or have seen some significant variations in property values in your area, you"re probably going to be required to have an appraisal at the very least. While it"s not a huge cost for an appraisal, comparing that with the amount you"re going to save on a slight drop in interest rates could show that it will take months to recoup that expense. Don"t forget that you"ll likely have some additional closing costs from the lender on the new mortgage (you are, after all, taking out a new mortgage even though you have an existing loan) and you may even be facing penalties for paying off your existing loan early. Weigh those costs against what you expect to save before you take this step.

So does that mean that you should never refinance an existing mortgage? Actually, there are plenty of opportunities when refinancing your mortgage makes good financial sense. If you"ve significantly increased the value of your home or have been paying for several years, you may have enough equity to qualify for a better interest rate. You may also lower monthly payments or refinance to make improvements. In the end, it"s up to you to weigh the costs of refinancing your mortgage and decide if the time is right for you to take this step.

About the author:

Mark Lambie is the founder of The Loan House a website that allows consumers to quickly and easily get free mortgage quotes and mortgage information.

Category : Finance

On the Verge of Success: Resistance is Not Futile, It's Likely!

2008-04-16T10:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Bill White
How many times have you started a project and, as you approached completion, found yourself losing momentum? How many near misses have you had with success?In my youth, I was a musician. I practiced with bands for about 15 years in all. One thing I became incredibly aware of is that as my bands got well versed in performing certain songs, we all found ourselves hating them. As I got older, I found the same thing to be true of many types of projects. Quite frequently as we progress through a goal, we started to burn out. Often this burn out leads to us abandoning our goal.Learning from experience, I've figured out that if you get burned out on a project, it simply means to take a full steam attitude. When you hit burn out, you're almost there!It is important to keep the momentum going because if you lose it, it is likely to be impossible to get it back.Here are a few suggestions on how to handle the burn out:* Listen to something inspirational. It doesn't matter if it is Heavy Metal or Tony Robbins, just get yourself psyched up about your project!* Fire up the coffee maker and try to push some overtime. It is often better to strive for a 12 hour stint than keep the momentum from day to day.* Reread your goals or project plans. Often if you simply refocus on your intended goal as it is written explicitly, you'll find that second wind!* Eat lighter meals more frequently. Staying just a bit hungry always seems to make me work harder!* Visualize the project completed. Feel it, smell it, see it and imagine how it will in some way make life better!Remember anything worth having is worth striving for. I hope these suggestions will help you reach your goals!All the best to you!Rasheed Ali (#1 Adversity Consultant) and Bill White (Syncronicity Expert) have just launched http://www.SleepYourWayToRiches.com

-- a powerful new success and wealth creation website and http://www.SolutionCoach.com --
a powerful business and success coaching site.
Category : Self-Improvement:Motivation

Your Dog Will Thank You If You Read These Doggie Diet Tips

2008-04-16T04:00:00.001-07:00

Author : NS Kennedy

Although it was once common practice to feed dogs whatever
scrapes came from the dinner table, today we realize that there
is much more to feeding an animal than we thought. It is
important to give them foods that will provide them with a
healthy life and a long one too. In fact, there are a number of
researchers who dedicate their lives to understanding just what
your pet should and shouldn't eat. You can bank on what they
have found that should be in your dog's diet.

It is important to provide your animal with the right type of
food. That means that you should give her food that is right for
the dog's age and activity levels and that is right for her size
as well as her health. You'll find a wide selection of products
to choose from in your pet store. It is wise to purchase the
best quality of food for your pet that you can afford to buy.
Realize that if you purchase poor quality food for your animal,
his health can be lacking.

Your pet's diet should include some dry food because the crunch
will help to keep her teeth clean and it will also help with gum
health. It provides the fiber in your dog's diet that is
necessary. You can use wet food, but don't give them too much of
it. For example, pour some over your dog's dry food instead of
giving them the whole can. If you are interested in providing
your pet with home made foods, find dog specific recipes
throughout the web to use. It is important not to give your dog
leftovers from your meal though. You need the food to provide
nutrition to your dog based on his needs. Things like fats, and
fillers in human food, as well as spices, can make a dog sick.
As a puppy, your dog needs to eat frequently throughout the day,
about three or four smaller meals, until they are about three
months old. Then, cut it down to only three meals a day for the
next three months. Ideally, your adult dog should each twice per
day. You should provide your dog's food to them for up to twenty
minutes. At that point remove it if they have not eaten it and
are not in the process of doing so. This will help to stop picky
eaters. You do need to provide a constant amount of clean water
for your pet to drink as well.

Ideally, you will need to get recommendations about the amounts
of food to feed your dog from your vet. Sometimes, information
is also available on the food bags as well. Not sure if your pet
is eating the right amount? Here's a test. If you run your hand
against the dog's side, you should feel her ribs without
pressing. If you can not feel them without pressing, she may be
overweight. If you can see them, though, she is underweight.

Category : Sales

If I Go Bankrupt, Will My Bankruptcy Prevent Me From Ever Being Able To Borrowing Again?

2008-04-16T00:00:00.001-07:00

Author : J. Douglas Hoyes
As a licensed trustee in bankruptcy in Ontario, Canada, I meet with hundreds of people each year who are in serious financial difficulty, but they don't want to go bankrupt because they are afraid they will never be able to borrow again.The vast majority of people I meet with are honest, hard working people who have experienced a life altering event, such as a job loss, marriage break-up or medical problem. They used credit to survive, and now they have more debt than they can handle. In many cases they need to declare personal bankruptcy to get a fresh start.People who live in Ontario are no different than people who live everywhere else: one of their financial goals is to one day own their own home, and they worry that if they declare bankruptcy, they will never be able to borrow again. They worry that with a personal bankruptcy on their credit report they will never qualify for a mortgage.When people raise the issue of borrowing after personal bankruptcy, here's what I tell them:First, if you already have more debt than you can handle, if you don't deal with your debts you will never be able to borrow again, whether you go bankrupt or not! If you are so far behind on your bills that collection agents are calling, your credit rating may already be damaged beyond your ability to fix it on your own.If you are already being hounded by bill collectors, a bankruptcy filing may actually, over time, improve your credit rating by eliminating your debts and getting you back on track financially.Second, I tell them that your ability to borrow is based on many factors. Obviously your credit report is one of those factors, and so obviously filing personal bankruptcy will have a negative impact on your credit report, and your ability to borrow.However, there are factors other than what's on your credit report that lenders use to make the lending decision. They also consider your income, job stability, and the amount of a down payment you can contribute to the purchase.For many people, that's the key: if after bankruptcy you can save money, instead of using all of your extra cash to service your debts, you have a great chance to save enough for the down payment on the car or house you want!Over the years I have served as the trustee in thousands of personal bankruptcies, and many of those people have learned to manage their money wisely, save money, and go on to finance the purchase of a car or a house.Your ability to borrow again after bankruptcy depends primarily on your ability to save money, so if you do go bankrupt, use it as a fresh start to get back on track. financially.J. Douglas Hoyes is a chartered accountant, licensed trustee in bankruptcy, and co-founder of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc., one of Ontario, Canada's largest personal insolvency firms helping people understand bankruptcy, and all of their bankruptcy alternatives. Visit http://www.hoyes.com for information about bankruptcy and bankruptcy Ontario.
Category : Finance:Bankruptcy

Choosing the Right Dog Treats for Your Canine Companion

2008-04-14T10:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Michalis "BIG Mike" Kotzakolios

Dog treats are available in a huge variety of flavors, shapes, colors, sizes and types. They are an excellent way to reward or to train any type of dog. However, some dog treats are full of artificial additives and preservatives, so make sure you read the list of ingredients on the packet before you buy them.Faced with such a variety it?s hard to know which types of dog treats are best for your dog. So let?s take a look at what?s available and then you can make an informed choice.The first category of dog treats is soft treats. These include LiverSnax, BeefEaters and human food such as raw hot dogs, bologna, cheese and cooked, unseasoned chicken or turkey. Soft treats make great rewards and are ideal for obedience training, housebreaking training or just as a snack. Being small and portable makes these nutritious nibbles particularly suitable for training and they won?t spoil your dog?s appetite for dinner or upset her stomach.Learn More About Dog Treats And Dog ObedienceAnother treat category is biscuits, and these are also good for training purposes. Beef liver treats are a popular choice. They are tasty, healthy and very easy to make yourself ? just bake in the oven until crispy. You can also boil beef liver seasoned with garlic powder. When it?s cooked, place on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven until dry. Cut into bite-size pieces after cooling. You can put these treats into small sandwich bags to take with you for training sessions.Ears and snouts are also much loved treats. Smaller dogs and puppies can be kept entertained for hours with a delicious pig?s ear! Most ears and snouts come with a smoked flavor which will add to you pet?s enjoyment.Hard treats such as bones and rawhide satisfy a dog?s natural urge to chew and can help clean their teeth and remove plaque. While dogs do enjoy them, many experts advise against rawhide dog treats. Frequent rawhide chewers commonly develop irritation and rashes on their lips from the prolonged exposure to the rawhide?s chemicals. Rawhide cannot be digested and if swallowed can cause serious problems. Non-toxic chew toys are a much safer option and there?s a vast assortment available. Don?t be tempted to give your dog chicken or turkey bones as these can splinter when chewed and can pierce vital organs, often resulting in fatality.More and more pet owners are choosing organic treats for their dogs. These treats are free from any chemicals or toxins and are often fortified with vitamins and minerals, which can help, prevent the development of skin problems, allergies, and diabetes and kidney problems.Edible dog treats should be high in vitamins and nutrients and low in fat. Vegetables such as raw broccoli, raw baby carrots or raw red peppers can keep even a fussy dog happy. You can also try pineapples, grapes bananas, apples and pears. Your dog will soon let you know which she prefers. Read More About Organic Dog TreatsMichalis ?BIG Mike? KotzakoliosKotzakoliou, SSA About The AuthorMichalis "BIG Mike" Kotzakolios is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services. michalis.kotzakolios@gmail.com

Category : Pet & Animals

Stocks Look Pricey

2008-04-14T04:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Geoff Gannon -
The first quarter of 2006 is over. Now is a good time to reflect on stock prices and the opportunities they present.

Bargains are scarce. Equities are expensive. In recent weeks, Iâ™ve heard several fund managers say valuations are still attractive. I donâ™t agree. Generally speaking, valuations are unattractive. Returns on equity are higher than historical levels. A market-wide return on equity of 15% is unsustainable. Price-to-earnings ratios may not fully reflect how expensive stocks are. Price-to-book ratios are more alarming.

There are two additional concerns. Most discussions of the relative attractiveness of equities focus on the S&P 500 and forward earnings. The S&P 500 is not the most representative index. It may not be the best index to consider when looking at market-wide valuations.

Forward earnings are (necessarily) estimates. Where current returns on equity are unsustainable, projected earnings that use similar returns on equity may overstate the earnings power of equities in general. This can occur even where the estimates appear reasonable given current earnings. If you start with unsustainable base earnings, you are likely to overestimate future earnings even if you truly believe you are assuming very modest earnings growth.

Assets in general are pricey. Value investors have few places to turn if they continue to insist upon a true margin of safety.

Bonds are unattractive. Long-term inflation risks make U.S. treasury, corporate, and municipal bonds a foolâ™s bet. There is little to gain and much to lose. The know-nothing investor who buys a top-quality bond today and holds it for decades may very well find his purchasing power diminished.

There may be some select opportunities in foreign equities. But, these are difficult to evaluate. Foreign government obligations are also difficult to evaluate, but that isnâ™t much of a problem for value investors, because most foreign government debt is priced to perfection. Youâ™ll have to be willing to take a lot of uncompensated risks if you want to own such bonds.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. There may be a few bonds out there that are attractive. There certainly are a few attractive stocks out there. But, even those stocks that look very attractive relative to their peers donâ™t look nearly as attractive when compared to past bargains.

Value investors face a difficult choice. They can assume stock prices will return to historical levels, and hold cash until the correction comes. Or, they can accept the reality they currently face.

There is no logical reason stock prices must necessarily return to historical levels. During the twentieth century, real after-tax returns in diversified groups of common stocks were very high relative to other investment opportunities. There have been various reasons given for why this occurred. Many have said these returns were possible, because of the higher risks involved in holding equities. Over the long-term, risks were somewhat higher than todayâ™s investors seem to remember, but they were hardly severe enough to justify the kind of performance spreads that existed during much of the twentieth century.

True, if you bought at inopportune times, it was possible to remain in a fairly deep hole for a fairly long time. But, if you gave no real consideration to the timing of your purchases or the prospects of the underlying enterprises, you did better than many bondholders who chose their investments with the utmost care.

This is a disconcerting problem. It may be that most investors are overly sensitive to the risk of an immediate âœpaperâ loss in nominal terms, and therefore overlook the much greater risk of a gradual loss of purchasing power. Issuing fixed dollar obligations may be the best bet for any business or government that seeks to swindle investors.

For the sake of the common stockholders, I hope many of the best businesses continue to issue such obligations when money is cheap. Corporate debt gets a bad name, because it tends to be overused by those who donâ™t need it and shouldnâ™t want it (and, of course, by those businesses that do need it but won't survive even if they get it). The businesses that would benefit the most from the use of debt usually appear to have more cash than they could ever need. But, itâ™s best to think ahead. For truly high quality businesses, the cost of capital will fluctuate far more wildly than the likely returns on capital.

If, during the last hundred years, stocks really were far cheaper than they should have been, is there any reason to believe stock prices will return to past levels? The past is often a pretty good predictor of the future â" but, not always. Itâ™s difficult to say whether, over the next few decades, valuations will, on average, be higher or lower than they are today. However, it isnâ™t all that difficult to say whether, at some point over the next few decades, valuations will be higher or lower than they are today. The answer to that question is almost certainly yes. They will be higher and they will be lower. Maybe for a few years or a few months. Maybe for a full decade. I donâ™t know.

What I do know is that value investors will have opportunities to make investments with a true margin of safety. But, should they wait?

Thatâ™s the most difficult question. Today, I am not finding opportunities that look particularly attractive when compared to the best opportunities of past years. But, I am still able to find a few (in fact, a very few) situations where the expected annual rate of return is greater than 15%.

That will be more than enough to beat the market. It will also likely be enough to provide a material increase in after-tax purchasing power. Thatâ™s not guaranteed, but it hardly seems holding cash would offer the better odds in this regard.

So, is an expected annual rate of return of 15% good enough? Is it reasonable to bet on the good opportunity that is currently available instead of waiting for the great opportunity that may yet become available?

Iâ™ll leave that for you to decide.

Residual Income Online Business Ideas

2008-04-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Author : Cynthia Minnaar

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2008-04-12T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Sonia Colon

We all know that competition is an ugly word but competitors are a fact of life in business. If your business can't compete with other businesses, don't start it. You have to have some type of an edge.You may have an excellent product or service, but if everyone else is selling a product or service similar to yours, just how much of the market can you expect to capture?You will have to learn everything there is to know about your competition and understand their marketing strategies.The best way to research your competition is to locate those you consider the largest threat to your potential business. Take the time to make a note of and acquire a feel for how your competitors deals with their customers, then answer these questions: What appeals to you most about their website, introduction, setup etc.? How large of an inventory do they carry? Are their products display eye-catching? What is their Alexa, Google, Yahoo, and AOL ranking? Are their testimonials positive? Are their prices in line and competitive with yours? What do they offer that you could not? Do they offer discounts? Do they offer a return policy? Do they offer any special services, such as free delivery? Which areas could do with some improvement and could you improve in these areas? Do they keep their online store up-to-date? What means of promotion do they use flyers, coupons, free gifts, etc.)? Next, create a profile of each main competitor. Know how they advertise, why their customers shop there, what areas need improving, and how successfully you can expect to compete with them.You may also develop ideas for improving and promoting your own business. Your success will lie in assessing and understanding your competitor's strengths and weaknesses.Evaluate and compare your own strengths and weaknesses to stay in touch with the competition and succeed in your business. Sonia Colon owns and operates Jimson Products. She is also a writer & publisher of "My Jimson Products Ezine". Subscribe by visiting her site at http://www.jimsonproducts.com. Sonia Colon is also a Senior Independent Candle Consultant, Visit: http://www.shopaffordableluxuries.us/scolon to join her team and be part of a generous financial rewards program!

Category : General Marketing

How to Compare Instant Approval Credit Cards

2008-04-12T09:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Eric Wasselman
Instant approval credit cards are usually applied for online. Normally a response as to whether or not your application was successful is received minutes later via email. Generally, only persons with excellent credit can apply for these cards, although a few card issuers allow those with bad credit to do so. A few persons will sometimes still have to await an answer when they apply for an instant approval credit card, however.As with any other credit cards, when comparing instant approval cards the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) must be used. Questions that must be asked when comparing instant approval credit cards are: Is there are low or 0 APR as an introductory rate? If yes, how long does this introductory rate last? Some cards will have an introductory period of up to fifteen months, others will not.Some of these cards have an annual fee that must be paid unlike others do not. No credit card comparison can be done without looking at annual and other financial fees.Is the credit card really an instant approval one or just an instant decision credit card? These terms despite sounding similar, have two different meanings and understanding these differences is important for comparison purposes. An instant approval credit card means that your application was successful and you will receive a credit card in three to seven working days. An instant decision means that the bank gives you an 'interim' approval while they get your credit report from the relevant credit agencies.Some consumers expect to be able to start using their cards once approval has been granted, but unfortunately not many credit card issuers offer this facility. Most instant approval credit card holders will need to wait until they receive an actual card to start utilizing the card. A few banks however will offer issue a temporary card number under their instant credit plan. This allows the applicant to make online purchases immediately after their online application has been approved. Only a few banks still offer this facility because of fraud concerns.Most credit cards today come with free credit rewards' programs so any decision must include examining which cards offer incentives and how these stack up against similar types of cards.To compare instant approval credit cards, Eric Wasselman recommends Find Credit Cards.
Category : Finance:Credit

DJ/Producer Bruno & LeMoch announce their 2004 Winter Music Conference Schedule and two original productions.

2008-04-12T07:00:00.001-07:00

Author :

>March 3rd, 2004

LASIK Surgery - How The Excimer Laser Works

2008-04-10T19:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Nicola Kennedy

The Excimer laser is a form of ultraviolet chemical laser, and
is the key element that has made laser eye surgery possible.
Though Excimer laser was originally used in semiconductor
manufacturing in the 1970s, its use in eye surgery is now fairly
widespread. While working at the IBM research laboratories in
1982, Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasin and his research team discovered
the potential of the Excimer laser in interacting with
biological tissue. An ophthalmologist, Dr. Steven Trokel,
explained its connection with the corneal tissue. And this was
how LASIK eye surgery came into existence.

There are several types of lasers, but excimer is the preferred
choice when it comes to corrective eye surgery. This is due to
the fact that excimer is the most technologically advanced laser
type. The excimer laser is, literally, a cool laser. That is, it
precisely removes the desired part of the corneal tissue,
without heating up or damaging the adjacent tissue. Quite
amazingly, the excimer laser is so precise that it is capable of
removing 0.5% of a human hair's width at a time. That fact
itself is enough for patients to believe that excimer-assisted
eye surgery is not a gimmick, but a true technology leveraged
procedure.

With the computer technology at its disposal and the precision
offered by the laser, LASIK surgery has emerged as the number
one choice for patients with refractive error. Since the excimer
laser emits cool, minute beams that make precise incisions on
the surface of the cornea, a dedicated technician operates the
machine while the ophthalmologist performs the surgery.

Your eyes are your window to the world and your sight is the
most important of the five senses. Hence, it is all the more
imperative that, if need be, you go for an eye surgery that is
reliable and has minimal side effects. With the high-precision
technology of the excimer laser and the overall reliability of
the procedure, LASIK is the most prevalent of corrective eye
surgeries.

Category : Management

Iran The Unwinable War, with Unachievable Aims and Unbelievable Consequences

2008-04-10T18:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Stephen J. Morgan

n class="view_date">March 2nd, 2007

Develop a New Habit

2008-04-10T01:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Steven Aitchison
Research shows that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. That's 21 days of going to the gym every day or exercising in some way every day, 21 days to meditation, 21 days to eat healthily, 21 days doing, 21 days of anything. When you want to start a habit, don't tell yourself you are doing it for life, tell yourself (your conscious brain) that you are going to try it for 21 days. For example if you want to start the habit of meditating tell your conscious self that you are trying it for 21 days. Now, when you have completed this for 21 days your conscious mind has the choice of stopping it or carrying on, or so it thinks. Your neural pathways have formed already and you will more than likely continue with your new habit, you will have seen the benefits along the way your unconscious will want to continue if it has been beneficial.This can also work when trying to break a habit, however research has shown that the neural pathways to any habit could be lifelong and a cue or a trigger can cause us to start back up an old habit, like smoking.This is not a bad thing; we just have to be aware of our thoughts when we have given up a habit such as smoking.When starting or breaking any habit we tend to tell our conscious mind we are going to change and it's for life. Your conscious mind will just say is that right? I'm in charge here, I'll decide' so there will be a battle between your two sides of your conscious mind.If you tell your mind you want to try something for 21 days it won't be so unwilling to co-operate. This might sound a little strange when I say talking to your conscious' as it is your conscious talking to your conscious. We all know we have conversations with ourselves, should I go to the pub should I not, should I go to the gym should I not. There are a hundred conversations we have with ourselves everyday.When we want to start something or give up something, smoking for example, you might normally say to yourself right that's it I'm giving up for good'. Immediately your brain kicks in and says no smoking for life, and then it starts to think of all the situations it likes a good cigarette in; first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee, going out for a drink at night, at work when you're a bit stressed, just after sex etc. Your brain thinks 'lack of' instead of the benefits of. It can't really think as clearly about the benefits because it hasn't yet had the benefits of giving up smoking but it knows the supposed pleasures that smoking brings.So what habits can we start for 21 days?I have made a list for myself that I am in the middle of doing;Give up sweets for 21 days Meditate for 21 days Write in the blog every day for 21 days Get up before 6am every day (I've actually made this a habit now) Drink a vegetable juice for 21 days This is just a small list of the things I am doing. Feel free to share you 21 day new habits.Change your thoughts and you will change your life.
www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blogwww.stevenaitchison.co.ukwww.bradlewdesigns.co.uk
Category : Self-Improvement:Addictions

10 Easy Tips to Save Money on Your Home Heating Bills

2008-04-09T11:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Greg Quincy
With energy costs higher than they have ever been in recent history, it pays to find ways to reduce your home heating costs. I put together some tips that are easy, cost effective and will all add up to reduce your home heating bills by a significant amount! You don't need to be Bob Villa either. Some take just a minute or two. Even small changes will add up to big savings over the course of this cold winter!Here are the 10 tips that I have personally used to save on my home heating costs:1. Head down to the basement and reduce the setting on your hot water thermostat by about 10 degrees. I wouldn't go below 120-115 degrees. The adjustment dial is typically a red knob towards the bottom of the water tank.2. While you are downstairs, make sure you have clean filters for your central air-heating unit. A dirty and clogged filter will force your unit to work much harder and stay on longer as it struggles to fresh air through the clogged filter to heat the rest of your house.3. Check your air ducts for gaps, leaks or disconnects. If you have any disconnects or leaks in your ductwork, your heating bills could be 25% higher than they need to be if these gaps were sealed. If you can't do this on your own, hire a professional. This expert can also clean your ducts for added efficiency.4. Adjust your thermostat a few degrees lower. Believe me, this really adds up. It may not seem like much of a difference to you, but you will notice the difference when you get a lower bill each month!5. While we are on the subject of thermostats, consider replacing yours if it is not programmable. The reason is, you can set the thermostat so the temperature setting in your house is lower at night than during the day, when you are awake. Also, if you are away at work during the day, you can set it for a lower temperature and have it programmed to start heating the house a little bit before you come home. These aren't too expensive and are easy to install and configure yourself.6. Insulate your attic. Heat rises, right? If your attic isn't properly insulated, all of the heat in your house (and your money) goes right through the roof. Literally! This does require some effort on your part, but following through on this tip will save you a ton of money over the years. Measure the square footage of your attic and buy rolls of insulation, greater than R-13 but no higher than R-30. Wear a mask and gloves when working with insulation because it irritates the skin.7. Find those leaks and cracks! If you were to add up all of the small cracks and holes in your house, they would probably add up to a small window, wide open, letting cold air in and hot air out. Take the time to find gaps in windows, doors, pipes, electrical and phone lines, your dryer duct and much more. Put weather-strips around your doors and windows. You can buy insulation foam that comes in a can with a straw at the top that allows you to fill in tight spaces. It expands to fill even the smallest cracks. Of all of the tasks, this was the most fun finding and filling these gaps all around the house.8. Close the vents in rooms that you do not use. I have one room in my house that is not currently in use. I shut the hot air ducts and made sure the windows and doors were properly sealed to limit energy leakage. Why waste your money heating up extra square footage of your house that you don't even use?9. Open drapes and shades for all of your windows during the day to let the sun heat your home. In the evening, pull them back down for added insulation. It is amazing how much direct sunlight streaming into your home helps to heat things up.10. Your fireplace can help and hurt your heating costs. If you are not using your fireplace, make sure the damper is closed. When it is closed, inspect the damper and feel if cold air is still leaking in. If you are using your fireplace, make sure the heating in the rest of your house is reduced or turned off.Taking the time to implement these tips will drastically reduce your home heating bills. You can get most of them done in just one day, but the payoff will last for as long as you live there! I followed through on each one of these tips and the following winter, my bills were about 25% lower, saving about $100 a month! So roll up your sleeves follow these tips and start saving money on your heating costs!Greg Quincy is the publisher of the website http://www.financialtipsforyou.com, offering his money saving tips and other personal finance advice that he has gained from working in the financial industry and the economic challenges of raising a family. Copyright © 2005 http://www.FinancialTipsForYou.com
Category : Home-and-Family

Viral Marketing - Your Key to Gaining New Clients

2008-04-09T00:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Al Kernek
Email newsletters are an excellent means of promoting the products and services offered on your Website. Adding two simple tools to your newsletter can dramatically increase your readership.As well as Website promotion, email newsletters are an efficient means of retaining current clients by reaching out and touching them on a regular basis. They can also be very effective in gaining new clients.By providing pertinent, high-quality information in your newsletter, readers are more likely to forward your email to interested friends and relatives. This phenomenon, called "viral marketing," is a side benefit of email newsletters. To enjoy viral marketing, always include a link in your newsletter that allows visitors to "Send (it) to a Friend." The HTML code for this is usually free through your newsletter service provider or offered in your PC newsletter application. As your distribution list grows and your newsletter gets passed along, the odds of striking a chord with a potential customer dramatically increase.To capture new clients as your email gets circulated, also include a "Subscribe to Newsletter" link within the email. In other words, make it enticing and easy for new newsletter viewers to sign up for future issues.Viral marketing offers the possibility of geometric growth in the number of your newsletter subscribers as new clients also pass your emails along to their friends and relatives. To make it work for you, just remember to concentrate on providing attention-grabbing, useful information AND make your newsletter simple to forward to new prospects who can easily subscribe themselves.Al Kernek is a real estate broker and author of "Creating E-Mail Newsletters â" A Practical Guide for the Real Estate Community." To learn more about increasing sales using low-cost, effective Internet marketing techniques, visit http://www.renewsletter.com
Category : Current Events

The Rate of Change

2008-04-08T05:00:00.001-07:00

Author :

The Rate of Change &nbsp;by: Ieuan DolbyThere have been many discussions and grumblings in the Western world about the ever increasing pace of change and the ability of the brain to accept it. The Internet (something uninteresting that the American Military was developing) suddenly became a required household feature. Digital Mobile Phones suddenly give new meaning to taking photographs and all those gimmicks from James Bond Movies have long since been incorporated, accepted and forgotten about in daily life.When in 10 A.D., Roman Engineer Julius Sextus Frontinus said, "Inventions have long since reached their limit, and I see no hope for further developments he never knew that his words would be repeated. Mr Charles Duell, The Commissioner of the United States Patent Office said nearly the same thing in 1899: He said:"Everything that can be invented has already been invented.The rate of change is moving upwards at an ever increasing pace. We no sooner buy a computer than it becomes obsolete with outdated programs, chips and hardware installed. We no sooner buy a mobile phone than a newer and better looking one becomes the latest in fashion. There is no appreciation of electrical goods; there is instead a rapidly reducing value on any item purchased as to make it worth almost nothing from the moment that it is bought.The Human NatureIt is in our nature to keep up with life, to be on top and to be one step ahead of our peers, neighbors and friends. It is natural to want to be at the leading edge of the game, to know and to understand what another is talking about, to have the answers available and ready and on the tip of the tongue. The average worker does not want to be seen as slacking or lacking in knowledge and the fashion conscious do not want to be caught wearing old hat clothes. The Bankers and Insurance agents do not want to be caught unaware and the salesmen need the latest in shock patter. To read magazines and news reports, press-releases and advertisements in a vain attempt to keep up with latest trends, ideas and on-the-market availability is time consuming and exhausting. To have endless newspapers delivered to the door, to have magazines pouring in at the office and to always talk about the latest in an effort to not be caught out is damaging to family, friends and health. This though is what current society makes us do: to push out and reduce contact with social friends, to work overtime in an attempt to be on top and to read product magazines whilst the squash court remains neglected. Life, relaxation, enjoyment, socializing and hobbies become secondary to a constant search for updated knowledge.The issuance of News has become one of the worst culprits in throwing information at the brain. And in such a way that the brain feels that it needs a constant update of this news even if it has just been heard. Breakfast starts with CNN blasting out over the cornflakes and the children become relegated to enforced silence incase an important news item is missed. This carries on throughout the day with endless repetitions of the same news being blasted out in a different way - through meetings, lunch in the canteen, in the office and dinner in the evening. Watched by thousands of goggled eyed desperados desperately looking for a nugget or change - so that they may not be caught unawares.Through this requirement to be up-to-date children are ignored, conversations are minimal and relaxation and enjoyment are relegated to a harried five-minute episode before bed.The Staggered ApproachFor a human to cope with such change and newness it is necessary to cope in stages. To take onboard change and newness in a staggered manner and to only accept change when it is either required or wanted. To buy a personal computer at great expense only to find that within six-months new software is now available, that surpasses the configuration or ability of the machine, is heart breaking. To find out a mate has bought a better machine than you is soul-rendering. How much can a human take?When the clippers docked in Liverpool after a lengthy two-month voyage from the Far East they broughe machine, is heart breaking. To find out a mate has bought a better machine than you is soul-rendering. How much can a human take?t tea and the latest in fashionable goods for the high society in Britain. They also brought news of people, events and happenings in far flung places. This news may have been four months old (if not more) before it reached the ears of a not very interested cobbler plying his trade on the high street. He might not get around to mentioning it to his wife for another three weeks or so and she may or may not mention it to the neighbors all depending on the state of her bunions at the time.The next update that the cobbler might or might not hear about might be when the next clipper arrives in town a month later. Hopefully from the same port in the Far East and assuming that those onboard were sober enough to have taken note of life around them. It is quite safe to say that events before the turn of the nineteenth century existed for most in a staggered manner. Declarations of war were made, armies sent, battles fought, surrenders made and hands shaken before news of anything untoward arrived back home.Yet today this summarizing of world events does not exist. The ability to know everything within five-minutes of it having occurred is readily available to everybody. An ongoing and smooth road takes society from the beginning to the end without hiccup or falter and as it unfolds. All this though is so unnecessary and the time spent listening, reading and catching up with trends, fashion, news, etc could be better spent. This is where the staggered approach has to be enforced and by self-policing can become a part of a good and enjoyable life.For Example: To go out and buy the latest in modern technology requires the buyer to be at the top of current events and trends. This requires allot of reading and conversations with the experts. The machine is then bought and it is at this point that further research, talk and listening can be dispensed with. At the point of payment, the need for the latest information on technology and software becomes superfluous and attention can now be turned to something more worthwhile. At the point of payment it is very important that the mind can now accept that from this moment forth it will always fall behind with regard to future innovations and changes. It is necessary that the buyer can accept that the recent purchase will slowly become obsolete and that his own knowledge will decrease during the time that he has that machine. The buyer has in effect put is first foot up the staircase. He has researched, become knowledgeable and wise on the subject and made his purchase. There is now a waiting stage, a time lapse where the quest for knowledge becomes pointless. For the next few years or so the buyer can seriously enjoy using his machine for the value and output that it can give. It will only be necessary to place another foot on another stair when the machine fails: when it is blatantly obvious that it cannot keep up with modern trends or when someone points out that it is from Noahs Ark. At this point and after three or so years of abstinence the magazines can be bought, the talks restarted and the quest for information can be instigated and again up to the point when the next machine is bought.This approach to keeping up with trends can easily be applied to the receipt of news. Instead of watching the news on television, all day and everyday a half hour summary would do either in the morning or evening. The need to have newspapers delivered every morning to be faithfully read before work can be replaced by the Sunday edition which suitably summarizes a weeks events. Magazines like the Times, or Newsweek become priceless in their ability to subjectively give important news over a month period, without all the clutter, useless and unfounded opinions and errors that work through in daily news.This staggered approach will save money on newspapers, magazines, clothes, and telephone bills. It will give that much needed time for a conversation with the wife, a play with the children or a beer whilst watching the sun go down.To tackle life like a set of stairs rather than a steep path is the only way to accept the rate-of-change that exists around us and it would make for a far calmer and more rational human than the one that never has the time.<table width=100% cellpadding=8 cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor=#dddddd><tr><td>About The Author Ieuan Dolby, from Scotland is an Engineering Officer in the Merchant Navy. He has been travelling the world for 15yrs on an endless tour of cultural diversification. Currently based in Singapore he writes various articles for magazines and newspapers and is working on a marine glossary. <a href="mailto:ieuandolby@lycos.com">ieuandolby@lycos.com</a></td></tr></table>

Category : General Family

Why Would Anyone Consider Network Marketing

2008-04-07T16:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Bill Dunigan
Extra income, extra income, extra income!
Residual income, residual income, residual income!
That's it, plain and simple.This is a question I'm sure most people have asked. With the proliferation of products being thrust upon us from what seems to be a never-ending stream of marketing empires, what would motivate an individual to even consider network marketing? Certainly it's not the perceived rejection one feels when a potential customer says no. Nor is it the skepticism about reported incomes. Just what could possibly draw someone to pursue the field of network marketing?The first and most obvious answer is that there are people who are in sales as a career. Those are the ones who enjoy it and are good at the art of selling anything. They will be attracted to sales whenever they are looking for a new position. Most of us are not comfortable trying to sell to others.The second type is those who have not chosen sales as an ongoing career but are involved in it on a temporary basis while looking for a position in the field of their choice. The fact is, there are numerous sales positions available at all times and when someone needs work, it is the easiest type to find in a reasonably short time.Then there is a third category. Here you will find those who probably had no intention or interest in selling. These are the individuals who have chosen to become independent distributors. They become affiliated with a large company that provides them with not only product, but also a myriad of support and assistance. The better the parent company the better the support. In spite of some popular belief, these can often be quite lucrative and beneficial for those individuals who decide to pursue such a path. In order to really be successful in this type of system it is necessary to grasp the concept of marketing an idea and system of ongoing income possibilities tied in with a particular product line as opposed to simply selling a product to someone.This system has become the chosen format for a great many highly successful companies and has actually helped create numerous millionaires over the years. Today all indications are that it is here to stay and will actually continue to grow even larger. Many people still remain skeptical of it and the claims of high incomes, but the fact is that it really does work. These systems are usually quite simple to implement and anyone could do it. However, in order to succeed one needs to be willing to learn, either have or develop a positive attitude, be serious about it as a business, and probably most of all, be willing to teach and help others succeed. It is a learning and growing process.The challenge for most individuals is getting past the idea of focusing on product sales and realizing that the real profits are centered around teaching. Yes that's right, teaching. You see, that is the true basis of network marketing, people helping and teaching other people. Once we are able to grasp that concept everything changes. From this point on it becomes possible to actually build a network of ongoing distribution as well as that illusive residual income. That is the real prize!In today's world we have all become well aware of the fact that there is no such thing as a good reliable job, and forget about any benefits. We are all familiar with lay offs, downsizing and corporate failures. If we have not ourselves experienced one of these, we certainly know someone who has. That's what makes the residual income so vital, because it's not offered anywhere else, unless you are a recording artist, actor, author, etc. Where else can the average person work on something once and continue to be paid for that effort on and on into the future. This is the crown jewel of the income scale, especially in a time when all of the traditional businesses are cutting back on everyone's benefits. In fact in many cases, just when you reach the point at which your seniority with a firm entitles you to a few extras, that same firm is looking for any excuse to get rid of you; so much for thanks and loyalty for your years of dedicated service.Many of the companies utilizing this form of distribution, usually known as network marketing or multi level marketing, have selected this format because it is one of the easiest, most economic, and user friendly systems for introducing a product line to the marketplace. In addition it is a way of developing a solid, consistent, and faithful customer base for life. The distributors marketing their products are operating their own businesses and buying for themselves from themselves and at a discount. This is hard for a competitor to penetrate.Now that these types of marketing operations have been around for a while, we have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Fortunately there have been enough of the good ones to prove the validity of such a system. They have actually produced enough successful results that we can no longer say they are all a scam. Yes, there have been those who were not completely honest and aboveboard. However, they have not stood the test of time or the courts and are no longer around. There have been enough investigations and legal actions taken over the years so that now the cream has risen to the top. People are more sophisticated and savvy now and look a little deeper before jumping into things.In today's world where everything has become so much more expensive and everyone is looking for a better way and more income, this form of business venture is quite appealing. Where else can the average person develop a legal business of their own, work from home, with quality products, and step by step guidelines and support for a surprisingly nominal start up fee. Along with this come the normal tax benefits of owning your own business. In addition, you are your own boss, build up you business at your own speed, and decide when to give yourself a raise or time off.Don't misunderstand, these are real businesses and must operate as such, but the relaxed atmosphere and the ability to control things has unparalled appeal. If one is willing to work hard and adhere to the normal rules and protocol for operating a legitimate business, there is no reason why one of the many opportunities offered by these systems should not be seriously considered. If on the other hand you are looking for a get rich quick or no work success story than this is not for you. It will only work if you work it. There are no short cuts.Many distributors today are pre-qualifying potential or prospective new distributors for their organizations. No longer are they willing to work with just anyone. Today they fully realize just what they have their hands on and they know from experience what it will require on their part to train and bring along that newbie. With the amount of money to be generated and made, they are not willing to bring in dead wood. Their time is much too valuable to waste on someone who is not serious and willing to learn. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is small time stuff; far from it. There is way too much money to be made for them to waste their time with someone who doesn't really want it or isn't willing to put forth the effort. If an individual simply wants to have the retail profit or develop a few hundred extra dollars each month that's fine. However, it's the ones looking for larger incomes and asking for help both verbally and by their actions that will get the real attention and time from those who are already successful.What it boils down to is that they have already secured their own incomes and many times don't need to do much else. Most of them by this time, however, have become excited about seeing others achieve their goals and dreams and have discovered that when they stay away from it they actually become bored and miss it. That's where the new people really benefit. These successful individuals have paved the way and know the ropes inside out. They know what works and what doesn't. Where else can you get that kind of counseling and guidance free of charge?This type of business will be a learning experience and can be an enjoyable journey if you accept the idea that there are others doing this who know more than you, and they are willing to teach you and help you succeed. Remember, with most of these systems their continued success depends on them helping you to succeed. That is a difficult concept for most of us to accept. It is not what we are accustomed to. We have become skeptical and suspicious out of the need for self-preservation. What we are more used to experiencing is others not helping us for fear we might replace them or surpass them at the workplace. This type of thinking does not breed good will, honesty, support, relaxation, trust or happiness in the workplace. Is it any wonder that so many people are unhappy in their jobs and wish they didn't have to go there every day? How many times have you heard someone say, "If only I could start my own business"? How many times have you uttered it to yourself?If you are one of those who are truly willing to put forth the effort to learn and then develop a solid lasting business operation of your own with residual income, then you should give one of these types of business strategies a serious look. Try the products first and if you like them and the people you will be dealing with, than go for it. In most cases the start up fees are reasonable and you have nothing to loose.Think of it as a training ground in the beginning and learn everything you can. If the one you first choose turns out not to be for you, don't think of it as a big mistake. Instead, understand that what you have learned belongs to you. Take that knowledge with you and move on. Remember, I said it would be a learning experience. Most successful business people have tried several different times before finding the right place. You are customizing your future, and there may be several design changes along the way. Welcome these changes and realize each one takes you one step closer to your goal of independence.If you have taken the time to read all of this than you are probably looking for something yourself. Why wait any longer? Go ahead, do it. All you will be doing is kick starting the rest of your life the way you want it to be. Good luck, and don't wait any longer.If you would like to know what my personal choice in this matter has been, please feel free to contact me and I would be more than happy to discuss it with you. Remember I said it's about people helping people. I, like you, have looked for some time and had all the same questions and doubts. You can contact me from the safety of your own home where you are not cornered or trapped in a conversation. I have no intention of trying to convince anyone of anything. You are either seriously looking or your not. I don't want to waste my time any more than you do yours. It's just that simple. I have chosen to kick start the rest of my life, what about you?I am quite serious about this and there is far too much money generating potential to waste either your time or mine. So, as I said, if you are seriously looking, honest, and reliable, you may call me, and yes you will actually get me. I am in the USA Eastern time zone and you may call me toll free at 866-645-1193.Thanks for your time and attention, Bill.Most of my adult life I have been self-employed. Like many others I have looked around longer than I care to admit, for something to give me an ongoing income, regardless of my ability to work. Having seen friends with ill health, downsizing, and depression, it was time to take some proactive steps myself in order to avoid having the same negative things in my future. Without needing to give up anything, I have kick started the rest of my life.
Category : Business:Network-Marketing