wehappy-techno

Email Marketing and Auto-Responders: The Day I Got Dumped By An Auto-Responder

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

Author : Joan Pasay
I am really depressed today. An old e-newsletter flame that dumped me many months ago sent me an email out of the blue. I hadn't received any emails from this old flame in months. I did not even think I was still on the list. Receiving that e-newsletter conjured up feelings of betrayal and hurt that I thought I had resolved after dozens of sessions with my therapist. And to make matters worse, the email newsletter was trying to get me to buy some product, from another company, that my old flame was 'recommending.' My flame did not even have the decency to send me an email newsletter about how things were going in his neck of the woods. I still can't believe any of this is happening.My therapist says that journaling about my problems will bring clarity and understanding. I hope she's right. I guess the best place for me to start is to outline how this sordid affair ever began in the first place. If I get emotional, please forgive me. I really cared for my old flame and my heart is still a little tender. I just don't understand how any of this happened. I never signed up for the pain and tears my old flame left me with. I never signed up for being dumped by an auto-responder email newsletter. But let's go back eight months so I can tell you how this auto-responder and I first met.Back in May, a friend of mine told me about a great self-development book she was reading. She couldn't stop talking about it; every time I saw my friend she talked and talked about the book. She kept on telling me I would really like it. After days and days of hearing about the book I went online and bought it. What do you know, my friend was right! I really liked the book. Within the first few chapters I was putting the methods into practice and seeing great results.After reading about a quarter of the book I wanted to know more about the author and his company so I followed the URL on the back of the book to the author's website. There was a ton of information about the book as well as highlights of courses and seminars that were being offered at different locations around the world. It seemed that the company was offering seminar versions of what was covered in the book for those who either had ADD or were short on time and where unable to read the 400-plus-page book. I didn't really pay much attention to all the information about the courses and seminars since I already had the book and didn't mind the lengthy read. I did notice an e-newsletter signup box on the homepage, though. "Why not?" I thought. Maybe I would find out more ways to apply the principles in the book.Soon I was receiving e-newsletters every Wednesday. I was right! Each email newsletter outlined different methods from the book. There were lots of real life application examples and testimonials from people who had also applied the principles. Oh sure, there were ads mentioning the courses and seminars, but I didn't mind. Within a few weeks I was looking forward to getting my weekly e-zine. It was official. This e-newsletter and I were going steady.A few weeks later, Wednesday came and I didn't get an email newsletter from my flame. I was perplexed. Those weekly e-zines were really helping me as I studied the book. I did not want to miss any of the valuable information so I went back to the website and signed up again. Just like when I signed up the first time, the signup form asked me for my name. I was already signed up under the name Joan and wanted to see if my original signup was still out there. I knew the only way I could track my signups was to choose another name. I picked an alternate name, went ahead and signed up, and eagerly awaited the next e-newsletter.Soon I was back on track and receiving the weekly e-zine. I could tell my second signup had worked because my alternate name was being used. It was kind of funny and I wondered if anyone ever looked at the names on that email newsletter list. I guess I will never know, but at least it gave me a bit of a giggle every time I open my weekly e-newsletters and read the opening salutation of 'Dear Squidlips.'A few weeks after my Squidlips signup, I started to get strange feelings of déjà vu as I was reading my weekly newsletter. Had I seen this email before? I located my book folder in my email client and looked through all the email newsletters I had received from this company. I could not believe it. These e-newsletters were set up on an auto-responder service! My weekly Dear Squidlips emails had started back at the beginning of a series of email messages. I WAS having déjà vu; I was reading emails I had already received!Now my knickers were in a twist. This was not a weekly e-zine! This was a series of promo messages! What was the deal? I had experienced flings with auto-responders before. I knew the drill. I had been on 'five day e-courses' and known all along that the messages were sitting in some database waiting for me to signup. I knew when I subscribed it would trigger a series of messages to get delivered to me in a certain sequence. Heck, I even used email auto-responders with my own business. What I had not expected was to get into an auto-responder fling when I signed up for a weekly e-newsletter. I thought this email newsletter and I had made a commitment. I thought we were going steady.After a sleepless night of tears and accepting that I was having a relationship with a database, I decided to stay on the list. Weekly e-newsletters kept on coming addressed to Squidlips. After a while I forgot about the auto-responder factor and started to enjoy the content in the auto-responder e-zines. Deep down I knew I was having a fling but I didn't care. I was still reading the 400-plus-page book and I thought the articles in the e-newsletters really enhanced my reading.Months went by. This was getting to be quite the auto-responder fling! Email message after email message appeared week after week addressed to Squidlips. But then, one day the tone of the email newsletter seemed a little different. The email message basically said I was being dumped. Well, it didn't say the word 'dumped.' It said since I had not bought anything that the newsletters were promoting, this would be the last e-newsletter I would be receiving. Translation: "We have tried and tried to get you to buy a course or seminar and we don't know any other way to convince you to buy something and we have given up, so get lost…loser." By the time I finished reading the e-zine I was in tears. It was probably my own fault, but I had grown attached to these emails and I really looked forward to getting them.For days I was in a funk. I cried, ripped the down feathers out of my designer pillows, and got really depressed. Day after day I visited deeper and deeper recesses of my being that I did not even know existed. The depression grew worse and worse. I wondered if that auto-responder e-zine, or whatever it was, knew I had paid $40 for their book. I laid awake, night after night, asking the Universe why this company had a weekly e-newsletter signup form in their homepage that was really a series of canned emails tailored to promote their products. Weeks went by and the confusion remained. Would I ever recover from being dumped by this auto-responder?When I was able to leave the house without fainting, I booked a few sessions with my therapist. Maybe she could help me realized why I was so hurt. It took a lot of deep breathing, but I soon found the root cause of my pain. At first it was hard for me to wrap my head around the truth, but I think my depression was triggered by this company 'unsubscribing me' from their e-newsletter list. I thought the way this opt-in email newsletter stuff worked was that I got to do the dumping. I thought I got to 'unsubscribe' when I wanted the love affair to be over.In the past my auto-responder affairs have ended and my life went on without much longing for the arms of my absent email lover. I admit for a few days I would miss getting the emails, but let's face it, when the affair started I knew it would be no different than the summer I had that hot and heavy romance with Melvin from Cleveland. All summer I knew come Labor Day, Melvin would leave his grandmother's house (which happened to be across the street from mine), go back to Cleveland, and I would never see him again. I knew most likely he wouldn't even write me. We didn't care what was going to happen when school started; Melvin and I smooched every minute of every day and made the most of that summer.Most of my auto-responder email affairs have been exactly the same as my summer with Melvin. Hot and heavy for a while, lots of frequent in-your-face contact, and then nothing. Sometimes some of my auto-responder lovers have encouraged me to signup for their regular email list because they wanted to continue our relationship with something more formal and real-time. Some just stop emailing and I never heard from them again. Regardless, I knew from the beginning that the email relationship was a 'Melvin'; I knew the email relationship was a short-term fling.It had been months since this all happened and I thought I was over my old e-newsletter flame. That auto-responder that masqueraded as a going steady e-newsletter relationship was tucked away in my past. I really thought the flame had been snuffed out months ago. I remembered that last email; how could I forget it? The company had been clear and had had no qualms about telling me I was being un-subscribed for lack of purchase. But then, as I mentioned at this beginning of this journal entry, out of the blue, I got a lone message from the company. I'll admit my heart sang a bit when I saw the email message sitting in my in-box. I thought the company had experienced a change of heart and really did love me. I thought my email flame wanted me back.I was wrong. The email was worse than my last Dear Squidlips email (that should have read 'Dear John'). I guess the company thought they would try to get me to buy something from a company they were 'recommending' since they had not experienced any luck with me buying something from them.I'm happy to report that earlier today, I un-subscribed myself from their newsletter list. I didn't want to get my heart broken again so I took matters into my own hands and dumped the company from my in-box. When I un-subscribed from the list, I was asked why I was leaving. I was happy to answer the question:"Summer was great, Melvin, but school is about to start and you need to go back to Cleveland."Brought to you by the -- Email Marketing Club:
The only place on the Internet where Email Marketing is FUN!Join now and receive a gift - guaranteed to increase your status with your friends, co-workers and boss. Click below:
http://www.emailmarketingmadeeasy.com/email_marketing_clubCheck out our popular ebook Email Marketing Made Easy &
one on one expert Email Marketing coaching at http://www.EmailMarketingMadeEasy.comEarn good karma, forward this article to everyone you know who has an email address.Copyright Joan Pasay - 2005
Category : Business:Autoresponders

For Sale By Owner Listings

2008-12-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

Author : Tim O'Keefe
Selling your home on your own, without a Realtor, is becoming less and less popular. This is surprising, considering that home values have skyrocketed and commissions have risen along with them.The money to be saved can be significant enough to attempt to sell your home on your own. Especially when the market has historically low interest rates and high demand in most areas of the country.To sell your home on your own however, you are missing the most significant marketing tool available to you. The Realtor's Multiple Lisitngs Service (MLS).70% of all home buyers start out on the web. So it is crucial for you to be in the MLS. But, the challenge has always been that to be in the MLS you have to sign with a Realtor at 6% of your sales price.So if your home is worth $399,000. You would spend 6% on your sales commissions. Not to mention your title, escrow and other expenses.So if you sell your house on your own you can save at least $23,940 ($399,000 x 6%).But let's get realistic. Most buyers work with a Realtor.
So you will be spending at least 2% to 3% for the buyers commission.I say you will be spending because even if the buyer is paying the agent as a buyers broker, that will still reflect a lower offer to that takes into consideration the commission. So you are paying for the commission indirectly-yes?Additionally, you will find that you will have a much better reach into your marketplace by being in the MLS.So how do you do this? Well depending on your State you can list your home for a flat fee as low as $500. But, you get listed in the MLS with zero service.But, you get the reach of all the buyers brokers that subscribe to the MLS and you still save 2% - 3% of the price.Estate Sale By Owner Listings
List on the MLS for less than $500.
Category : Finance:Real-Estate-FSBO

Long Lasting Love Relationships

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

Author : Terje Ellingsen
Dating and establishing love relationships can be compared to choosing a vehicle. You pick out the make, model, year, color and features that you believe are best for you. After driving your vehicle for a couple of months, you realize that perhaps you should have purchased a larger car, or that maybe the leather seats would have been better, or on hot sunny days, the sunroof would have been nice. However, it is now too late so you choose to keep your car and accept the decision you made. It is the same for a marriage or couple relationship. Not everything will be perfect and there will be major obstacles to overcome but you have made your decision and now you choose to make it work no matter which marriage troubles you are experiencing.Dating and marriage is different than it was thirty years ago. Today, more than 50% of all marriages fail for one reason or another. Just thinking about that makes âœcommitmentsâ and marriage vows seem scary. It seems that when relationships are faced with challenges, people quit trying. Dating is more like a marathon, trying to date as many people as possible, instead of taking time to get to know someone on a deeper level. For married couples, divorce is not biased. Whether married for thirty years or eight months, the outcome can be the same.The fact is that relationships, whether dating or married, are hard. Things do not always go perfectly, fighting does occur, and it takes a 100% commitment from both parties to make it a success. Often when people break off a relationship, they feel as though something is missing. The âœsparkâ has gone, leaving one or both people feeling inadequate and unfulfilled.
However, even though the odds are not very good, it has been proven by many people that healthy and long-lasting relationships are definitely possible. Look at Paul Newman and Joanne Woodard, Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman, or Nancy and Ronald Regan. What secrets do and did they possess? The answer is: work hard at the relationship. They made a decision of choosing to love their mate rather than relying on the âœwarm and fuzzyâ feelings, which everyone knows will fade. By making love a choice, you are making a decision that even in the bad times, you stick it out.There are hundreds of things you can do to build, strengthen, and enhance your relationship. You can find lots of relationship self help resources online. Remember, little steps taken every day will add up to big successes.Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website 1st-Self_Improvement.net. Terje is a Sociologist who enjoys contributing to the personal growth and happiness of others. He tries to accomplish this by writing about personal development issues from his own experience and knowledge. For example, self help resources and how to enhance your relationship.
Category : Forums

Auto Loans After Bankruptcy - How Does a Bankruptcy Affect Your Approval?

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

Author : Carrie Reeder
A recent bankruptcy will not disqualify you from obtaining an auto loan. In fact, opening a new line of credit shortly after a bankruptcy helps re-establish your credit and improve your credit history. Bankruptcy allows a fresh start. Initially, lenders may be hesitant to lend you money. However, after you have established a good payment history with new creditors, other creditors will take notice and become more willing to offer lower interest rates.Sub Prime Lender ApprovalAlthough a bankruptcy will not prevent you from qualifying for an auto loan, it will make it difficult to obtain a low interest rate. The interest rate plays a huge role in determining your monthly payments. On average, individuals with good or fair credit receive an interest rate of 5 or 6 percent. Individuals who have filed a recent bankruptcy can expect to pay a few points higher. A higher interest rate can increase monthly payments up to $150. Because traditional auto lenders are unwilling to negotiate low rates with recently bankrupt individuals, sub prime lenders are your best alternative.Improve Credit HistoryAuto loans after bankruptcy are ideal for rebuilding credit. However, if you do not want to pay a high interest rate on the auto loan, put off obtaining a new car and apply for a new credit card or line of credit. The interest rate received on these types of credit will also be higher. By paying the balance on the new line of credit each month, you will not incur huge finance fees, and your credit report will reflect a good payment history with new creditors. If possible, try and open at least three to four new lines of credit. After you have had the new credit accounts for 12 â" 24 months, now is the time to apply for an auto loan. Your credit history and score will have likely improved, thus auto lenders will have confidence in your ability to repay the loan.Shop Around for the Best RateRequest quotes from several auto loan brokers. Applying for a quote online is quick and convenient. Submit applicable information such as employment history, income, and desired loan amount. The auto loan lenders will obtain your credit report and negotiate the best rate with various auto lenders.View our recommended Bad Credit Car Loan Companies here at:
Recommended Bad Credit
Auto Lenders.Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan
Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.
Category : Networks

One Way Links: Powerful SEO Strategy

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

Author : Nicolas Arrighi
One way links are links that direct users to your website from another place on the internet. They are the type of link that you do not necessarily need to return. Reciprocal links are links that you place on your site in return for incoming links to your site. Permanent one way links are much better, and will get your site higher link popularity than reciprocal links.There are two very popular methods for getting permanent one way links that will send traffic to your website. They include:Writing Articles – How this works is that you write an article, at the bottom or in the content, you place a link to your website. Then, you submit the article to an article submission service that will make your content available for free or for a cost. The user of you content must then put the entire article on their site, with your link. And, you have one more permanent one way link to your website for every person who uses your content.Submitting to Directories - Submitting your website URL to web directories is a very time consuming and boring process, where you give the title and description of the site, in addition to the URL for your site. The directory will then add your site and give you another incoming link. Directory submission is a good technique for getting permanent one way links.Because the two ways that are most often used to increase the number of incoming links are both time consuming and boring, it is better to ask for the help of a professional who knows what to do to get you permanent one way links.Using someone who has experience writing articles and submitting to directories in order to build one way links is better than doing these things yourself. Why? Because first you don't have time to waste and second you could generate bad incoming links if you d not submit your articles or directory listings in the right way.Nicolas Arrighi is the CEO of www.linking-service.com He offers different valuable services to increase your link popularity with quality one way links.
Category : Business:Traffic-Building

Beginning in Videography

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

Author : Jim Wagner
If you're looking to get into videography and video editing as a hobby, the options can be daunting. Here is a small question and response that may help you get started in this fun and rewarding hobby.What type of camera do you recommend?Response: For a beginner, a Canon single CCD camera will suit you well. It has a cost range of $500 to $700. Canon is well respected at all levels of video camera quality and has probably the best quality for the price at the low end.If you want to start out with something more professional, you may want to look into the Canon GL2 which is a low end 3 CCD (1/4" each) camera running about $1500. This camera is great for an enthusiastic hobbyist or a beginning special events videographer.If you're looking to make some money on the side (or as a career) with your camera doing special events such as wedding videography, you may want to look into the Sony VX2100, a high-end consumer 3 CCD (1/3" each) camcorder, running at a price between $2100 and $3000, check out prices here. The high definition capable version of the same camera is called the Sony HDR / Fx1 and goes for $3700 at all major retailers.What is CCD?CCDs are imaging chips. CCD stands for charge-coupled device and is a light sensative circuit which stores an electrical charge representing each tiny part of an image. The difference between low and high end video cameras is usually determined by the number of CCDs (one or three), and the size of the CCD. In video cameras the number of CCDs determines the clarity of the picture in low lighting (most indoor) situations. The size of the CCD is directly linked to the amount of "color bleeding" present in the video.It is also interesting to note that for video cameras, unlike photography cameras, the size of the pixels is far more important than the number of pixels. Fewer pixels that are larger make a better video camera. It is also interesting to note that as you go from low-end to high-end cameras, you will be getting fewer "extras" on your camera such as the ability to take "still photography".Next question: What video editing software would you recommend?Response: Pinnacle Studio 9 has many great features for beginning in photoediting. It runs between $70 and $90 at major retail stores. It gives many options and is very user friendly. If you're looking for some more advanced options in lighting, transitions, and sound editing, you may want to consider the more professional editing software Pinacle Liquid Editions for around $600.This article may also be found at http://www.researchtechs.com/videoediting.htmAbout The AuthorJim WagnerContributor to www.ResearchTechs.comEnjoys anything Tech.Majoring in Computer Science.jim@researchtechs.com
Category : Business:Video-Streaming

Parents â The No Child Left Behind Law Won't Do Much For Your Child

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

Author : Joel Turtel
Past experience with federal education programs predicts that the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act will also fail parents whose children are doing poorly in school. The federal government has spent over $120 billion on Title 1 programs for low-income students since 1965. Yet the literacy rates for these children today are appalling, and the achievement gap between low-income children and their peers has not closed.If the U.S. Department of Education wants to give real choice to parents, they should not be tinkering with a failed government-controlled school system that, by its very nature, strangles free choice and competition.Americans have been blessed with a system that gives them almost unlimited choices in their daily lives for almost four hundred yearsâ"itâ™s called the free market. If parents could pay for their kidsâ™ education in a totally unregulated, fiercely competitive education free market, free from government controls, parents would have all the school choice in the world. This education free market would also give their kids a superb, low-cost education.Yet too often, government officials with their bureaucratic mentality, distrust the free market, the same free market that brings them their cars, clothes, computers, electricity, and fresh food. The No Child Left Behind Act adds yet another layer of federal regulations to the already strangling layers of local and state government regulations on education.If the federal government truly wants to give parents more school choice, they should be working to remove local and state controls over education, not adding to those controls with the No Child Left Behind law and other regulations. That is like trying to cure a person dying of arsenic poisoning by giving him more arsenic.Naturally, government education officials canâ™t understand the fact that government control of education is not the solution, it is the problem.Over the past fifty years, federal, state, and city governments have spent hundreds of billions of dollars trying to âœfixâ the public schools. They have failed, time and again. For example, in July, 2005, the Congress-mandated National Assessment of Education Progress showed that high-school studentsâ™ dismal reading skills have not improved since 1999.High-school drop-out rates in inner-city, low-income minority areas range from 30 percent to over 50 percent. High-school dropouts are far more likely to end up in prison during their lifetimes. A U.S. Bureau of Justice report estimates that approximately 47 percent of drug offenders and 75 percent of state prison inmates are high-school dropouts. Dropouts are also about three times more likely than high-school graduates to end up on welfare.These are not just appalling statistics. These numbers represent millions of bright, eager chidren whose lives can be ruined by public schools that fail them.Trying to repair the public-school system is futile, precisely because it is a compulsory, government-controlled monopoly. Trying to fix this system with vouchers, charter schools, or the No Child Left Behind Law is like trying to cure cancer with a band-aid.Parents should not pin their hopes on any government-sponsored school-choice alternative. Vouchers, charter schools, and the No Child Left Behind Act are simply too little, too late. Also, powerful, entrenched special-interest groups in the public-school establishment fight school choice because they benefit from parentsâ™ and childrenâ™s subservience to the system.Parents should not expect the public schools in their neighborhoods to improve. If you want to give your children a decent education and a chance at life, you must take their future into your own hands, now. It is useless to hope that the public-school system has the will or ability to reform itself. It is a waste of your time, and your childrenâ™s precious time, to deal with, plead with, or complain to public-school authorities or employees who benefit by the system.Instead, do as the citizen-slaves of communist East Berlin did when they fled to freedom in West Berlinâ"vote with your feet. Consider writing-off the public-school system. Consider taking your children out of these schools, permanently. You and your children remain victims of the public-school system only by your own consent. The power to withdraw your consent is a power that public-school authorities canâ™t stop. Withdraw your consent and refuse to be a victim any longer.There are many other education resources that parents can use right now to give their kids a quality, low-cost education. These resources include the new Internet private schools, Internet tutors, low-cost, learn-to-read and learn-math books in libraries and bookstores, computer learning software, and home-schooling. I discuss all these great new education options in my book, âœPublic Schools, Public Menace.âJoel Turtel is the author of âœPublic Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children."Website: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com,
Email: lbooksusa@aol.com,
Phone: 718-447-7348.Article Copyrighted Â© 2005 by Joel Turtel.
NOTE: You may post this Article on another website only if you set up a hyperlink to Joel Turtelâ™s email address and website URL, http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com
Category : Podcasts

Looking for the definition of what the term BBW means?

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

Author : Passion4U

This definition may seem on the surface to be simplistic but to a plus size woman this isn't always necessarily so. The term bbw is very vague. I receive many questions from plus size women on my bbw dating website, asking, am I a bbw? The complexity of replying back to this question is difficult because like beauty, it is the eye of the beholder. If several people were to see what this person actually looks like you might get several different replies if she is a bbw or not a bbw. There is no true barometer regarding where the scale of being a bbw begins. Is a bbw, a size 14 or above? I am not a big advocate of putting labels on any group of people. Unfortunately, society does not see it this way. You are judged by the car you drive, the job you have, your skin color, etc -- In reality, all woman are beautiful, big or small. A BBW may come in many shapes and sizes but no one is better than another. After all this has been said and if you are still wondering if you are a bbw, you probably are a bbw if you see yourself as overweight. Let?s leave it at that. If you are a single bbw wanting unconditional acceptance where size is only a number, I suggest, "Large and Lovely Connections" created in 1997, this is the first bbw dating website to embrace the bbw and the very first dating website to cater specifically to all plus size singles and those who embrace size acceptance. Since 1997, Large and Lovely Connections, has become one of the most successful, legitimate online dating websites on the internet for the bbw. Meeting quality singles is a challenge these days, regardless of size, but is much more of a challenge for singles who are plus sized. This website is for a single woman seeking a man, a single man seeking a woman, or someone seeking a same sex relationship where one or both people are plus size. Full figured adults may find their match safely and securely using our 21st century matchmaking techniques. You can begin to expand your horizons and meet adults of size BBW and BHM and their admirers for friendship, romance, companionship and love by placing your own personal ad.All the profiles are from real singles seeking sincere relationships and will always remain that way. You can search through a huge database of BBW personal ads and BBW singles, each with a detailed personal profile, easy to view bbw photo and email contact, providing you with a easy to use big beautiful woman dating service allowing you to find the BBW or admirer of your dreams ? your big beautiful man or woman is just a few keystrokes away! We currently have over 75,000 profiles; a large majority of these are bbw personals in our date-a-base. There are many documented testimonials of satisfied men and big beautiful women who have found their "Mr./Miss Right". Now that we have shed some light on what a bbw is, what?s a bhm or bbm??? We'll discuss that in a future article. Click the link to Visit the large and lovely BBW dating website. Owner of several successful dating websites.

Category : General Women

Beginners Guide To Downloading Free MP3 (Music) Current Albums. Plus Related Security Advice.

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

Author : ebookdeals

Beginners Guide To Downloading Free MP3 (Music) Current Albums. Plus Related Security Advice.First off, go to http://www.limewire.com/english/content/downloadfree2.shtml. (Visit http://www.ebookdeals.co.uk/ebp/Peer/Music_download.htm to see this article with image instructions)Now if you are on a pc (rather than a Mac) simply click on the respective button. When prompted what to do simply click on save, now I would suggest saving the file to your desktop as this is the most easily accessible. So after clicking on save; You will be prompted to select a location; if you just click on the folder (that is highlighted below) you will be taken to your desktop. (you may have to click it two or three times until you see that desktop is highlighted.) After selecting desktop, click on save. When file has finished downloading you can either run it straight from the download box, or minimize your browser window and double click the lime.exe file that is now on your desktop. After installing the program as normal choose to run it. Make sure you are connected to the internet and that your firewall and antivirus software aren't blocking it. You will be presented with a nag screen promoting the PRO version, just click on later. Before you first use the search, go to my music folder and create a new folder called limewire or something you recognise. Then go to tools and select options. Click on saving and then browse to my music and pick on the folder you have just created. This is where all of your downloaded files will go. Now do exactly the same for your shared folder, which is directly below sharing. Now close this box and we're back to the search screen. Now for instance say we wanted an album by Katie Melua, we would select Audio then enter the name IN THE TOP BOX. Don't fill out artist etc. As nobody else does -or the amount of people who do is negligible- so (in my experience) will not return decent results. Then click on search (or press return). Now when you are finished searching, if you click on the size twice they will be assorted in descending order as you can see by the size of the top three files that they are obviously albums. Now if it was just an album, I would try, "Melua album". Again, click on size to get the largest items to the top. Simply select the items you want (keeping Ctrl key pressed while clicking will enable you to select as many as you want at the same time + pressing shift and clicking on two items will highlight those items and all of the ones in between + keyboard shortcuts are Ctrl+a to select all then by keeping Ctrl pressed you can click on highlighted items to de-select them.) then click on download at the bottom of the display or right click on any highlighted item and select download. For individual items just double click. --------------------------IMPORTANT: There are one or two trojans kicking about on all Peer2Peer networks.ALWAYS AVOID ANY FILES THAT ARE, ".exe" FORMAT.ALWAYS AVOID ANY FILES THAT ARE SIZED, "197.7KB" & "851.7KB".I have downloaded these several times AND EVERY SINGLE TIME IT IS A TROJAN!!!!!HONESTLY, this information is shared NO-WHERE ELSE, but it is 100% accurate.--------------------------Claim Your Free Ebooks at http://www.ebookdeals.co.ukAnd learn more about MP3 Downloads at http://www.ebookdeals.co.uk/ebp/Peer/Music_download.htm Visit http://www.mp3-easy.com/mp3blog/ for regularly updated, current (and pre-release) FREE MP3 Files!! Visit http://www.mp3-easy.com/mp3blog/ for regularly updated, current (and pre-release) FREE MP3 Files!!

Category : General Art & Entertainment: Music

Roland VS2400CD The Musicians Solution to Recording & Mixing Tracks

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

Author : adam

The Roland VS2400CD is one of the most affordable mixer and sampling systems available to the any musician today wanting to record and edit all personal tracks.What the Roland VS2400CD includes are functions such as effect processors which will allow any musician to alter recorded tracks and direct recording of all instruments via the output channels.Musicians using recording systems are most likely to need dynamic processing control and compression facilities which are all included in the Roland VS2400CD.The Roland VS2400CD includes fully functional cut and paste facilities which allow easy editing of all play lists which gives the user full management of all tracks.User functionality has been amended considerably in this latest model to incorporate a fully integrated and easily understandable control main panel display board. If your dream is a mixing desk like the professionals use with the self moving controls, then this is the unit for you.One major problem most mixing consoles provide the users are a difficult to understand a recording set up functionality. The Roland VS2400CD has been redesigned to take away the difficulty encountered in early models. Up to 16 tracks can be laid down and recorded at any one time. The Roland VS2400CD operates also in MIDI control. All VGA Monitor devises are fully linkable with mouse equipment inputs as standard. This makes the Roland VS2400CD almost a DAW. Roland VS2400CD interface almost resembles a DAW unit so could fool anyone into thinking the unit cost the price of a high end professional mixing system.What makes the Roland VS2400CD stand above its competition is that this mixer can record at six different sampling rates and modes. Ranges start from 32 96 KHZ. VS2400CD allows an impressive 10 GB partition at a maximum level but this equals and impressive 40 GB using the installed driver.The Roland VS2400CD system comes with the option to use additional bolt on equipment which can expand memory capacity and enhance sound recording up to a level only met by only by the high end of the market mixer equipment. The Roland VS2400CD is competitively priced more at the lower end of the market which allows all musicians to record and mix their music rather than pay the excessive high hourly rates charged by studio time and producers.If you would like to know more technical information or just purely interested in browsing the amazing Roland VS2400CD mixer studio desk, click on the link below or in the resource box attached to this article. The Roland VS2400CD Roland VS2400CDFind out how the Secrets on how to save Thousands by switching your mortgage provider today here >Refinance Mortgage Interest Rate ServicesDo you Need Money Fast? Receive a fast money loan in your account in just less than two hours by visiting us today! > Payday OneclickCash Loans

Category : GEneral Technology: Electronics

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

2008-07-25T08:04:00.004-07:00

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

AStore

2008-07-25T08:04:00.003-07:00

Camping Cookware

Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR Camera

Canon Powershot

Catalina Lighting

Ceramic Hair Flat Iron

Omron Digital Premium Pedometer

Online Book Stores

Weber Charcoal Grill

Child Bicycle Seat

Coleman Sleeping Bag

AStore

2008-07-25T08:04:00.001-07:00

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

Accelerating Abandoned Down Town Rebuilding in America

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

Author : Lance Winslow
One thing is certain if you look at the illegal immigration and undocumented worker problems in America there is a bright side. Indeed, that is that we must be doing something right, otherwise everyone would not be coming here in the first place to either live or work. Additionally is speaks also to our economy as unemployment is so low many businesses scramble to get more labor anyway they can.Without judging that issue, let's just say it is a tribute to all we are and all we have built that people are coming here in the first place you see my point? Now then, I would like to make another observation of sorts and that is that many of America's downtown districts are run down and in a state of disrepair.Many cities have given up as businesses have moved out, fewer jobs, less tax revenue to keep up city services and thus we have some crime and drug issues that we must address. We must take note of this now, as the economy is strong and robust and rebuild our inner cities and small town downtown areas while we have the funding available and the businesses looking to expand more outlets and grow their businesses. Now then here is a quick thought for you today in my;Accelerating Abandoned Down Town Rebuilding in America PlanLet us allow some of the illegal aliens to accelerate their path to citizenship by helping us rebuild our downtowns and then maybe they will consider who this is done and pass the word on and the know how for those back home in their nations so they can rebuild their towns too.We would be doing everyone a favor and also as local volunteers joined; undocumented workers in a common cause they would indeed feel some camaraderie after doing so and it would help blend cultures and dismiss some of the unhealthy racial issues which unfortunately are there whether we address them or not. Just because everyone is PC does not mean their thoughts are as genuine, after all they are humans you know. And humans have always been able to unite in a common cause. So, consider this in 2006.Lance Winslow
Category : News-and-Society:Economics

Why is it Hard to Quit Smoking

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

Author : Adam Waxler

Tobacco is responsible for the death of 1 in 10 adults all over
the world, which translates to around 5 million deaths every
year. The disease mainly strikes the cardiovascular system,
resulting to heart attack, respiratory tract diseases, and even
cancer.

Regardless of the risks of smoking cigarettes, to quit smoking
is not an easy task, yet it is possible.

Why is it hard to quit smoking?

Foremost, this is because most smokers become addicted to the
nicotine contained in tobacco products. Nicotine has a deadly
addictive power. When a person smokes a cigarette, nicotine
particles find their way to the lungs through inhalation. From
there, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream just like the
oxygen people breathe. It travels with the blood to the brain
where it locks onto certain receptor areas. Dopamine is then
released into the brain. This is the chemical that makes the
smoker feel a euphoric sensation. Smokers find it difficult to
quit smoking because they come to be dependent on this good
feeling. And, this leads to dependence - addiction.

A person who attempts to quit smoking may experience withdrawal
symptoms. Topping the bill of withdrawal symptoms is depression.
With the absence of the chemical that produces the relaxing
feeling, the brain becomes distressed without it. Other
withdrawal symptoms from smoking include: Headaches dizziness,
and nausea Shakes, chills Cough, dry throat nasal drip Hunger,
fatigue Constipation, gas or stomach pain Insomnia

Not knowing what to do with their hands is another common
complaint among people trying to quit smoking. Once people get
hooked, smoking becomes a big part of their lives. They seem to
actually enjoy holding onto a cigarette. And, after a long
period of lighting up, it becomes a routine. As a fact, humans
are creatures of habit. By some force of habit, smokers find
themselves reaching for a cigarette and lighting it up
automatically without thinking about it.

Certain "triggers" in the environment may also make it difficult
to quit smoking. Little things may turn on a smoker's need for a
cigarette. These may be feelings, places, and moods. Even the
things done routinely may trigger this craving for a smoke.

For those who have been smoking for quite a while already, they
may not realize it but they form some emotional attachment to
cigarettes. They find the cigarette calming and comforting
during those stressful times. Cigarette smoking somehow becomes
an extension of their social life, particularly when they are
emotionally at the highest or lowest. Giving the smoker a
feeling that to quit smoking would seem like giving up a trusted
friend.

These are only some of the major reasons why it is hard to quit
smoking. But there are also several strategies and quitting
techniques that may aid smokers to finally give up on the habit.
Quitting smoking all begins with one's intention to stop. They
must have the will power to overcome the craving for nicotine.
There are also a lot of quit smoking products in the market.
These may also be worth trying. Support groups have proved to be
very helpful, too.

Those who smoke cigarettes must understand that to quit smoking
may take more than one attempt. They must also try several
methods before they can finally succeed. Smoking is a stubborn
habit because it is closely tied to the acts in the course of
people's everyday lives. Even so, with determination, will
power, and a strategy, anyone can quit smoking.

Category : Poetry

Researching the Market in the Infosphere

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

Author : V. Andonov

Marketing is the term given to all the different activities intended to make and attract a profitable demand for a product. This involves: identifying consumer needs and wishes in order to develop the product, setting the price, deciding on the place to sell the product and deciding on how best to promote the product. These four factors are often referred to the marketing mix.The product advertising on other hand is an important part of the marketing mix. Its aim is to increase sales by making a product or service known to a wider audience, and by emphasising its positive qualities. A company can advertise in a variety of ways, depending on how much it wishes to spend and the size and type of audience it wishes to target. The different media for advertising include television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet and direct mail. The direct mail marketing involves sending publicity material to people directly by mail.The rest of this article is available here: Researching the market in the Infosphere. The author - Katya Tsvetkova, is a publisher in Economics and politics.

Category : General Business: Markets

How to Buy to Let

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

Author : Jennifer Tweed
Find out everything you need to know about buy to let. Learn what to buy, where to buy and what not to buy. All this information about buy to let wonâ™t cost you a penny.buyingâ¢ If the area is full of buy to let property investors the supply of property to let might outweigh tenant demand and create pressure to reduce rents.â¢ Consider established areas with good communications linksâ¢ Research tenant demand as your highest priority. Find a letting agent to discuss this.â¢ Consider ongoing costs, e.g. maintenance, service charges etc.â¢ Be prepared to buy tired investment properties and refurbish them.â¢ Build a team of reliable tradesmen so that you can react quickly.â¢ Find a good buy to let mortgage provider. Finding the correct buy to let mortgage is crucial to your success when you are buying and selling investment property.To Buy or Not to Buy an investment property for sale?â¢ As soon as you find a property you would like to buy, run a To Let advert in the local press. If the phone rings a lot buy it. If not walk away.â¢ A variation on the theme would be to run a display advert âœSeeking long term tenantsâ I am a portfolio landlord. You find your perfect property and I will consider buying it and letting it back to youâDemand and professional guidanceFind a letting agent and discuss the demand for properties in the areas you are interested in. They should also be able to indicate the level of rent you could expect to achieve and what type of tenancy is more suitable for the property and area.University LettingsTalk to Student letting officers â" build rapport so they promote your property above others. They too can give you good advice on demand, i.e. where, why, how much etc.Buying Privately* With more and more people turning to the internet to source suitable investment property for sale and for sellers looking to save on selling agent fees, more people are having the opportunity to buy and sell privately. The main difference being that you will liaise directly with the seller of the property. This may be via email or telephone. Viewings will be arranged directly between the buyer and seller and the negotiations regarding the price will be dealt with directly between the buyer and seller. However, you will still need to both appoint a solicitor to act on your behalves.Buy to Let MortgagesFinding the right buy to let mortgage is crucial to your success as a property investor. Unlike other forms of property investment, a lot of the capital you invest into a buy to let investment property is likely to be borrowed. Over the last few years, the buy to let mortgage market has boomed, with more and more lenders bringing out products making borrowing money to invest in this way even simpler than before. There are a number of different buy to let mortgage products available from fixed rates, discounted variable rates, base rate trackers to name a few. It is worth remembering that different products may be suitable for different investment properties.However it is very important that you get the correct guidance with your finance. Questions that are worth considering when finding a suitable buy to let mortgage:1. Do they have access to lots of different buy to let products in the market place?2. Do they have the ability to create a long term investment property strategy for you?3. Are they able to secure exclusive buy to let products?4. Are they able to arrange buy to let mortgages within 10 working days?Most lenders will offer a maximum loan of 85% requiring you to fund at least a 15% deposit. The buy to let mortgage industry is very competitive with new products being launched on a very regular basis.Some brokers may charge a brokerage fee up to 2% to arrange the buy to let finance for you but donâ™t let this put you off because if they do have the ability to secure exclusive buy to let products for you, it could be very beneficial to your cashflow as a landlord. Plus, if they are able to reach formal mortgage offer stage in a very short space of time, this could result in you being able to secure investment property at very competitive prices if you have the ability to tell the vendor that you can have the deal completed within a matter of a few weeks. Find out more about buy to let mortgages, landlord inventories, tenancy agreements, landlord insurance, landlord tax, furnishing your buy to let and credit checking your tenants
and see how you can start your investment property portfolio.There are a few simple steps to remember:â¢ Make sure you have done your researchâ¢ Source a good buy to let mortgage provider and make sure that your own personal credit file is clean.â¢ If you are unsure, then you can request a copy of your personal credit file on a number of different websites which allow you to download a copy instantly.â¢ Once you have agreed an offer for the buy to let investment property for sale with the vendor, you will need to appoint a solicitor and exchange solicitor details with each other.â¢ At this point your respective solicitors will then begin the necessary legal work on your behalves to arrange the legal ownership of the investment property to transfer to the new investor.â¢ Contact your buy to let mortgage provider and confirm the purchase price and loan amounts required.â¢ A surveyor will then need to visit the investment property for sale to carry out a valuation of the property and a rental assessment. Some buy to let mortgage brokers can arrange this on your behalf. Other buy to let mortgage companies will advise you when this will take place. However, it is worth bearing in mind that if a buy to let mortgage provider is a fully packaging company then they may be able to reduce the timescales that it takes for your formal buy to let mortgage offer to be issued.â¢ Whilst waiting for the valuation report on the investment property for sale to be returned, use this time to complete all the legal paperwork that your solicitor will forward to you for completion and the application forms which will be forwarded to you from your buy to let mortgage provider.â¢ If the valuation report comes back and is satisfactory, you should then receive your buy to let mortgage offer shortly afterwards. On occasions, you may be requested to obtain specialist reports which may include a structural engineers report, damp and timber report and coal mining report.â¢ A copy of the buy to let mortgage offer should go directly to you and your solicitor.â¢ Your solicitors will then liaise with each other regarding suitable exchange and completion dates and will arrange to do the necessary completion paperwork for you on your new buy to let property.Buy to Let Insuranceâ¢ Insuring your buy to let property is just as important as insuring your own home. As a landlord you have certain liabilities so make sure you get the necessary cover that your investment property needs. There are a number of different options available depending on the type of investment property you have for example if it is an apartment, block of flats, commercial property etc. But do shop around to make sure you secure the best buy to let insurance product.Preparing to let the investment property yourself?â¢ This is an investment and cashflow is the key factor. Stick to neutral colours that will go with anything. For example, a red sofa might not match a green carpet, however, all colours look good on beige.â¢ Carpets - light beige looks great when clean. Light colours make room look lighter, brighter and bigger. They also encourage cleanliness and are easy to justify cleaning when a tenant vacates. Look for felt backed bleach cleanable carpets which do not require underlay. Replace carpets every 3-5 years, clean every tenant change and debit from damage deposit.â¢ Check with the local letting agent whether there is more demand for furnished or unfurnished property in the area.Join your local Landlords associationâ¢ This is the easiest way to keep up with legislation and to obtain advice on getting your paperwork right.â¢ Other landlords in your area will be keen to share good and bad experiences. Learn from their experiences rather than making your own mistakes.Tenant Application formâ¢ Obtain full details including names, addresses and contact numbers of referees and emergency contacts. Also obtain previous addresses, NI numbers, employer details and proof of earnings. This makes life easier if you ever need to track down an absconding tenant.â¢ If possible, fill in an application form at the prospective tenants home. This will at the same time allow you to see how they look after it.Credit Check your Tenantâ¢ It is now possible to credit check your tenants on-line. Just because they are of smart appearance and drive a nice car doesnâ™t guarantee that your rent will arrive each month. We all know how easy it is to get credit these days so it is important that you have peace of mind that your tenants have the genuine ability to pay.FeesCharge a fee to tenants of around Â£100 for completion of tenancy agreements, referencing, inventory etc.Deposit-take 5 - 7 weeks rent plus one months rent monthly in advanceTenants often cancel standing orders on the month prior to final payment â" if this happens you still have some money to cover damagesLandlord InventoryGet prepared. As much as we all like to think we can trust everyone, it is very important that â˜buy to letâ™ landlords protect their investment property as thoroughly as possible. Having an inventory in place will protect you against unnecessary costs and ensure that you are maximizing your profit at all times. For example; if your teaspoons kept going missing and the curtains kept leaving the poles when the tenants vacated, this could start to add up.
Imagine if you had freshly decorated the buy to let property in a very neutral magnolia colour throughout to discover that your tenants had become creative one day and turned their hand to a bit of decorating to brighten the place up! Not only will this cost you in paint, but could potentially lose you income on rent whilst you are having to leave the investment property empty whilst it is being redecorated. And most importantly how can you prove that the property was that colour or condition in the first place. Its simple. A Comprehensive Landlord Inventory.â¢ Purchase a Landlord Inventory On-line Now - include everything including starting colour, condition of walls, ceilings, doors, fixtures & fittings etc and get it signed so you can prove damages when the tenant vacates. The more detail the better, even include the colour of light switches and door handles and what they are made of. Comments like âœcarpets have just been professionally cleanedâ or âœwalls are freshly paintedâ will also help to prevent disputes on checkout.â¢ Ensure that you arrange a check out inspection and make sure the tenant is present â" get them to sign to agree to any damages and/or required repairs.â¢ Complete utilities meter checks and ensure the incoming/vacating tenant signs to confirm meter readings.â¢ Inform the utilities companies and local authorities in writing of incoming/outgoing tenants and any applicable meter readingsTenancy AgreementYou will need to purchase a tenancy agreement. This will protect you and your tenants. There are a number of tenancy agreements that can be purchased off the shelf but it is important that you check the tenancy agreement to make sure it is suitable for the type of tenants you have. For example whether it is a family let or a property being let to sharers where they could be joint and several liability. A good solicitor would be able to draw up a suitable agreement and for your own peace of mind, this small investment could be a very worthwhile exercise.Look after your tenants â" They are a valuable asset to your investment property!!Happy tenants will respect your property and will refer other potential tenants to you.If the above is not cost effective or convenient for you then you should seriously consider employing the services of a property/Lettings manager.Find out more about buy to let and how you can start.Jennifer Tweed is the founder of buytolet4sale.com, one of the UK's first property portals dedicated to all types of investment property for sale and everything you should need for your sale and purchase. Learn more about buy to let.
Category : Games

Subliminal Persuasion

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

Author : Steven Gillman
Subliminal persuasion? It is simply influencing people at a level below their conscious recognition. Many people don't even realize they are being influenced by a smile, making even that a subliminal technique. Here are two more subtle methods.Subliminal Persuasion Using InflectionIt is easy to assume that a sentence like "I can't promise you that price." has only one meaning. In reality, though, inflection provides much of the actual meaning. Look at the each of the sentences below, each with a different word emphasized, and followed by the implied meaning.I can't promise you that price. (But maybe someone can.)I CAN'T promise you that price. (There's no way.)I can't PROMISE you that price. (But maybe you'll get it.)I can't promise YOU that price. (But I can promise someone else.)I can't promise you THAT price. (But maybe a good price.)I can't promise you that PRICE. (But I can promise something.)The meaning of our statements is determined by which words we emphasize, and it is a subtle process. If you can't promise him that price, you can tell him "I can't promise you that PRICE," and he may still feel good about the situation, especially if you immediately follow with what you can promise him. You probably know what you want to say. Understanding the subtle and often subliminal power of inflection will mean you actually say it.Subliminal Persuasion Using Their Own WordsRestate what a person has said they want, and then show them how you can give them that. We all need to have some internal consistency, so we don't like to act against what we say. This is why, as long as you have what they need, this technique works well. For an example, we'll suppose you are selling a prospect a vacation.After listening to what they want, you find something that fits their needs, and then say, "If I remember right, you said you wanted a warm beach, under $2,000 for the week, and with nearby nightlife. I think we're in luck. Both of the packages we just looked at fit your criteria, so do you like Cancun or the Bahamas better?"It is tough for someone to say they are not interested when you just found exactly what they said they wanted, and reminded them of their words. They probably won't even notice that you are using their exact words. They'll just feel uncomfortable contradicting what they said, and find it easier to agree. That's subliminal persuasion.Steve Gillman has been hunting down obscure knowledge and useful secrets for years. Learn more subliminal persuasion techniques, and get a free gift at: The Secret Information Site (http://www.TheSecretInformationSite.com)
Category : Business:Negotiation

Love Quiz - Do You Need Intimacy?

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

Author : C D Mohatta

Intimacy in love means a close relationship that is highly satisfying. To be intimate means that you reveal yourself totally to your partner, hide nothing and feel very comfortable and free. it is like talking to yourself. You become so close and are so sure of your relationship that you talk to your partner as if you are talking to yourself. This kind of relationship has great joy and gives a new meaning to relationships. Now a days relationships are getting confined to physical and emotional needs are not being met. Are you also looking for intimate relationship? Why not quiz yourself about that?Quiz your needs? Do you feel comfortable in an intimate relationship? Do you feel absence of intimate relationship? When you look at pictures of happy and intimate couples, do you feel little envious? Do you wish that you also had an intimate relationship? Or you feel comfortable as you are and don't want any one to come within your personal space. Do you wish to share others pains and pleasures or want to keep away from details and in a boundary? These are the questions that only you can answer. Please quiz yourself about these needs. This quiz will tell you about your deep felt needs and tell you what will satisfy you. Also quiz yourself if what you are thinking will truly give you joy?Quiz your behavior - Quiz yourself about your behavior. If you need an intimate relationship then ask- why it is not developing? Quiz yourself about your choice of partner. Quiz yourself about your relationship with him/her and find out if that is responsible for not developing intimacy. Quiz your partner's mind about his/her opinion. Quiz yourself about how to develop intimacy. Begin with small steps and watch the results. If you are happy with the initial results, please go deeper in the relationship and enjoy life. Writing for romantic greeting cards, screensavers and desktop wallpapers is the hobby of CD Mohatta. You can download romantic screensavers and also solve fun quizzes on love & dating.

Category : General Other

Leases And Tenants - The Spooky Tenant

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

Author : Mark Walters
You, Mr. Landlord are pleased to find qualified tenants for your rental house. The man and woman sign a
one-year lease on Tuesday.On Thursday the male tenant contacts you and says
they have changed their minds because his girlfriend
thinks she sees "dead people" in the bathroom.He expects you to cancel the lease!What do you do, hire an exorcist?No, you smile and softly explain... "Listen Bub, that
was a legal contract you signed. It binds both
of us to everything printed on those sheets of
paper.... the laws says so, that's who!And that's true... both parties must agree to break
a legal contract... it can't be done unilaterally
(usually). In this case the contract is the well
prepared, solid gold lease.Is your reluctant tenant on the hook for an entire
year's worth of monthly lease payments?It brings a tear to the eye of we hard boiled
landlords... but he probably is not obligated to
pay rent for the entire year.Courts have ruled that the landlord has to make
a good-faith effort to find a new
tenant for the unit as soon as possible.As soon as one is found the original crybaby is
released from the contract.The cost of renting to the new tenant can be deducted
from the security deposit you collected from
Mr. Crybaby. That includes advertising and a copy of
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas you give him as a
go-away gift.About The Author -Mark Walters is a real estate investor and author. His published works can be found at his web site...
http://www.CashFlowInstitute.com
Category : Hardware

Contract Management Enterprise Software

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

Author : Ross Bainbridge

Contract management enterprise software is designed to enhance effective contracting processes. They are particularly useful for companies, which could be termed contract-intensive enterprises. Companies the world over has been able to reduce procurement spending and improve their sales graph using this software system. Yet another advantage of using contract management enterprise software is that they enhance supplier compliance. These robust systems have been the driving force behind the phenomenal growth of some of the fortune companies.Contract management enterprise software is designed to manage every aspect of contractual relationships. Their solution spans every key process, from managing sales to proposal creation and contract renewal. You need not worry about forgetting dates for contract renewal. Your contract management enterprise software will do it for you. Most of the leading brands of contract management enterprise software are easily integrated with your good old MS Office, fax, and online applications. This enables you to manage processes more efficiently and importantly and saves you precious time which could be utilized to generate more business.Enterprise solutions are basically a one-stop solution for all your contract management processes. They allow companies to improve sales effectiveness. Creating stronger contracts and an effective quote to cash cycle does this. Similarly contract management enterprise software enables you to improve sourcing effectiveness by maintaining supplier compliance, which is a tedious process to manage otherwise.Huge enterprises with multi-branch and multi-level operations are ideally placed to benefit from the installation of contract management enterprise software. They offer sophisticated solutions and robust security to meet the demands of multinational companies from a single location.You can get extensive information on enterprise contract management solutions either through online resources or through your vendor. You also need to sit with your team before finalizing a particular vendor. Since the software is going to be used by most of the people in your enterprise, discussing with your team always helps. ASP Contract Management Software provides detailed information on ASP Contract Management Software, Construction Contract Management Software, Contract Management Enterprise Software, Contract Management Services and more. ASP Contract Management Software is affiliated with Business Card Software.

Category : General Computer: Software

Do You Get Emotional?

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

Author : Jan Tincher

Copyright ? Jan Tincher - All Rights reservedhttp://www.tameyourbrain.comDo you talk too much, laugh too loudly, swear too quickly? Is it an emotion that is unsatisfactory to you?This might be a tough question, but what do you think you are trying to accomplish when you do this?Maybe you are trying to get attention, but you are just going about it in the wrong way. Or you are trying to get the emotion out of you, but you are just going about it in the wrong way. Or you are trying to be a *good guy or gal*, but you are just going about it in the wrong way. These are just some suggestions. I'm sure you can come up with the answer that's right for you.When you have that figured out what you are trying to accomplish, come up with at least five possible expressions of this emotion that you can substitute for the one you're not happy with. Expressions that accomplish what you want, but are easy to do in the right way. What emotion do you want to have? What are five ways you can pick from to express it?EXAMPLE:?Emotion: You are trying to get attention.?Expression you don't like: You talk too much.One of five expressions you can use: You could stand back until you have something really intelligent to say. That would get their attention.It might be tough to come up with five to pick from, but try really hard. One important thing you already know is that the reaction you're having now isn't working for you. When you have five alternatives for what you are trying to accomplish, continue.For each alternative, run a *movie* in your mind where you see yourself feeling the emotion and expressing it in one of those ways.After you've done that, decide which expression(s) will work the best for you. If none of them will accomplish what you want -- to get attention, to get your emotion out, or be the *good guy/gal*, or whatever, then think about it again.What emotion do you want to have? How do you want to express it? Run the movie for each one and see which works for you.Now, go with the alternative(s) you've decided on, and replay the movie. Now is the time to refine your behavior and check to make sure that it will lead to the outcome you want.Now, step into the movie, feel the emotion you want to have, and just imagine as well as you can how it will be to express it in this way the next time you need it.Now, think about a time that might be coming up where you will probably experience that emotion. Imagine being in that situation, feeling the emotion, and expressing it as you want.Do this for other situations that might come up. Make minor adjustments in your behavior, so that you feel right.If you find that there are times when your new form of expression isn't going to work, run through this again, with a different format. Ask yourself these two questions. What emotion do you want to have? How do you want to express it? Run the movie. Keep tweaking the movie until it comes out exactly as you like.Now, you are going to be prepared for the situation, your response/emotion will be appropriate.I hope this helps in your growth. Just keep remembering: You're never as bad as you think you are, and you can be better than you think you are.Just keep going. Life is to be lived, not feared. Also, if you keep thinking the way you are already thinking, you'll stay the way you are. So if you don't want that, start visualizing new and different things happening in your life -- then watch for them to actually happen.Thanks for reading.JanP.S. If you'd like help with your relationships, you'll love having me as a mentor! To find out more about my great ecourse "RelationshipEcourse", click here: http://www.tameyourbrain.com/relationshipEcourse/offer.php~~~~~~~~~Copyright 2006, Jan Tincher, All Rights Reserved WorldwideDISCLAIMER: Jan Tincher and/or *Tame Your Brain!* do not guarantee or warrant that the techniques and strategies portrayed will work for everyone. The techniques and strategies are general in nature and may not apply to everyone. The techniques and strategies are not intended to substitute for obtaining medical advice from the medical profession. Always consult your own professionals before making any life-changing decisions.~~~~~~~~~Subscribe to "Tame Your Brain!" here. When you do, you'll receive FREE "Do Butterflies Land On Your Shoulder?" -- a fantastic article on how to find peace. Click here to subscribe to Tame Your Brain! ==>Publishers, you are welcome to reprint this article in its entirety provided you retain the above resource box and include this notice, plus notify us of the day(s) you will be running it. Jan Tincher, Master Neuro-Linguistic Programmer and nationally recognized expert in Hypnotherapy & Neuro-Linguistic Programming, teaches strategies and techniques that help people live better, happier lives, She studied under Richard Bandler and best-selling author, Anthony Robbins, and has had a successful practice for over 13 years. She has written hundreds of articles that show people how to work successfully with relationships, stress, weight, success, growing older, depression, fear, health, and much more. She is an award winning author, and you can read many of her articles at http://www.tameyourbrain.com/articles.htm . You can read what people say about her at http://www.tameyourbrain.com/testimonials.htm

Category : General Self Help

Jumeirah Group receives prestigious Dubai Human Development Award 2006

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

Author : PR Sending

span class="view_date">March 16th, 2007eives prestigious Dubai Human Development Awardumeirah Group, the dynamic and fast growing Dubaibased luxury international hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, has received the esteemed Dubai Human Development Award 2006 for its successful Emiratisation programme and ongoing commitment to the recruitment and development of UAE Nationals.The Dubai Human Development Award (DHDA) is presented annually by the Department of Economic Development to companies in two categories and spans the seven economic sectors; financial services, trading, construction, tourism, professional, services and manufacturing. The DHDA commends those private sector companies that play a crucial role in the recruitment and development of UAE Nationals.Emiratisation is a long term commitment and investment, and as one of the leading local employers in the tourism and hospitality sector, we have an important responsibility to pro-actively encourage and support the development of UAE Nationals. Receiving the Dubai Human Development Award is an honour and reflection of our commitment to providing the utmost in quality in all that we do atJumeirah, said Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of Jumeirah Group. He added: It is a top priority for us to attract, recruit, develop and retain the highest qualified and skilled UAE Nationals as the leaders of the tourism and hospitality industry of tomorrow. Winning this accolade provides further inspiration for us in Jumeirah Group in our journey to excellence.Jumeirah Group currently employs over 300 UAE Nationals in a wide variety of positions and departments across its portfolio of resorts and hotels in Dubai. UAE nationals make up the concierge staff, guest services, front office, information technology, training & development, sales, marketing, human resources and technical services.Al Manarah, the Groups dedicated and comprehensive training and development framework, includes a range of programmes designed to give UAE Nationals assistance in integrating into the Jumeirah culture and the hospitality and tourism industry. It includes training for new entry-level colleagues (Al Tawteen and Al Masar) as well as fast-tracking programmes for potential middle and senior candidates encompassing academic scholarships and management trainee programmes. In addition to the training and development modules, the Al Manarah programme also features an ongoing mentoring and coaching component.Besides the Groups own initiatives and dedicated Emiratisation strategy, Jumeirah Group is also a founding member of the Emiratization Task Force for Tourism through the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in association with Tanmia. The Hospitality Maharat Programme, one of the taskforce initiatives, is designed to provide training and employment opportunities for UAE Nationals and this programme is fully embraced and integrated within theEmiratisation programme at Jumeirah. In addition, Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of Jumeirah Group, represents the Hospitality Sector in the Emirates National Development Programme (ENDP).Mike Newnham, Chief Human Resources Officer for Jumeirah Group commented:The development of UAE Nationals within the private sector is of critical importance to the economic growth of the country and hospitality and tourism is one of they key growth industries offering many career opportunities for UAE Nationals. He added: We are proud of what we have achieved so far and are looking forward to the time when we are able to appoint our first Emirati General Manager.-end-About Jumeirah Group:Jumeirah properties are regarded as among the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and tourism awards. The fast growing Dubai based luxury international hospitality group encompasses the world renowned Burj Al Arab, the worlds most luxurious hotel, the multi-award winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London and the Jumeirah Essex House Hotel in New York.The groups activities are however, not restricted to hotel and resort management. The Jumeirah Group portfolio also includes Wild Wadi, regarded as one of the premier water parks outside of North America and The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, the regions only third level academic institution specializing in the hospitality and tourism sectors.Building on this success, Jumeirah Group became a member of Dubai Holding in 2004, a collection of leading Dubai based businesses and projects, in a step that aims to initiate a new phase of growth and development for the group. Jumeirahs ambitious expansion plans to grow its portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts worldwide to 40 by the end of 2009 are well underway with projects currently under development in Dubai, Aqaba, Doha, Phuket, Shanghai and London. For further information please contact:Jumeirah Group Corporate CommunicationsAnne Bleeker Director of Public Relations & align="right">

The Art of Selecting Quality Fine Art And Framed Reproduction Art For Your Home

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

Author : le Perdu

Artistic Answers For Your Biggest Design Dilemmas.Many consumers are in the process of buying a new home or remodeling and redecorating their existing home. Much time is spent choosing new flooring, window treatments and furniture. After these essentials are completed, carefully chosen artwork can add the finishing touches to your home and can also solve a variety of decorating difficulties. With every space comes a special set of design challenges as some rooms feel small and cramped, while others seem large and uninviting. To correct this you will want to choose artwork that will complement your d?cor and bring out the true beauty of your most important investment; by using framed paintings or prints, you can add balance to any problematic room. You may also want to consider using a professional art consultant when looking for just the right artwork as with today?s technology, a good art consultant can save you time and money by offering a broad selection of both art and custom framing options. Many art consultants have databases that contain tens of thousands of works of art that can be queried by size, color, style, price and many other parameters. Armed with a laptop and this software, art consultants such as Sara Beth Wiley with Dallas based Quality Art House can, in the comfort of your home, help you find and frame just the right piece of art for your dream home. Wiley poses the question ?Why spend countless hours driving all over town searching for the right work of art? Today, over a cup of coffee, in the comfort of my clients home, we can view 175,000 works of art on my laptop.? Powerful idea indeed.Here are five helpful tips to consider when selecting artwork for your home. Scaling Down A Large Room Vaulted ceilings and large open rooms are highly coveted features when buying a new home. However, deciding what to do with these areas can be quite a challenge. If you find yourself surrounded by an endless tundra of white walls, try hanging a series of paintings or art reproductions together. Clustering several works together will fill the most amount of space and create visual interest in the room. Think of the arrangement as one big picture!Add Height To A Room If you have a room with a low ceiling, try hanging a piece of art with strong vertical lines. This will add visual height to the space by drawing the eye upward. Look for pieces featuring trees, buildings, columns and stairways.Broaden A Narrow Room Adding a gorgeous, custom framed mirror is a great way to make a narrow room feel more open and spacious. A large-scale mirror can dramatically enlarge a room, making it appear nearly double in size. A smaller mirror positioned opposite a window will help bring the outdoors inside and give the illusion of a second window. Wherever you decide to hang the mirror, it is important that it reflect something pleasing to the eye.Open Up A Windowless RoomA room without a window or light source can make a space feel much smaller than it actually is. Fortunately, there are many types of artwork that can create a visual escape from such confining areas. Bring a breath of fresh air into a room by adding a picture of a window, doorway or walkway that leads to a beautiful landscape. Brighten up a space with panoramic motifs featuring mountain ranges, open fields or sunny skies.Expand A Small Room A common design worry is how to open up a small space. You can?t always knock down walls, but you can create the illusion of space by using a few designer secrets. One way to expand a small room is to hang a large landscape with a faraway horizon. This will draw the eye into the picture providing a sense of depth, while creating a visual effect that paint alone cannot accomplish.The right artwork can dramatically change the way a home or room looks and feels and can accomplish on most budgets. Visit Wiley?s art collection on the web at http://www.QualityArtHouse.com le Perdu is a contributing author on www.Quampha.com, a growing site dedicated to random reading, obscure articles and some rather out there opinions. We dare to be different, and we are always looking for articles and authors.

Category : Home Decoration

The Drive By Fishing Report

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

Author : A.J. Klott
For the average fishermen, the urge to go fishing is usually proceeded by the time honored ritual of checking out THE FISHING REPORT.Most rivers and lakes in traditional "fish bearing" areas, appear to have some sort of guru who compiles daily catch and success rates of the men and women who toil the waters casting and trolling for fish.In most cases it is a local newspaper columnist OR river guide turned columnist who reports or gathers the information we all crave before investing our precious time into fishy endeavors.In some cases, on line fishing reports can be useful but then we all know how reliable the internet is for accurate information.Oh yeah--I write columns on the internet. So, I take it back. The internet is a wonderful source of information, take everything you read as gospel.Now back to our regularly scheduled program......Several calls or e-mails to and from guides and respected fishermen allow for a fairly accurate assessment of water conditions and "bite" of the fish.Bait of choice and actual fish count numbers also help us to make decisions as to where and how we chase after our prey.We open our outdoor section in our local daily, and read the report like a want ad, expecting to see a report that says: "Hey A.J.--Yeah you--- grab your rod head out to the old military bridge, walk up to the first riffle upstream and cast to the inside pocket. There are thirteen steelhead sitting there waiting for about a half ounce of roe, spit some tobacco juice on it for luck and be sure to use about a half ounce of weight,let it sink to the bottom and bounce it lightly. You will feel a slight pause and heavy feeling on your eight pound test--that's a fish dummy --so lift your rod and start yelling like a little boy."Of course, what we really get is:Fishing is really picking up in the middle stretches of the river, with many catches being reported on roe,flies,worms,plugs,herring,small dogs and lures. Some fishermen are occasionaly picking up fish by side drifting bait while others are having some success back bouncing or picking off a few fish from the banks.The numbers of fish are generally good and guides are finding pockets of fish scattered throughout the river....For the most part, you can cut and paste that report and use that as your fishing report for any river.Except for the small dog part.That is the problem with fishing reports. They are useless.By the time you get the information, everything can change. Fishing conditions can change hourly, daily,and even by the minute, so--- to go armed with yesterdays news is just waste of time. Just ask anybody who has ever gone to a place with old information and came away with that "I should have been here yesterday" feeling.For my inspiration to head off to the river, I need only get my fishing reports from the "drive by fishing report"???Let me explain.I was tooling along the boardwalk of the main drag in my hometown of Jacksonville Oregon the other day,minding my own business deep in thought of some silly idle brain cell expulsion of energy. When a voice rang out," did you hear about my fish?"Outside of the fact, that I was not sure if God had finally answered my prayers and decided to personally have a conversation with me, I knew somebody was trying to get my attention. I looked around and there hanging out the window of his pick up truck was Jerry.Relieved that I wasn't going to have to grow a long beard and wander the desert while carrying stone tablets, I heard Jerry holler at me again."Did I tell you about the fish I caught the other day?"The fact that he asked me a second time, and was willing to slow the traffic behind him to give me some up to the minute report on fishing told me this might be big news."I caught a twenty-four and a half pound steelhead up on the North Umpqua."I replied in a fashion that certainly would disqualify me from any future Mosaic job openings,and of course asked him--when?"This past weekend."I repeated my "first impressions" of HIS luck, and then traffic pushed him along and he was out of there.Now that is my idea of a fishing report.I knew it was accurate, because he added the half pound in his report. I had the location, and I had the approximate time.It was short and to the point. And for those of you that are unfamiliar with southern Oregon steelhead-- that is a huge fish.At that point I had just received all the inspiration and information one could possibly need to go fishing.In other words, as long as fish are present there is always the chance that I may be the lucky person to be on the other end of that battle with an incredible fish like that.Isn't that what it's all about?So if you need to check out the fishing report before heading out for a day or week of fishing-so be it. But really, if you have the basic knowledge of knowing where, and how to catch the fish that are present in the lake or river system. Just go. You can't catch 'em until you get your line in the water.And who knows, maybe it will be you giving the daily "drive by fishing report" in your town.....A.J. Klott
Author, writer of fishing humor,and "fly tack" peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005.
If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at:
http://www.twoguyswithflys.com
Category : Recreation-and-Sports:Fishing

How To Get Your Man To Talk To You

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

Author : Gil Bryan

Many women feel like their man just doesn't like to communicate to them. This is because they believe that in order for him to be communicating to them; he has to communicate the way they think he should be communicating.A woman may not even realize that her man is, and has been, communicating to her, but she hasn't been hearing him.When men communicate, they do it the way they are primarily made up, and that is logically.When women communicate, they do it the way they are primarily made up, and that is emotionally.And as I have said before, one is not better than the other, they are just different.Since he is logical, he is going to be solution oriented. So, what he is trying to communicate to you must pass through his mind. In other words, he must think it through first. And this process usually takes some time.But if you don't understand this about men, a man's way of communicating may become frustrating to you. Plus, you could end up pushing him to communicate like you do.For example, since you are a talker you want him to be a talker, too. So, since he is not communicating to you like you think he should; by talking, you write him off as being insensitive or uncaring. And you figure that, if he is so insensitive and uncaring to your needs, you are better off either by yourself or with someone else.And, because you did not invest the energy and time to get the right knowledge, you simply jump out of one relationship and into another, only to find yourself in the same predicament again.But before you jump ship try applying these 5 keys to getting your man talking to you:1. Don't ask you're man what he is feeling, ask him what he is thinkingWhen trying to get your man (or any man for that matter) to communicate to you, don't ask him 'what he is feeling'. Instead ask him what he is thinking. Feeling is an emotion that does not compute with him. (Note: I did not say he doesn't have feelings.)It's just when communicating a man must process what you are saying through his mind (his logical side), and you are trying to get him to talk through his feelings or his emotional side. When this happens, a man will most likely clam up, short circuit, and decide to not say anything.Or, he will do like most men do, either he will get angry and walk away or get angry and attack.But it is imperative that you do not come to any conclusion about what he is feeling until you find out what he is thinking.2. Give him the space and time he needs to think his thoughts through.A man needs time to get his thoughts together. This could take a little while or a long while. How long this may take really depends on your man. But a good way for you to give him the space and time he needs to get his thoughts together is to ask him when he thinks it will be a good time for you two to get together and talk.Notice I said, when he thinks'. If your man feels like you are trying to control or push the idea on him, it will cause him to back away from the idea.3. Set a time and dateSet a time and date for the talk'. Setting a time and date is important to a man because it appeals to his logical side. But don't set a time and date too far into the future because anything after a few days, most men will simply forget or put it out of their minds.4. Set boundaries Before the talk' even begins set boundaries which you both agree can't be crossed. For example, start off by agreeing that there will be no yelling, no name calling, and no finger pointing. And, there will be no use of words like never' and always'. In other words, you wouldn't want to say things like, "You never listen to me", "You always wait for me to pick up after you" or "You always do that".5. Write down your questions and concernsIf your man continues to put off the talk' then write down your questions and concerns and ask him to read over them at a time that is convenient to him. This is good because even though he knows the talk' is important to you he also feels comfort in knowing that you are not pushing it on him. Which makes him feel like he is still in control. And also gives him time to process (think about) your concerns as he goes through his day.Plus, as an added bonus, by you writing out your concerns and organizing your thoughts, you are learning different and better ways of communicating.Remember, that is what this is all about, you being in control of you. You can't control other people but you can control you. And the more you learn what it takes to be a better you, the wiser you become. And as your wisdom increases so does your value to the point where you become priceless. The secret of men has been revealed! Why are some women great at finding and keeping a good man while other women are not? Get Gil Bryan’s, "9 Spiritual Laws To Attract And Keep The Man Of Your Dreams!"

http://www.GilBryan.com

Category : General Travel and Leisure

English Soccer

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

Author : Alan Gibson

English Soccer Association Football is the game that originated in England. Thus it holds an important position in English national life. English soccer is generally referred as Football or Association football. As football is a speedy and highly competitive game so it became popular in less time. Soon it became the preferred choice of international tycoons where they wanted to endow the money. In England this game is not just a spectator sport but it also holds an attractive place among inhabitants and thus became a game of mass participation in a wide variety of form. England had first used the term football for the game. The first international football match that was played by the England national football team was against Scotland in 1872 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and they won their first world cup in 1966. In England the kicking ball games has been illustrated since 1280. It has been researched that team football games has being played in English Schools since 1581. The thrust of these games was to coalesce English Public School and University football games.The first modern game was played in London in 1863.The game was associated by the oldest football association in the world English Football Association.It has been traced out that in ancient time Greeks and Romans developed a pastime Harpastum that was a combination of Association football and Rugby football. Then with the change of time there came drastic change in the game also.The worlds oldest competition, the FA cup and the first ever soccer league was founded in England in 1872 and 1888 respectively. Therefore England is said to be the home of the game of football. After the establishment of soccer league, many other leagues have also been founded here with a dream of rising up to the top one day with their efforts. The soccer league is currently being divided into three divisions named the Football League championship, Football League one and Football League two.The English football competition includes the FA cup and the League cup. The FA cup is the oldest and respectable national cup competition in the world. Although many other competitions are also targeted yet these are the most important among them. The winner of these competitions holds an important position in soccer game field. The winners are considered to be qualified for the UEFA cup.The League cup, also known as the Carling Cup is the other major cup competition. Then there are many other competition held at different level as the Football league Trophy, the FA Trophy, the FA vase, FA Amateur cup, the FA Sunday Cup and many more. Clubs that give their best performance in these FA cup or League Cup, are considered to be qualified to participate in various UEFA organized competitions.The womens football game has also got the initiative here. Although these types of matches are recorded since a long time but the serious attention is being paid on these matches in the recent years only.English Soccer is a well-known and most popular game amongst people that has achieved global fame and reputation in nick of time. This prestige has been boomed exponentially and the influence of the game is growing continuously. Seeing the popularity of the game it can be concluded that in the coming years the Soccer game will attain the new heights in the field of sports.Alan GibsonPresidentwww.NipsWorld.co.uk Alan Gibson is the sole owner and president of NipsWorld.co.uk, a cheap supplier of quality Sports Equipment. He also specializes in a variety of English Soccer Memrobilia and football kit.

Category : General Sports: Soccer

10 Things You Should Try To Barter For Before Buying

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

Author : Rojo Sunsen
1. Information Products - it could be ebooks, "how
to" videos, cassettes, magazines, newsletters, paid
e-zines, courses, etc.2. Advertising Space - it could be banner ads, ezine
ads, ebook ads, magazine ads, newspaper ads, tv
ads, fax ads, online classified ads, etc.3. Web Hosting - you could offer a free advertisement
for their web hosting service on your site in return for
free or discounted hosting.4. Software - it could be for tax software, web site
authoring software, accounting software, newsletter
software, graphic design software, etc.5. Writing/Editing - it could be for web site content,
promotional articles, press releases, e-zine articles,
promotional ebooks, etc.6. Accounting/Bookeeping - you could offer a no
cost advertisement in exchange for their accounting
and booking services7. Consulting - it could be market consulting, legal
consulting, computer/software consulting, business
consulting, etc.8. Copy writing - it could be for brochures, business
cards, classified ads, sales letters, product packages,
banner ads, promotional products, etc.9. Merchant Accounts - you could offer no cost
insert ads in your product packages in exchange for
the option of accepting credit cards.10. Internet Access - you could offer a no cost
pop up ad on your web site in exchange for free or
discounted Internet access.About the author:Rojo Sunsen is a specialized bounty hunter who prefers to work quietly/confidentially for the benefit of her clients.
Category : Business:Top7-or-10-Tips

Creative Ways to Tell Your Husband that You're Pregnant

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

Author : Kendra Spencer
Disbelief, excitement, shock. Words can't describe the feeling you get when you see that pregnancy test turn positive for the first time. You've waited weeks, months, maybe years to see this result and you can't wait to tell your husband. You could just run to him exclaiming the news that you're pregnant or you could take the extra step to make this momentous announcement even that more special. Here are some creative ways to tell him that you are pregnant:Dinner and a Present. If food is the way to your man's heart, then this is
the way to go. Wrap up your positive pregnancy test like a little present and present
it to him over his favorite meal. If your husband is an outgoing type, take him to his
favorite restaurant and have the maitre'd bring the gift to the table after you've
finished dinner. Your husband can share his jubilation with the patrons and staff,
who inevitably will be thrilled for you. Chances are they might even include dessert
on the house, you're eating for two now, so indulge! If you think your husband
would prefer a more intimate setting, cook his favorite dinner and set the table with
the good china you never have the occasion to use.Propose Fatherhood. Why not recreate how your husband proposed
marriage to you, but instead propose fatherhood? Take him back to where he
popped the question and recreate the scene. Instead of a ring box, hand him a
bracelet box with your positive pregnancy test inside and ask, "Will you be a father?"Bun in the Oven. Sneak out of bed early one morning and put a batch of
cinnamon buns in the oven to bake. Don't worry about baking these from scratch,
the pre-prepared refrigerated ones from your grocery store will do just fine. When
your husband wakes up and smells the irresistible aroma announce to him that,
"Honey, we've got a bun in the oven!"A Momento. Announce your pregnancy to your husband with a souvenier
that he can keep on his desk or dresser. Take a picture of your positive pregnancy
test and frame it with the words, "Positive proof that in nine months you will be the
best dad around, just wait, you'll see."A t-shirts even you can love. There's no double about it, men love printed
t-shirts. While this can usually be the bain of us women, this can finally work in our
favor. Give him a gift of a t-shirt that says, "Soon to be the World's Best Dad, " and
watch his face light up. Now maybe you can retire one of his free concert t-shirts
that you can't stand.Start Saving. Is your husband in charge of the family finances? Buy him a
piggy bank and put a note around it's neck that says, "Our Baby's College Fund --
Only 18 years and 9 months to save." Put this on his dresser and wait for him to find
it. Don't be surprised if he comes running to you with a big hug....and a new
household budget.Sweet Tooth. Does your husband have a sweet tooth? Cater to his craving
with your special message. Pick up your husband's favorite Chinese take out and
swap out the fortune cookie message with your own message that says, "You will be
a dad on xx/xx/xxxx (your due date)." Or have a fun afternoon at the paint-your-
own-pottery store and make him an ice cream bowl that says, "You're going to be a
dad!" Fill it up with his favorite ice cream and watch his reaction when he gets to the
bottom.Multi-media Momma. Are you computer saavy? These days making
movies and pictures slideshows on your home computer is so user friendly. You can
create a truely memorable pregnancy announcement by editing together some of
your favorite photos and home movies together with the final message announcing
your pregnancy and burn it to a DVD. Pop a bowl of popcorn for your husband to
eat as he watches his new favorite flick.No matter how you say it, either with humor, romance, or drama, telling your
husband that he's going to be a dad will no doubt be a memorable event in your
life. Good luck and congratulations!Kendra Spencer is the creator of http://www.shoppingfortwo.com which
offers shopping, health and baby advise for new and pregnant moms. Check out our
new line of pregnancy announcing t-shirts at http://www.shoppingfortwo.com
Category : Home-and-Family:Pregnancy

Hiring and Retaining Good Employees

2008-06-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

Author : Myron Curry
Hiring good employees is not only important to business, itâ™s essential. Employees are the heart and soul of a business; they are the mechanism that makes a business run; they are the breath of life that enables a business to be something more than an idea. A business cannot run unless someone (employees, in this case) is doing the work. Any intelligent business owner should want good employees.EMPLOYERS NOT THE ONLY ONES TO FEEL THE EFFECTBad employees not only affect an employer by driving down sales, costing the company unwanted expenses due to negligence or simple lack of motivation, etc, but they affect the customer as well. Of course, once a customer has experienced a bad employee, it automatically affects the employer in obvious ways. Although this seems like common sense to most people, it is uncanny how most employers will overlook this fact, whether itâ™s because of time constraints to effectively deal with the problem or lack of better judgment. Whatever the case, it is a fact that sales get driven down and production slowed for a reason. That reason could very well be because of the customerâ™s lack of satisfaction with whatever service he or she had received and that lack of satisfaction stems from bad employees.FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO START WITHThis is one of the most important things you, as an employer, can do. Getting the right people into your company to start with gets things moving in the right direction at the very beginning.According to Chairman and CEO, Hal F. Rosenbluth, and Consultant, Diane McFerrin Peters, of Rosenbluth International, the third-largest travel management company in the world, âœMost of us choose our spouse with care and rear our children with nurturing and compassionate attention. Yet, we tend to select the people who will join our company on the basis of an interview or two, and once they have joined, they often find that they must fend for themselves.This contrast illustrates the disparity between the environments of family and work. But, given the amount of time we must spend at work, wouldnâ™t we all be happier if we took as much care at the office as at home to create a supportive environment? Wouldnâ™t we also be far more successful?â (28).The answer is yes.THE CUSTOMER DOES NOT COME FIRSTItâ™s important to remember that if you want quality employees, your company must be of the same caliber. If you expect to attract an employee who thrives to be as dedicated to the business as possible, doing more than what is expected, and putting forth 110% without any consideration being given to the employeeâ™s personal needs, thoughts, and desires, you are truly fooling yourself. And, eventually, your business will suffer for it.Itâ™s obvious to most, by now, that benefits and perks play a large part in attracting employees. I need not explain the many benefits that a company should make available to attract a good employee because it should be common sense to most, by now. I will say, however, that attaining a good employee must go much farther than just having a great set of benefits. After all, does a wonderful benefits package actually attract only good employees? Of course not. There must be more to it than that.For the customer to be served with the best results humanly possible, a more modern approach to the theory of customer satisfaction must be realized which is that the customer should not come first; the employee should. Therein in itself is one of the most successful ways to attract a good employee.When a business puts its employees first, many things can happen. To begin with, the employee is happy. If the employee is happy, the service that the employee provides to the customer will be far more outstanding than if he or she were not happy. If the service is outstanding, the customer will be happy and that only spells successful results for the business.This does not mean that an employer must wait hand and foot on the employee. No, it simply means that careful consideration to what an employee thinks, wants, and suggests should be considered. Do not treat an employee as if he or she is a factory robot working on a clock. Treat them as people. Treat them with respect by talking to them as people and not âœtalking down to themâ as âœemployeesâ. In fact, a good idea would be to remove the term âœemployeeâ all together. One successful company I know of refers to its employees as âœassociatesâ, thereby empowering their âœassociatesâ with a feeling of more respect and purpose.EMPLOYEE LEADERSHIP AND FLEXIBILITY A MUSTAn open, friendly atmosphere is a must in a workplace. Micro managing, as most already are aware of, is frowned upon. This is for a reason. When a work environment is open enough for all employees to contribute and offer ideas and suggestions, without ridicule or negative response, this sparks creativity in an employee and, again, empowers them to contribute more to the business. If everyone feels as though they are a part of the leadership process and not just a worker bee, they will have a satisfying feeling that can go a long way. Micro managing completely kills this system.An employer must be flexible. Does there really need to be a rigid schedule? Does lunchtime really need to take place at a specific time? Who actually needs a clock to tell them when they are hungry? This line of thinking is what is needed in every faucet of business, as simple as it seems. It makes an employee feel more like a human; it makes them feel as though the business respects them as a person and will put them first. Once that consideration is instilled in an employeeâ™s mind, there isnâ™t anything that he or she wouldnâ™t do for a business. And, when a person looks forward to waking up in the morning to begin working in a place where they feel management gives them respect and thinks highly of them, they will put forth the effort to show appreciation.HIRE NICE PEOPLEExperience and degrees are great ways of measuring employeesâ™ qualifications and potentialâ¦but ask yourself, are they nice people? A person can be the most qualified, educated, and experienced possible employee on the planet but if they have the personality of a wet paper bag or of a caged wolverine, itâ™s guaranteed theyâ™re not going to do much for your business. Those that have to work with them will be disgruntled on a daily bases and begin putting out a poor performance. The customers that receive service from them will be unhappy and I need not say what happens after that.Hire nice people. Nice people can do wonders for a business. Sound picky? It is. But, when it comes to your business, can you afford not to be picky?A nice person can learn anything. Nice people are pleasant to be around and are easy to teach. They are notoriously quick to learn. So, even if your nice person does not have the skill set that you are looking for, one might consider the possibility of training. Think about the potential, especially if nice people seem to be rare in your neck of the woods.HOW DO YOU FIND NICE PEOPLEThis should be obvious. During the interview process, were they down-to-earth or were they focused solely on success, success, and more success? As crazy as it may seem, the total, success driven fanatic may not be the best option. Again, the person who seems more like a âœpersonâ would be the best candidate for hiring. In the long run, they will make your business more successful because they would make the customer, as well as those that have to work with them, happier.Conduct tests and unconventional interview methods. Why should an interview consist of one or two meetings in a stuffy room? How can we really find out about a person that way? The answer is that we canâ™t. Instead, how about combining the stuffy office interview one day with another day of playing a game of softball with other, current employees, as Hal F. Rosenbluth and Diane McFerrin tend to do within their company? This would be great for company moral and, at the same time, provide a chance to see how the potential employee reacts in a team environment. If the person is bent on nothing but winning and becomes angry when other teammates drop the ball or do not hit as far as they should, perhaps this person is not the best employee to have around. Chances are that their performance on the softball field will reflect their performance in the office. (31-32).Go for a drive. As again explained by Hal F. Rosenbluth and Diane McFerrin Peters, the way a person drives an automobile says a lot about a personâ™s personality. Are they overly aggressive and speed through traffic, weaving in an out of other cars, determined to get to the point of destination no matter what the cost? Or, are they assertive drivers who consider the safety of their passengers and think of alternate routes when confronted with a traffic jam, focusing more on the drive than the destination? (31). Which person would you rather have working for you? Which person would you rather have serving your customers? If you were a customer, which person would you rather have serving you?Invite your new, potential employee to a company social event. Are they the type of person that talks only of themselves and continuously brags about all of the wonderful things that he or she has done? Do they even talk to anyone at all? These are the folks that either want to gain far more than they are willing to contribute or arenâ™t willing to gain or contribute. These are the type of people that will bring your company down.So, some key points to consider thus far:Consider your employees before your customers. Not only will the employee put out a far better performance due to feeling respected, but your company will also build a reputation as being âœthe company to work forâ, which will attract other, good employees.Be flexible. Constraints in the office constrain creativity and work performance. Go for casual clothing, if possible. Let your employee decide when itâ™s time to eat and take a break. Be flexible on your employeeâ™s schedule, catering to his or her personal needs. The employee will show appreciation in return, by supplying a good output of production.Hire nice people. Not one customer in the world, no matter what business you are in, enjoys service from someone with less-than-appreciative attitude. And, your other employees will not enjoy working with them either, bringing down moral and production drastically. This kind of person will not be willing to strive at contributing to your company; they will strive to contribute only to themselves.Consider the unconventional when interviewing an employee. The more often you can set a scenario that a potential employee will not expect or could find to be an unusual method of interviewing, the better. It will give you a chance to see what that person is really capable of, as a person.RETAINING GOOD EMPLOYEESAs important as attracting good employees is, it is just as important to retain them. As always, benefit packages help to retain employees. But, again, this is something that most people are already aware of. Sure, there will be those that will want to stay for the great benefits. But, is that all you, as an employer, can offer? No.After spending as much time as you should have in attracting good employees, it only makes sense that you would go to certain lengths to keep them. Chances are, if you really attracted a good employee, it wasnâ™t just because of the benefits. And, chances are that your good employee will not stay just because of the benefits. Benefits, although a positive force, are not the end all and can, at times, be a false sense of security to an employer. Not everyone develops his or her retention decision on a benefits package, at least not the smart employee.LET THEM CHANGE IT UP NOW AND AGAINLet your people explore your company. Donâ™t lock them into one, specific type of work, especially if they express desire to try other things. In todayâ™s job market, job-hoping, as it is known, is a regular occurrence. If you provide your employees with the chance to job-hop âœwithinâ your company, this is one way of keeping them there. Give them the opportunity to gain new experience, knowledge, and skills. This will only enhance your company anyway, by having an employee that can do and handle more. It also increases confidence in the employee and makes their work more satisfying. The United States military and civil services such as police and fire departments have already figured that one out. They call it cross-training and fleeting-up and itâ™s a great idea.COMMUNICATIONCommunicating is very important, not only in day to day business, but in retention as well. People need to feel as though they have a grasp on what is going on within the company. They want to know where the company is going and how they will be part of that process. They need to feel they are involved in the company. Being part of any planning processes, being able to contribute ideas for the company, and essentially being heard is all part of communication. Again, this is emphasized in most of the U.S.â™s military forces as well, even though they conduct themselves in more of a dictatorship.Know why your people wanted to join your company in the first place and hone in on that. Keep that priority of the employee in consideration, always acting on it and developing it, and the employee will want to continue that purpose with a strong sense.Talk to your people. Not only should you get to know them, you should get to know what they continue to want and think. And, donâ™t think for a minute that a personâ™s desires and thoughts on particular matters will be the same later down the road as they were when they first joined the organization. Things change, including your employeeâ™s thoughts and desires. Keep up with those changes.Get feedback from your employeeâ™s. Find out what they think is right and wrong with the company. Provide a feedback forum. And, most importantly, act on the information you receive from this feedback.In summery:Let your employee job hop and provide an opportunity to let them do it within your company, instead of having to go outside the company. More than likely, if they canâ™t do it in the company, they will venture outside to a place that they can. Take advantage of the multiple skills your people can learn within the company. This not only helps your company out, it gives the employee a feeling of more purpose and he or she will enjoy not having to go far to expand their skills.Keep your people in mind when it comes to information on where the company is headed and what it is doing. If the employee does not feel informed on what is happening, they will not feel as though they are part of the company and, therefore, will not want to stay, in the long run.Get to know what your people want, when they first enter the organization and periodically throughout their tenure. Peopleâ™s motives and desires change. The good employer is the one that can keep up with those changes. Offer feedback methods and make sure you act on the results.Above all, remember what it was that got you that good employee in the first place. The concepts mentioned in this article that enable an employer to attain a good employee to begin with are basically the same principals of retaining them as well. Itâ™s that simple. Anyone who works for a company that considers their needs, is just, and can remain flexible, as well as provides other good employees to work alongside, will want to continue working in that company. Hiring and retaining good employees goes hand in hand.About The AuthorMyron Curry is President and CEO of BusinessTrainingMedia.com a leading provider of workforce and business development training programs designed exclusively for corporate deployment. Myron has over 20 years of successful management experience with leading fortune 500 companies and has written numerous articles about workforce management issues. You can contact Myron at: myron@business-marketing.com or visit his company's website http://www.businesstrainingmedia.com
Category : Breast Cancer

Kamagra: An Effective Answer to Your ED

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

Author : Wain Roy

ED or Erectile Dysfunction is quite common with men, which had led chemists and druggists to come up with various medical remedies to it. The good news is that this sexual dysfunction or impotence is curable. Of all medication available in the stores today, Kamagra has made a distinctive mark as an effective answer to the treatment of ED. Kamagra or Sildenafil Citrate (its generic name) is one of its kind, being the first significant oral medication for ED, which is widely popular now. It is same as the 100mg Viagra. Only the color is different. It is found in two formstablet and jelly. The interesting trivia surrounding Kamagra is that it was originally prepared to improve blood flow into the heart and soothe cardiovascular problems. But it proved more effective in boosting sexual abilities and the erection of the penis. Thereafter, Kamagra was approved by FDD and it gripped the market as a surefire remedy for ED. Its meant for oral ingestion and is manufactured in pills of 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. It is recommended that you should take this medicine in an empty stomach about an hour before intercourse. In full stomach, the efficiency is considerably reduced. This tablet is absorbed into your blood approximately 30 to 60 minutes after the intake and start acting on your system by inhibiting the enzyme PDE5 (phosphodiesterase type) found in penis. This enzyme is the main deterrent for proper erection as it restricts the relaxation of the penis muscles. Kamagra, when fully absorbed, inhibits PDE5 and thereby relaxes the muscles to allow healthy erection. But you need not worry if you dont indulge in any sexual activity after its consumption. It will be automatically eliminated out of your body.Like all pills, even this has its side effects; but with Kamagra, the fallouts are mild and short-lived. Congestion, diarrhea, headaches, urinary tract infections, facial flushing, etc. are some of its side effects. However, the effectiveness of this oral medicine Kamagra has been tested over the years and across all age groups. Kamagra-treated patients have shown 80% improvement in terms of erection, penetration and maintaining the erection over a longer period of time. However, it is important to remember that Kamagra should not be consumed just because you havent had an intercourse for a long time. In such a case, it is always advised to consult a medical practitioner. Also, Kamagra is not provided without a prescription and even if you have ordered it online, your medical profile is reviewed before the delivery. At the end of it, you should never self-medicate yourself to Kamagra. Your medical history needs to be evaluated before recommending it because it is fatal to individuals who are under any other medication containing nitrates. So be on your guard and proceed only after you get a green signal from the doctor. With that ensured, the rewards are far-reaching. Wain Roy is an internet marketing professional expert in various industries like real estate, web design, finance, medical tourism and Kamagra

Category : General Medical: General

Podcasting: Internet Radio On Demand... and MORE!

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

Author : Jim Edwards

If you haven't heard the term "podcast" yet, you will. It's about to blow the world of online audio through theroof as every Tom, Dick and Shirley can now operate a highpowered Internet Radio station providing on-demand audio(and shortly, video) with nothing more than a microphone,simple software, and a little imagination. Just like cable TV in the 1980's gave smaller networks andindividuals a voice on television, podcasting givesindividuals a voice (literally) through online audio. Podcasting is actually the audio form of "blogging," whereindividuals share their thoughts in writing over time on adynamic webpage known as a "blog." With blogging, subscribers and other blog publisherssubscribe to and cross promote each other's content bylinking to and writing about each other. With podcasting, the author shares his or her thoughts inaudio form (MP3) and subscribers download and listen to theaudio either on their computers, burn the files to CD, ortransfer the files to one of the increasingly popularportable MP3 players. In fact, the term "podcasting" draws its name from theiPod, created by Apple Computers. Initially you might think the only people podcasting aregeeks and computer nerds, but that's not the case. If you imagine "talk radio" meets "free cable access" thenyou have and idea of what pocasting is now and how it couldevolve in the future. Right now, any idiot (like me) with a microphone andsomething to say can create an online radio show. This type of access to media that reaches a world-widemarket enables smaller, niche publishers to develop aworld-wide following that just isn't monetarily feasible intraditional mass-media. That means talk shows like "Chihuahua Breeding" or"Motorcycle Fashion Weekly" that could never hope to affordair time in a local market, can now develop an audience onthe Internet. Log on to PodCastAlley.com to peruse a wide range ofavailable shows on everything from dog training to wineselection and tasting tips (one of the most popular). Despite all this potential power, podcasting remains in aninfancy stage right now. But, the Internet has always proven in the past that apowerful but simple technology will always find a way tomake itself felt quickly. All it needs to explode is a few people to lead the way andshow exactly how to use the technology to entertain andeducate subscribers. I also think two worlds will evolve for podcasting programpublishers, just like cable vs. network television. Some content will remain free (network TV), while somesubscribers will gladly pay for more specific "niche" orpay-per-view content (cable TV). As the quality of the programming increases along with morewidespread acceptance of the tools necessary to consume thecontent (MP3 players and portable video players),podcasting will grow to stand beside other mainstreammedia. It won't happen overnight, and it won't penetrate everymarket, but as members of the "global village" seek to findand feel a connection with like-minded individuals,regardless of their physical location, podcasting providesa cheap, powerful, and innovative solution for that basichuman need.-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Need MORE TRAFFIC to your website or affiliate links? "Turn Words Into Traffic" reveals the secrets for drivingThousands of NEW visitors to your website or affiliatelinks... without spending a dime on advertising! Click Here> http://www.the-easy-way.com/traffic.html

Category : Self Help

Local/Long Distance - Should You Switch?

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

Author : Michael Weaver
Remember the telephone companies' deregulation of the 1980s? If someone were to ask me then to switch my phone service I would have said 'no way'. You see during this initial period it really was all about the network.Well, the times have certainly changed. For some of us in the United States, we've seen the TV commercials trying to instill fear of switching providers. By the way, it probably goes without saying, but you do know who's funding those advertisements right? The big name providers who obviously don't want to loose your business.The times have changed. The networks have stabilized, are reliable and offer the same quality. Let's face it; even the major local providers need to interface with other companies network. A local provider is not providing end-to-end long distance. Once they get out of their 'network' they need to interface with another providers 'network' in order to complete your call.At the start of this, I stated I would not have switched my long distance provider back in the 1980's. I'm happy to say, I've switched my long distance provider a long time back and have been extremely happy with the service, quality and reliability. Actually, I've experienced no difference at all in service, reliability or quality of calls between my
smaller named long distance carrier and the big name carrier I used to use. The biggest difference, for me, was a HUGE cost savings.Everyone's calling habits are different. I live in a large midwestern city and my long distance calling is generally to New York City and southern California. I for one cut my long distance by over HALF what it was. Anytime we can save money without loosing quality of service is a no brainer. Get past the hype and the fear the major providers try to stir up.Having said all that, how would you choose a provider? First, we'd certainly like you to use our web site, but there are many web sites today that provide free quotes for you. Learn how to read your quote. Don't to lured by a cheap per minute rate because that is only part of what your overall bill will be. Terms, conditions, taxes and fee's can quickly exceed any perceived cost savings on rate alone.There are reliable, lower cost carriers out there. There is money to be saved. There is a way to learn how to read your quote and know exactly what you're paying for. Use our site, use someone else's site, but learn to read your quote and you will happily save money every month.Provided by Full Service Broadband Provider. We offer unbiased and informative information on broadband and communication products and services. This service is made possible through Try Right Technology, Inc
Category : Computers-and-Technology:Mobile-Cell-Phone

Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating

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

Author : Liz Hekimian-Williams
You're tired. You've worked hard all week. Suddenly, the kids shout gleefully... "let's decorate!" ... in anticipation of the coming holiday. The "let's not" is miraculously not permitted to escape your lips. Instead you take a deep breath while you wonder about how this decorating could become an easier and more fun-filled activity.

Well, it can be!

- First, insist on family members pitching in to help and treat this like a family project. This should not just rest on your shoulders to accomplish and it will be much more fun if you all are making changes and creating memories together.

- Next, pick a day and time you'll all devote no more than one to two hours for a quick holiday makeover at your home (for a major decorating holiday schedule two or three longer blocks of time). It helps if you can set the decorating date about one to two weeks from now, if time still allows for that. This gives you time to gather items together for the project.

- Ask the kids to create one or two new arts and crafts decorations that are suitable to the holiday to have ready for the decorating day. Or, ask them to select ones from among any they may already have on hand, for instance, from school projects.

- Decide on 3 to 4 areas you will focus on decorating this year. Here are some choices: the front door, the front yard, the entry hallway, the kitchen table, the dining room table, the living room, the patio, the bathroom, the bedroom. There are other areas you could consider as well. But if you want quick and dirty, then focus in on only 3 to 4 of the areas for decorating this year. Anyway, you can select other areas next year for a change.

- Keep holiday decorations in separate bags, boxes or baskets in the same closet or in the attic so they'll be easy for everyone to retrieve when they are needed next.

- Buy items you really love when you see them advertised or they may not be available when you later. It's common for seasonal merchandise to change from year to year and also they are not stocked year-round typically. So, your item may no longer be available if you wait too long to decide you want it. Then stash your figurines, statues, wall hangings, and other holiday decorations in your bags or boxes, sorted by holiday.

- Make or buy some snacks or treats to enjoy together at the completion of your decorating time.

Here are some favorite quick and easy decorating areas and tips:

1. The front door- Have a welcome sign that is theme oriented and you can easily change by season or by holiday. You can either hang up a completely new themed sign, or there are some that come with interchangeable pieces you swap in and out representing different holidays or themes.

2. The dining room table or a table that is centrally located but not used that often- Change the table runner or the tablecloth to a holiday themed one. Then showcase your holiday decorations by arranging a combination of your kid's holiday creations and your own figurines or other holiday decor on the table.

3. The mantel or entertainment center- Add a string of lights and if you wish, you can also vary the string of lights by color best suited for the coming holiday theme. Wall hangings can be changed around this area temporarily as well. Holiday accessories, flags, figurines, etc. are easy to rotate in and to view on or around this area of your home.

4. Special areas by kid's choice- Smaller children can help by adding little decorations to windows and glass doors. They enjoy taping up their creations or they can easily put up static cling decorations. Other areas small children enjoy decorating include outdoors, the dog house and their own rooms. Allow them to handle this aspect of decorating while you take pleasure in their big smiles and hugs!

Finally, make your decorating time even more enjoyable by having holiday background music or other favorite tunes playing in the background. Then, when you're done decorating, finish up with a big family hug and munching on tasty snack treats together!

Author Resource Box:

Liz Hekimian-Williams is founder of Giftsprings.com, a gifts and home decor online shop that features personalized gifts, custom engraved stones, holiday decor and special occasion gifts. Visit the gift shop at http://www.giftsprings.com

This article can be freely reprinted as long as the copyright notice and author resource byline with active link are included with the article.
Category : Home-and-Family:Holidays

How to Start Home Based Travel Businesses

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

Author : Randy Wilson

Home based travel businesses are no longer the wave of the
future. Home travel businesses are the hot trend right now. So
if youâ™re considering becoming a travel agent, this brief guide
will provide you with information you need to know.

First, there are generally two types of home travel businesses:

Referral agencies Booking and selling agencies

Home based travel businesses that fall into the referral agency
category do just that: they refer people to a travel agency.
They may have several agencies they refer people to, but most
generally have one travel agency that they work with on a
regular basis. In return for the referrals from a home based
business travel agent, the travel agency pays a referral fee or
commission percentage on what the travel agency receives from
the supplier. Part-time referral agents can earn up to $500 on
each sale, and sometimes even more.

The home based travel businesses that fall into the booking and
selling agencies category usually work with one travel agency.
These booking and selling travel agencies actually do the
booking and planning involved in making all the necessary
arrangements for great trips.

These are people who enjoy attending to all the little details.
They serve, more or less, as facilitators between their clients
and a travel agency. Booking and selling home based travel
business agents earn a lot higher percentage of the overall
commissionâ"but they DO do a great deal more work. A full-timer
at this, however, can earn $50,000 or more a year.

Some things you want to consider before you decide to open your
own home based travel business are:

Do I need any special training or education? Should
I pursue this part-time or full-time? Is my family
supportive of my decision? Do I have a room in my home where
I can set up an office? Should I get an extra phone line?
What sort of office equipment do I need? What will I do
about accounting? How do I manage my tax needs? Is this
a job I will love? How much money do I want to make?
Should I do any advertising? Do I have the contacts I
need to pursue this business opportunity? If I donâ™t, how do
I make the contacts I need? Am I willing to put the
necessary effort into this business? Does my state require
me to have a business license? Once youâ™ve answered all or
at least most of these questions, you will need to make a
business plan, outlining the steps youâ™ll have to take to
achieve your goal of having your own home based travel business.
And a plan just isnâ™t any good unless you follow it.

You also need to make sure your business plan is realistic. If
you have to take a course to run the type of travel agent home
business you want to have, deciding to open up shop next week
isnâ™t reasonable. By being realistic in your business plan, you
will save yourself an untold amount of frustration as you start
and grow your business.

And starting your own business, whether itâ™s a cruise travel
home business or a European vacation home travel business, can
be frustrating. Be prepared for obstacles to raise their ugly
little heads when you least expect them to, and roll with them
as much as you can.

Your goal is to offer superior, professional travel services.
Donâ™t let a cranky client get to you. Always keep a pleasant,
cheerful demeanor. You can scream later. Better yet, you have a
laugh or two over it with friends, while sipping a glass of fine
wine that you bought with the money youâ™ve earned as a home
based business travel agent.

Category : Home & Family

Step Into My Parlour... Easy Ways To Entice The Right People To Your Website

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

Author : Daegan Smith
Though traditional marketing methods cannot be ignored, having a website is a very effective gateway to getting new business. Not just that, you can maximise sales to existing customers with your website by making it easier for them to do business with you. Now, this sounds really rosy…you put up a website; you become a millionaire. Though that is not such a far away possibility, a lot comes in between the two.Once you put up a website, it is important to market it right and generate tremendous traffic inwards before you can start converting your leads into cash cows. Now, you would ideally want everyone and their cousin to check out your website, right? Isn't that what we mean by 'tremendous traffic'? Think again. No matter how great products or services you sell, you will not start making a profit until you have the relevant people hitting the right buttons on the website. By relevant, we mean people who fall within your targeted segment and who are most likely to buy your products and services. Hard as it may sound, traffic generation should be a top priority for a home business owner. Here are some effective ways to market your website online and not have to pray for fortune to fund them:Register with 'Affiliate Programs': Undoubtedly a great way to market your website would be to get your affiliates to do it for you. An affiliate program is a revenue sharing program where an affiliate website receives a portion of income for driving traffic, sales or leads to your website. Most affiliates use a pay-per-sale model and by far get you the most focused traffic than other methods.Email Promotions: Email is god's gift to the home-based businesses. You can use email to get in touch and keep in touch with existing customers and prospects. Initially, target your existing customers. If you run a weekly newsletter, use the subscribers' email database for your email promotions. One of the easiest ways to encourage visitors to keep coming back to your site is to offer value. Get the word out on discounts on purchases from the website, e-coupons and other attractive promotional offers. Try to resist the temptation of buying email addresses from web companies, for 2 reasons. One is that not all the people on that list may necessarily be part of your target audience. Second, and more important, you could be seen as a "Spammer"! That would not only not give you much sales; it will also spoil your company's reputation.Search Engine Optimization: Free search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN are 'the' places people go to when they are looking for information. Make sure that your website gets in the top 10 of these websites' result pages. This is a sure shot way to attract quality traffic to your website. Take a four –pronged approach to do this:
Submit your site's URL to these and other free search engines and online directories (www.goto.com, www.altavista.com, www.morpheus.com)
Optimize your website so that it can be easily indexed by search engines. You can also use website optimization and SEO placement agencies for this purpose. (www.proboostgold.com, www.addpro.com)
Make your website's content rich in keywords and pay special attention to keyword placement
Finally, create a content rich site, which actually gives useful information to the customerReciprocal Links: Reciprocal link is a hyperlink you place on your web page with the understanding that the linked web page will do the same for your website. The obvious choice for a partner here is a website that is related to your business but not in direct competition. For instance, if you sell contact lenses, choose websites that sell eyeglasses or related products like cleaning solutions. Another good choice would be websites that give out clinical information on contact lens usage. Reciprocals are a cost-free and effective way of attracting focused traffic to your website.Give away free content: A major online golf publishing company offers visitors syndicated articles on golf and related products. The people who use this syndicated content not just get free content from a credible source, but also visit the company's other websites. Anything 'free' induces happiness; and when it is free content, it gives you delighted customers who keep coming back for more. By offering them free content in the form of articles, information for use in their newsletters, product reviews etc. you are doing them a favor as well as giving more exposure to your website.Get Interactive: Get your customers talking, to you and to each other. Offer advice columns, message boards, and articles relevant to your product and to the industry. Archive these into a separate section where visitors can browse to look for specific information. A good idea would be to include an " email article to a friend" button with these articles. This way your visitors will do some marketing for you. If you offer a newsletter, contests, a 'tip of the day' or other fun stuff, include a " tell a friend" click box with these. People love to share fun stuff with friends. When you see the number of jokes forwarded to you in your email, you'll believe us.Be seen & heard: Build an online identity by networking. Participate in newsgroups, discussion forums and message boards. Starting a Blog is also an idea that is picking up currency. This will allow you to develop a relationship with potential customers and allow them to identify you as a recognizable name. Tools like these will also help you determine, to an extent, what your target segment really needs. For a home business owner not having a website is a little like Robinhood without his bow and arrow. But for a business to have a website without much traffic is like Robinhood with no one to shoot at!
Still the idea is to not just have "everybody" clicking in to your website, but a chunk of the target audience who really need the product you are selling. It is better to have a sizeable number of focused potential customers clicking on your website than to have a whole lot of curious ones who just stumbled on. It is from the potential customers that your conversions will come. Finally, it is bet to use a combination of all the tactics listed above. Put a "tell a friend" button on the newsletters, or include your top keywords in the free content you give away. Think out of the box to use these tactics for traffic maximisation to your advantage.Also see:
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/22/22_1/poor-web-page-design-will.shtml

http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol18/limitedbudget.htm

http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol4/hardknock3.htm==========================================Wanna Learn the Secret of Creating Passive Income
Online
From a man who made $3,244,842.32 from the Internet
in Only 27
months? => http://www.the1andonly.bizPresented by:
Perfect Home Based Business Opportunities
Category : Business:Traffic-Building

Body Piercing, Is There Anything Wrong With It?

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

Author : David Kunstek

When you spend a day at the mall, you see people with body piercings. Perhaps you see someone with a nose ring. Another may have a belly button ring. In fact, you may see people with some really crazy body piercing. Is there any reason that people should not have so many body piercings? When it all comes down to it, it is everyone's separate decision to be made, but we must ask, is there anything wrong with it, really?Body piercing is popular, especially among teens. Something that once started as earrings led to the piercing of many other body parts. Do you have your ears pierced? Is there something wrong with people who have their ears pierced? Many teens find body piercing to be a way of self expression and a way to rebel. Today, people get their noses, tongues, eye brows, belly buttons and even other places pierced. You can go into any jewelry store at the mall and find belly button and eye brow rings. The jewelry itself is not tacky or ugly, but can be very regular pieces. So, what makes body piercing so bad, then?People have preconceived notions about people who are different from them. When ladies started to get their ears pierced, that was taboo as well. As time goes on and things become more "normal" the preconceived notions about body piercings will go away as well. As long as the piercing is done properly, in a clean environment and is taken care of properly, then there are no adverse side effects to having body piercings. Again, they must be taken care of and cleaned properly though as infections can spread rapidly this way. So, the next time you are at that mall and see a group of girls walk by with belly button rings, think twice before you judge them. Consider why you don't like that eye brow ring on the boy who is taking your order's face. Think twice when judging others because as you judge them, they may be judging you right back! About The Author Written by David Kunstek, webmaster and author of http://www.piercing-web.com. This article may be reproduced as long as a Live link back to http://www.piercing-web.com is present.admin@piercing-web.com

Category : Kids - Teen

In Search For Wealth

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

Author : Nasri Bale
My eldest son phoned me the other night to let me know that he and his partner was going to have a baby. When I got the news, I was more excited then he was. He seems to be in a state of shock trying to come to grips with the can of worms that had just opened.For me the news was a mix of joy and a realization that time was catching up with me and that the *financial* success I have crave for, for so long is still a dream. I, like so many others out there are looking for that pot of gold to make life more comfortable. I use to consider *money* as a gauge to determine my success in life. I and like many of you; have tried over and over again to increase my earnings to provide a better life style for my children. I was determined not to grow up like my parents, always struggling.Don't get me wrong, I had I good childhood except I never saw much of my dad. He was always working. I did not realize until I had my own kids the reason he worked so hard. When Justin was born, I made a personal commitment to provide my children with the quality time that I missed with my dad and at the same time tried to be a financial success.My wife Tracee and I have seven children, three boys and four girls. We agree early in our relationship that I would be the main bread winner and she would stay home and care for the children. As the kids were growing up, we would encourage them to play sports and I would help coach their team. This would give me the opportunity to spend more time with them.My pursuit for financial success still eluded me; I have tried nearly everything to be rich. I have tried most of them and still going through the process. It did not occur to me until recently that the efforts I put in raising my children had produced its rewards. My kids are well adjusted, they are healthy. Justin is going to be a dad at the age of 25, when he was born when I was 20. Jasmin, the eldest daughter is a school teacher. Ashley, my number two son has just settle into an apprenticeship as a panel beater. Sharee, who had just turned eighteen, is a free spirit. She has a job but no ambition, nothing seems to faze her and I worry about her a bit. The other three children, Alysha, sixteen, Crystal, fourteen and Jordan who is our baby boy will turn twelve in September.I now look at success with different eyes, I might not be rich when it comes to money but I am very rich and very successful and I am going to be a granddad. Hoo! Hoo! Life is wonderful.Copyright 2005 Nasri BaleNasri Bale, novice writer and father of seven children would like to share his life experiences he has had with his kids. He hopes that the articles will touch and inspire, also to let other dads know that they are not alone. You can contact me at, nazri04@hotmail.com
Category : Self-Improvement:Inspirational

Make Allergy Triggers Disappear Part -2

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

Author : Abigail Franks

Hello again. Last time we were talking about two very common allergy triggers found in most homes. These were mold and dust caused by dirty furnace and air conditioner filters. There is also some information on the importance of having the right humidity in your home to make the air as comfortable as possible for someone who suffers from allergies or even asthma.A trigger is simply something that may irritate the bronchial tubes were respiratory system of someone who is predisposed to having difficulty breathing. Anything that may irritate the breathing tubes of someone with even a somewhat compromised respiratory system should be considered a trigger. So think of a trigger as the event that starts an allergic reaction or an asthmatic attack and you can easier understand the importance of limiting exposure to these triggers.While wall to wall carpet is a great feature in a house it can harbor massive amounts of dirt and dust along with pet hair, dander and yes, even mold. If you have a family member that seems to have more difficulty breathing at night, you might want to consider removing the carpeting at least in the bedroom. No matter how well you vacuum carpet some debris will inevitably be trapped. If you consider this only as a last resort, your next option is to make certain you have a high quality vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filtration exhaust system. Although not inexpensive, and high quality vacuum will have more suction and be better able to remove more of the collected dirt in the carpet than a typical lower and vacuum. The only real way to be certain that the carpet is not causing breathing difficulty is to remove it. There are some very nice, high quality, hardwood floors that can be used along with an area rug is a nice decorator touch. Just be certain the area rug can be removed and cleaned regularly. Be warned that some hardwood floors are installed on a foam floating bed. If enough water is able to seep between the foam in the flooring material, mold could grow and you may have traded a dirt allergy trigger for a mold allergy trigger.Dust mites are a very typical allergy trigger found in most bedrooms. These can be controlled by placing pillows mattresses and even box springs and special dust mite proof covers. Wash bedding on a standard schedule in hot water.Select curtains and blinds that are easily washable and preferably made of synthetic fibers. This will cut down on dust from natural fibers. Ideally, replace horizontal blinds with easy to care for vertical ones that can be wiped down weekly. Another option is a simple rollup or Roman type shade that can be taken down regularly and washed.The key to making life for an allergy or asthma sufferer more tolerable is to limit the number of potential asthma attacks and allergy reactions. By limiting exposure to the triggers, at least in their own home, it's possible to lower the potential of the serious respiratory attack. For more information on other ideas to eliminate allergy and asthmatic triggers in your home, visit the website below and request the free report. Abigail Franks has done extensive research into Asthma,Allergies, and their triggers. Learn more about other asthma triggers in a free report and learn about more how your allergy can spark an asthma attack .

Category : General Medical: Asthma

Coming In To Sudden Money: How Fun Would That Be?

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

Author : Glory Borgeson
Wouldnâ™t it be great to start off a new season with a boat load
of cash? I mean the amount of cash you could use to pay all debts,
put your kids through any college (and grad school), buy the
home of your dreams and a vacation home, and still have enough
money left over to give generously and then live off the interest.Probably the best get-rich-quick scheme that has made people
into instant millionaires is the lottery, in most U.S. states.
Have you wondered what you would do with all that money if
you won the lottery? Well, most likely you would pay off all
your debts, put some away for the kids to go to college, buy
a larger house, buy a second house, buy a few really nice cars,
and then live peacefully off the interest. Yes, that would be
great, especially the peaceful part. Thatâ™s how those lottery
winners live their lives, right?Not according to Susan Bradley, who wrote Sudden Money:
Managing a Windfall. Bradley found that lottery winners
and others who come into new cash will either keep the money
and lose family and friends, lose the money and keep family
and friends, or lose both. Very few lottery winners keep the
money and keep family and friends.As I researched lottery winners and their lives post-winning,
I found this is true many times. Regardless of whether people
kept the money or lost most of it, I was interested in why
many do not keep family and friends. For most, it was because
people wanted the lottery winner to invest in their business
ideas, and the new millionaires refused (and the family or
friend dropped them), or the new millionaires invested, and
it was a bust (and the millionaire dropped the family or friend).
For some, it was because people wanted the winner to support
them or give them free stuff.Janite Lee won $18 million in 1993 in Missouri. She generously
gave money to charities, schools, politicians, and education.
Eight years after winning, she filed for bankruptcy. She had
$700 left.Billie Bob Harrell won $31 million in 1997 in Texas. He was to
receive $1.24 million annually for 25 years. It was great at
first. He bought a ranch. He bought homes and cars for himself
and family members. He gave generously to his church and to
people in need. A lot of people came to him requesting money.
But the giving, lending, and spending got out of control.
His wife left him a year later, and in 1999 he killed himself.Sometimes just being a relative of a lottery winner is bad
news. In 2004 in Illinois, a teenage girl whose grandfather
won the lottery a couple years earlier overdosed on drugs,
which she was able to buy because her grandfather supplied
the money. Other teens who knew she had a lot of money pressured
her to buy the drugs and use them.Just like when psychologists say that love and hate run closely
together, so do sudden wealth and sudden loss. People who come
into money quickly, such as lottery winners and people who receive
large inheritances, usually make decisions too soon. They put
their house on the market and buy a new one right away.
They buy several cars, quit their jobs, and invest in ideas
that sound great.So what can a person do to protect themselves when they suddenly
find themselves with a lot of money?The first is to proclaim a moratorium on decision-making. They
should put the money into safe investments for the time being
and then take some time (say, 3 to 6 months) before taking any
action on money decisions. The 3- to 6-month timeframe is a
planning stage.The next thing they need to do is to get organized and focused.
They need to list the major life decisions theyâ™ll need to make
in the next 5 years. Then they should list their assets and debts,
and review their current insurance coverage.During the 3- to 6-month planning stage, they should write out
how theyâ™re going to live during this stage. What will their
expenses be? Where will they get their income during this time
(and how much)? How long will this planning stage last?Beyond the planning stage, they need to review their income
for the following 12 months and beyond. They should plan out
their taxes and what is leftover. They need to plan out what
they want their life to look like in the next 5 years. (For
example, where will you live? What will you do every day? What
will you be involved in? How extravagant will your life become?)
They need to ask themselves what future expenses are coming,
such as college education, retirement, and really great trips.
Plus, they need to plan for how much philanthropy they want
to be involved in, for at least the next 5 years.During the planning stage, a new millionaire will also want
to find a financial advisor, accountant, and estate attorney
(and perhaps a wealth psychologist). They can ask for referrals
and then interview each professional to get a good idea of
compatibility.I know people who play the lottery regularly. I told them if they
win to come talk to me and Iâ™ll give them some decision-making
advice (without asking for handouts).In addition, I've read that people who come into sudden money notice
their phone ringing a lot more often, as people they don't even know
find out about their new money, find their phone number, and start
calling asking for investment money and handouts. (This is in addition
to the family members and friends who start calling a lot more often.)
This would be a good time to either drop the home phone number completely
(even if that number has been the home number for years) or get a new
home number. Likewise, getting new cell phone numbers would probably
be a good idea. (Then only tell select people the new numbers.)What about those friends and family you might lose if you come
into sudden money? You know what? You canâ™t control other peoplesâ™
responses when you choose not to invest in their business ideas
or give them loans or handouts. You have to make the best decisions
you can with your new money and let the other chips fall where
they may.Iâ™ve realized that when Iâ™ve gone through difficult times, Iâ™ve
found out who my real friends are. The same principle applies
to sudden money. If you get it, you will know who your real
friends are within one year.If you ever find yourself the recipient of an influx of cash,
keep your head on straight. Donâ™t go to extremes. Give yourself
quarterly reality checks. Expect that you are going to lose some friends
and family members. And get advice from several qualified professional
people regularly.Â© 2005 Borgeson Consulting, Inc.Glory Borgeson is a business coach and consultant, and the president of
Borgeson Consulting, Inc. She specializes in helping small business owners
(of 500 employees or less) to increase their Entrepreneurial IQ, which
leads to increased profit and decreased stress. Whether an entrepreneur is at the top
of his game like any top athletes you can think of today, or a rookie just
starting his business, Glory works with the entire spectrum of entrepreneur.
Top athletes have a coach; why not you?Click here for Borgeson Consulting, Inc.This article was originally published in The Business Express, Borgeson's
free monthly ezine. You may subscribe by clicking here:Ezine
Category : Wine

Rent Games Online for the Kids

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

Author : Jay Coleby
Itâ™s risky business allowing your children to play games online. I know that may sound funny but I have a good argument to back up my opinion. If you continue reading I will share it with you.I work from home on my computer; my computer is my livelihood and it is how I make my money. Allowing my kids to play on my computer also makes my computer susceptible to ad aware, spam and the like. For someone that works from home, this can be a very big problem if my computer ends up infected with a virus! Every single time I go to a cheat code site for my son, I have to go remove the entire ad aware I just picked up. Not to mention that due to my working, I canâ™t always let him sit and play his games and we were both frustrated.We than saw an ad to rent games online, we have been happy ever since! I have the games shipped to my house, there are no late fees and the monthly fee is a flat rate for unlimited rentals. As you can see, this a win/win situation for us! He gets to play all games he wants and I get to keep my computer.Rent games online will also save you time and money! No longer will you have to go wait in line to rent a game, you can now have them sent to your door â" I have to tell you, this is my favorite part. Along with saving money of course!Jay Coleby is a writer that specializes in informational articles on various topics. His most recent projects include articles on cell phone batteries, rent games and
noni juice. Jay can be contacted if you need an article written on a specific topic.
Category : Weight Loss

Running for Success

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

Author : Galina Pembroke
Though it may not seem like it when weâ™re drenched in sweat and our legs feel like lead, marathon running is as mental as physical. When weâ™re exhausted, continuing consists of mind over matter. This takes enormous mental power. Once developed, this skill can be transferred from the racetrack to the boardroom.Training for a marathon is an ideal place to improve the skills needed to achieve success in business: strategy, clear objectives, and a positive attitude. These techniques are also crucial to completing a marathon. Without them, even the most fanatically fit athlete is doomed to fail. Through physical training we can develop and master these skills.In business, investment and marathon, a well-planned strategy is essential. In each situation, we must commit to our plan, yet be willing to adapt it if it isnâ™t working. Though strategy can be complex or simple, with our first marathon itâ™s best to choose the latter. Simplification is a great way to remove self-imposed pressure. This can mean concentrating on maintaining a steady heart rate or pace. We need to do this during both training and our marathon, since sustaining this relaxed-focus helps remove the barrier of performance anxiety.The strategy of shifting attention to our bodyâ™s sensations is called association, and itâ™s a tactic used by many elite athletes. The self-focused introvert may find this more comfortable than directing attention outside. The outgoing extrovert, however, may be more suited to the disassociation technique. This involves turning our awareness outward. According to a report published in The Journal of Sports Psychology: âœ Considerable evidence exists to link disassociation strategies with increased pain tolerance during endurance tasks.â Disassociation may also useful during a dull seminar, or an extended visit from our mother-in-law.Just as business meetings have objectives, so should your marathon training. Whatever your personal goal, it needs to be specific, measurable, and reasonable. Similar to our professional life, these can be accomplished by choosing to focus on either the process or the outcome. In our business life a process goal would be improving our customer relation skills, while an outcome goal would be making X amount more dollars. For your first marathon, process goals are better. Since meeting them may be as simple as adhering to our training schedule, they guarantee success. As we all know, success produces self-confidence. Developing this gives us courage to challenge ourselves to achieve greater victories. Outcome goals, like beating a rival, are more risky. Since external factors can interfere with them, they are harder to succeed at.Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial to accomplishment. Without belief in eventual success, weâ™ll quit at the slightest obstacle. This is true both in career and running. Everyday, marathon training teaches us persistence through discomfort. This is essential. Without challenging ourselves we can never progress to higher success. Besides the things we tell ourselves, a positive attitude also includes motivating inner images.Many superior athletes use mental imagery, or guided visualization. These include Marion Clignet, 1996 and 2000 silver medallist on the French cycling team, and 6 times Masters winner Jack Nicklaus. Medical experts have also tested this method. A recent article published in the Journal of Sports Science states: âœThe power of mental imagery in sport performance has been widely noted. Keep your thinking and mental rehearsing of your upcoming races positive and it may contribute to new personal records.âThe importance of mental imagery is also noted in Olympic runner Jeff Gallowayâ™s Marathon: You Can Do It. In this book, Galloway encourages us to rehearse parts of our marathon every day. He says that this will help us prepare for and find solutions to problems we may encounter and help us âœtough it out.â This strength doesnâ™t end in out legs and lungs. Finishing a marathon makes us more tenacious, helping us bring home âœthe goldâ in business.Galina Pembroke is an internationally published writer. She is also the publisher and editor of New View Magazine online. New View gives you unique articles on health, self-help, animal rights, spirituality and more. Visit us at http://www.nuvunow.ca.
Category : Running

5 Simple Steps to Controlling Your Anger

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

Author : Jamie Sullivan
How many times have you lost control of yourself when you're angry? Did you do or said something which you regretted over time?I guess we all did. It's normal, and afterall, we are just human beings.Everyone of us faces problems with anger. The main difference between you and me is that, do you know how to gain control of your anger, instead of letting it control you.It's not easy to gain control of your anger, especially when you are provoked into such situations. Nevertheless, if you are facing with this situation next time, you can try out my 5 simple steps.Step 1 : Identify what makes you upsetStart with identifying what upsets your feelings or emotions. Pull yourself aside from everything you are doing or the anger situation you are in, then take a deep breathe and clear your mind. Think, what brought you into this situation.You need to know what is wrong in order to correct it. Right?Step 2 : Use them as a stop signalWhen you are done with Step 1, you'd probably already knew what made you angry. You might not have the complete clear idea of it, but it's OK. At least you have "some" ideas.Use these as stop signs for your anger. You're upset because the little voices inside your head are telling yourself upsetting things. This in return causes a stir in your feelings, therefore resulting in anger.Stop all these little voices from talking within yourself, and you'll be able to think independantly and not being influenced by them and the situation.Step 3 : Tell yourself positive thingsIt's important to think positive. You can counteract your upsetting thoughts with framing your mind to have a positive self-message. Tell yourself something nice that will make you feel better.For instance, "this anger feeling is only temporary and I don't want to say or do something stupid which I will regret for my actions later."Put the brakes on your feelings. Tell yourself to slow down and take it easy.Step 4 : Make yourself clearClarify the situation for yourself. Ask yourself, "What is really going on in this situation?"You can then feel disappointed with the situation but not enraged at the people who are creating it.Step 5 : Think of constructive goalsTry to set more realistic goals for yourself in regard to the problem situation that you are in.Ask yourself, "What are the alternative solutions that I use to resolve this situation?"Be specific as possible, and concrete."What can you do to change this situation?"List out the constructive options that you have in mind in which to reach your goals.Ask yourself, "What constructive actions can I take to reach my goals?"Finally, choose a constructive option to reach your goal and act fast on it.The 5 simple steps that I had just pointed out to you are exactly what I do whenever I face with anger situations. You can try them out when you face with such situations.Everyone gets angry at times, but the important thing is, "What can you do to overcome this situation?".Gain control of your anger, rather than letting it control you.Jamie Sullivan is a mother of 3 children aged between 4-16 years old and an author of "Child Anger Revealed - Your Ultimate Guide To Deal With Them Effectively" at http://www.ManageYourChild.com.
Category : Self-Improvement:Anger-Management

Offroad Tires - Getting Dirty With Style

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

Author : George Murphy

What to do with the inherent urge you feel every time you quick spot an opening in the brush, in a trail that may or may not lead to an off road utopia? What do you think you should do, you Nancy, slam the brakes, twist the wheel, apologize to whomever is sitting next to you for the fact that they will not be making it to their intended, particular destination at that moment and tear off road and into the liberation of street sign-free good times. Well, wait, hold on for a moment. While it's true that I do think that, for the most part you should do that, there may be a thing or two slightly over-impulsive to that off roading call to arms. First off, really you should drop your passenger off and let them walk to their destination (we are members of decent society after all). But, more importantly, consider if you truck is ready for the offroad.One of the biggest considerations here will be what your tires are looking like. If you already have off road tires, then that's great. If not, consider for a moment that purchasing higher tires while offer you greater ground clearance, while the shorter offroad tire will give you more traction. If your not already set up with an aggressively treaded tire (and at times even if you are), you may follow the time honored activity of offroaders everywhere and air down (or let air out of your tires). Its fairly easily understandable how and why this is come to be common practice by those heading offroad. By lowering the air in your tire and effectively lowering and widening the tire you can quickly and easily multiply the traction you are going to have. The is quite helpful, but certainly try to not go overboard with the air down. An obvious problem to this is that the sidewalls of your tires are going to really open themselves up to vulnerabilities and punctures.There are certainly plenty of other options that one can make while setting up for heading offroad, so go check them out and figure which one is for you. Some may fall under a category of pretty strictly offroad, while others will really offer some advantages to both bring onroad and off. George Murphy loves to trek on his big wheels. Find out the basics behind cheap tires and offroad tires.

Category : General Automotive

Getting Even With Gas Stations Owners

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

Author : David D. Wells
Are you tired of not being able to budget the ever increasing cost of fuel in your family budget? Relax! Relief is on the way. This may not be the relief you are hoping for but it is the relief that you need. What is the relief you say? Iâ™m going to teach you how to more than afford the rising cost of gasoline.I am fed up with the media reports of gas station owners raising the price of gasoline. In some cases they have raised the prices even before they themselves have had to pay the inflated price to their suppliers. I am fed up with this rip off. They say it is supply and demand thatâ™s causing this. Well, Iâ™ve watched the price of the crude oil at times go down but I have yet to see the prices at the pump go down at the same time. Iâ™ve decided to get even with those gasoline owners.The first key is to do the same thing they did to us. Letâ™s hit them in their pockets. Let me tell you how. Gas station owners rely heavily on inside sales for a bulk of their profits. Starting today do not purchase anything from the inside of a gas station, no matter how convenient it is. Of course gas station owners will say they are charging what they have to pay to get the gas themselves. Fair enough but, if you can not give us a break in gasoline prices you can give us a break in sales inside the store. So instead of giving us the price break on items inside the store just transfer the discount to the price of gas.The second key is to find a way to make a profit from what the gas station pays to the supplier. We can do this indirectly by learning how to earn a percentage of the price movement in crude oil. You do know that people are making fortunes from this right now?The third key is to find someone who has experience in not only teaching others how to make money from gas station owners but, also someone who has actually done it himself.For more information send an email to david@themoneymotivator.com with the words Gas Relief Efforts in the subject line.Thereâ™s a famous quote that says âœthe genius of making money is not knowing everything, but rather surrounding yourself with those who doâ. There are people making a serious income from this situation are you ready to join them? I thought so.Remember; do not purchase anything inside of gas stations until they give us a price break at the pump. Try to stick to this as long as it takes. Next, look for ways to profit from the gas station pay for gasoline themselves. Learning to trade crude oil is an excellent way to do this. And finally seek out someone who has positioned himself to profit from this information. You can do this by sending an email to david@themoneymotivator.com.Begin today to crack the wealth code!Â© Copyright David D. Wells. This Article and all contents are proprietary products. All rights reserved. You are welcome to forward the entire Article to anyone interested. The entire Article including this signature box must be intact.Often referred to as The Money Motivator, David Wells is passionate about helping people "Crack the Wealth Code" to become money magnets. Let him teach you the techniques Hillary Clinton used to turn $1,000 into $100,000 in the course of a year.For more information visit his website at http://www.themoneymotivator.com
Category : Clothing

Social Networking is Exploding!

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

Author : bogdana

Have Fun! Make New Friends! And Make Money While Youre At It!Isnt that exciting? By combining the two major trends, SocialNetworking and Videos on the Internet, weve created a massiveopportunity for you.Social Networking is exploding on the Internet and is expectedto do so for a very long time. According to researchers, onlinestreaming media is expected to grow by at least 25 percent peryear for the next several years. Every day you see people andbusinesses use video on the Internet!Right now, you have an incredible opportunity to pre-build yourown community using own BeSeenCafe.com website and get a headstart to making money before anyone else. Visit me at:http://www.getworldpassport.com/TOUR/?ID=bogdana

Category : General Affiliate Programs

How to Increase the Value of Your Mailing List

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

Author : Theresa Cahill
109 in 20 days
61 in 9 days
43 in 24 days
33 in 20 daysAnyone want to hazard a guess as to what the above
numbers signify?If you guessed mailings from any one source - bingo!
You win!When exactly is enough enough? When does something
cross the fine line from useful to ridiculous?The art of communication is just that - a fine art. To
grab and hold anyone's attention online for longer
than 2 minutes shows you've got something going for
yourself - you understand how and why people do what
they do and read what they read.While advertisers and marketers look for outstanding
and affordable resources - and 9 times out of 10
choose mailing lists to receive that information - the
list itself must maintain a particular level of quality to
ensure it is a mailing worth reading.The last thing in the world anyone with a mailing list
wants is an unresponsive list. So, how can we go about
ensuring, to the best of our ability, that that doesn't
happen?Priority number 1 should be restraint. While having a
list appears to put potential customers at one's
fingertips, without restraint that list begins its
slow (and sometimes not so slow) slide into
degradation.What can one do to avoid this erosion? Is it possible?I believe it is...While not everyone will read everything every time, by
one's use of restraint the opt in reader will stick
around because when they do read, they are receiving
what they asked for - information, resources, tips,
help, etc.They'll even read the specials.But how can you make sure your list retains its value?Consider dividing your list into "demographics" or
"subscriber interests."Now stop groaning... it's really not that bad and can
be a great boost to your potential sales and a real plus
in the eyes of your readers.Since I am a publisher, I'll use the ezine or
newsletter as an example. Subscribers join to receive
one's ezine daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.
Right up front, by the very act of subscribing, that
person knows what to expect. They receive it,
hopefully read it, respond to it - a publisher's dream
subscriber.Then, the "special" mailings begin to arrive. With
restraint this is typically a solo here, a special
announcement there. This is still manageable in the
eyes of your list. With luck your resource continues
to maintain it's value.However, push the envelope with more than the
occasional extra weekly mailing or two, and the slow
slide begins. No one has time to open that many
mailings. Physically it is not possible, and it goes
without saying that mentally no one is prepared to
cope with them all... it's just common sense.So, here's the "How-To" to help yourself and your
readers.Make GOOD use of your autoresponders!Your first signup box or mailto link would sign the
new subscriber up to ONLY your ezine or newsletter
(or any customer mailing list). Then, because
autoresponders are so good at this, on the Thank You
page, you just add a SECOND signup box!This second box, using a 2nd autoresponder, could
say something like:"In addition to our ezine, would you like to receive
special standalone advertisements? These solos are
purchased by readers just like you about new and
existing programs. The solo is a great way to stay
on top of what's new on the net. They do they work
for you by delivering themselves right to your
inbox!"Or,"By adding yourself using Box B below, you'll also be
placed on our "Breaking News Only" mailing list.
This is my personal way of contacting those
subscribers interested in hearing about what I've
personally located online! I work hard, and these
occasional emails are well worth receiving!"Of course use your own words :)Consider, too, telling your new subscriber to use
a DIFFERENT email address for EACH opt in!This way they are sure to find your PRIMARY
publication, and can peruse the rest at their leisure
from different email accounts. [Be sure to tell them
that as they enter your Thank You and see your next
subscribe box.]I know personally I would love this option!So, you get the idea? You've just geometrically increased
the value of every mailing you do, simply by making
good use of your autoresponders. Your readers will
thank you as you let them pick and choose what they
agree to receive :)For the ezine publisher in particular this can be a
great boost to your own sales. Who wouldn't want to
purchase from someone who's taken the time and effort
to ensure the advertisement is going to someone who
OPTED IN to receive it. (I'm not talking about the ads
that appear inside a regular issue, but the special and
solo type mailings.)Think about it... a little extra work (and by setting up
your autoresponders in this fashion VERY little work),
on your part on behalf of your readers, and you've
more than doubled the effectiveness of your own mailing
list.This same idea works for any website selling anything.
For example, you have a gift shop that sells stained
glass and crystal figurines. One person loves stained
glass but could do without your mailings about the
crystal. TARGET the list! Increase the potential sale
by giving the person only what they asked to receive.Too much of any one thing can, and does, turn people
off. Ensure your online business success by paying
attention to detail, and help those receive what
THEY need and want.It's all about good, responsive customer service :)Â© Theresa Cahill - All Rights Reserved. Feel free to distribute this article. Please keep it intact and with the resource box included below.ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Theresa Cahill, a two decade veteran of marketing, is the owner of http://www.mywizardads.com and invites you to take a look at the services of MWA and download fr.ee helpful information and more at http://www.mywizardads.com/sitemap.html
Category : Digital Products

Living The Dream --- Yours Or Theirs?

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

Author : Kim Olver -
I know people in my life who when asked how are things going, will reply, âœIâ™m living the dream.â Can you say the same? If you could, what would it mean?

As far back as Sigmund Freud, psychologists have been saying that there are two major areas in a personâ™s life---love and work. When you are âœliving the dream,â you will be able to say that you have found satisfying work and are fulfilled in the relationships you share with the important people in your life.

Now, I ask again, âœAre you living the dream?â Letâ™s talk about work first. When you wake up in the morning are you filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation for what your day at work has in store for you or do you have a sense of dread about what lies ahead? Of course, these are two opposite ends of the spectrum and more than likely you fall somewhere in between.

As a parent, I always advised my children to choose a profession that they love because they will be spending a lot of their time doing it. I donâ™t want them to be one of many who hates their job and dreads going to work every day. That is a terrible burden to bear.

So, what can you do if you are one of those people?

Have you discovered your definite purpose in life? We were all placed here on earth with a variety of gifts that will help us make the world a better place to live. We all have unique skills, interests and abilities that will add to the good of mankind and fulfill our own inner desires, as well. What is your unique, definite purpose?

I believe mine is to help people learn to lead more satisfying lives and to get along better with the important people in them. Thatâ™s what I do. I love to do it. I am energized when I do it. And although I generally get paid for the things I do, I love doing them so much, I would do them for free! This is what I wish for everyone in the area of work.

Many of us are living the dream but it is someone elseâ™s dream. Are you working for the "man" without any pay off? What do I mean by a pay off? Why do you get up and go to work everyday? What motivates you? If it is only the paycheck, then you are living someone elseâ™s dream.

Your work should be something that motivates you, gives you pleasure, provides something valuable to others and is in line with your definite purpose. If that doesnâ™t describe your work, you may want to take some time to reevaluate. You may think you are too old to change careers now or to go out on your own. However, in ten, fifteen or twenty years you are still going to be the same age whether you invest in your own dream or not. So whatâ™s stopping you?

Now, letâ™s look at your relationships. What is the state of your current relationships with the important people in your life? I suppose I should start with the question: Do you have important people in your life? Hopefully, the answer to that question is yes, but if not, there is help available. You can improve your relationship skills and learn to make new friends and develop those relationships to their fullest. Everyone needs to have human contact in order to survive.

Some of us have companionship but we are unhappy in these relationships. How can you live the dream when you feel miserable around the people who are supposed to be supporting and encouraging you? Getting our relationships in order is a critical task that too many ignore. We look around us and see lots of other people in unhappy or mediocre relationships and we tell ourselves that is just the way it is. No one is truly happy. That is not true.

Creating healthy relationships is a matter of choice. You are not destined to be in a miserable relationship. Do you remember what it was like when you first got together? It was more than chemistry. There was something between you that made you know each other was special. You can regain that feeling.

Most of us never learn healthy relationship skills. We think it is something we are just supposed to know how to do but how good were our teachers? Shouldnâ™t you learn relationship skills from someone who has strong relationships and who knows how to maintain them?

Living the dream is not just for a few select individuals. Every single one of us is entitled to live our dream. It is possible and we have a right to be happy and satisfied. Here are some steps you can take:

1. You must clearly examine whether or not you are happy and satisfied with your current lifeâ™s work and your relationships with the important people in your life. If you are, then congratulations are in order and you need to read no further.

2. If you are not satisfied, then you must clearly delineate what the problems are and the source of your unhappiness.

3. Next, you must identify a solution over which you, yourself, are in control. That means you must formulate a solution that doesnâ™t involve someone else doing something differently. You know what I mean. "I could be happy if my wife would just cook dinner every night". "I would love this job if only the boss would get off of my case."

4. If you are unable to think of a solution that is solely up to you, then daydream about what the perfect job or the perfect relationship would look like. How would you be, what would you have and what would you be doing? Assess your interests, skills and abilities to uncover your definite purpose. What is it you were destined to do?

5. Once you have your ideal picture in your mind, ask yourself what is stopping you? What would you have to give up to move in the direction of your dream? What obstacles do you face? What do you fear?

6. Now you must formulate a plan that has a reasonable chance of success. Iâ™m not suggesting that you file for divorce or quit your job. What I am saying is come up with a plan that will move you forward in the direction you want to go. You can take small, baby steps as long as you do something each day that will move you along the path of living your dream.

7. The final step is to develop the strength to actually take the action you planned in Step 6. Making a plan is great but it will never accomplish anything if you donâ™t take action. Les Brown tells us, âœYou donâ™t have to be great to get started; but you have to get started to be great.â Do something.

If you are having difficulty with any of these steps, then perhaps coaching would help you. Coaching provides just the right balance of support and encouragement with challenge and accountability. You decide. Do you want to live your dream or someone elseâ™s?

Basic Evaporative Cooler Maintenance Tips

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

Author : Matthew Anderson
The air cooler needs regular maintenance in places with hot climates because constant working of the air coolers leads to building up of unwanted sediments and minerals. You should replace the pads at least twice during the entire cooling season or as frequent as once a month during its time of constant operation.Correct evaporative cooler maintenance will make the coolers last longer and work more efficiently. To maintain the air cooler perfectly, you should clean and disinfect the cooler in every six months. To ensure good flow of air into the room, you should prevent the build-up of sediments, fungus and algae inside the air cooler by using water softeners. Make sure that you specially clean the filter pads and the basin present inside the air coolers. There are windblown dust and pollens that get accumulated in the basin, creating sludge and blocking the pumps, water distribution system and the filter pads. So the interiors of the air cooler should be cleaned at regular intervals.Maintenance Tips Before Summer and After SummerEvaporative cooler maintenance should be conducted regularly to keep the cooler disinfected and clean. Since air coolers are the major instruments to distribute air in a surrounding, and people will always be breathing that air, so it is very important that the air should be fresh and clean. The air can be fresh only when there is regular maintenance of the air cooler.During summer, following are the ways: Remove all external weatherproof covers Remove the filer pads and clean them thoroughly with a water hose Clean all the waterways thoroughly including the sump and bleed-off systems Refit the filter pads, close the drain valves and open water inlet valves to allow the units to fill them with fresh water Immediately after summer, clean the air coolers in the following ways: Disconnect all powers to the unit Take out all the sediments and slimes from the basin with a brush Let all the dirty water flow out from the tanks and pipes Clean the basin and water pump guards with a cloth soaked in diluted household disinfectants Dry the internal parts of the air cooler by running the fan Fit waterproof covers to external units Easy Guidelines For Maintaining The Coolers Evaporative cooler maintenance is not a difficult task and can be completed within very less time with minimum of assistance from external sources.Following are some instant cooler maintenance tips: Shut off the power and water supply before you start to clean your air cooler Install new media pads at least twice during the entire season to prevent unnecessary clogging of dust, pollen, mildew and minerals from evaporated waters Remove the cooler drain tube in the reservoir pan and cleanse out all elements like silt, dissolved salt, stored dirty water, old pad fibers with nylon brushes and plastic scrapers. Check to see that the V-belt is not cracked. Rotate the motor and the blower wheels to check the correct working of the air cooler. Replace the wheels in case of any damages In case the water is not flowing smoothly through the side panels then clear the blockage by placing a flexible wire into the tube-end orifice. So maintain your air cooler following the above-mentioned guidelines to enjoy fresh and healthy air.Matthew Anderson adds regularly reviews on air coolers to http://www.evaporative-air-coolers.com . An online information magazine about the basics of how evaporative air coolers work and some of the advantages of the technology for a good air conditioning. Read more about how to maintain evaporative air coolers for different models and manufacturers at his specialized website
Category : Home-and-Family:Home-Appliances

Reduce your taxes with Car Donation

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

Author : Gagandeep Dhaliwal

Car donation is a way of giving away some unwanted automobiles to charity organizations. Car donations or other vehicle donations are very much popular in United States. Actually these charitable donations offer tax benefits so people usually donate cars to reap benefits. The process of donating a car is very easy because there are several organizations that provide all information online. Sometimes you can start your car donation process online by filling certain forms of different organizations. Car donation is an important process for that charitable trusts who receive such donations. Charitable organizations should make a personal visit or phone call to say thanks. Some people donate cars by their own while others processed via auto auction companies. Car/vehicle donation is a great way to reduce your taxes. If you people have some unwanted cars you should make a charitable donation of your vehicle. There are some great charities that will come to your home and toe your car away in case you leave some message in their office about your car donation. When your car get sold you?ll receive a document in your mailbox that will show how much deductions you can get on taxes. Some charitable trusts receive clothing, cars, money and other appliances but prior of any donation you should think about your automobiles. With a car/vehicle donation you?re providing help to a person who really needs it a lot. Car donation gives a complete satisfaction to car owners. The Author presents a website on Car Donation

http://www.docardonationonline.info/ . Website provides information about car donation and how to perform car donation online. You can also visit his site http://www.123donateacar.com/

Category : General Society: Social Services

Diamond Jewelers

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

Author : Josh Riverside
Diamond jewelers manifest their genius in shaping the finest diamond jewelry whether they are diamond watches, diamond earrings, diamond bracelets, diamond necklaces, or diamond rings.The Composition of Diamond JewelryConsidered as the leading gem in a wide array of valuable stones, the diamond is said to last forever. In contrast to the diamond's strong character is the very simple form it has deep within. A diamond is basically comprised of crystallized carbon, a material that can generally be found in every animal, plant, and mineral known to mankind.The diamond is believed to be the hardest matter known to all. In fact, only a diamond can cut another diamond. Despite its hardness, the diamond can also be brittle, as it may break when hit against any hard surface.The Colors of the DiamondDiamond jewelers enjoy working on the various colors of diamond. Most diamonds come in white, brown, and yellow. On the other hand, they also come in a variety of shades such as red, green, and blue.The Facts about DiamondsDiamond jewelers rate the stone's value regarding its cut, color, carat, and clarity.To further achieve perfection with regards to diamonds, diamond jewelers prefer to treat them. When employed, these treatments perk up the diamond's clarity. Diamond jewelers can apply one of two treatments. One is fracture-filling, which masks visible cracks in the gem. A laser treatment, on the other hand, develops the entire appearance of the jewelry therefore making it flawless. Diamond jewelers are able to distinguish the real value of an untreated diamond as compared with that of the laser-drilled one.Fake diamonds are, of course, much more affordable in price. These imitation pieces of jewelry are created in the image and likeness of the genuine stones.Cleaning Diamond JewelryThe daily use of diamond jewelry makes its luster dim. Therefore, diamond jewelers advise owners to take care of such magnificent possessions. A gentle detergent wash will sweep away the dirt buildup on the jewelry. Make use of a soft-bristled brush and small basin to hold the small pieces as you bathe them in a combination of one-half cold water and one-half ammonia solution for approximately thirty minutes. Another option is to use a special machine for cleaning diamond jewelry.For your diamonds to last forever, it is necessary to take care of them as you would any other prized possession.Jewelers provides detailed information on Jewelers, Diamond Jewelers, Wholesale Jewelers, Jeweler Tools and more. Jewelers is affiliated with Jewelry Gift Boxes.
Category : Shopping:Jewelry-Diamonds

Special Easter Recipes

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

Author : Kael
As Easter draws near, weâ™re often left scrambling trying to find the right ham recipe for easter dinner, or even the right demi-glaze to make for that ham. What about dessert? Surely youâ™re going to need a great dessert recipe, right?

Well, Iâ™ve included a couple of my own for your own use. Please feel free to use these recipes for your next family gathering and enjoy the feast that is sure to come.

1) Cinnamon Pork Roast
Serves 6
Ingredients:
â¢ 3-1/2 to 4 pounds boneless center-cut pork loin roast
â¢ 2 tablespoons cinnamon
â¢ 2 tablespoons salt
â¢ 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
â¢ 2 tablespoons sugar
â¢ 1 onion (about 1/2 cup), finely grated
â¢ 4 garlic cloves (about 2 tablespoons), minced
â¢ 1 or 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
Recipe Properties:

Combine cinnamon, salt pepper, sugar, onion, and garlic. Blend in 1 tablespoon soy sauce. If not spreadable, add another tablespoon of soy sauce. Rub mixture into loin. Refrigerate 3 hours to overnight. Grill pork over medium-low indirect fire 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until the internal temperature is 155 degrees F. Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into thin slices.

2) Raspberry Glazed Ham
Ingredients:
1 (4-5 lb.) fully cooked boneless smoked ham
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/3 c. seedless red raspberry jam
1/4 c. dry white wine
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tbsp. butter

Recipe Properties:
Score ham in diamond pattern, if desired. Place on rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, in 325 degree oven for 1-3/4 hours. Meanwhile, in small saucepan, blend wine and lemon juice into cornstarch. Add about half of the jam. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in remaining jam and butter. Heat and stir until butter is melted. Brush ham with raspberry glaze. Bake 10 minutes more. Spoon remaining glaze over ham. Garnish with watercress, if desired.

3) Scalloped Zucchini

Ingredients:
â¢ 2 small zucchini, cut up and peeled
â¢ 1 egg, beaten with one fourth cup whole milk
â¢ 1 ounce pepper cheese
â¢ 1 small onion, chopped
â¢ 1 to 2 slices white bread, torn in pieces
â¢ 1-4 ounce can mushrooms or 4 ounces fresh, sliced if large
â¢ 1 ounce smoked sausage
Recipe Properties:

Mix all ingredients in a buttered casserole dish. Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes. Easy dish to make, goes great as a side dish.

As you can see, there are some great recipes to make for Easter. Go ahead and stop by http://www.easterrecipes.org to find more recipes along with pictures and reviews of your favorites as well as ones youâ™ve never heard of. Good eating this holiday!

Wood Blinds - The Ups and Downs

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

Author : Karen Hughes
Wood blinds are available from all major manufacturers in both the United States and in Canada. These manufacturers are Star Blinds, Aveno, Bali, Comfortex, Graber, Hunter Douglas, Kirsch, Levolor, Louverdrape, M & B and Nanik. When you search the internet to shop for wood blinds you can save between 25 and 85%. This is a new avenue for saving on window decoration.Wood blind colors are in the following wood stains; Colonial Pine, Chestnut, English Walnut, Golden Oak, Red Mahogany and Golden Maple. Other available colors are Alabaster, Dover, Light Cream, Pure White, Sand N Beech and White White.A custom touch such as rounding the corners of wood blinds is available in 3", 2 ½ ", 2" and 1" widths. The rounding of corners is not available in cordless models. You can even buy remote motorized blinds, which can raise or lower whatever window you desire. The standard specifications for wood blinds are as follows, widths from 11" to 96", heights from 12" to 120", minimum mount for inside or outside is ½", flush mount is 1 ¾ "and headrail dimensions are 1" x 1 9/16".Vertical wood blinds are extremely beautiful. They are suitable for use with larger picture windows or for sliding glass patio doors. They are extremely effective in cutting down intense light through them. This eliminates a great deal of expense in cooling in the summer. It also insulates against cold weather as well, since unless these windows and doors are composed of special glass, they will allow your home's warmth to escape.Wood blinds provide protection to your invaluable antiques and art. These objects fade and are adversely affected by harsh light. Wood blinds can control the light level to a comfortable level for yourself and your possessions. If you are working the night shift and want your room really dark then wood blinds are the answer. They are the hoot owls dream since they control your internal environment.Wood shutters can be a real answer to the home decorator intent on a cheaper answer. These are even simpler than blinds in that the light level is fixed. They do not darken at the same level as blinds but can really provide a cheaper answer to wood blinds. Some other economical answers to wood blinds are discount wood blinds. There are some sites that provide up to 75% discount over internet priced wood blinds. Maybe you might want a cheaper answer than this. Faux wood blinds exist which are made by man made materials. These are imprinted with wood grain and stained in a manner that makes it difficult to tell the difference between faux wood and real wood blinds.I know that when my Levolor blinds finally fall apart, I shall probably buy real wood blinds. We have settled on real teak wood blinds, something that will last beyond our lifetimes. Maybe like our baby blue Levolor blinds, we can bequeath our teak blinds to our son. We have not settled on red teak, ash colored teak or blond teak.Karen Hughes is an interior decor consultant, get further facts about wood blinds at Wood Blinds this is an invaluable source of information about Wood Blinds.
Category : Home-and-Family:Interior-Decorating

Response of the News and Understanding the Feelings Sexual Abuse Brings

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

Author : Richard Morris
Introduction to the World of Child Molest Perpetrated by Juveniles
By Rick Morris, MA, LMHC, CSAYC, NCCResponse of the News and Understanding the Feelings Sexual Abuse BringsParents of children and teenagers who sexually abuse other children display a variety of feelings as a result of the offense. Often parents report feelings generated by their child's sexual behavior. Normal processes of grief can explain the feelings which may vary from ambivalence to over-whelming feelings, to a numbness (Lundrigan, 2001). Throughout treatment the perpetrator will learn to express and experience his feelings appropriately however it will be just as important for the parent to learn the same.Parent's play a vital role in the healing and recovery of the child who has sexually abused another child. Many adults report memories of their own child abuse being triggered when they become aware they are parenting a child who has molested another child (Hunter, 2000). This is normal for the parent and should even be expected. It is common to hear parents who are dealing with their abusive child begin to talk for the first time about their own abuse history. Some acknowledge they reported it years ago while others have carried this "nasty" secret in their emotional backpack for many years. Now unexpectedly those wounds are being re-opened.No one wants to find out that his or her child is molesting other children. Finding this out can be overwhelming. The victim may be a member of your own family or someone close to you or your family. A full range of emotions may further complicate your feelings and at times, you may feel as if your whole world has blown up around you. Your sense of strength may be replaced by insecurity, anxiety and mistrust. You should not be surprised if your emotions bounce back and forth between wanting to be angry at your child who is the perpetrator while experiencing a full range of emotions regarding the victim. The relationship of the victim to you as the parent or caregiver also creates additional emotional conflict. These are all legitimate feelings.It is vital that you have a strong support system in order to be able to express and deal with your feelings. Child sexual abuse affects more than just the victim and the perpetrator. At this point, your children, both the perpetrator, victim, and other children in the family need your love and support now more than ever. Brothers and sisters may not have been abused; however, they may feel confused, frustrated, frightened, neglected or angry. Stay alert to their feelings, and do your best to provide them with the same love and support that you are providing for the children involved.The emotional stress and many questions, which arise when sexual abuse is identified, cause many parents to feel isolated and confused. This is the reason some are likely to disregard the signals and messages that are being sent from your child. Many parents report initially feeling the need to deny the molest could have taken place thus inhibiting successful treatment of the perpetrator since he initially must take responsibility for the initiation of successful treatment.Pithers et. al (Lundrigan, 2001) provides a modified view of the stages of loss. Denial is often the initial stage with thoughts such as, this could not have occurred, they are overreacting to what happened are common patterns. Parents and caregivers must honestly look at the evidence and statements made begin to believe that the behavior could have taken place and begin looking at the truth.Once denial is addressed and the caregiver understands and agrees that inappropriate sexual contact has taken place then the caregiver often feels emotions of anger, disappointment, and embarrassment. A tendency to self-blame by the caregiver is a typical response, which must be addressed. The common goal is to identify the source of the problem that often results in During this stage the caregiver finds it helpful to deal with the anger and begin identifying the real problem and not looking for someone or something to blame.Bargaining is the third stage observed. The caregiver may express ideals and solutions that will assist the process such as spending more time with the perpetrator, get involved in church or other social circles that will keep him busy. Caregivers often feel a need to get treatment finished and over while putting this whole situation behind them. Thus, let's just move on, after all the more he learns about the sexual feelings and thoughts the more he will probably do it again. Watch out for the bargaining stage it can re-enforce the thinking errors the perpetrator is looking for.Depression often sets in for the caregiver after the concepts of the sexual abuse sets in. The problem is not going to go away and there is no quick and easy way to put this behind the family. Family secrets and lack of communication is often observed in families where sexual abuse has occurred. Parents often begin to feel hopeless and alone in this journey. Care and treatment for the caregiver's emotional needs are important early in treatment.The final stage of reacting to grief and loss is acceptance. Obviously, this is where hope is re-established and healthier responses are observed. The caregiver begins to become an active participant of the treatment team for the sexually abusive youth. Placing blame on others and worry of embarrassment is overshadowed by the hope and renewed relationships that are being developed encourage emotional growth for the perpetrator and his family.Everyone reacts individually to the abuse. We all react differently to similar situations. Some will react by being supportive and understanding, while others will appear to be distant, angry, or pretend that nothing has happened. Those who react negatively may simply be hurt, or unsure of how to react in the best possible way. When a parent becomes quiet and withdrawn, this reaction might be mistaken as a lack of care for the children resulting in feelings of rejection.This is why understanding the difference between normal and healthy behaviors in comparison to abnormal and unhealthy behaviors is vital for parents, especially for parents who know they have children who either have been sexually abused or have sexually abused other children.Why Does My Child Act Like This?Children who have sexually abused may feel the anger, jealousy, and/or shame of other family members. Many report being afraid that their family will fall apart if they tell of the abuse. This is a heavy burden for the child to carry. Many of these children develop low self-esteem, a general feeling of worthlessness and a distorted view of sexuality (Ryan, 1999). While some of these perpetrators express high self-esteem and feel entitled to the behavior. Some children become withdrawn, lack the ability or desire to trust adults, and may become suicidal. Emotional consequences of sexual abuse include depression, anxiety attacks, fear, stigma, isolation, suicidal tendencies, lowered self-esteem, distrust, sexual dysfunction, powerlessness, and promiscuity.Youthful perpetrators report a polarization of feelings that include confusion due to an apparent real care and concern for his victim. He may report that he would never hurt the child. This requires an understanding of why a child may sexually abuse another child that will be discussed later.Some of the most important aspects of protecting children from further sexual victimization lie within the attitude and behaviors of the caregiver. An attitude, which suggests that sexual abuse cannot happen in your family or home, or if you believe, the abuse is the victim's fault, or it was just an accident and will never happen again, then you are sending the message to any potential sex offender that you have let your guard down.Think about your actions when driving your car and you have convinced yourself there are no police in the area you may be much more tempted to drive in excess of the legal speed limit. However, when you observe a "speed trap" or observe police officers you may be less likely to exceed the limit. Your children, both victim and perpetrator are precious and deserving of your protection and support. Without rules and boundaries, your perpetrator child may minimize and disregard the seriousness of the sexual abuse just as the caregiver does when driving the family car.I have observed this attitude in many honest, loving, and caring families only to see children hurt again due to a lack of seriousness to potential re-victimization. These attitudes come out in your words when the sexual abuse is minimized.Initially, understanding that children who have sexually abused other children often have difficulty understanding the difference between healthy touch and unhealthy touch in regard to sexual behaviors. Recalling that many children have been molested under the guise of love and trust (Chaffin, 2006). It is extremely important for children to learn that touch does not always lead to sexualized feelings. All children like and need physical affection for attachment and bonding with others, yet when physical attraction crosses the line and confuses the emotional and sexual understanding of the child it ceases to be beneficial for the child.Some have questioned how one might teach these children healthy touch and care for one another. I believe the best approach to be where healthy respect and emotional care is modeled daily by demonstrating appropriate physical attraction and respect between parents for one another. Obviously, this does not include sexual behaviors.There are moments and approaches that can teach a healthy understanding of physical affection. Based upon your relationship with your child and his emotional health there are times when appropriate hugs, a pat on the back, or a shoulder rub can be appropriate. It is important to stay keenly aware of the emotional responsiveness of your child.If your child is to receive the necessary treatment to cease his sexually abusive behaviors the caregiver is the most vital component to success (ATSA, 2001). Some of the requirements for this to be successful is your child's willingness to take responsibility for the offense, your willingness to believe that your child committed the offense and your willingness and commitment to provide strict supervision of his activities at this time. A willingness and commitment to be actively involved in your child's treatment will only increase the prognosis for your child.The treatment of your sexually abusive child and participation in treatment may initially add to your busy schedule and stress level. However, it is firmly believed that in order for your child to gain a healthy mastery over his thinking and behaviors, the participation and involvement of the perpetrator's caregiver is necessary.ReferencesAssociation for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA). (2001). Practice standards and guidelines for members of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Beaverton,OR. Chaffin, M. (2006, June 1). Triage decision making guidelines for adolescent sex offenders. Retrieved from

http://www.ncsby.org/pages/publications/ASO%20Triage%20Decision%20Making%20Guidelines.pdfHunter, J. (2000). Understanding juvenile sex offenders: research findings & guidelines for effective management & treatment. Juvenile Justice Fact Sheet. Charlottsville, VA: Institute of Law, Psychiatry, & Public Policy, University of Virgina.Lundrigan, P. (2001). Treating youth who sexually abuse: An integrated multi-component approach. New York: Haworth Press.Ryan, G. (1999). Juvenile Sexual Offending: Causes, consequences, and correction (Rev. ed.), San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Rick Morris, MA, LMHC, CSAYC, NCC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who works with children and their families in a variety of settings. He is currently the treatment coordinator for a community-based treatment program called Sexually Abusive Youth (SAY).Rick received his Master's Degree in Counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in psychology. Rick is a clinical member of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), National Adolescent Perpetration Network (NAPN), Midwest Regional Network for Intervention with Sex Offenders (MRNISO), the Indiana Chapter of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.
Category : Reference-and-Education:Psychology

PHPBB2: All It Can Be?

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

Author : Matthew C. Keegan
Please allow me to start off and say that I am very happy to run PHP software on my computer. Specifically, the bulletin boards developed by PHPBB2 [an open source program] works head and shoulders above the EZBoard system I gave up on several months earlier. Still, it has its own special challenges that only a regular user or administrator can appreciate. If you are considering starting your own message board community please read on for some homespun advice on how to make PHPBB2 work best for you.

On Memorial Day 2005 I had a rude awakening. Although a national holiday here in the U.S. I was taking advantage of that day to catch up on some much needed behind the scenes work. You see, when you work for yourself a holiday just isnÃ‚â™t the same thing. It ends up being a day where your phone isnÃ‚â™t likely to ring all that much, thereby making it a better opportunity to catch up on all the little niggling details of operating a business, like paying bills and bookkeeping. Okay, I digress.

What happened on that special day was the total overthrow of the EZBoard message board system. Hackers, so EZBoard claimed, infiltrated their entire system and brought down the house. Literally overnight thousands of boards were affected and compromised. Now for the rub: forum managers, myself included, had no power to back up their sites. Thus, what was lost was likely lost for good or would take many weeks to restore from pasted together backups. We depended on EZBoard for our back ups and when their system failed we all suffered.

So then the decision was made for me. I downloaded PHPBB2 software a few days later and immediately went to work.

As open source programs go the PHPBB2 software was free and the instructions were quite good. Fortunately for me the two sites that I planned to set up, the Aviation Employment Board and the Corporate Flight Attendant Community, already had separate web pages hosted with a company that could support a database. This particular MySQL database would essentially power the site and house important stuff including all the member information.

Fortunately those who have been working on building, maintaining, and promoting PHPBB have a copious amount of detailed information accessible right online and available for viewing and/or downloading. Personally, the biggest help to me were the excellently made Flash videos that helped walk me through the installation process. Without them in place, I doubt I would have figured it all out. Truly, in this case, a picture is worth a thousand words each!

In addition to the software itself, PHPBB2 also offers a separate file to help speed the process conversion process from EZBoard to PHPBB2. This EZBoard converter takes messages from the old board and transfers them to the new board. Unfortunately, it was only partially successful which could have been due to the hacked nature of the EZBoard site. Still, what I was able to move over was helpful, but it did not include member files as that bit of necessary information was under EZBoardÃ‚â™s lock and key.

By the time I downloaded everything, followed all the instructions, converted what I could from EZBoard, laid out the new site, and made some additional design changes, approximately eight hours had flown past. At the end of that time a useful and functioning board was in place. The next day I contacted all my current EZBoard members and told them about the switch and put notices on the old site about the change. Most of my members were very understanding as they realized that the switch had to be made.

Without exception PHPBB2 has been a big improvement. Still, it could use some refining and, happily, many of those refinements are routinely accomplished within regular updates of the software or via preselected Ã‚âœmodsÃ‚â that a forum manager can select.

Without belaboring the point here are some things that I have observed about PHPBB2 that are helpful to know about before going with the software:

Limited Support There is a lot of information right online to read and there are forums moderated by volunteers. At the same time the moderators are stretched very thin and sometimes their responses border on the irritated. Of course, that could have something to do with all the N00B questions, many of which are answered somewhere on the site. My recommendation is that you spend plenty of time reading before posting a question. Study the forum for similar questions asked and answers given.

Difficult Updates Get on the forum managers mailing list to ensure that you receive notification of each update as they are made. Some updates are simple while others are more difficult. If you make any modifications to your site then only a Ã‚âœpatchÃ‚â update is necessary while everyone else will select Ã‚âœchanged files only.Ã‚â If you select Ã‚âœchanged files onlyÃ‚â and you have some mods installed, you risk losing all of your mods. LetÃ‚â™s just say that already has happened to me once!

AOL Quirks Some members have difficulty signing up, especially AOL account holders. It seems to be that the confirmation code doesnÃ‚â™t always show up when members register [you donÃ‚â™t need to have it enabled, but it does put a halt to rogue registrants] and sometimes AOL users get booted when logged on. A little thing called Ã‚âœsessionsÃ‚â monitors everyoneÃ‚â™s visits by examining their I.P. address for a match. Of course, AOL scrambles I.P. addresses mid-session, a reason for much of the booting. The fix involved from a PHPBB2 standpoint is not recommended as it puts you at risk for security breaches. Quite frankly, I have urged some members to leave AOL especially if they canÃ‚â™t work around it on their end.

Back Ups The administration panel is simple to use, but back ups donÃ‚â™t always work. Errors messages prevail; therefore backing up through your web host is another option. Speaking of the administration panel, you can select whether members can email each other [not a good thing to have enabled], how long their signature can be, enable automatic pruning of posts, and lots more. Indeed, the features offered by PHPBB2 far exceed the limitations that are inherent with EZBoard.

There are alternative forums to PHPBB2 and one popular one is another PHP program called vBulletin. vBulletin utilizes excellent forum software that takes off where PHPBB2 leaves off. Many of the modifications that are not part of PHPBB2 are standard with vBulletin, therefore removing some of the behind the scenes tasks that a webmaster must do with PHPBB2 in order to customize his site.

So, why not go with vBulletin? For many it is simply the cost. With vBulletin, you can lease a license for $85 for one year or buy a license for $160. Access to updates after the first year costs another $30 per year while custom support can run from $30 for one month up to $300 for one year. Thus, if you have a small forum that makes little or no money, and you need extra special assistance, than vBulletin can be a big expense to carry. Other paid forums have similar expenses, but there are some free ones out there. For the record, EZBoard isnÃ‚â™t free, although the start up cost is very low. However, your renewal fee is calculated on the amount of bandwidth used in the most recent thirty day period and for some forum managers that amount could easily be several hundreds to well over one thousand dollars!

So then, why go with PHPBB2? Well, language packs to name a big reason. Besides English forums, an additional 59 languages are supported by this open source code! From Afrikaans to Vietnamese, Arabic to Russian, and from French to German, PHPBB2 is available in many native languages. For people of very limited means this has become an excellent way to communicate for no capital outlay. One gets the sense that PHPBB2 is very proud of this fact and I must admit that I am too!

As I write this I am in the midst of updating my two sites to the latest release. Because it is near the Christmas season I am also looking at several themed templates for my flight attendant site and have selected a Ã‚âœMerry ChristmasÃ‚â board replete with drifting down snowflakes. This template, which looks so professionally done, is free as well.

I plan on sticking with PHPBB2, quirks and all, by continuing to support our growing community of forum managers worldwide. Each of us, in our own way, has helped to shape this all important piece of open source software. It certainly isnÃ‚â™t perfect, but it definitely has been a lot of fun and has helped me to increase my knowledge as well as to appreciate the whole open source movement.

Plan Your Way to Pay-Per-Click Campaign Success!

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

Author : Chet Childers

Have you heard the saying, "planning is everything?" Perhaps there is some truth in that saying so lets discover how to successfully plan your pay-per-click campaign.

Lets keep this simple and create a list of required tasks to successfully plan your pay-per-click campaign. These are:

1. Determine your products Unique Selling Proposition.
2. Define your pay-per-click campaigns goals and objectives.
3. Decide the starting and ending dates for the pay-per-click campaign.
4. Establish the click-through rate target for your pay-per-click ads.
5. Set the conversion rate target for your pay-per-click ads.
6. Define your budget for the pay-per-click campaign.
7. Establish your ROI or Return on Investment goal for the pay-per-click campaign.
8. Determine the value of each keyword phrase.
9. Plan how to measure your pay-per-click campaign results.

Task number one is determining your product or services Unique Selling Proposition, or USP. What is a USP? The USP clearly answers the question, "Why should I do business with you instead of your competitors?" Your organization needs to stand out from the crowd! This could relate to the services or products provided, guarantees offered, delivery mechanisms used, complementary services provided, pricing or any attribute associated with your business.

Identify your organizations uniqueness since it is pointless promoting cheap prices if everyone else is promoting the same. If everyone were offering cheap prices you would be better off promoting higher prices for providing better quality and service as long as you are delivering better quality and service.

An articulate USP assists in defining the focus and selecting the keyword phrases for your pay-per-click campaign. For example, if your USP is focused on quality and service perhaps you would avoid a keyword phrase containing the word cheap but rather include words denoting quality.

Task number two is defining the campaigns goals and objectives. Typical examples might be: increase web site traffic X percent, acquire X number of new business leads, obtain X number of new customers or orders per day, achieve X sales revenue dollars per time period, etc. Whatever you set as your goals or objectives you must be certain they are quantifiable and measurable in order to determine the success of your pay-per click campaign.

Task number three is deciding the starting and ending date of the pay-per-click campaign. This is a major benefit to pay-per-click campaigns since you have the ability to turn a campaign on and off at your discretion. As an example, you could create a campaign promoting National Nurses Week or something similar with discounted sale prices supported by advertising coop funds provided by the products manufacturer.

Task number four is establishing the click-through rate target or goal for your pay-per-click ads. The click-through rate is the number of times the ad is clicked versus the total number of impressions. One impression is a one display of the ad. In general, click-through rates range from 1% to 5% of the number of impressions. The formula is:

Click-Through Rate % = Total Number of Ad Clicks /
Total Number of Ad Impressions * 100

Task number five is setting the conversion rate target or goal for your pay-per-click ads. A conversion is a measure of searchers clicking on the ad and taking the next step or call to action such as a purchase, registration, subscription, etc. The conversion rate can be measured versus the total number of ad impressions or total ad click-throughs. Its your choice; but, most organizations measure it versus the ad click-throughs. Conversion rates range to all extremes but a good target might be from 5% to 20% of the number of ad click-throughs. A quick view of the formula is:

Conversion Rate % = Total Number of Conversion Actions /
Total Number of Ad Impressions * 100

Conversion Rate % = Total Number of Conversion Actions /
Total Number of Ad Click-Throughs * 100

Task number six is defining your budget for the pay-per-click campaign. How much do you desire to budget or spend per time period or for the total cost of the pay-per-click campaign? Many of the pay-per-click search engines offer automated budgeting mechanisms that can be initiated to control the cost of your campaign. If you do nothing else in the planning process, set a campaign budget and stick to it!

Task number seven is establishing your ROI or Return on Investment goal. The ROI is based on the tangible benefits, bottom-line revenue increase or expense decrease, versus the cost to obtain the tangible benefits. In general, each organization defines ROI objectives for company investments and these should be applied to the pay-per-click campaign.

Task number eight, and perhaps the most important, is determining the value of each keyword phrase and, in turn each visitor. The simple formula works like this. Divide the average number of new customers each month by the average number of monthly web site visitors to get the percentage of visitors who actually become customers. If you multiply this percentage times your average profit margin on sales to new customers, you obtain a good estimate of how much a visitor is worth on the first visit.

In other words, lets assume youre selling an item with a $25 profit margin. If 10% of the web site visitors buy your product, then each visitor is worth $2.50 to you ($25.00 X 10% = $2.50). If you can bid $2.50 or less for each click-through of the keyword phrase, then you are profiting on each conversion or sale.

Another way to look at this is in terms of your click-through and conversion rates. Lets suppose we have a click-through rate of 5% and a conversion rate of 10% versus the ad click-throughs. We will use the same $25.00 profit margin.

1,000 impressions X 5% click-through = 50 potential customers
50 potential customers X 10% conversion = 5 actual customers
5 actual customers X $25.00 profit margin = $125.00 profit
$125.00 profit / 50 potential customers = $2.50 per click (maximum bid)

Have you noticed how important it is to know the value you of a keyword phrase or visitor? Without these guidelines, you are bidding in the dark and asking for trouble. It is imperative that you be able to estimate your maximum bid prices to be successful in your pay-per-click campaign!

Task number nine, the final task, is planning how you will measure your campaign results versus the goals, objectives and targets you established. You should review if you have the proper structure and tools on your web site to capture the information for the measurements.

For example, do you have access to your web logs? Do you have web analytic tools? What types of data do they capture and analyze? Do you have a web site page that will define a conversion? It might be the order confirmation page from your web site shopping cart or the e-mail subscription confirmation page.

Perhaps this seems like a substantial amount of work for planning your pay-per-click campaign. But, look at the results of good and poor projects in any personal or business environment. At the foundation of their success or failure was a well or poorly conceived plan. Take the extra steps. Make the additional effort. Your success will be rewarded with a cost effective, high ROI pay-per-click promotion campaign without breaking your bank account!

About the author:

Chet Childers is a successful Internet marketer utilizing the power and quick response of pay-per-click marketing to increase website visibility and profitability. Click http://www.ThePayPerClickMarketer.comand enroll in our e-course, "Discover Tips and Secrets for Pay-Per-Click Marketing Success," or visit http://www.ChetChilders.comfor a blog on pay-per-click marketing.

Category : Site Promotion

Cherry Cranberry Trifle

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

Author : News Canada

Pound Cake: 2 cups (500 ml) Five Roses All Purpose Flour 1 tbsp (15 ml) baking powder pinch salt 1 cup (250 ml) unsalted butter 1 cup (250 ml) sugar 4 eggs 1-2 tsp (5-10 ml) grated orange zestFilling: 1 can (300 ml) condensed milk 1-1/2 cups (375 ml) cold water 1 pkg. (102 g) vanilla instant pudding mix 1 container (1 L) frozen, light whipped topping, thawed 1 pound cake, cut into cubes (recipe above) 1 can (540 ml) cherry cranberry pie fillingPound Cake: Grease and line a 9" x 5" (2 L) loaf pan with parchment paper. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Cream butter with sugar; beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in orange zest. Fold flour into batter, 1/3 at a time. Spread into pan. Bake in a 350?F (180?C) oven for50-55 min. Cool completely. Cut pound cake into cubes.Filling: Combine condensed milk and water. Add pudding mix; beat about 2 min. Chill until thickened, about 15-20 min. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon 1/3 of the pudding toping. Spoon 1/3 of the pudding mixture into 12-cup (3 L) glass serving bowl. Top with half of the cake cubes. Top with half of the pie filling and 1/3 of the pudding mixture. Repeat layering, ending with pudding mixture. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.For "free" recipes call Five Roses at 1-800-561-3455 or visit www.fiveroses.ca.- News Canada News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Category : General Food and Drink

Why People Take Tattoo?

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

Author : David Z
Getting a Tattoo can be a wonderful and almost mystical experience. A common question: why do we do it?
Tattoo is widely considered as means of human beings self-expression. There are many reasons to the question. To summarize, these are the eight most important reasons:* Defense
The prmitives lived their life in the jungle, coexisted with the preying beasts. To conceal themselves, they marked big black stipes on their faces or a boar's tooth through noses, these appearance could frighten attackers off.* Superstitious
It is believed that engraving some kind of animal's image or the special design may avoid evil influences or enhancing physical ability.* Symbol
Many tribes have their own design of tattoos, the most typical one is the religious totem, used for identity.* Commemoration
The most popular tattoo form in modern time is to engrave the sweetheart or benefactor's name on the body* Cosmetology
Use tattoo to cover up scars.* Self-Expression
To express the intense heroism or strength, Tattoo is regarded as the brave behavior.* Determination
Engraves the drive on the body the writing or has the upward meaning design, to is vigilant own as necessary.* Sex Appeal
Emphasize the esthetic sense and the artistic value, change body into a colored sculpture.http://www.tattoo-symbol-design.com/ - the starting place for exploring and learning all about tattoos, tattoo ideas, tattoo design concept, tattoo supplies and equipments.
Category : Arts-and-Entertainment:Tattoos

Keeping Passwords Secure

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

Author : Sharon Housley

As the web has evolved, so have the methods of collecting personal information. A large number of websites require visitors to register to gain access or participate. While the need for registration is understandable, tracking user names and passwords can be burdensome. Consider using software to store your passwords, in a safe accessible manner.Most websites have privacy policies, but the value of privacy statements are only as honorable as the people behind the websites. Here are suggestions for keeping passwords and your information secure: change your password frequently never share your password with anyone try to choose a password so it doesn't need to be written down, but not so obvious others would easily guess the password be sure your password is at least 6 characters don't use a password containing all the same characters don't send your password via email or provide it over the phone don't use pet, family or friend names don't use your telephone number, zip code or address use a different password for each account don't use user name deactivate accounts for terminated employees don't allow shared accounts password contains upper, lowercase letters, non-letter characters and numbers ResourcesPassword Software - http://www.password-software.comPasswords are not foolproof. Do not rely on a password alone to protect sensitive information. Monitor accounts closely to ensure that security is not breached. Sharon Housley manages marketing for NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net a company specializing in alphanumeric paging, SMS and wireless messaging software solutions. Other sites by Sharon can be found at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com , and http://www.small-business-software.net

Category : General Computers and The Internet

How Closet Organizers Can Simplify Your Life: Getting the Most From Your Intimate Space

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

Author : Andrew Porter
Closet organizers have come a long way in recently years. There's more to them nowadays than just a shelf above a horizontal pole.Concepts in closet organization have gone from simple home improvement to statements regarding lifestyle. And with the best use of space in mind, it is possible to get all your gear in one place, and keep it handy and orderly.Admit it, weather going out on the town, preparing for that weekend romp or simply gearing up for work, you get a certain thrill selecting your outfit from a well organized display. What, this doesnâ™t describe your closet? These closet organizer tips will help.One of the challenges with crafting any kind of closet storage space is that your needs may change. Most wood shelving is expensive, and it usually canâ™t expand as your storage needs evolve.To make the most of your closet organization efforts, you first need to know the potential uses of your space and of the things you want to store. You may be able to use the space you have more efficiently.Start with a general inventory. This can help you determine your space needs.Do you and/or your spouse have too many clothes, shoes and other accessories? Are your dressers full and there just doesn't seem to be enough space in your closet?Analyze your storage needs, inspect available spaces. Your situation isnâ™t as bad as it seems.Closet kits today offer enough flexibility that you can change the design to suit your changing needs, which allows you to customize the closet to fit individual needs and lifestyles.Or simply tame your piles with pretty colored baskets in all shapes and sizes.Shoes used to be something that sat on the floor, then came simple shoe racks and shelves. This was great for organization and more protection for expensive shoes.Closet organizers use the space in your closet that doesn't ordinarily get used, it expands your storage.Some organizers simply hang the from the closet rod and store folded clothes, shoes and more on the shelves and in the mesh compartments.Different components allow you to easily organize and add storage space to your closet; arrange it countless ways and reconfigure it as often as you like.Telescoping rods and expanding shelves are so quick and easy, you can reconfigure your closet organizer system at any time.With a hamper basket you have a dedicated spot within the closet for dirty clothes which will help anyoneâ™s room â" especially kids rooms â" remain a little more organized.Also consider ventilation: closets â" especially those with
hampers â" need some air circulation to remain fresh. You might also consider disposable air fresheners designed for use in the closet.Organize your closet by season, work, weekend or his and hers clothing.There are enough options on the market to go from basic to one-of-a-kind with add-on accessories such as shoe storage racks, extra closet shelving, wire baskets, and tie & belt organizers to fit your specific needs.Grow your system as your needs expand and relish that âœGlad to get dressedâ feeling!Andrew Porter is an interior designer and frequent content provider for ClosetOrganizer4U.com
For more on closets organizers, closet accessories, storage organizers and design
plans, visit: http://www.closetorganizer4u.com
Category : Success

Why Enron Executive Ken Lay is My Business Mentor

2008-04-13T05:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Ben Jordan
Every entrepreneur should have a business mentor—someone who's been through everything that they're going through and can share their wisdom. Whether he knows it or not, my business mentor is none other than former Enron Executive Ken Lay. For many, he might not make the most obvious choice of a mentor, with his track record of lying, cheating, and stealing his way to success, but that is precisely why this choice is so appealing to me.As his first duty as my business mentor, Ken (Mr. Lay to the rest of you) can grow my social network. This guy knows everybody—likely because he's paid most of them off at one point or another. He can introduce me to people who will come in handy when I need to get out of felony conspiracy charges. This is just one of the many valuable aspects of our business mentoring relationship.I can trust Ken to be my business mentor, because he knows that if he makes one false move the government will be on him like white on rice. Much like the old saying that the safest time to fly is the day after a crash, I feel like the safest day to have Ken as my business mentor is right after a huge financial scandal that covers the television, newspaper and radio waves for years, and gets used as water cooler fodder even now.Furthermore, he'll be my business mentor for free—unlike many online services that try to charge for business mentoring services, Ken just got away with the biggest scandal in business history. Thus, he doesn't really need my money, because we all know that he has a few million stashed in a bank somewhere overseas. I get a free business mentor, and he gets to pretend that he's still somebody special—it's a true symbiotic relationship.But, one of the most important reasons that I choose Ken as my business mentor: he's already made every mistake in the book, so I can utilize his expertise in steering me away from potential business disasters—like billion-dollar financial scandals, or particularly "creative" bookkeeping practices. Also, as my business mentor—should the need arise, Ken can point me in the direction of a good lawyer to get me out of any particularly sticky situations.Since Ken doesn't have anything better to do right now than be my business mentor, I can't see any reason why he'd decline the request. After all, it's not like he'll ever be hired at another company worth a hill of beans, so be may as well use his spare time to promote entrepreneurship in the global community. By being my business mentor, Ken can pay off his debt to society, one lie at a time, all the while keeping me from heading to prison.So, it's easy to see why Ken Lay makes the best business mentor ever—I don't even see any other choices. So, over the course of our business mentoring relationship, I'll expect him to help me with some creative math, then help me to tuck that creative math away where no pesky FBI agents can find it. Like I said—a true symbiotic relationship.Ben Jordan an Austin, TX based x-Fortune 500 Marketing Consultant, now a rogue direct response internet marketer. His true love is helping small business owners, not become a 90% statistic that will fail historically. To receive for FREE "The Science of Getting Rich" e-book, please visit http://www.mymillionairementor.com
Category : Business:Ethics

Get Polarized Lenses For Great Fishing Sunglasses

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

Author : Peter Clark
Fishing sunglasses do not contain images of fish, but avid fishermen claim they do make it easier on your eyes when you are fishing. Fishing sunglasses is a name given to sunglasses that contain polarized lenses. This type of lens in sun glasses makes it easier to see when you are on the water because they reduce the glare caused by the reflection of the sun on the water.

When you choose fishing sunglasses, there are many designer sun glasses to choose from. The most well-known polarized fishing sunglasses are those made by Oakley and Hobie. Both have excellent quality lenses that are very durable and able to withstand hard knocks. They are scratch and shatter resistant and they are not just for fishing. No matter what type of outdoor activity you engage in, wearing sunglasses with polarized lenses is really beneficial for your eyes.

The name fishing sun glasses was applied to polorozed fishing sunglasses because they became the favorite of fishermen. They found that with the reduced glare on sunny days, they could keep track of their lures in the waster much easier. Now these sun glasses have become really popular for other sports such as golfing and snowboarding.

The polarized lenses in fishing sunglasses contain vertically oriented polarizers. Since light reflects horizontally, this vertical polarizing ability neutralizes the glare and protects your eyes. Polarized fishing sunglasses also help you to see better in bright light, but if you look at a computer screen when wearing these sun glasses some of the displays on the screen may actually become invisible.

Polorized fishing sunglasses have also become known as sports sunglasses because of their popularity among players of most major sporting events. In protecting your eyes from the UV rays of the sun, fishing sunglasses are way ahead of ordinary lenses. The color tint in these sunglasses also has an effect on the clarity of your vision. This is really a matter of personal taste and you would have to see what color you like best.

Getting the fishing sunglasses you need for the next big fishing trip with your buddies is not as hard as you think. Most of the designers of sunglasses have an online presence or have authorized online dealers where you can place your order. By ordering your polarized fishing sun glasses online, you will also get them much cheaper. Why not buy a pair for your buddy while youÃ‚â™re at it?

You need proper fishing sunglasses when on the water.

Print Your Theme T-Shirt

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

Author : John Gibb
Surrounded by hundreds of t-shirts' logos, images and designs daily, you probably feel overwhelmed with all the information their owners decide to put on public display. But it is certain that you also have at least one branded, colored or personally designed t-shirt in your closet's space, which was made by your college friends as a graduation present, given to you as a welcome-home gift, or distributed by your hiking club as a symbol of encouragement to continue climbing higher each time. But isn't it time to create your own? Even if you have done so in the past, your current state of mind might give you ideasFrom the famous Andy Warhol images to personal slogans, our favorite t-shirt has gone through many different design and style variations. Throughout this transition from one style to the next, the concept of the T-shirt and the T-shirt printing process has remained the same. As technology brought buyers and suppliers closer together, T-shirt printing is now available on the Internet by companies which design, produce and sell their customized T-shirt layout patterns in a preset or negotiable price range. In fact, companies that offer promotional items include in their catalogues samples of screen printing projects, embroidery design, airbrush, appliqué, and ironing, while most of them provide free quotes depending on the quantities needed and the complex of the design selected to be printed. However, for the mass production of personalized T-shirts the process of silk screening is mostly used.The two main methods of printing colors on a T-shirt surface are spot colors and four-color process. Spot colors are individual colors that are printed separately. With hundreds of pre-mixed colors and an infinite number of colors that can be mixed together according to the specifications given by the graphic designing program, the customer receives the original design without visible variations. Four-color process physically blends the main four colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) on the textile to create a large variety of colors. Simply referred to as CMYK it is used to simulate photographic work and sophisticated graphics with shading and textural effects. Thus, depending on the complexity of the design selected to be imprinted on the T-shirt, the graphic designer will create transparent acetate films of each color and will print them in black. Each color is then exposed onto a fine mesh screen that has been coated with photosensitive emulsion –these screens were originally made from silk, thus the term silkscreen– and through the high-intensity lightbox the image is copied onto the T-shirt.If this sounds like too technical for you, do not get discouraged. Step-by-step online guides, apart from the experts at your local T-shirt printing facility, can guide you through the process of selecting or designing from scratch your T-shirt logo and slogan. It is evident that through the different procedures of T-shirt printing ordering your personalized or company labeled T-shirt can be as an easy process as counting 1-2-3.John Gibb is the owner of T-shirt resources
For more information on T-Shirts check out http://www.t-shirt-info-and-guides.info
Category : Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies

Kitchen Lighting Can Be Both Useful and Attractive

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

Author : Terry Price
If you would like to add drama and interest to a room, lighting is one of the best tools that you can use to contribute to the ambiance of a space. You can highlight it, and define it using many different types of lights such as pendant lighting, recessed lighting, or even rope lighting. Of course, your best option is to install your specialty lighting when your home is being built but sometimes that isn't possible, especially if you purchase an existing home. Don't be discouraged though, as many different types of lighting projects can be easily added to a room. If you are a home handyman, you should be able to accomplish most lighting projects on your own, but if you're not, hire a qualified electrician to do your specialty lighting. Remember, it's good practice to always check with your local building department to ensure you have the proper permits and your kitchen lighting, bathroom lighting or whatever project you undertake meets local inspection standards.One favorite trick of designers is to uplight a room. Using pendant lighting or some inexpensive fixtures with only a simple plug-in is required. There are several different and unique discount lighting fixtures available including small adjustable halogen fixtures that can do wonders for a room. You can set these behind a plant or on top of a special piece of furniture or even behind furniture to throw light on a wall or any other special area in that room.Another great way to do kitchen lighting is to use under-cabinet lighting that brings light directly to a work surface. This job is best left to an electrician as some specialty switching may be involved. You are best off to have your specialty kitchen lighting operating from one switch. And finally, lampshades, although they are somewhat dated, it is amazing what you can do with them in a room. Tricolored shades can be worked in with your décor as might a shade that is lined with a metallic finish. You are limited only by your imagination when it comes to installing specialty lighting in that special room!By Terry Price- Vist-

http://www.ceiling-fans-interiors.com/pool-table-lighting.html

-for all of your specialty lighting fixtures. Under cabinet lighting, sometimes referred to as under valance lighting, is enormously useful especially over kitchen counter and eating areas. http://www.ceiling-fans-interiors.com/153-under-cabinet-lighting.html
Category : Home-and-Family:Interior-Decorating

would you like to invest and set up a company in China?

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

Author : sally shaw

would you like to invest and set up a company in China?we will help you ~brief introduction:Cityscope Investments provides services for China incorporation, China outsourcing, setting up Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE), representative office, Joint Venture, China incorporation consulting service and management services in Mainland China.And also we can help you in other countries.if you want to konw more please go to our website:http://www.cityscopeinvestments.comor http://www.cityscopeinvestments.deif you are interested,please contact usemail:s.xie@cityscopeinvestments.cnTel:+86 (21) 63298968Fax:+86 (21) 63295886

Category : Investing and Stocks

Silicon Valley EOS/ESD Society (SiVa) Announces An Educational Event Featuring Technical Presentations and Exhibits, Dates and Venue for ESDiscovery 2004

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

Author :

The Silicon Valley EOS/ESD Society (SiVa) is pleased to announce it's 13th Annual ESDiscovery 2004 USA. This upgraded event will be held on Tuesday May 18, 2004 at the Common Building in the Advanced Microdevices (AMD) Headquarters. This AMD facility is located at 991 Stewart Drive, Sunnyvale, California 94086. For the third time in a row, the one-day tutorial is being conducted in a facility provided by a premiere Silicon Valley Corporate Campus. Who Should Attend? From Beginners to Experts . . .ESD / Contamination Control Engineers - Manufacturing Engineers & Techs - Facility Managers & Supervisors - Design Engineers - ESD Coordinators - Marketing - Production Managers - Quality Control - Quality Assurance -Purchasing - Trainers/AuditorsAbout the Society: Founded in 1989, the Silicon Valley EOS/ESD Society is a nonprofit, unincorporated organization. The society strives for the advancement and understanding of the theory and practice of electrical overstress (EOS) and electrostatic discharge (ESD) in the principle fields of electronics, magnetic recording and semiconductor devices. The Silicon Valley EOS/ESD Society is dedicated to understanding and improving ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) detection & protection procedures. Our Education committee organizes tutorials periodically to present scientific, technical and ESD educational materials to those working in the semiconductor, electronic, magnetic recording and other related areas. Silicon Valley EOS/ ESD Society members include managers, engineers, technicians, assembly, suppliers, quality assurance and reliability, R&D, sales and marketing, purchasing, and a number of other interested individuals. In the heart of the Silicon Valley, and with our obvious ties to Silicon Valley corporations, now in the Pacific Rim, our members enjoy benefits from being part of a successful organization with many programs to offer.For more info, visit us online at <a href="http://www.esdsiva.org/esdiscovery_usa.htm" target="_blank">http://www.esdsiva.org/esdiscovery_usa.htm</a>

Category : Gourmet Cooking

Where And How To Get Information For Your Newsletter And Ezines

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

Author : Emma okafor
With the rapid expansion and diversion of commerce, manufacturers, career seekers and even hobbyist move into more and more specialized areas of endeavor, there is an increase need for more information. Newsletters and ezines are the high profit way to cash in on that market for specialized information. This means any profitable newsletter or ezines must have valuable information and of renewable sources information.A valuable and endless source of getting materials to feature in your newsletter or ezines is from the article resource sites. They maintain large archives of many topics. I don't think there is an article you can't get there. Writers always submit their articles there so it can be printed electronically or in print media. Interviews are important source to get vital information too.If you can't contact people in high positions, such as presidents or directors, their assistants can be just more than valuable in acquiring information. Your associates and colleagues are the prime source of undercurrents in the field you write about. Renew and make new contacts- they will be valuable for getting information. If there are any correspondents you can use in other country for facts, make use of them perhaps you can work out a financial arrangement with an insider for important information you want to include.Don't overlook the workers, or the participants. An employee might describe the wonders of a new machine; an athlete may praise some new technology. A good phone voice can reach out to them, you don't need to travel to these people.Do you know that some secretaries often know more details than their bosses do! Some of them usually don't have anything to hide. Their knowledge can make the pages of your newsletter or ezines rich. Follow up on the articles presented in the trade publications.You might be able to use some in depth aspects of the same topics they publish. You can talk to the people they interview.Perhaps you can argue some controversial topic and get someone to present a different opinion. Though newsletter is a personal forum, does not mean your opinion of anything needs to be narrow minded or egoistic. Avoid this so you don't lose subscribers. Conventions, seminars and trade shows are gold mine for information.Everyone who displays or attends these meetings is interested in the subject. You could virtually interview everyone and get an overview of the industry. They will be willing to talk to you.If you are working with a sports topic, meets and events are the place you need to be. Interview the organizers of these events. Talk to the broadcasters they have a lot of background knowledge.You must be able to tenure events regularly in the newsletter.Check out to see where the people who subscribe to your newsletter stay what events happen in their towns? If you are writing about industry, where are the main manufacturing plants? Have their local print media written about public opinions about those plants, such as pollution, high employment and industrial safety?Ninety percent of the means of extracting information you need is based on interview. But be honest with you that "ain't easy" easy. Its only going to be easy for you unless you have the qualities it takes because these people you talk to could be snobs or the hard to get type.These are your commandments…Thou shall be tolerant,Thou shall be patient,Thou shall be punctual with your appointments andThou shall be polite and take one question at a time.These approaches worked for thousands of newsletter publishers so it can work for you! Don't be left out!About The AuthorEmma okafor, an online market researcher and writer. His blueprint success in online marketing is available in his site http://bizacumen.8k.commimionline@zwallet.com
Category : Business:Ezine-Publishing

Travelcasting

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

Author : Ryan M. Hoback, www.WhatIWantPodcasting.com

Travelcasting is the commercial application of podcasting for
the travel industry. Travelcasting is the distribution and
publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer travel
information delivered over the Internet, for on demand
listening.

"This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand travel
information delivery, making it accessible, informative, useful
and appealing" says Ryan Hoback, CEO of What I Want POdcasting.
This mix presents the travel industry with a very unique
opportunity to reach its audience through this new medium. Those
individuals, who are already seeking travel information
actively, will use RSS subscription technology built into each
podcast feed, to receive information immediately as it is
updated by each organization. With one click of a button, a user
can subscribe to a feed that may be interesting, and any related
information that is ever updated to that feed will be
automatically processed to their personal aggregator. An
aggregator is able to subscribe to a feed, check for new content
at user-determined intervals, and retrieve the content.

To take this process one step further, podcasting publishes each
feed with the capability to be transferred to any portable audio
or video device. So with the growth of the ipod and all the
other portable media devices, you have the ability to grab
travelcasts and place them on your portable player for listening
or viewing. Most users attach their portable players to their
computers daily or weekly, and once the player is attached they
automatically receive the new travelcast updates.

The flexibility of this medium is what will drive the growth of
Travelcasting tremendously over the next few years. There are a
numerous formats that can be used in developing a travelcast.
Virtual audio and video tours, give the power to the listener or
viewer to receive on-demand travel tours for their destinations.
In addition, podcasts are being placed on portable video devices
to offer high-end guests tours of the property when they
check-in.

The best thing about travelcasting is that the marketing
opportunities are endless. With normal media, once a program is
developed it only lives for a certain amount of time, and then
it goes dormant and no longer exists in society. With
podcasting, these feeds can be published to the web so that they
will live forever, or until the organization request for them to
be removed.

Here are some examples of how podcasting will affect the travel
industry. The best sales associates for most resorts are travel
agents and agencies. Travel agents and agencies rely on each
resort to constantly update them with new deals and promotions,
as well as supply them with the tools they need to promote the
resorts, in order to keep clients satisfied. With podcasting,
and its subscription based technology, you can put out audio or
video updates of information that you would like the travel
agencies to use, and they will receive as soon as it is posted
on your server.

Another example of its use could be in coordination with
existing web pages. Most resorts have numerous web pages which
deliver travel information in text format. By providing an audio
or video link on that page it gives the user a different and
potentially more effective format for receiving the information.
So not only can these audio and video feeds be placed on web
pages where "one-click" lets you listen or view a travelcast, it
can be sent to portable devices as well. This is also a great
way to teach your existing users how to start utilizing
travelcasting services by easing them into it, fusing your
current website with new technology.

The options are wide open for the development of travelcast
programs that are cutting edge, and highly opportunistic in
terms of converting listeners into consumers.

The popularity of portable on demand information will grow even
greater as wireless internet services continue to flourish
across the country. These portable devices will no longer have
to be connected to the internet; they will receive information
wirelessly as it is updated. In addition, as cell phones and
portable devices continue to merge together, the market grows
larger.

For organizations that have members worldwide, the distribution
of company information is very important, and once again this
offers each institution a method of on-demand delivery which is
convenient to all. Travelcasting can also be used as a direct
line of communication, by recording video-casts of company
messages from executives for company wide distribution.

There are numerous uses for travelcasting, and over the next few
years it will explode in popularity. It is beneficial to
organizations as well as the consumer, and it will be seen as a
great tool in any travel organizations' operations.

Category : Pets

How To Earn Extra Money Easy With Your Blogs & Make Money Business Opportunities

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

Author : Siripong Roongruangsuwan

pan>March 21st, 2007

Killing God !

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

Author : Anthony Smith
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A church that burned to the ground earlier month was deliberately set on fire, officials announced Wednesday. The fire took place on Feb. 10 at the Full Gospel Sons of God Church, located at 1200 Vera Place.BAGHDAD, Iraq - Assailants wearing uniforms detonated two bombs inside one of Iraq's most revered Shiite shrines Wednesday, blowing the top off its landmark golden dome and spawning mass protests and reprisal attacks against dozens of Sunni mosques as leaders pleaded for calm.Alabama Burning; 6 Baptist Churches Burn to ground in the South. India News, 2006; India and Pakistan urged to build Nuclear weapons by U.S. Government. West Virginia; 2006; Another Baptist Church is burnt to the Ground, no arrest have been made. India 2006, Murder for Church Building was a frame. Apparently, members of the local Hindu nationalist political party advised the parents to dash their dead child's body against some rocks, breaking its bones. They then took the body to a doctor for a postmortem examination. Only after threats from the radical Hindus did the physician reluctantly file a false report, citing murder as the cause. Then the radicals advised the parents to file murder charges against Pastor Kasota and 10 other Believers Church members, including four other pastors, saying the murder was part of a plot to grab land for a church building.We have seen churches burned sense the early times of mans existence. Time after time, the ungodly take it upon themselves to try to change the course of mankind's involvement with God. Church buildings are not necessary to become involved with God and neither does it take one to become saved. Man today takes himself a little to seriously.The Buildings are considered an intricate part of their worship, prestige and notoriety. When you get people to donate $500.00 to buy a brick to place in a sidewalk, what you have is a $500.00 brick. God is not noted because of buildings nor any other structure that man can build but of His Awesome Power over creation. Before we go any further we must go to the scripture for Gods view on Buildings.2Ch 6:18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built! God cannot be contained in any House, Temple nor Universe. God is not in the Building of Rock and Stone but He dwells within the Individual. There have been many that have tried to kill God by burning down the Temple or Church. Not realizing that God is from everlasting to everlasting. Hitler tried, Cos cove tried and now the Spirit of Anti-Christ is trying. Removing the building is not going to kill God but in fact will make peoples resolve to worship God the more greater. You can kill a body but you cannot kill a spirit. God is Spirit.
Acts 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Dwelleth: To kill you must find the victim. In Acts 7:49, we see that God has no one dwelling place. Wherever you find a believer, you will find God, wherever you are, The Mountains, The Valleys, The Rivers and Streams and the Oceans, you will find God. 1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. For man to kill God he must also kill the people that believe in Him, not in the flesh but rather in the spirit.
Here we see prophecy of the end times; Amos 9:10-12; All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. And finally, Lets see what Jesus said about the most beautiful temple ever built by man for God, Solomon's Temple; Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.Clark states of the destruction of the Temple; The temple was destroyed because of,
1st. Justly; because of the sins of the Jews.
2ndly. Mercifully; to take away from them the occasion of continuing in Judaism: and
3rdly. Mysteriously; to show that the ancient sacrifices were abolished, and that the whole Jewish economy was brought to an end, and the Christian dispensation introduced. If you remember your Bible Study, you should notice that Jesus was not upset with the knowledge that Solomon's temple would be destroyed. Even Jesus being the Son of God, was not upset about the destruction of a building, for He stated that, we were the stones, we were the Building, we were the Temple of the Most High God. A building is just a building, if Gods Spirit does not inhabit the building it is empty. Acts 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: To kill God, man has tried everything that is imaginable, fire, stones, war, rumors of War, genocide and selective breading. Their efforts have come to nothing. You can kill an animal but you still cannot kill its spirit. You say,"Does even an animal have a spirit.?" Yes. The Bible clearly states that this is true. To kill God you must kill the memory of Him, the Sanctity of Him, The very Idea of Him. Many have tried and still fail. In James 4:2, we see how limited man is, how week and unlearned. How week is man that he should try to fight against God? "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not."Acts 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. If mankind cannot even change the mind of God, change the prophecy's of God, nor change the will of God, he cannot kill God, but only quench the spirit of God in an uncontrolled setting. 1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. In closing I wanted to add what Clark states of 1 Th.5:19; "The Holy Spirit is represented as a fire, because it is his province to enlighten and quicken the soul; and to purge, purify, and refine it. This Spirit is represented as being quenched when any act is done, word spoken, or temper indulged, contrary to its dictates. It is the Spirit of love, and therefore anger, malice, revenge, or any unkind or unholy temper, will quench it so that it will withdraw its influences; and then the heart is left in a state of hardness and darkness. It has been observed that fire may be quenched as well by heaping earth on it as by throwing water on it; and so the love of the world will as effectually grieve and quench the Spirit as any ordinary act of transgression.Every genuine Christian is made a partaker of the Spirit of God; and he who has not the spirit of Christ is none of his. It cannot be the miraculous gifts of the Spirit which the apostle means, for these were given to few, and not always; for even apostles could not work miracles when they pleased; but the direction in the text is general, and refers to a gift of which they were generally partakers." ars1Ki_9:7, 1Ki_9:8; Jer_26:18; Eze_7:20-22; Dan_9:26, Dan_9:27; Mic_3:12; Luk_19:44; 2Pe_3:11
Act_17:24, Act_17:25; 1Ki_8:27; 2Ch_2:5, 2Ch_2:6, 2Ch_6:18.
as: Isa_66:1, Isa_66:2Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Ministries
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/
Category : News-and-Society:Religion

Why Diets DON'T work

2008-04-06T20:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Aaron M. Potts

One of the biggest scams ever successfully pulled on the American public is - somewhat appropriately - a 4-letter word. That word is, of course, Diet. By now you have seen advertisements for more diets than you can easily remember, and have also most likely seen an article or television show debunking some of those diets. Unfortunately, the art of shooting holes through the credibility of a diet plan is normally done by ANOTHER diet company, solely for the purpose of getting you to use their product instead. Well, this article has nothing to sell, nor really anything to gain, save the knowledge that hopefully the reader - that's you - will put down the Diet Madness Menu, and get a real world point of view on why diets don't work, and what you can do about it. Eating, the Lost ArtIf you are considering a diet, or have in the past, your primary motivation was most likely to lose weight. What if I was to tell you that in order to lose weight, you actually need to eat MORE than you have in the past? You would probably shake your head at that crazy idea, and think that it was some new fad that could in no way assist you in your weight loss goals. Of course, the fact that every diet you've ever heard of was at one point "some new fad" would probably never even cross your mind. Nonetheless, the fact remains that most people do need to eat more than they presently are in order to lose weight, but the trick comes in eating the right kinds of foods, in the right ratios of nutrients, and at the right times of day. Sound tricky? Perhaps, but I assure you, it is really quite simple. However, the purpose of this article is not to inform you of the benefits of eating, but merely to let you know that eating is indeed a very effective way to lose excess bodyweight, and to explain how diets keep that from happening. Stating the ObviousAlthough most people do not think of the "latest diet" in these terms, hopefully the following question will make you consider what is pretty obvious if you stop to think about it. If the new "Last Diet You'll Ever Need" was really that good at making you melt away pounds while sitting on the couch munching "Carbo Craze Chips" or was even remotely effective at burning off your spare tire while inhaling the sweet scents of "Aerospace's Aromatic Air Baubles", then why isn't everyone already thin??Seriously - think about it. Every time you hear about the latest diet or the most up to date exercise device that only takes 20 minutes per day, they always say that you will never need another system! The advertised system - no matter how logical or even outlandish as it may seem - is always touted at being better than ever, and the last system you will ever need. Well, if that were true, don't you think that the manufacturer of that system would not only become wealthier than anyone in history, but would also become famous as the person who FINALLY solved the obesity problem in our world? Don't you think that person could also afford to advertise their product during prime time on TV, instead of late at night? Don't you think that system would become known throughout the world - throughout history itself - as a turning point in human development? So, I'll ask you the same question again: If the solution is already out there, why do we need to keep coming up with new solutions?? The answer is, of course, very simple - these systems don't work, and the human populace is simply looking for a non-existent quick fix to getting rid of too many late night excursions to the local burger joint, or to the fact they should have taken stock in beer while they were in college. Then what does work? Human physiology. MetabolismMetabolism is defined as the rate at which your body processes food. In other words, how fast your body burns calories. The faster your metabolism, the more food you can eat without gaining weight. How do you control your metabolism? By eating a nutrient-dense meal every 3 to 3 ? hours. This practice "stokes your internal furnace", for lack of a better analogy. Think of your body as an old-style locomotive that had coal shoveled into the combustion chamber one shovel at a time. If you didn't shovel in coal fast enough, the locomotive would slow down, and your body is no different. If you don't eat often enough, your metabolism slows down and you don't burn through calories very quickly. In addition, not only does your rate of calorie consumption go down, but your body starts storing almost everything that you do eat as bodyfat! So, in essence, every time you starve yourself in your honest effort to "stick to your diet", you are actually slowing down your metabolism as well as making your body more efficient at building padding for you to sit on at baseball games.Muscle"I don't care" you say. You believe that in order to lose weight you need to starve. Okay, that's wrong, but I'll explain why that thinking is flawed. Your body needs energy so you can live through any given day. The amount of energy that you need is determined by your Basal Metabolic Rate, and by your activity level for that day. For most people, this amounts to between 1,500 and 2,500 calories per day. Well, if your calorie-restricted diet doesn't allow you that many calories, your body will find a way to survive anyway. It does this by breaking down your muscle tissue and using it for energy. "So what?" you say. You don't care, as long as the scale says you are losing weight, right? What if I told you that the ONLY place on your body that you can burn bodyfat for fuel is your muscles? What if I told you that the more muscle tissue you lose on a calorie-restricted diet, the fewer calories you can eat after the muscle loss? What if I told you that after losing 20 lbs on a calorie-restricted diet, your total bodyfat level will have dropped very little, if at all? What if I told you that by using muscle mass for energy, you have literally crippled your body's ability to burn bodyfat in the future, and that by the laws of Nature (which we can't change, by the way), you will absolutely put the weight back on, and probably gain more weight than you ever had before? If I told you all of that, would you still want to burn muscle tissue for energy while starving yourself to stick to your diet, paying $8 a bag for Carbo Chips, and $20 a session for Aromatic Air Baubles? On the other hand, perhaps the laws of Nature don't apply to you. In that case, be sure to tune in tonight - I believe the "Lose Weight While You Eat Butter Fried Bacon" diet is going to be featured on a new infomercial. It is, after all, The Last Diet You Will Ever Need! Aaron Potts is a Personal Trainer and Fitness Success Coach whose customers include consumers as well as other fitness professionals. Sign up for a free edition of his Workout of the Month Club or his value-packed Fitness Journal at http://www.fitnessdestinations.com, or visit his coaching site at http://www.ptsuccesscoach.com

Category : Lose Weight

Top 10 Trade Show Tips

2008-04-06T09:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Peter Winters
1. Message
Is your message clear? Does it speak to your primary audience? Is it relevant? Does your message have an emotional attachment? Are you trying to say too much when you only have a few seconds to grab your audiences attention?2. Pre-Show
Have you contacted attendees even with something as simple as a postcard asking them to come by your booth for a prize or gift? Are you in a good location? If not, what will you do about it?3. Trade Show Display
Have you checked it recently? Does it say things that are no longer true or correct? Is the hardware intact and functional? Does it fit in the space you reserved (last you had a 10x10, this year you have a 20x20). Was your booth designed as an integrated component of your marketing strategy or a piece-meal production with various photos and logos? How will your booth compare to others at your trade show? Not to keep up with the Jones', but you also do not want to stand out for having the least appealing booth either.4. Accessories
Do you have the proper accessories? Shelving, Lighting (that works), Podiums (with your correct phone, logo, and web address), Literature Stands, Seating, Conference Room, Overhead Fabric Signage, Banner Stands, Fabric Displays, Lightboxes, Plasma/LCD Displays and Mounts, and Counters.5. Literature and Giveaways
Do you have current literature in the proper quantity for your show? Do you have business cards as described before? Is your literature in alignment with your trade show display? Is your literature in alignment with the audience that will attend your show?6. Events
Are you going to a very large trade show where a seperate event for your top clients and prospects will help people remember you? Will your top account executives or customer service staff be at the event? How will you reinforce your brand or message at the event so that it is memorable?7. During the Trade Show I
When and how many people will staff your booth? Is everyone on the same page with regard to what to say about your company and its products? While your booth is being staffed are the employees out in the show meeting with prospects, clients, and vendors or strategic partners?8. During the Trade Show II
While in the booth do your people know the basics, do not sit, do not eat, go out and meet people in the isle, do not stay behind a table or counter, smile smile smile, use breath mints, speak to people directly [do not act as though you are looking for the next hot prospect], and be honest.9. During the Trade Show III
If it is clear you are speaking with someone who is a great prospect, suggest that you meet later for a drink or dinner, go to the cafe area of the show and sit and talk as long as your booth is covered, do not try to have a one hour conversation in your booth.10. After the Trade Show
Follow up with prospects and customers, send everyone who visited your booth a note, postcard, or email thanking them for attending. Set meetings with your best prospects. Have a post-show meeting to discuss how you can exhibit better in the future.If you would like more information on this topic or if you would like to suggest a topic for a future article, please contact Peter Winters at: peterwinters@presres.com
For over 10 years Mr. Winters has been consulting businesses on strategic planning, marketing, and public relations.He is the owner of Exhibit Warehouse a Richmond Virginia-based trade show display and trade show exhibit fabrication company.
Category : Shoes

The Art Of Technical Manual Writing

2008-04-06T08:00:00.001-07:00

Author : jmarriot

Whether you are planning to develop a software package or launching another version of existing software. Technical document is what you need to help the target audience understand and use your product efficiently. With the option of outsourcing the task of technical writing available now, getting the right set of people who will do technical writing every time your organization develops new software has become one of the most tedious and also an unwanted thing.Technical writing is more than just presenting information on the product at hand. A technical document should be written in such a manner that the reader finds it simple yet interesting. The technical document should be able to provide answer to all of the queries and interests, related to the particular subject, of the reader. The quality of content, language used, format and so on are required to make an effective & useful technical document. The technical manual writing services in India are available at a much reasonable cost. The art of technical manual writing requires excellent writing skills with a technical bent of mind. The prime goal of a good technical writer is nothing but to provide a clear and precise view of the subject that he/she is writing on. The companies that provide technical manual writing services in India ensure that the work produced by them is able to communicate the information effectively. The technical writing companies in India have got a number of well educated and technically sound professionals working as technical writers for them. The technical writers in India are either graduates or post-graduates in English or they hold some technical degree and some times both, that?s why the writing work done by them is more reliable and clearly & precisely written. The technical manual writing services in India provide writing and designing of proposals, WebPages, manuals, lab reports, newsletters and other relevant professional technical documents. The best part of getting the technical writing job done by the technical writing companies in India is that they always complete the work within the fixed time limit. Preparing a clear and comprehensible communication for the users, on behalf of product developers, is the responsibility of technical writing company itself. The users of the product include scientists, plant executives, line workers, product engineers and engineers. The technical manual writing services in India cater to all of the publication process needs such as document design, graphics and layout and so on. RNCOS offers complete e-publishing solutions for your business. We provide personalized world-class content development and management solutions that are qualitative and result-oriented.

Category : General Business

How To Intelligently "Reverse Engineer" A High Ranking Website To Uncover Its Secrets

2008-04-05T13:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Peter Lim
What is the worth of a steady stream of free search engine traffic to you? If you are an internet marketer, search engine traffic is pure gold! Why is this so?Consider this:When a person searches for the item or information that you are offering on your website using a search engine, that person is someone who is interested in whatever you are offering. He is a quality targeted prospect! Mutiply this scenario by hundred of times, and you have a horde of targeted prospects looking up your product or message on your website.The question is how can you get the search engines to list or index your website and how can you move up the ranks and be at the top of the search engines?The first and most important step in your search engine traffic building process is your construction of your website - namely the use of the proper content. And this begins by the inclusion of highly optimised keywords.Again, consider this situation by a process of intelligent "reverse-engineering"Suppose you wish to build a website that revolves around the keyword "email marketing". You can "intelligently" search for this keyword in say the Yahoo search engine and find the top ranking websites. Then analyze the top ranking websites by means of their keywords, keywords density, keyword placement - these are the onsite factors that we can find out from these sites which are our "competitors" for search engine traffic.You can also analyse these top listed websites for their backlinks to see who are linking to them and which lend support to their high rankings. This is the main offsite factor that we should work on to intelligently uncover what makes our competitors tick and their websites ranked so highly.Before you throw up your hands in frustration because all these sound so difficult and foreign to you, there are tools and softwares that help out on these important steps fairly quickly once you have mastered them.Now suppose you know the onsite-factors and the main offsite-factor that drives these competitor sites to their high ranks, what you can do is just to do something more than them for your website to compete with them and to even outrank them! For example, you can uncover who are those who are linking to your competitor, and you can request links from the same entities linking to your competitor....and you move beyond those links with more links of your own!You can uncover the keyword density of the Number 1 ranked website who is your competitor and adopt a similar keyword density, as an example. What you are doing is in fact optimising your websites so that they rank high and so that your website is not hidden somewhere in the bottom of the search engine rankings where no one ever gets to discover your site.By this technique of onsite and offsite optimisation, you can dominate the search engines for your selected keywords, and get a horde of quality search engine traffic to your website daily!Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner and Marketing Strategist. For more free and useful tips to develop a huge keyword list for building your web sites, visit his "Niche Marketing And Keyword Finder" site at http://www.cashflowpc.biz/niche-marketing/
Category : Gambling & Casinos

The Dark Side Of Blogs

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

Author : Jim Edwards
America Online (AOL) announced recently they will pay as much as 25 million dollars for Weblogs, Inc. (www.weblogsinc.com) in a move to expand their reach even further into the consumer market.Blogs, also know as weblogs, enable individuals to post, comment, and respond to various topics online without publishing a website. All text editing and commenting takes place right through the web browser.The Web's leading blog search engine, Technorati.com, lists 19.2 million blogs online.Blog popularity has skyrocketed to the point that even news networks like CNN and MSNBC quote blogs, in particular political blogs, often giving some blog publishers instant rock star status with the media.With all the hoopla around blogs, people forget that blogs, by their very nature, represent opinions, and opinions don't necessarily represent the facts.~ Information Pollution Syndrome ~Blogs use a powerful form of psychology know as "social proof" where we look to others to help us understand how we should view, feel, or react to news and information.Since the glut of information only gets more massive online with each passing day and rates impossible for one person to get through completely on their own, we look to others to help us sort the piles of data.When you combine this with another online phenomenon, virtual anonymity, you get a volatile combination where any social responsibility for what gets posted flies out the window in many cases.People can and do post whatever they want because no "hall monitor" can call them down for blatant intellectual hooliganism.~ Facts Colored With Opinion ~Strong opinion often equals an agenda, however hard to discern for either the author or the reader.But make no mistake, every person publishing a blog with any level of readership (not junk blogs used for search engine promotion) takes a stance on the issues, whether political, social, religious or business.Even if they strive to be impartial and only report the "news," blog publishers are human beings who want you to think they're smart, agree with them, and accept their point of view, even if they don't realize it consciously.Less scrupulous blog publishers often exploit the social and psychological power of blogs to spread disinformation (intentionally wrong information) to further their agenda. This tactic rates quite popular on political blogs and has started creeping into business blogs too.~ Protect Yourself ~Whenever you read anything online, use the following evaluation criteria to help separate fact from opinion.What is my purpose in searching for information on this subject?Is this a credible source of information?What ulterior motive, conscious or otherwise, do they have in publishing this information?What alternative sources of information can I find to confirm / dispute the information on this blog?Don't rely heavily on the opinions of others to make your decisions, especially the opinions of nameless, faceless bloggers with a self-serving agenda who operate with a veil of anonymity and a no sense of social responsibility.Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist & creator of an amazing course that shows A Quick and Easy Way To Painlessly Set Up Your OWN Money-making 'Mini' Websites... Without Being a Computer Geek, Buying Software, or Paying A Webmaster!" Click => http://www.MiniSiteCreator.com
Category : Business:Blogging

Packing a Diaper Bag- What To Take Along On Outings With Baby

2008-04-03T13:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Susan Pittser

Going out for the day with a little one needs some planning on what to take along so you don't get stranded somewhere away from home without an essential item or an unhappy camper because you forgot to bring something along. So be sure to pack your diaper bag with the necessities for your little one and make the most of your outing.Some of the most important items of course are diapers, wipes, burp rags, a change of clothing (you never know what might happen along the way, car sickness, overflow on diapers, anything can happen with your unpredictable little one in tow )Be sure you take plenty of bottles and formula if you are bottle feeding, I always like to put my powder formula into the little Tupperware midgets containers, they hold just the right amount for individual bottles and take up very little space, or they do make small containers that are divided into sections that you can pre measure your powder formulas for quickly mixing a bottle on the go.If your little one takes a pacifier/binky be sure to take one or two extra along in case the one you leave home with gets lost along the way, You don't want to have a broken hearted little one for miles on the road because you lost one.Take your little one's favorite blanket and a backup blanket just in case, I usually take extras in case they fall asleep in their car seat you can help keep them shaded from the sunshine and comfortable for the ride.Always pack more than you think you will need just in case something unexpected happens.Have little toys they can play with to keep them entertained.If you have a toddler you will want to pack small snacks they pack great in the little tupperware snack cups or little baggies, take several of their favorite small toys and a spill proof cup you can quench their thirst with along the way.This will help make your outing with little ones much easier and more enjoyable for you an baby when you travel prepared. Happy Traveling! About The AuthorSusan Pittser is a mother of 7 children, Tupperware Director http://my.tupperware.com/spittser 18 year Florist Owner of a 3rd Generation Family Florist and Professional floral designer. http://chosenflowers.com

Category : Parenting

Ezines and Newsletter Software - How to Drive Traffic and Improve Your Business Cashflow

2008-04-03T12:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Mike Greenfield
So how do smaller businesses use the internet to drive traffic and improve their cashflow?The upfront answer is building a permission based contact database tied into your website.Build a targeted list and you will have cashflow on demand.Of course you will still optimise your site for the search engines as an integral part of your marketing strategy, but putting your main effort into building your list will grow your business quicker and speed up listings in the search engines.Remember once you have a database list â" itâ™s YOURS to use over and over again to bring in profitable sales to your business!And the more you use it the more it will grow, provided you MANAGE it correctly.Use your list to keep in regular contact with subscribers, much like you would manage relationships in a bricks and mortar business.Everyone likes to do business with people they know and trust. Treat them right and they will not only come back again and again, but will refer their friends and others to you.Put an opt-in form on your website, collect email from walk in customers, run contests to collect email addresses, and ask existing customers and friends for referrals.You should include your URL and email address on EVERY piece of printed material you produce for your business, including invoices, email signatures, Yellow Page ads, business cards, labels, EVERYTHING!You should be collecting email addresses from EVERY visitor that walks through your door!You will be surprised how quickly your database will grow.And the good thing is, once it grows to a certain point it self generates and grows even faster.Doing it right means developing TRUST with your subscribers.Like friendship, trust grows with the number of successful contacts.The more a person gets to know you, the more they will trust you.Of course if you let them down they're probably gone for good - so you better have a good product and back it up with good service.A regular newsletter is one of the easiest ways to keep in contact.Your newsletter doesnâ™t have to be a lengthy document; it can be as simple as a one page article published under your banner and sent out on a regular basis to your list.It must contain useful information of interest to your subscribers and it should be devoid of blatant advertising.If a person has opted into your list, theyâ™ll know what your business is about, so you donâ™t need to be in their face constantly selling.Keep your newsletter lean on advertising, but full of useful, interesting information, then when the customer is ready to purchase theyâ™ll come to you.Its human nature, we all want to deal with a person we know and trust.And the beauty is they come back again and again â"but you must keep in regular contact with them or they simply slip away and forget about you.Another payoff is, as your list grows, traffic to your website grows, and all of a sudden search engine spiders start listing your site â" itâ™s like magic, traffic drives traffic!Also, once you have developed trust through communicating valuable information regularly to your subscribers they will look forward to hearing from you.AND they will forgive you for sending them blatant advertising now and then, in fact they will expect it.You will be able to promote specials through promotional emails and postcard announcements, advise them of new vintages, and offer them pre-release deals, making them feel special and that you value their custom.Each time you do a mail out you will get a return in the form of increased sales, but please don't over do it.Depending on the business you are in, and how effective you are at targeting, a subscriber could be worth anywhere from a few cents to several dollars every time you do a mail out.Here is how to calculate the value of subscribers in your list, but first you will need to establish your list and have completed at least two or three successful campaigns.Divide the number of subscribers in your list by the average sales in dollars received in response to your mailout.Letâ™s say you have built your list to 2500 opt-ins and have calculated the subscriber value as $0.75 (subscribers/divided by the average amount of business in dollars received from previous mail outs).So, itâ™s getting towards the end of the month and your sales arenâ™t up to scratch â" ok send a mail out with a special offer. Presto you have just generated an extra $1875.00 in sales! (Thatâ™s 2500 subscribers x $0.75)Every marketing person will tell you sales is a numbers game.If you get your offer right and target correctly you will get consistent results every time.Here is another example: If your average conversion is just 1% of your subscribers, and your average sale is $220.00, then you will convert 1% of your list and receive 25 orders x $220.00 = $5500.00, for an average return per subscriber of $2.20.Itâ™s 10 days before Christmas and you need to clear some stock:Send out an extra special offer and tell your customers you need to quit the stock within nine days or you will be in serious trouble (or whatever).You have been honest and given them a reason for your special offer.They know you mean what you say and they can trust you to give them an honest deal!Bingo, orders start coming in and you clear the stock!The above examples show what you can do when you have an opt-in database of customers and prospects that you have build up on the basis of TRUST, that know your business, and who willingly open your emails.AND, how much did it cost you? Did you have to run expensive advertisements in the paper (that, by the way, now show diminishing returns on your investment because of the high cost), or print thousands of flyers, or employ staff to get out and spruik for business?No, none of the above. To send the promotion out to your list cost virtually nothing, zilch, beano, absolutely nothing, just half an hour to an hour of your time.Imagine the cashflow you could generate if your database grew to 10,000 or 50,000 subscribers.It doesn't matter what you are selling, it could be hotel rooms, cases of wine, restaurant meals, toys, services, or seminars - it doesn't matter, if you target carefully and have built a trusting relationship with your list, you will get consistent results.If you want more information on how you can build profitable online business through automated online catalogues, newsletters and promotional email, contact Mike Greenfield NOW.Mike has over 35 years experience in marketing, sales, and entrepreneurship, with a history of taking businesses from small beginnings to sales in the tens of millions of dollars.SiteDesignNOW specialises in low cost small business online marketing systems, including interactive catalogues, ezine systems, e-classifed ad systems, and shopping carts.Contact: mike@sitedesignnow.com

http://www.SiteDesignNOW.com
Category : History

Improving your digital photography.

2008-04-02T11:00:00.001-07:00

Author : TJ Tierney

Are you looking to get the best quality from your digital SLR? If the answer is yes you need to forget about the auto modes and set your digital camera to RAW.Setting your digital camera to raw will open up a whole new world of photography. Correctly processed raw images are sharper and contain more accurate colours. The extra information stored when shooting raw will give your image more detail - leaving you more room to experiment in your digital darkroom.Raw explained: Raw files are a doorway to top-class image quality, which will also allow you maximum control. A raw image contains all the unprocessed data that reads directly from the cameras sensor. A raw image file does not contain the finished product and you will have more work to do with the digital file but your final image quality should be first class. For great results you will need to invest in a RAW converter that will enable you to maximise quality and control. A RAW converter is a piece of software that allows you to make all the changes that your image needs. Once you have made all the changes you can save your image to JPEG or to whichever format you need.Shooting RAW will open amazing new avenues for an amateur photographer or a professional starting to use digital technology for the first time. Pictures with poor colour can be transformed into reasonable images, but this should not be a licence to get sloppy. The standards of photography are still the same. Your RAW image needs to be exposed correctly; the RAW converter is not capable of making a blurred image sharp; and it cant change the depth-of-field. The only frustration when shooting RAW is the extra time spent on the computer, but once you get used to all the new tools with your software, you will soon realise that the changes were worth it.The true benefits of shooting RAW are quality, control, image flexibility and easy image correction. But be careful - you should always aim for the best results using your camera first. TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer. For more tips you can visit his photography directory. To view his images visit his on-line gallery of flower pictures or see his travel site.

Category : General Art & Entertainment

Hot or Not -- Prom Trends for 2004

2008-04-02T01:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Blake Kritzberg

Prom: it's loaded with expectations. For some, it's merely a dance. For others, it means that first great step into adulthood, while savoring one's position at the top of the grammar-school food chain. And for some, it means a night of pure Cinderella magic. Combine all this with a youth-oriented culture, and you have an event that demands a serious fashion plan.So what fashion forces are driving Prom 2004? The answers are: curves, glamour and loads of color."Prom 2004" is actually a bit of a misnomer, as most dresses tend to follow Fall 2003 styles. This make sense: prom dresses are high-ticket items, and retailers need a chance to test out trends in the shopping malls. (Hair is more adaptable, so prom hair is more attuned to the present).As for fashion in general, it's still reeling from the ultimate anti-fashion incident: the 9/11 attack. You may recall that the industry stopped in its tracks. Major fashion shows were cancelled, or scaled down to a roomful of attendees on folding chairs. "Can fashion still matter?" was the question no one could ignore.But of course, fashion didn't die. As always, it reflected the newly-altered world view. "World views" contain many interlocking strands, as does fashion, but strong themes emerged and are still in play. Here are some of the best-articulated trends in Prom 2004:// The Solidarity UniformDressy, formal looks from the 30s and 60s. Think Hollywood glamour, and Jacquie Kennedy. Beneath this trend is the new focus on attending family events and dressing up for them.Expressing the 30s are the curvy, Screen Siren prom gowns: smoky mermaids in luxurious ruched satin, and Latin-style ruffles and trains.Reviving the 60s are Grace Kelly/Jacquie-O A-line skirts, sometimes tea-length, with crinoline slips. These classic beauties are updated with simpler, more natural hair and makeup, not to mention some mod-style colors (bold black and white, bright red, or submarine yellow). Gloves and a small shiny pocketbook are must-haves, but for 2004, you don't have to stick to ordinary colors! Timeless prom queen gowns are fully *au courant* as well -- no amount of beading, boning, crinoline or shine is over-the-top, so enjoy the license for glamour. Perhaps this is the right year to indulge in a delicate tiara!You'll be surprised by the number of strapless gowns on offer. Every one of these "solidarity" gowns lend themselves to classic strapless glamour.// The Eastern BlocFashion influence is drifting, and the East is gaining ground: Londoners do their best to dress like Persians, and Bollywood antics make the global radar more often. You'll see the lovely outcome in those 2004 prom offerings with an elegant sari look and extraordinary hand beading.// Sporty SpiceJ. Lo lives on in the sporty side of Prom 2004, where two-piece gowns (some midriff-bearing) continue to make a splash. This look is not only fresh but practical; those beautiful bodices can be paired with jeans long after prom night's become a matchbook and a memory. "Sporty-prom" fashionistas can augment their costume with sparkling navel gems and exotic paint-on body tattoos.// Celebrity FashionCan it go any lower? The prom world's not immune from red carpet antics, and several sultry 2004 offerings call for double-sided tape. This year's 'necklines' sometimes plunge so far that there's nowhere else to go; look for 'backdrift' to follow (no pun intended) in the next few years.// In Truth, 2004The dresses genuinely in sync with 2004 runways are the ultra-feminine pastels, with delicate ruffles. Think "prom dress meets the park." Don't be afraid to go with soft green, coral and pink paeons to girlhood, simply because most offerings are jewel-toned and sizzlingly seductive.// HairSoft, shiny waves are new for spring (think lovely Charlize Theron at the Golden Globes); Aniston-straight is out. Whatever you do, don't torture your hair into some unnatural confection; it's simplicity and naturalness that updates these retrospective looks. // ShoesClunky is dead. Open-toed stilettos are red-hot. Sure, the gorgeous silver (or transparent) sky-high creations on the market are the ultimate in impracticality. The romantic prom-goer will buy them anyway, get a great pedicure, and slip them off halfway through the night for a 'best of both worlds' (if not 'best for the pocketbook') experience.// Jewelry and MakeupWith all those strapless fashions, take care not to over-accessorize. Unless you're going for a vintage look, don't spoil that beautiful expanse of clavicle with a necklace; don sparkly, dangling earrings instead to create a long line. If the Nicole Kidman look is more to your taste, consider one of those retro multi-strand chokers (in black, of course), or a slim black ribbon paired with a silk rose. Chandelier earrings might be "outre" at the Oscars, but they're definitely not a done deal atProm 2004. About The AuthorBlake Kritzberg is proprietor of the Prom Dress Guide 2004, at http://www.prom-dress-guide.com/. Visit the site for 2004 prom offerings, news and trends.

Category : Kids - Teen

Starting an Online Business - Develop a Mailing List

2008-04-01T20:00:00.001-07:00

Author : David Keegan

If you're like me, you're pretty skeptical of all those claims
you hear about people making loads of money on the internet. Oh,
I knew there were people out there making cash, but I had many
excuses for why I couldn't do it. That all changed as I watched
a friend become wildly successful in his internet business. I
thought, if he could do it, so could I!

It all started for my friend about seven years ago as he started
selling various products on e-Bay. He learned mostly through
trial and error. But, after working at it for two hours a day
for only nine months, he was able to quit his day job! I sat
back and watched figuring he was "just lucky". I reasoned that
he'd soon be going back to work at his 9 to 5 job. Well, seven
years have gone by and I'm still waiting! What's more, he's
recently bought a vacation home and is showing no signs of
slowing down. (For more information on this friend of mine,
visit my web page and look for "Little Known Minnesota Man.")

Now, while I don't necessarily expect to achieve the same
success as my friend, he has given me confidence that I can
achieve at least a good "hobby income" via the internet. I've
learned that perhaps the most important first step in internet
marketing is developing and cultivating a mailing list. This may
sound counter-intuitive, but many times it makes more sense to
develop your list even before you create a web-site. A good way
to do this is by starting an electronic magazine (i.e., "ezine")
in the subject area you want to do business in. Pick a topic
that is targeted, but not too narrow. For example, instead of
choosing "pets" (too broad) or "shih-tzu training" (too narrow)
as topics, you may want to settle on something like "dog
training" (just right).

An ezine provides quality content for your subscribers. You can
either write your own content or pay someone else to write for
you. I'd recommend that you publish your ezine on a weekly,
bi-monthly or monthly basis, whichever you feel you can sustain
comfortably. Whatever the case, the important thing is that you
give your subscribers useful information. You can place a small
banner advertisement for one of your affiliate products in each
issue of your ezine. Every so often, you can even send a special
advertisement to your entire list. However, keep in mind people
didn't sign-up for your ezine to get bombarded with
advertisements. If you send too many, you'll find people
unsubscribing in droves. So, use discretion in promoting to your
list. Remember, the list you are building is the foundation to
your internet business. You're not trying to get rich quick
here. Slow and steady is the guideline.

How do you get people to sign up for your ezine? One way is to
pay a "co-registration service" to get subscribers for you. For
a specified fee, these services will guarantee you a certain
number of subscribers, no matter how long it takes. This removes
some of the risk for you. A couple of free ways to generate a
subscriber base would be to participate in internet forums which
allow you to post a resource box (where you can advertise your
ezine) or submit articles to article directories which will also
allow a small advertisement. No matter which method you choose,
start building your business foundation by developing that list!

Category : Music Reviews

The Power of CSS

2008-04-01T19:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Cliff Ritter

CSS or cascading style sheets are used to create a set of styles
that can be applied to your fonts, tables and most other
attributes of your web page. These styles allow you to create a
much cleaner, faster web page that search engines love and also
makes life much easier on the designer when global changes to
these styles need to be applied. It is also always critical to
always keep in mind your target audience and the average
internet connection speed these users have. By using styles
sheets to their full advantage, you can help keep your web page
size down to a minimum.

When you sit down to think about the sitemap and the
navigational structure of your website, you should consider
using cascading style sheets wherever possible. This includes
everything from your text attributes to your table padding. Each
page you create should be tailored around one or two keyword
phrases in order to maximize the relevancy of the content being
displayed to the various internet browsers surfing your website.
Using this technique allows you to have a web page which, in the
search engines spiders view, only contains html and keyword rich
text.

Let's use an example to illustrate the power and capability of
cascading style sheets.

Graphic Buttons with Rollover: In the past we created
rollover buttons using graphics programs like Adobe Photoshop
and/or Macromedia Fireworks, and embedded them on our web page
with all the unfriendly code that is needed for the rollover
effect. The problem with doing this can be two-fold. First,
search engines prefer text links because text is always optimal
and you can also put your desired keywords in the text of the
link, which can help boost your rankings. Images are also seen
as inferior to html, since search engine spiders are not able to
scan images as effectively as plain text. When you create
navigation with graphical buttons, you lose out on both of these
benefits and risk having some of your web pages not indexed by
the search engine spiders. This is why well-optimized web pages
have text links at the bottom of the page; text makes it easier
for search engines to spider your site and compensate for the
primary navigation menu.

CSS allows you to create these buttons without having any images
visible on your html code (which is where search engines
spider). Furthermore, you can embed your desired keyword
phrase(s) as the text for your links. Try these steps and you
will see how easy it is to simulate the rollover button effect,
how much more effective your web site will be for the desired
targeted keywords and how much faster your web page will be to
load.

Your CSS Code: In CSS you have the ability to create a
background image on a particular style. Create your table with
an individual cell for each link. In your CSS styles, you need
to update the a:link and a:hover styles. For the a:link, make
the graphic you have created to act as your button and/or the
background image for that style. Then update the font attributes
so the text will be visible on top of the background image. On
the a:hover style, put the over state of the button as the
background of that style and update the font attributes so you
can see the text on the page. This is what your actual CSS code
should look like for the a:link and a:hover styles:

a:link{ font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration:
underline; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; width: 175px;
height: 100px; background-image: url(images/home-button.gif);
background-repeat: no-repeat; }

a:hover{ font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration:
underline; color: #006699; font-weight: bold; width: 175px;
height: 100px; background-image:
url(images/home-button-over.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; }

This effect creates the perception of a rollover image. To site
visitors, it will appear to be a regular rollover button created
out of two graphics. The only difference is your cascading style
sheet contains the images for both states of the link. This way
when search engine spiders visit your website, they will only
see clean html code - without any images used for navigation -
and your keyword-rich text. As well, your web page should load
much faster and be compatible with anyone still using an old
dial-up connection.

CSS Above and Beyond: With cascading style sheets, as
outlined above, you can create the perception to the user that
images are present on the actual page when they are really
embedded right into your cascading style sheet. Lets take the
rollover button effect one step further. Suppose you want to
manipulate your web page code in a way that your relevant
keyword phrase(s) appear at the top of the page. With CSS, you
have the ability to do this with ease. CSS allows you not only
to adjust font and color attributes, but you can also adjust the
spacing and alignment of certain elements on your web page. So
with this in mind, creating your table structure using
tags allows you to layout your page in a way that the search
engine spiders see your important, relevant keyword phrase(s)
ahead of your tables and images. The next step is to incorporate
your cascading style sheet so you can still use a header
designed using graphics, while placing your important keyword
phrase(s) at the top of your web page which search engines love.
In your style sheet, add these two styles:

#header{ width: 373px; height: 53px; background-image:
url(header.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; color: f7f7f7; }

h1{ text-indent: -100em; margin:0px,0px,0px,0px; }

As you can see, in the #header style, we have included the
dimensions of the image along with including the image you want
to serve as your header as the background for this style. Make
sure you input the correct dimensions for the header image. This
needs to be accurate as the style sheet will only display what
can fit in the outlined dimensions and will also affect the
spacing of your tables and web page. On the h1 style, we have
indicated we do not want the text visible on the web page,
rather the header image we created which is contained in the
#header style. We are able to do this by using the text-indent:
-100em attribute of the h1 style. You also want to include the
margin attribute so you avoid any unwanted spacing underneath
the text contained in the tag. Then, on your actual web
page, put your keywords at the top of the page in an tag
and include the #header style. This is what your code should
look like for the text you are trying to display as an
while displaying only the header graphic. (YOUR
IMPORTANT KEYWORD PHRASE). This can give you a HUGE
advantage when trying to optimize a website for a very
competitive category and achieve top 10 search engine rankings
by making your keywords visible right at the top of the page, in
an tag, while actually displaying a nice header graphic to
the person browsing your website. Although many changes have
occurred in the last few weeks in terms of Yahoo! adopting their
own search engine spider and listings, Google making the switch
to geo targeting and the ever growing importance in maintaining
quality, theme related link partners, the placement of your
keywords is still an important factor in adding to your search
engine optimization and ranking success.

Another good practice when designing web pages using CSS is to
make sure your web page conforms to W3 standards for both HTML
and CSS. This is critical in ensuring your website works across
all platforms and browsers and also helps to ensure ALL search
engine spiders can index your site easily and effectively. There
really is nothing worse then directing a few hundred hits per
day in search engine traffic and having 50% of those people
unable to view your website because of poor coding, corrupted
style sheets or broken links. Always test your web site and have
a friend navigate through your website both on a MAC and PC to
ensure there are in fact no broken links and all pages are
easily accessible and error free.

The power of cascading style sheets is incredible. The above
example only scratches the surface of how much you can do for
your page in terms of accessibility, functionality, speed and
clean html. You can adjust your scrollbar, background image, and
even the padding of your tables all in your style sheet. The
only key is that you create an external css and link it from the
web page using those styles file ( ). This way, you don't add any
cumbersome code on your page that will risk confusing the search
engine spiders and use CSS to its full advantage.

By adjusting all these attributes in an externally linked css
file, you are keeping your web page small in physical size along
with ensuring good clean html code which as we have mentioned
above, search engine spiders love! As well, css makes life MUCH
easier on the web designer when future updates need to be made.
It is far more efficient to manage a website using cascading
style sheets then one that contains good old font tags.

This article is written by Cliff Ritter and Copyright of Logical Sense SEO
Services.

Category : Exercise

Strategic Outsourcing: Testing the Outsourcing Waters and Staying Afloat

2008-04-01T11:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Jenne Wason
Before Gertrude Ederle began her historic swim off of Cape Griz-Nez, France, she
underwent extensive training for endurance and techniqueâ"even though she was
already an accomplished record-breaking swimmer with Olympic medals to her
name. Outsourcing IT may not garner the same attention as being the first woman
to swim the English Channel, but it is no less important to gather as much
experience and knowledge as possible on a small scale before diving in for the big
swim.The trend toward IT outsourcing is increasing dramatically. According to a report by
Foote Partners, as much as 45% of North American IT work will be outsourced by
2005. And there are good reasons behind this trend. Bruce Caldwell, principal
Gartner analyst believes companies can generate 20-30% savings through
outsourcing. This substantial savings potential isn't easily overlooked, yet it isn't the
number one reason companies are choosing to outsource right now. In a recent
survey by The Outsourcing Institute, the primary reason behind outsourcing is to
improve company focus. Other motives include freeing up internal resources,
accessing top-notch capabilities, and accelerating time to market. The survey also
indicated that 55% of firms who outsource do so within ITâ"more than any other
area.As more companies begin outsourcing some or all of their IT function, it becomes
difficult to ignore the competitive pressure. With competitors achieving their IT
needs at 20-30% less cost, and getting ahead in the market because of increased
focus within the company, those who ignore the outsourcing trend could potentially
lose ground very quickly.At the same time, outsourcing horror stories abound. According to Gartner research
firm, half of the current outsourcing projects will not meet the company's
expectations and will be considered failures. While the vast majority of these failures
are only minor disappointments where the company decides to outsource to another
vendor, certainly a few are major catastrophes. An anonymous case study in IT
Metrics Strategies discusses a CIO who chose to outsource to beat competitors to
market. The outsourcer had promised to meet a deadline his staff had said was
impossible. When the outsourcer failed, the CIO couldn't rebuild his team fast
enough to finish the job. In the end, the product never got to market at all.So how do you secure all the benefits of this outsourcing wave without getting
dragged into the undertow? The key is strategic, selective outsourcing. According to
Corey Ferengul, VP of the IT research firm META Group, an increasing number of
companies are choosing to outsource non-core IT tasks. Common responsibilities
going to third-party providers include Web hosting, call centers, data storage, and
database administration."There's a learning curve and a life cycle to outsourcing," said Caldwell, "and it can
be expensive finding the right vendor, as well as going through the transitions of
taking your operations to that vendor." Stable, yet customizable IT functions provide
an excellent training ground for outsourcing. Any function with known benchmarks
for performance and results, as well as available, reliable outsourcing partners is a
good place to start.Ultimately you may want to outsource your entire IT department, but first you need
to get a handle on managing an outsourced process. Some companies may discover
they don't need to incur the risks and organizational chaos of switching to total IT
outsourcing. By nimbly carving out and outsourcing small pieces of the IT function
that deliver the most cost and quality benefit, companies may find they are already
receiving maximum savings at minimal risk. However, they will have done some
carefully planned and executed experimentation before making that decision.Gertrude Ederle once said of the sea "I never feel alone when I'm out there." The
channel became her ally as she swam her way to England in record time. By starting
on a small, strategic scale, you'll turn IT outsourcing into your ally rather than a
cold, tumultuous, foreboding sea.Jenne Wason
Jenne works for The Pythian Group, a leading database management firm.
Category : Prostate Cancer

How a Good Drug Rehab Program Works

2008-04-01T00:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Megan Steiner
America records the most cases of drug addiction throughout the world, despite having a small population relative to several large countries. Addiction exists at all levels of American society and considering that this problem is curable, one should always be hopeful. Because of that reason, the number of programs for drug rehabilitation keeps on rising year on year. Whether that is good news or bad, one thing is sure: your goal to find the right drug rehab program remains attainable if you know what you are looking for.The popular belief that has evolved to make drug rehab treatment really successful is to make the program into a personalized plan that treats both your physical and psychological needs. The concept of one size fits all treatment is no longer followed. Treatments/programs are being customized where individual parameters are under consideration.Rehabilitation… a journeyOver the years research has been able to tell that many individuals addicted to drugs have experienced a lot of personal trauma in their private lives. Hence, the dependency factors have often been found to be so strong that even after completion of many so-called successful drug rehab programs, people again diverge from the right path and gain their past dependency on drugs. This can happen in months or weeks, or even within a few days.As a result of high recidivism rates among addicts, the prevailing belief today is that group treatments are no longer the best method of attaining complete rehabilitation. Professionals are the key in the process, as they handle program schedules on which the effectiveness of a drug rehab being carried out depends. Here, treatment sessions are made on identifying the core and gravity of the patient's problem, which could vary drastically depending on the individual situation and needs of the patient.Workings of a Good ProgramNew terms are being thrown into promotion of rehab programs to make them more palatable to a wider group of individuals, leaving many individuals with renewed confidence in the power of drug rehabilitation programs' effectiveness. But, all good programs depend not just on the arrangement and setup of the program, but also on the trained professions who run it. In a world which understands the effectiveness of drug rehabilitation programs to turn on the ability of a professional to recognize and create programs around the needs of a particular individual, the talents of a program's staff are imminently important in a program's success.There are a wide range of substance-abuse treatments and programs taking place all over the country to enable people understand that rehab is within reach. By researching the details of a rehab program and ensuring it is operated by knowledgeable and talented staff, there is hope for success in beating addiction.Megan Steiner recommends you visit http://www.passagesmalibu.com/ to obtain more information about a drug rehab program with the goal to actually heal the underlying causes of addiction, prevent relapse, and end suffering.
Category : Self-Improvement:Addictions

Pure Intentions

2008-03-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

Author : Eliyahu Mitterhoff
Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering (Shemos 25:2).Rashi explains: "and have them take for Me" means dedicated to My name (Midrash Tanchuma).If you were asked to give a donation to help rebuild the 3rd Temple wouldn't you give with a full heart and for the sake of the mitzva? Why does Chazal need to tell us that the giving of the money for the mishkan needed to be with such pure intentions?Rav Henach Leibowitz learns that even when the evil inclination cannot stop us from doing a mitzva he can corrupt our intentions and degrade our service to our Creator.We need to be constantly on guard that we do not perform the mitzvoth for honor, prestige, or other side motivations. Since we are spending much time and energy to do the mitzvoth anyway, it makes sense that we should work on purifying our motives. One mitzva done with a truly pure heart can upgrade and change the quality of our entire being.Application:
Choose one mitzva that you are going to do with absolute purity.Give 10 quick answers to the following sentence stem:
If I could do this mitzva with absolute purity, I would ...Rabbi Eliyahu Mitterhoff is the director of the Global Yeshiva. The Global Yeshiva is devoted to creating a warm and friendly yet serious place for people of all levels to share and discuss Torah and Orthodox Judaism. He envisions this as a great and unprecedented historic opportunity to share, learn, teach and spread Torah on a global level.
Category : News-and-Society:Religion

Jewelry meaning in the Jewish tradition

2008-03-31T02:00:00.001-07:00

Author : David Weitzman

HamsaThe Hamesh hand or Hamsa hand is a popular motif in Jewish jewelry. Arab cultures often refer to it as the Hand of Fatima, which represents the Hand of G-d. The Hamsa serves as an ancient talismanic way of averting the evil eye and providing a "protecting hand" or "Hand of God". The Hamsa appears often in stylized form, as a hand with three fingers raised, and sometimes with two thumbs arranged symmetrically. The symbol is used in amulets, charms, jewelry, door entrances, cars, and other places to ward the evil eye. The Hamsa origin is believed to predate Islam. The symbol was previously used in Punic religion, where it was associated with Tanit. In Israel and in Jewish culture it is most commonly known as "Hamsa", without any Islamic heritage connotations. Some sources link the significance of the five fingers to the five books of the Torah or to the five pillars of Islam.Star of DavidThe symbol was used in Israel in Roman times, but it seems to have become associated with Judaism in particular only in later centuries. In the 17th century it became a popular practice to put the Star of David on the outside of synagogues, to identify them as Jewish houses of worship; however, it is not clear why this symbol was selected for this. Today, the Star of David is a universally recognized symbol of Jews. It appears on the flag of the state of Israel, and the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross is known as the Magen David Adom. The name David in ancient Hebrew is made up of three letters "Dalet", "Vav" and "Dalet". The letter Dalet in ancient Hebrew is actually a triangle. King David used the six pointed star as his signature. The six-points symbolize that God rules over the universe and protects us from all six directions: North, South, East, West, Up and Down. King David used this symbol in the battlefield on his shield as an omen from God. ChaiThis Chai symbol is simply the Hebrew word Chai (literally meaning living), with the two Hebrew letters Chet and Yod attached to each other. The word refers to the Living G-d. Judaism is very focused on life, and the word Chai has great significance. There have been various mystical numerological speculations about the fact that according to the gematrian system, the letters of Chai add up to 18.MezuzahMezuzah is a small case affixed to the doorposts and gates of Jewish homes, synagogues, and businesses. The case generally features the Hebrew letter shin inscribed on it, which protects a piece of parchment scroll, on which is inscribed two passages from the Hebrew Bible: the Shema Israel and V'havta.Every time you pass through a door with a mezuzah on it, you touch the mezuzah and then kiss the fingers that touched it, expressing love and respect for G-d.MenorahThe menorah, one of Judaism's oldest symbols, is a seven-branched candelabrum or oil lamp. It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel. The design for the seven-candle menorah is given in the Torah. The menorah in the Temple had straight branches, not rounded as is often depicted. While the menorah is traditionally used to burn candles, the Temple menorah originally burned olive oil. Related work can be found at: Jewish JewelryWritten by David Weitzman - Ka Gold Jewelry artist

Category : General Religion: Jewish

Myevent.com and TheBigDay Travel Announce New Partnership

2008-03-31T00:00:00.001-07:00

Author :

Complaining Consumers

2008-03-30T21:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Gene Leshinsky
The salesmanâ™s job is to be well informed; extremely well informed. For this information is how he earns his bread. At a car dealership the commission over the MSRP on some cars would barely be enough to pay rent. A dealer must fight for every penny of the margin in order to receive the best paycheck. On the other hand, the consumer must also fight for every penny in order to receive the best deal.With the tools available to the consumer such as the internet there is literally no reason why anyone should complain that they were treated unfairly or âœcheatedâ by a car salesman. To these people I have a very clear message: get informed. If you are too lazy to do some serious research into the vehicle that you are about to spend $30k or $40k on, then you deserve to pay the agent every penny of the margin. There is no complaining when the tools are literally at your fingertips yet you cannot figure out how to use them.The vast array of car dealerships and the vast competition that car dealers now have with the internet, it is laughable to complain that this or that dealer tricked you or made you buy something you did not want to buy. It is all your fault. This is unfortunately a realization many people just donâ™t want to make. Why should it be my fault when the car dealer misinformed me? Because you let him misinform you. After all, car sales guys are human too and have to pay rent among other things. It is rather callous to assume that every sales guy will have your best interest at heart.Be informed. Before you go out into the market place make sure that you know exactly what you are looking for and do not back down. Never buy right away. Take your time, look around, check out the competition, let the competition them know that you are informed. If the dealer is smart his whole tactical approach to the sale will change. If he is not smart he will lose the sale, or you will lose out.Gene Leshinsky EnkiTel Communications http://www.enkitel.comEnkiTel Communications is a telecom marketing company specializing in prepaid dial around international phone plans. We are committed to the safe records of all of our customers and have excellent systems in place to prevent fraud.
Category : Writing & Speaking

Anger Management: Are You Able To Say Both Yes! And No! ?

2008-03-29T01:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Charlie Badenhop
I hear from many people that they see ever increasing expressions of anger in their everyday life. Understanding the process of anger is an important topic for all of us to take a closer look at.If you take the time to delve deeper into your own anger, or resentment, you will often find that you are seriously limiting your ability to feel and express the full range of your emotions. In the process of limiting yourself, you become the victim of your emotions. You might be angry because you feel that someone else should be punished, but in the long run your anger will wind up punishing yourself. You might wind up resenting the way you are treated by others, but if you take a look you will usually find that your resentment limits your ability to feel happy in a more general sense.If you feel stuck in a situation where you can only say "Yes" then your response will not come from your heart, and your response will not be supported by the emotions your body generates. When you feel unable to say "No" then you will likely find that no matter what you say verbally, "No" becomes the default response you want to give to others. You will likely find yourself even more frustrated as you understand on an emotional level that you are never sharing your true feelings. When you are able to speak the truth of both your "Yes" and "No" in a calm manner, you will find that you experience a sense of emotional freedom and well-being.When it is all said and done, when we delve deeply into our emotions, we almost always find that our strongest and most habitual response is covering up other feelings that we are not fully aware of. We feel hurt, disrespected, abandoned, or sad, and we cover over these feelings and lose touch with them, by expressing anger or resentment instead.When we find ways to tap into our deeper emotions we invariably find that we have been neglecting some form of pain or discomfort. When we neglect or simply don't notice our deeper emotional reactions, we lose the ability to express our full range of emotions. In the process we find that by consistently expressing only one segment of our entire emotional range, we limit our ability to be happy and feel at ease within ourselves and with those that we interact with.It is important to remember that our emotions emanate from the body. When you are feeling angry, your body generates a specific set of reactions that inform your rational mind of your emotional experience. When you are feeling respected or loved your body generates a very different set of reactions. With Seishindo and other disciplines you can explore the process of how your body generates your emotional state and you can come to understand how at times you say one thing with your body and something rather different with your words. You can come to understand how you wind up confusing yourself when you say one thing with your heart and another with your logical mind. If you do wind up confusing yourself on a regular basis, you will find that your overall health and vitality suffer in the process.Only when you feel like you have the right to say "No" can you truly engage your heart in saying "Yes." Only when your body and your rational mind communicate the same message in a congruent manner, will you find yourself feeling empowered and at ease. Take the time to gently explore your feelings and you will find that your emotional well-being resides deep inside yourself, waiting to be touched and acknowledged.Charlie Badenhop is the originator of Seishindo, an Aikido instructor, NLP trainer, and Ericksonian Hypnotherapist. Benefit from his thought-provoking ideas and a new self-help Practice every two weeks, by joining 7,000 subscribers to his complimentary newsletter devoted to Seishindo Somatic Life Coaching. You are also invited to learn more about the Seishindo approach to Anger
Management issues, which draws from the wisdom of Aikido as well as scientific research. Participating in Charlie's on Anger
Management Workshop can help you adopt the wisdom of Aikido to achieve a peaceful victory over anger. © Charlie Badenhop, 2005. You have permission to publish this article electronically free of charge, as long as the bylines with the active links are included and you don't sell the article to others.
Category : Self-Improvement:Anger-Management

Ten Year Old Hockey Fan Wants to Send A Message to NHL Hockey Owners and Players

2008-03-28T18:00:00.001-07:00

Author :

Jake Owens, a ten year old hockey fan, wants to send a message to NHL Owners, players and the league, and that message is Bring Back Hockey.When he first heard of a possible NHL strike in the summer of 2004, Jake began writing letters to the management of the original six hockey teams, pleading with them to come to an agreement with the players and not strike. When the strike happened, he decided to do something about it.I wanted to do something to let the players and owners know how unhappy fans are about the strike, said the 10 year old Owens whose favorite player is the Toronto Maple Leafs Tie Domi, I wanted to invent some way that fans could show that we just want them to start playing again. I saw a lot of people wearing Lance Armstrong bracelets and thought this would be a good way for hockey fans to show their support.Jake took the idea to his parents who started making some calls about how to get it done. They enlisted the help of Jakes best friends Dad who owns a marketing company in Toronto who loved the idea and offered to help by building a website. Jakes Dad then called around until he found the company that could manufacture the bands.I decided to make them black, just like a hockey puck, said Jake, but I also thought that black could show how sad we are that there isnt a hockey season this year. Bands can be purchased online at <a href="http://www.bringbackhockey.org" title="test" target="_blank">www.bringbackhockey.org</a> with a portion of the proceeds going to the Hockeys All-Star Kids Foundation a program which links the hockey community with the youngest victims of cancer and other diseases. The NHL and the Players' Association formed the Hockey's All-Star Kids Foundation, said Jake, and we thought it might remind them that when they work together, good things can happen.Some people are saying that no one cares that the NHL is on strike or that hockey will just go away, said the ten year old Jake, but I think people are just mad or sad and theres one thing I do know, kids love hockey and we wont ever let it go away.

Category : Law

Gano Coffee - Can Coffee Be Good For You?

2008-03-28T16:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Terry Dunn
Coffee, in all sorts, could be a âœpick me up drink â or a âœ real downer-down the shaft-drinkâ depending on how the person is affected by it. But, do you know that a single cup of coffeeâ"aside from boosting your alertness, perking you up, and even improving your concentrationâ"can actually lead you to addiction: caffeine addiction. While many people think that drinking coffee is a âœhealthyâ habit, some experts say that itâ™s very important for them to remember that coffeeâ™s main ingredient is caffeineâ"a âœdrugâ that can be abused even in mild dosages.Although now, we all know that too much coffee is bad for our health, most of us cannot help but indulge into this addicting act. Since nutritionists cannot do anything about the worldâ™s addiction to coffee, most of them continuously search for alternatives to give people better options. And one of these breakthrough alternatives is Gano coffee.Made from Ganoderma extract, Gano coffee is considered to be nutritious and healthy beverage. Recognized as the first known âœhealthy coffee,â in the world, Gano coffee is produced by growing and processing organically without the use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones or artificial fertilizers. Gano coffee gives you an energy boost - not from caffeine, but from the ancient healthy ingredient called âœGanoderma Lucidum,â that has been recognized for itâ™s amazing properties.Being a coffee that that has a lower caffeine amount compared to commercially processed decaf coffees, Gano coffee is now one of the most popular coffee crazes to catch up on the modern coffee drinking world. Contrary to the common conception, Gano coffee is not a âœsubstitute coffeeâ but an âœalternative coffeeâ that gives you the richer flavor than fully-caffeinated coffee. Gano coffee also allows you to continue savoring the full-bodied flavor you are getting in a premium instant coffee while providing you more energy than your usual caffeinated drink.Proven as a delicious and nutritious drink, Gano coffee gives you more vigor while reducing you stress and fatigue. Among the so many benefits of drinking gano coffee include the detoxification and rejuvenation of your body while strengthening your immune system. Aside from helping you boost your energy level, Gano coffee also contributes to the improvement of your sleeping patterns while increasing the oxygen to your brain, and helps balance your weight. Since Gano coffee contains less net caffeine than most of your other favorite caffeinated beverages, you can actually enjoy the benefits and delicious taste of a âœhealthy coffeeâ that is good for your wellbeing. And with every cup of gano coffee you drink, you are making it as a healthy habit.With every cup of gano coffee you drink, you are getting a âœcaffeine jumpstartâ that will last for hours without the caffeine. Aside from making gano coffee as a good habit, here are some hints on how you can keep your coffee habit as healthy as possible especially if you are an avid coffee lover.Although you are a person that has higher âœcaffeine urgencyâ than the others, you must still listen to what your body says. When it says it can no longer take an extra cup, learn not to let your urgency control over you. If you still donâ™t resort to drinking healthy coffee like gano coffee, always be aware of the caffeine content of your coffee since it varies widely depending on brewing and roasting methods. And though most research says that drinking 1-3 cups of coffee a day does not seem to have any negative effects in most healthy people, always make sure that you know the level of caffeine intake especially if you are undergoing any medications.Terry Dunn is Webmaster of http://www.Ganoderma-Online.com - a Informational Resource about Ganoderma
Category : RSS

wehappy-techno

Email Marketing and Auto-Responders: The Day I Got Dumped By An Auto-Responder

For Sale By Owner Listings

Long Lasting Love Relationships

Auto Loans After Bankruptcy - How Does a Bankruptcy Affect Your Approval?

One Way Links: Powerful SEO Strategy

Beginning in Videography

Parents â The No Child Left Behind Law Won't Do Much For Your Child

Looking for the definition of what the term BBW means?

Beginners Guide To Downloading Free MP3 (Music) Current Albums. Plus Related Security Advice.

Roland VS2400CD The Musicians Solution to Recording & Mixing Tracks

OnlineShop

AStore

AStore

AStore

Accelerating Abandoned Down Town Rebuilding in America

Why is it Hard to Quit Smoking

Researching the Market in the Infosphere

How to Buy to Let

Subliminal Persuasion

Love Quiz - Do You Need Intimacy?

Leases And Tenants - The Spooky Tenant

Contract Management Enterprise Software

Do You Get Emotional?

Jumeirah Group receives prestigious Dubai Human Development Award 2006

The Art of Selecting Quality Fine Art And Framed Reproduction Art For Your Home

The Drive By Fishing Report

How To Get Your Man To Talk To You

English Soccer

10 Things You Should Try To Barter For Before Buying

Creative Ways to Tell Your Husband that You're Pregnant

Hiring and Retaining Good Employees

Kamagra: An Effective Answer to Your ED

Podcasting: Internet Radio On Demand... and MORE!

Local/Long Distance - Should You Switch?

Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating

How to Start Home Based Travel Businesses

Step Into My Parlour... Easy Ways To Entice The Right People To Your Website

Body Piercing, Is There Anything Wrong With It?

In Search For Wealth

Make Allergy Triggers Disappear Part -2

Coming In To Sudden Money: How Fun Would That Be?

Rent Games Online for the Kids

Running for Success

5 Simple Steps to Controlling Your Anger

Offroad Tires - Getting Dirty With Style

Getting Even With Gas Stations Owners

Social Networking is Exploding!

How to Increase the Value of Your Mailing List

Living The Dream --- Yours Or Theirs?

Basic Evaporative Cooler Maintenance Tips

Reduce your taxes with Car Donation

Diamond Jewelers

Special Easter Recipes

Wood Blinds - The Ups and Downs

Response of the News and Understanding the Feelings Sexual Abuse Brings

PHPBB2: All It Can Be?

Plan Your Way to Pay-Per-Click Campaign Success!

Cherry Cranberry Trifle

Why People Take Tattoo?

Keeping Passwords Secure

How Closet Organizers Can Simplify Your Life: Getting the Most From Your Intimate Space

Why Enron Executive Ken Lay is My Business Mentor

Get Polarized Lenses For Great Fishing Sunglasses

Print Your Theme T-Shirt

Kitchen Lighting Can Be Both Useful and Attractive

would you like to invest and set up a company in China?

Silicon Valley EOS/ESD Society (SiVa) Announces An Educational Event Featuring Technical Presentations and Exhibits, Dates and Venue for ESDiscovery 2004

Where And How To Get Information For Your Newsletter And Ezines

Travelcasting

How To Earn Extra Money Easy With Your Blogs & Make Money Business Opportunities

Killing God !

Why Diets DON'T work

Top 10 Trade Show Tips

The Art Of Technical Manual Writing

How To Intelligently "Reverse Engineer" A High Ranking Website To Uncover Its Secrets

The Dark Side Of Blogs

Packing a Diaper Bag- What To Take Along On Outings With Baby

Ezines and Newsletter Software - How to Drive Traffic and Improve Your Business Cashflow

Improving your digital photography.

Parents â The No Child Left Behind Law Won't Do Much For Your Child