Mature Salt

Buying Poker Chips. Does Your Small Business Have a Grooming Policy?.

2005-10-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

Whether you enjoy the glitz and glamour of visiting a casino, or simply enjoy playing cards at home, an important part of the game are the poker chips you will use. Despite being an integral part of enjoying a bet, poker chips are usually the focus of very little attention, but they have a history all of their own, before they ever reach the betting table.

While most at-home card players will be familiar with the colorful plastic chips that are typically part of the gaming sets you might pick up in your local store, the chips that are used in casinos are far more elaborate. And understandably so, as these chips usually have a face value that can be worth a considerable sum; thus security is a key issue in the production of many chips. Casinos will usually have a house design with which they will decorate

Start A Cake Decorating Business

their chips to render them more distinguishable - in fact, many businesses have taken this idea to a whole new level simply by using poker chips as advertising tools. Brightly colored chips combined with a particular logo are used by many businesses as innovative discount or business cards. Poker chips are even used as invitations to special occasions, such as weddings or birthday celebrations.

But back in the casino, the chips have a practical purpose. As well as including the casino's particular logo and color scheme, poker chips usually include an indented design achieved through the use of molds, thus making the copying of chips more difficult. For this reason, casino type poker chips, called 'clay' chips are usually made of a composition of materials that is suitable for molding, rather than plastic or some other substance; this also makes the chips more suitable for the heavy handling they are subjected to in the casino environment. But though this material is tough and durable, the average life span of a casino poker chips is only three to six months. Those little chips live fast and die young!

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Poker Chip Information a website providing information on Playing Poker

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

The Athletic Gym Towel Workout - for Strength, Endurance & Dynamic Flexibility

They say that image is everything and some of us have seen it all. Have you ever went into a store and just could not believe what you were seeing behind the counter? Is that a real human? Without trying to make the world into a civilization like the "Borg" there are a few things you need to think about in your small business. You need a grooming policy; one, which allows for individualism to a point but conveys confidence to the consumer.

Obviously if you run certain types of businesses such as; a head shop, tattoo parlor, a funky novelties retail store, new age spirituality store, adult book store, alternative music shop or cyber caf�½; then grooming policy is not as critical. As a matter of fact the more unique the grooming from mainstream the better following of clientele you will have. For the rest of it is different.

All employees and crewmembers must be well groomed. Shirts should be tucked in. Men should be clean-shaven. Facial hair is ok but beards must be trimmed and mustaches should be well kept. We don't want anyone looking like Charlie Manson or Adolf Hitler. Everyone should like they have just left ettiqutte school for girls or graduated from the boy scout. Well, let's not take this too far, however we as business people must be thinking here to insure repeat customers and lots of referral business. So, hair should be brushed and controlled even on windy days or wear a hat; not just any hat, a company logo'ed hat. In the summer most workers cut their hair to stay cool and keep perspiration out of their eyes. If you are an outdoor service company like ours, we run a car wash, then we recommend sweat bands if this continues to be a problem (company colors, of course). Additionally in our company we go so far as to instruct workers to be careful not to wipe their face after handling tire dressing because your hands will have black on them and you will eventually get stains all over your head band and in your eyes. Each company has a different set of things to think of. Food vendors have other issues, clothing stores others; every business is different and your grooming policy needs to be cognizant of how you business differs from others and what type of policy is safe and smart for you.

All workers should shower each morning before work. This keeps them smelling nice; body odor can be a real turn off to customers and kill a sale faster than anything else. If a crewmember perspires a lot, that worker should bring an extra towel and shirt if they work outside. Politely suggesting body deodorant may not be such a bad idea either to help you from losing sales.

In the car wash business we must be concerned that a worker should not use car wash towels to wipe sweat off their face and body. The towels will dry out and someone else will accidentally pick up that towel and use it for windows or wax and smear dried sweat all over a black Mercedes. If your company works out doors on humid days; the heavily perspiring worker should change in to their new second company shirt at 2:00 pm after wiping off with the towel they brought.

Extra deodorant, preferably roll-on with a cap that fits snug, can be kept in the break room with the employees name on it. If you work outside with a work crew out of a work truck, keep it behind the seat, rather than in the glove box. Roll-on left in the glove box on hot days will heat up and leak. The best thing to use is baking soda. If you rub a little under your arms, it will absorb sweat for hours.

What ever grooming and personal hygiene policy you have must fit your individual small business, do not simply adopt another businesses policies, make your own and think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Arizona Blue-Gunfighter: The Barber Shop [Chapter Three]. How To Find A Professional Editing Service.

2005-10-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

Sheriff Auctions - Cars and Boats for pennies on the dollar. Government Auctions.

Arizona Blue-Gunfighter
The Barber Shop & Chickamauga
[Chapter Three to Mexican Stand-off]

Blue had two guns he always carried. One a belt gun, keep snug up against his belly, a 1860 .44 caliber Colt Army revolver and a matching holster cut down to create a powerful but concealable belt weapon; and his sidearm, a Colt .45 single-action, l880's model-which he got when they first came out in &84. His .44 he got while serving in the Army during the Civil War.

He was a soldier from 1860-to-l865 and fought at the battle of Chickamauga. As Blue sat in the barber's chair, and the barber started to cut his hair, his mind went back to those army days. The barber stopped for a second to sharpen the raiser for his cut and shave, and then went back to cutting his hair.

He sometimes had old memories-flashbacks-of the battle at Chickamauga. It would bring him to having bad sweats. It was in Virginia his Company of one-hundred and sixty men had to march into many houses to inform the residents they were about to burn them out of their homes. Their faces were horrifying. It was one thing to kill a man on a belief they were fighting a war for the country they lived in, but to burn a person out of his whole life in front of him, especially if he was in his 50s or 60s, was against most anyone's values.

-It was in August of l861, Blue was just a young man back then. Blue was with his friend Smiley, he was a good man he recalled. Said Blue to the Barber:

"Watch the razor!"

Then Blue started to relive the battle again:

"&Smiley, he was a good man, soldier. I got him out of trouble. I was just a kid. I thought the world was coming to an end. Smiley didn't make it to Gettysburg, but he did to Chickamauga, sure enough, with me. Too bad I lost track of Smile when I, I got assigned to go to Gettysburg...with-I just lost track of Smiley. I never could find him afterwards. Maybe he's dead. In any case, Locust Gap, yaw, we marched into that didn't we, sure did and took the damn train from there. Then word comes back while on the train, we were headed for Kentucky.

"On the train, Smiley was caught in-between two soldiers, I remember now. He wasn't a fighter you know. I came along and asked if they wanted to test me out. Smiley was as happy as a hog to see me. He said to the two guys: &You're not so brave now are yaw!' The two knew I wasn't a bluffer, yaw, that's right, and decided to leave well enough alone. Smiley and I walk to another car, no sense in provoking trouble.

"Smiley got a hit [flesh wound] at the battle of Shiloh, I again was lucky, as always. But Chickamauga was different. It was a big fight. The bloodiest fight I had ever seen. I wish I had known Lola back then, I needed some comforting. If ever I thought I was going to die, and had an ounce of fear I didn't want, it was then.

For some reason, winter always scared me since then. It was the only time of year I wanted to be safe and sound. Have a warm place-you know. Not take cold baths in the river, like at Chickamauga Creek, things like that stick with you for a life time.""

"You say something Mister Blue?" asked the barber.

"I must have been dreaming out loud." Said Blue.

"You mentioned Chickamauga, I lost a brother there." Said the barber.

"Is that what I said, yaw," said Blue, adding "and I lost my youth there," and then closed his eyes again.

War is war not matter what thought Blue. It is the battles you remember. The area was big-a few miles each way; he was now starting to relive it again: "North to South, and East to West. Smiley and I fought up and down the area. We came in, us Yankees on the 18th, the confederates, were already there. When the fight began, we fought for two days in the woods, straight; cedar ticket was dense, like my hair back then. Bullets were flying every which way. It seemed to be hitting every leave in every tree. You can hear them wheeze by you, you can even hear them coming; if you turn, you either turn into them or you're saved by an inch, its best not to stand still.

Smiley woke me up, 2: OO AM the first night. You always sleep with one eye open; I was up in a heart beat. &Yaw, Smiley,' I said, &where are you?' it was dark. &Right here blue.' He said.

&How many you think we've lost?' Smiley asked me.

&Too hard to tell in this dark thick abyss of a forest,' I replied.

&We'll see each other in a few days, when it's all over I suppose.' I added.

That afternoon, we fought on Lafayette Road. It was another bloody hit. We had fought back and forth on the road all day long. Would it ever end...yaw, that's what I was saying back then. We named the road afterwards Bloody Lane. Then morning came. Bragg knew where everyone was, it seemed. It was foggy that morning I remember-; late in the morning, in and out of the woods, up and down. Would it ever end? The worse frighten was on my line, what they called Thomas's Line. Thousands were being killed. Some soldier's running back across the Ridge. But old Thomas stayed there like a rock.

"It seemed our Company was blown to smithereens (he moaned a bit, the barber started to tremble but calmed himself down)...scariest moment for both Smiley and me was when it was dark and we had to run right up to the muzzles of their guns. I didn't mind dying, but I didn't want one in my mouth either. We were told the next day to retreat to the nearest town. We were getting beaten pretty badly. At the end very few men came out of the woods alive. For a number of days I had not heard any birds singing. Now on that last day, the guns silent, I could hear the birds again. Maybe that was the best part of the battle, them damn birds singing again. Like Smiley said, &...when your wounded and thinking your about to die, the grass looks so much greener.' It is all so strange now, so many years gone by"'.

"You ok, Mr. Blue," said the sheriff as he walked through the door-the barber stopping instantly from shaving, still a little nervous.

"Blue," said Blue franticly.

"Yes," replied the sheriff jumping backwards and to the side. "I just came to see if you were still my deputy, and let the barber know he can put the bill on the cities counsels' bill."

Blue now opening up his eyes, sweating: "Yes, yes, yes..." don't spook me.

Said Andy the barber, "I'll fix the bill the way you said, but I think you best leave Mr. Blue alone, he's been having some rough dreams, that Chickamauga battle Mr. Blue, it was a bad one."

Blue rubbing his eyes, focusing them, commented: "Had an old dream, Chickamauga, yaw, that's right..."

Said the Sheriff, "I heard it was quite the battle?"

"Sure was," answered Blue-getting up from his shave. The barber was just going over a section of his face a second time. And Blue knew the barber was too scared now to continue.

"Hello Sheriff," said Blue, "let's go check the town out, I want to get drunk, maybe you got some more credit?"

"Sounds good, Mr. Blue, or should I say Deputy Blue?"

Dennis Siluk author, see his travels and books at his web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Proofreading and Editing service

A professional editing service will be one that meets the demands of the company or business, perfectly. To find a qualified editing service for your needs, consider the following services that they should be able to provide for you. While it is nice to search out a freelance provider, they too must meet the demands that you have for them. Here are a few things that are virtually mandatory for them to provide for you, the business owner looking for an editing service.

1. They should provide quality work. The work should be right on target and free from any mistakes. This goes for grammatical errors, spelling errors, and punctuation. The writer or proof reader must insure that there are no problems with the flow of the piece as well.

2. It should make sense from start to finish. It is important the piece flows, but it also must make good, logical sense. If the tone is off, the proof readers should be able to guide the copy into being correctly written.

3. It should be guaranteed work. For this reason, it may be necessary to double check work. Regardless, there is no point in looking to a company or a freelance agent who will not provide quality work 100% of the time.

4. The price needs to be right. Let's face it. Sometimes it is nice to pay a lesser fee, but it is also important that the piece be of good quality. Choose a price that is lower but the quality of the work must stilll be high. It is either right or wrong in this case.

5. A good relationship should be forged. If you can not communicate with the freelance agent or the company, then you have no business with them. They need to be available to answer your questions and fill your needs.

It can be difficult to find this quality of work, but it is necessary in order to have a properly written piece. To find the right professional editing service, you may need to check out several then decide.

Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Proofreading and Copy Editing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Barriers to Prosperity. Inkjet Printer Tips to Select Proper Printer.

2005-10-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

An odd but frequent barrier to prosperity is the belief that we're the "wrong type" to live an abundant life.

This Web site coming soon

This comes down to a whole attitude about ourselves which places us as a "misfit". This is quite usual among those who are on a Spiritual Path. I had this barrier at one time, and have discovered that it's completely irrelevant.

Eccentric millionares are wonderful examples of personal uniqueness being no barrier to prosperity. There are stories of the "wildcat" oilmen earlier this century in Texas who were the ultimate nonconformists. They made a mint! Unfortunately, one can encounter on the way up those who would want you to feel minimized by your uniqueness.

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These are rarely the ones with any true power (although they would dearly love for you to believe that they did). Depending on my mood, I treat them with compassion for their envy or simply ignore them.

You are here to express your individuality. If you read the history of the truly wealthy, you will see that they had this in common; they believed in their vision whether others did or not. Rarely do you hear of the success story where the prosperous individual worked 9 to 5, obeyed all the rules, dressed in the "conformity uniform" and always followed the party line.

If you don't want to be rich, but simply be "comfortable", that can set you apart as well. Some of the non-conformists of my aquaintance are exceptionally talented in areas they have no real interest in. I've been told I'd be a wonderful and wealthy salesperson (yuck!). It's vitally important that you understand yourself and your own needs, and then refuse to budge. Whatever you know that you truly want, that's what you are supposed to have.

About The Author

Janet K. Ilacqua is a freelance writer based in Tracy, California.

Ghostwriting Goldmine

She specializes in academic writing and ghostwriting of books and manuals for individuals and small businesses. For more information about her services, check her website at http://www.writeupondemand.com.

jilacqua@aol.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Free Electronics, Computers and More.

If you are tight on budget, go for Inkjet Printer. Inkjet Printers are more economical compared to Laser Printers. You have wide choice of Inkjet Printers. There are varieties of Inkjet Printers available in the market to select from. You can select your own printer based on the kind of print quality you require.

If you are graphic designer and have more concern with quality of images and graphics, you must go for Inkjet Printer. It gives excellent quality of images and graphics. If you need better text printouts then go for Laser Printers. It is essential to confirm your requirements before buying your Inkjet Printer. Check out these important tips before you buy Inkjet Printer.

Things to check before buying Inkjet Printers

* Speed is the main criteria to be checked before buying any printer.

Speed Test

Always check the speed in normal mode as speed rated by manufacturer is always tested on fastest print mode.

* Buffer Memory plays important role while you share the printer over the network. For networked printer it is always recommended to go for higher buffer memory.

* Computers nowadays mostly have USB ports therefore buy a printer with a USB interface to get higher speed of data transfer.

* Never overlook total cost of ownership. Depending on pages you print, even a small difference in ownership cost will save your sizeable amount over the lifetime.

* Ensure to get required quality of photo printouts if you are buying the printer for photo printouts. If needed you have to also purchase an extra ink cartridge, as photo printouts need more ink.

* Check compatibility of printer with software.

* You must check the manufacturer's Web site for the type of support offered. Check whether they offer regular software updates, patches for new operating systems.

* Check the dimensions of printer so that it will comfortably fit on your desk.

* You must place the cartridges in the right packaging. Use factory-supplied containers to store extra cartridges. If you use both color and black ink frequently, store the swapped-out cartridge in zip-lock bag.

* Never use the switch on a surge protector to switch off your printer instead of that use your printer's power switch.

* Paper jam is the common problem with printers. To avoid it clean the rollers and the internal mechanism with mild alcohol. Place the paper carefully in the tray to avoid paper jam.

* Before placing the paper stack in the tray confirm that you have to loosen the paper stack to separate them from each other to avoid paper jams.

* Use a mild glass cleaner on a soft cloth to clean exterior side of the printer.

* The quality of printouts depends upon the quality of paper you use. The standard A4 size paper is most ideal for inkjet printers. The poor quality paper absorb the ink resulting in smudge images. To get the best possible images refer your printer manufacturer recommendations. Also while printing photos, use manufacturer-recommended photo paper for better results.

* Use nozzle cleaning function to restore the original print quality. As printer become older it will deliver faint prints and you will see lines running across the page. A nozzle cleaning function blows ink through the nozzle and unclogs it.

* Don't be a penny-wise and pound-foolish. Always use an original ink cartridge. Temptation of using cheap refilled cartridges will prove expensive in long run.

* Avoid shaking the ink cartridge as this can create bubbles in the cartridge that can shut down the printer.

* Call an authorized service person if you find ink leakage. Never open the printer on your own.

Krishna Pai is a webmaster and a writer.

Get Computer Tutorials, reviews, Hardware & Software Tips, How to guides at http://www.cheapest-computer-hardware-software.com/

For more Computer tips join his "Build Computer ezine" at http://www.cheapest-computer-hardware-software.com/build_computer_ezine.html

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The Storyteller. Exponentially Grow Your Business Sharing What You Know - Using Eight Types of Audio Programs.

2005-10-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

New Book Offers Supernatural Tales Involving Everyday People

Martha Whittington invites readers to take a break from the doldrums of daily routine and delve into a world where ordinary lives are blindsided by the bizarre. The Storyteller: Volume I (now available through AuthorHouse) provides a feast of paranormal delights that satisfy the imagination.

Comprised of six intriguing tales, The Storyteller delves into the lives of a colorful variety of people who suddenly find themselves in unsettling situations. In "The Fennigan Case," two news reporters step across the threshold of a creepy house and into another dimension. "

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A Unique Team" follows another investigative journalist as he plunges into international intrigue. Readers explore the mind of a psychic teenager in "The Hidden Knowledge" and meet a wicked woman who holds an entire town hostage with her dark magic in "The Witch". Two brothers endure tragedy in a remote corner of the world in "Sand," and a couple experiences any parent's worst nightmare in "The Gifted Child".

Throughout The Storyteller, Whittington weaves a macabre tapestry of drama, suspense and fast-paced action. From the dangers of the Egyptian desert to the cold streets of New York, she takes readers on a thrilling journey along the knife-edge between this world and the unknown. A captivating read for fans of the disturbingly weird. The Storyteller delivers thrills and chills at each turn of the page.

For further review on this book, please go to: http://storytellersbookclub.com or e-mail us at: thestorytellers2121@yahoo.com.

About The Author

Martha Whittington

Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Whittington set out to see the world when she was 21.

Learn a new foreign language easily - Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian

She holds a Degree in Communications and a Master's in Public Relations, and she speaks fluent Spanish, English, German and French. Whittington comes from a family of published authors. At a young age, she wrote short stories that won awards in international contests. She currently lives in Houston, where she continues to nurture her passion for writing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Behind Closed Doors Home Study Course

If you are a solo-entrepreneur or small business owner that provides expert services to your market, and you're not harnessing the value and impact of offering audio programs, you are missing out on the opportunity to exponentially expand your business.

Unlike the services you provide to clients, which are offered one-on-one, audio programs can be packaged and delivered to large numbers of people as a passive-revenue product.

So, you may be wondering, what exactly are Audio Programs and Products?? And what would be the be benefit of producing them?

Here are 8 Types of Audio Programs that you can use to expand your impact and profits.

1. Teleclasses/teleseminars - These are courses that take place over a telephone bridge line. Multiple people call into a conference line and a facilitator leads a learning experience to the group.

What' the benefit? In this format, the teleclass leader can provide value-added services, not to just one person, but to many.

2. Live seminars - Give yourself expanded exposure by offering your expertise in a live seminar to large groups of people. Because it's live, and not over the phone, your ability to make connection, give support and deliver added impact is dramatically increased.

What's the benefit? There's no better way to build your platform as an expert. People who effectively deliver their programs in a live setting repeatedly report being able to increase their consulting and coaching fees.

3. Digitally Recorded Programs - If

Music Recording Music Industry Audio Recording and Free Drum Samples

you're giving teleclasses or live seminars, but not converting them into recorded audio products, you are missing out -- not only on lost revenue, but on lost opportunity to help a larger audience!

What's the benefit? By recording a teleclass and re-packaging it into a digital product that can be accessed immediately on the web day or night by web surfers -- you provide a way to grow your business and your impact while you sleep.

4. Audio CD Programs - Once you've recorded a program and made it available on the web for instant download, why not kick it up a notch and offer it as a CD program, just like the Tony Robbins?

What's the benefit? Not only can you expand your reach to book stores and other physical outlets, you also build your image as an expert.

Insight Speech Products

Also, if you're giving some kind of live speech, keynote, or seminar, Audio CD's are a great product to sell at the back of the room.

5. Recorded Interviews - Maybe there's an expert out there that has information you'd like to share with your audience. A great way to disseminate information is to interview the expert on a specific topic. And as you interview them, record it, and then repackage it as a stand-alone audio program.

What's the benefit? You get to provide needed information to your audience without becoming an expert yourself. Also, the more you can partner with others, the better your exposure. Because both of you will be promoting the product, you will receive increased exposure to a larger audience.

6. Home Study Programs - Blend together the very best of what you have to offer -- recorded content, worksheets, learning guides, eBooks, video, assessments, or other materials into a multi-media program that surrounds a customer with support without your physical time, energy, or presence required.

What's the benefit? Home Study programs offer an excellent way for your audience to receive incredibly high value without spending nearly as much as they would working with you one-on-one. Not only can you build your expertise and help people at a lower price-range, a well-build Home Study Program can become a funnel for people ready and willing to pay your higher one-on-one fees.

7. Meditation/Visualization Audio Programs - If you lead meditation groups, teach yoga, or use inner visualizations with clients, why not make these experiences available to a larger audience? These could be offered digitally for download, or they could be packaged as Audio CD's.

What's the benefit? Imagine your audience being able to tap into the sound of your voice and connect to their higher wisdom whenever they choose. Without leaving the conveniece of their home, your audience can experience inner awareness and discovery... and meanwhile, you can supplement your income.

8. Hypnotherapy audio programs - If you are a hypnotherapist trapped in the continuous rat-race of trying to effectively attract new clients, offering recorded audio programs is a great way to expand your reach and land new clients. It could be a "Stop Smoking" maintenance program for people who have already come in for a session with you, or it could be a whole "Loose Weight Now" system that doesn't even require your physical presence.

What's the benefit? Stronger, lasting results your clients will boast about to their friends and a great way to supplement your income.

About Coco Fossland

The author of the forthcoming book, The Power of Trust:

Self Help Depression With Transformation Skills

Trust Yourself, Transform Your World, Coco Fossland is a nationally recognized expert in personal transformation, self-empowerment and self-healing. Blending a decade of technology and strategy consulting with her expertise in self-trust transformation, Coco's business is focused on supporting people passionate about creating businesses that make a difference in the world. She helps her clients fuse their higher path with their businesses, creating institutions and organizations that profoundly impact the world one person at a time.

http://www.cocofossland.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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How To Learn Great Management from Our Kids. Thinking Of Taking Money Online? What's Best For Merchants? PayPal, WorldPay or Something Else?.

2005-10-21T22:16:00.000-07:00

Astrology at Sky View Zone

Learning comes from many places. And one of the most wondrous opportunities is right in front of us. At dinner, at play and at bedtime, every evening. It is there on the sports field, on vacation and during homework. Our children have clues we can use in our business and organisation, right away..

Listen to Them
Kids tell us a lot about themselves, if we are prepared to listen. Often, especially when they are quite young, they ask us unexpected questions, that, if we are prepared to hear what they are saying to us, can lead us to more questioning. We can sharpen our senses to what else is going on by listening to them, to give us clues as to what else might be going on.

What Managers Can Learn Here
Using our senses means that we can understand people well. But how much, as managers, we can get from this depends on how we develop our more subtle senses of intuition and more particularly, our 'hearing' skills.
Watch Them at Play
Have you ever been completely engrossed is what you are doing? So much so that anything could have been going on around you, yet you were so focused that you would not have noticed. My sister could do that - she could read and become so in tune with her book that nothing could disturb her. Kids do that all the time. They have the joy of being so focused when at play, that nothing else matters in that moment.

What Managers Can Learn Here
When we become oblivious in the workplace, it is because we are entirely at one with the activity. Noticing this gives us clues about what our strengths are. When working in an area of strength, we are more likely to be at our best. So are our people and utilising this knowledge can strongly leverage an individual's performance.
Talk to Them
Children love to listen to us. Telling them stories, explaining things to them and seeking information all prove they have a fascination with being spoken to. They hear what we say and interpret that. Sometimes it means that they come back to us with a clarifying question - sometimes embarrassingly direct!

What Managers Can Learn Here
When we talk to children, they are too innocent to hold back when something is unclear. When we talk to people we manage, they sometimes don't and are left with wrong impressions, unclear instructions or, worse still, a poor impression of you and sometimes even themselves. We can encourage them to be honest and open with us and not be afraid to seek clarification.
What they See
Children are very observant and tell us so. Ever been in an enclosed space with a child who comments on the other lady's 'funny hat'? Children see many things because they are curious to learn and understand more about their world. They often comment on what they have noticed, which sometimes is something we have not noticed ourselves recently. We might have become too close to something and notice no longer.

What Managers Can Learn Here
When we become used to something; people; circumstances; environment; we fail to see things as they creep up on us. Time passes, the familiar becomes the norm, becomes poor standards. Standing back and being a child again and asking things like 'Why?' Walking into your office or your shop or your call-centre and viewing it from the eyes of someone new, just like a child might and notice things, will bring out comfort-zones and help you ask yourself and your team about substandard quality.
Their Passion
Children do get excited about things. (I remember when I was seven and I had my first pair of football boots, I slept with them!) Children love doing things, so much that they show how much they love it. Be it dancing, playing an instrument, writing stories, collecting special cards, they do it with a passion, a zest and much joy.

What Managers Can Learn Here
How much passion do our teams show in what they do in the workplace. How much has the joy and fun of work been sterilised. How much could our people share laughter with each other and with our clients/customers? As managers, understanding that passion for their role is a strong quality and can be very valuable in the business.
How they Learn
Children love to learn. Give them a pastry roller and a bag of flour and water and they will be straight into jam tarts. Give them a rake after you've mown the lawn and they'll love to help. And watch them - they really want to get it right. As you show them what to do, they will want to be left alone, to have a go themselves. They will glow as you praise them for a job well done and they will want to do more.

What Managers Can Learn Here
Challenge, show, try, review, show again, try again, receive praise, want to do more, to learn more. It's a simple yet powerful model from showing a child how to learn something new to an opportunity every manager can use, day in, day out, and teach to others. The outcome is a learning organisation, with everyone just champing at the bit to learn more, because they have learnt well.
How they Dislike Things
When a child does not like something, they usually tell you, from being a small baby to a late teenager. They are usually quite vociferous to parents about their likes and dislikes. If you've ever bought the wrong pair of jeans or tried them once again with brussels sprouts - you know about it! They are open and honest with their feedback!

What Managers Can Learn Here
How honest is the feedback in the organisation - how easy is it for people to say what they feel and what they would like to say. Often in a grown-up world, we think it is 'nicer' to hold back and be reserved. But this doesn't work well, does it? As managers, we can provide safe spaces for people to share their thoughts, ideas and opinions openly and safely. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it will be a lot more energising and healthy for the business in the future.
What Gives Them Confidence
Kids get confident when they get things right. They then want more. More of the same; more new things. As they get it right, they feel good about it - successful and they like that, so they want more.

What Managers Can Learn Here
Catching your people getting things right makes a lot of difference to them and they respond positively. They get motivated at the job they do well and want new challenges building on the confidence you give them.
How they Take to New Things
With curiosity! They get nosy and like to fiddle around with things to try them out. They inspect and work things out. In fact, they often like to do it alone.

What Managers Can Learn Here
It's about letting your people familiarise themselves with new stuff. Let them be inquisitive and don't get into showing them at first. Let them find their curiosity and play with it. And remember that often, people take to things at different speeds. Just like children do, so let that be OK
What Damages Them?
At first, when very young, children are not damaged by the things they investigate. OK, they put their finger on something hot and they cry. Harsh though it might seem, that's all learning is about. As parents, in a modern dangerous world, it is about ourselves that we worry and it translates itself into defending our children. As they are 'protected', they lose their inquisitiveness and their confidence and they end up as grown ups, without the skills and qualities that as children they held so cutely.

What Managers Can Learn Here
When we take on the responsibility of managing our people, we have to accept them as they come to us. And their life experiences will have placed them in that place. When you manage others, you have the responsibility not just to deliver your results, but to do it in a way that you enable, encourage and realise the potential of your people. Whilst this is a big weight to carry, the results are fabulous for everyone - and your business.

We can learn much from observing our children. the biggest lesson of all is that in everyone, there is a latent talent which it is beholden on us to uncover and release. And create new lives for every single one of our people.

Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com (Note to editors. This article may be edited for use in your publication or newsletter as long as a live link to the website is included)

...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Bet-Science Professional Online Horse Racing & Sports Betting System UK, USA, ASIA &am...

It's now easier than ever to take payments on the web. As people selling their wares take pot shots at eCommerce providers in an ever-increasing battle to sabotage their "competitors'" success it gets harder and harder to find an honest unbiased opinion.

So that's what I'm setting out to do in today's article.

You see, as we've enabled 3 different payment methods at www.BookShaker.com I feel I can comment in a far less biased way than people sticking with a single solution.

*** IMPORTANT NOTICE ***

Obviously, these are just my opinions and any solution you choose will have pros and cons. What's best for one company might not be right for another. So take your time to really understand what's involved by asking the provider before committing to a solution.

PayPal - www.PayPal.com

Some people, rightly or wrongly (in my opinion - wrongly) are afraid to pay via PayPal which has given it a bad rep and does lead to a loss of sales for merchants using it if they are unknown to the customer.

Pros:

* It's really easy to get a payment button up and running on your site

* You can use it to securely send payments to others

* Anyone who's ever used eBay will already have an account

* Giving refunds is a doddle

* Great low-cost way of adding secure credit card payments to your site

* They're not greedy with commission or charges

* Multiple currencies supported

Cons:

* Poor perception in the marketplace (in my opinion this is due to people who've paid through the teeth for another solution trying to make it hard on people just starting out)

* This is the biggy - people from many countries (such as South Africa) are unable to get a PayPal account which reduces sales potential if you sell internationally.

Summary:

I've used PayPal a lot in the past and still do. If you are planning on accepting payments from clients that already know you then this is the best and fastest option for enabling the process. You need to check your own biases (ie did you just hear it was bad) and encourage reluctant clients to try it out - it's safe!

WorldPay - www.WorldPay.com

This is seen as THE standard for online stores and eCommerce. Customers trust merchants with WorldPay because they know it costs the store owner a lot more to set up - which goes someway to proving they're a bone-fide company who won't do a runner.

Pros:

* Good customer perception. Adds kudos and helps customers feel safe with you. We noticed a peak in sales pretty much immediately after making WorldPay live on our site.

* International currencies (but at a cost)

* Their checking procedure ties in with Distance Selling laws so when you pass you can be confident you're applying good practice as an online merchant.

* Looks good and can be customised to fit pretty seamlessly into your site's style.

Cons:

* They charge you a small fortune just to get started and then make you wait for a few weeks while they do their bit

* High - bordering on extortionate - charges means they can eat your profit - individual transaction fees mean that tiny payments (I'd say anything sub �½4) are also out of the question.

* They pay you your own money 4 weeks in arrears - bad for cashflow of smaller firms and seems to benefit them more than anyone else!

* They MAKE you put their logo (which I personally think is awful) on your site. This, again seems to serve their interests rather than the customer or merchant.

* Integrating with your site is not as easy as PayPal or NoChex (will probably need a techy)

* Every additional currency accepted costs you extra to set up

* They charge you an additional transaction fee on top to protect you against fraud

NoChex - www.NoChex.com

Last time I checked NoChex was only available to UK companies - but if you're providing a service or product to UK customers only then this could be your best bet for a fast, low-cost way to start taking payments.

Pros:

* Easy to set up and add payments

* Customers don't need to register

* They're really generous on the charges front - not greedy at all.

* It's totally secure

Cons:

* Hardly anyone has heard of them which could lead to people being afraid to provide card details

* The payment page is a bit 90s and looks garish

* It's just for UK

Oh and NoChex give you a breakdown to show you just how varied the range of charges can be... http://help.nochex.com

'Dangerous' Debbie Jenkins
debs@debbiejenkins.com

SUMMER CAN BE SLOW FOR BUSINESS
But don't let that get in the way of your success.
This is the ideal time to work on your business
rather than in it. Get 2 F'REE eBooks and prepare
for more success with less effort here...
http://www.leanmarketing.co.uk

I'm wondering if... You Know Other People who should be reading this too? So do us all a favour (they get 2 free books - we get a new subscriber - you get to look good) when you Pass On This link... http://www.leanmarketing.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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When the Bank Says NO!. Kids Party Food.

2005-10-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Quick Invoice - Easy to use Invoicing Software

Factoring has been practiced for centuries. The Romans sold promissory notes at a discount as did the Phoenicians. The word "factor" comes from Latin, the language of Rome. It means "to do" or "to make." The Pilgrim's journeys to America were financed by advances from a Factor who provided the funds to pay for the journey. The Pilgrims repaid the money with earnings from America. Factoring to this day is an extremely common business practice in Europe whereas many American business men have never heard of it.

Factoring is the selling of your accounts receivable for cash versus waiting 30-60 or 90 days to be paid by your customer. When you provide a Factoring company with copies of your invoices, the Factoring Company uses your invoices to make a loan to your company. It is a simple process and can be automated after the first transaction. Credit is not an issue when providing Accounts Receivable Loans or Financing. The Financial Companies looks at the credit history of the vendor not yours! This is exceptional good for small to medium size business that have been in business for less then two years.

My first experience with Factoring came when one of my Tax clients ending up with a sizable Tax liability one year. He ran a small Trucking company and had very few tax problems in the pass. However, because of a sudden burst in growth he was doing 2 to 3 times more business in the last half of the year. Because he did not have sufficient tax write offs, his tax liability really hit hard. He was actually having serious cash flow problems because of unplanned growth!

We talked about the situation, his taxes were completed and because he had rented a couple of trucks to keep up with the work load, we were able to use the rental cost as a write off. But there was still the self-employment tax and there was no doubt he had an increase in business income.

I didn't say anything, but I was worried about his payment for the Tax preparation. I knew he was having cash flow problems and the tax bill did not help. Then he told me about the $30,000 worth of Invoices. Because the invoices had not been paid they were not included in his income for that year so I had no idea that he had invoices in that amount. In fact the invoices where crumbles up and scattered over his desk.

I went on the Internet and started to research "invoices". I had never really understood Factoring before that time, but I had heard of it. We did not factor my client's Invoices because he called the company he worked with, explained the situation and they paid him 50% of the Invoice immediately and the balance shortly after.

I had already researched "Factoring" or Accounts Receivable Financing and being a Tax person I was always looking for ways to help my clients pay their taxes as soon as possible, especially if they owed employee taxes.

I put an ad online and within days a CPA called. He had a client who imported culinary products from overseas. They needed to factor a fairly large invoice. I called one of the Factoring Companies explained the situation. The Factoring Company arranged for his company to do a Purchase Order from his supplier overseas. Once the Purchase Order was in place, we factored the Invoice. The client received over 90% of the Invoice amount within days. He then went on to repeat the deal 3 or 4 more times!

Purchase Order Funding is slightly harder to get then Accounts Receivable Financing, however, PO Funding is very helpful for Business who makes large purchases and resells to a third party. For more information on Purchase Order Funding and the advantages of Factoring go to http://www/taxeswilltravel.com

Cassandra Ingraham is a Licensed Tax Practitioner in the state of California. Her Tax Business specializes in Taxes, 100% financing for Credit Problem Clients (in 45 States) and Invoice Factoring. You can find more information at http://www.taxeswilltravel.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

You

My Polynesian Tropical Island Theme Party

may be a gourmet cook and love to cook but my advice would be to keep the party food simple. Many a time I have spent worrying and slaving over recipe books up till midnight but when the day comes, only half of it is eaten.

You should have some party food but food is a lower priority for the kids than playing games, friends getting together and simply having fun. Teenagers are an exception, as teenage boys especially seem to have a voracious appetite so make PLENTY of it.

Remember a lot of kids are fussy eaters, even if your child is not, so err on the side of caution. Concentrate on child friendly and fun party foods. Let your standards slip for once, but do bear in mind that too much sugary foods and drinks can cause very hyperactive children.

Tips for perfect party food planning:

* Plan ahead.

The time of day for the party will influence the type of party food that you may want to provide. If you are going for mid morning or mid afternoon, snacks will be fine. Think about how much you and the kids would normally eat around that time of day. Plan how many kids are coming and allow 3-4 different savoury plus 2-3 sweet party food choices as well as the cake. Don't forget that some kids have ALLERGIES especially to nuts, but in general their parents should inform you of this before hand.

Prepare as much party food as you can in advance. Make use of your freezer if you have one, as you really won't want to be doing much cooking on the day. Leave yourself time to be having fun with the kids.

* What party food should you have? Discuss with your child what party food she/he would like and allow treats to make the day feel special.

If you are having a theme party this may well dictate the sort of food that you might choose. Finger foods, especially for the under 7's, are much more child friendly and practical than a child balancing a plate of food on their laps. Younger kids are also likely to eat more if they can come and go to the food table.

* Allow 2-3 drinks per child although that will change according to the weather and how boisterous the activities are. Make sure that disposable cups aren't too flimsy, as with little kids paper cups tend to get a bit soggy round the lip and thin plastic ones tend to get crushed by little hands. The same applies to paper plates. I always write names on each cup and plate (or stick pictures on) to save mixing them up as the kids always forget which one is theirs.

DIY Gift and Craft fun shape box Templates for every Holiday

Party Food Boxes are a great and fun alternative and are much easier for the younger kids to use.

* To bake or not to bake.

Ask yourself how much time you have, how good are your cooking skills and what is your budget. I tend to do a mixture of both shop bought and homemade party food. I must admit that shop bought party food often works out cheaper if you buy the shops own brand and in bulk and obviously saves a huge amount of time and energy. Buy foodstuffs that have a long shelf life or are freezable so then there is less wastage. Or you could do a mix such as buying a packet biscuit/cake mix and decorating the goodies yourself. Your child will love to help I'm sure!

* Where you are going to set up the party food table and where do you want the kids to eat?

Remember, if it's a buffet the guests will need somewhere to sit. We often lay down a big mat which all the kids sit on and have a sort of indoor picnic if it's too wet/cold to be outdoors.

* Will some of the parents be staying for the party? I don't usually cater specially for the adults but if you have the time it's nice sometimes to prepare one party food item that is more adult appropriate although adults still like crisps and popcorn!

* At the end of the party you won't feel like cooking for the family so make sure that you have something ready cooked in the freezer.

Christmas ebooks recipes, crafts,kids activities, and xmas stories

If you would like some really easy party recipes that always go down well with the kids, take a look at kids-partycabin.com. You will also find lots of ideas for kids party themes and games to ensure that you have a great party.

Nicole is the mother of 3 children and the author of kids-partycabin.com. Kids Party Cabin came about as Nicole realised that busy parents were often in need of a place to go for advice, ideas and resources to help them plan a kids party.

Kids Party Cabin does just that - party themes, party food, games, decorations, entertainment directory and lots of great resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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What Every Employer Should Know When They Can No Longer Offer Health Insurance Coverage. Drive Me to WA Today!.

2005-10-20T01:08:00.000-07:00

What Every Employer Should Know

Most computers connect to the Internet at a fraction of their potential speed

When They Can No Longer Offer Health Insurance Coverage

An astounding Seventy Percent (70%) of Small Businesses in America today do not provide health Insurance coverage for their employees. In most cases, it's not that they don't want to but because their business can no longer afford to provide such benefits. It is simply an effort to reduce the cost of the day-to-day business operation.

However, employers must consider if this cost reduction strategy is helping the medium to long term growth of their companies. If one would think about it, what is more costly? The premiums a company has to pay for group health insurance or the cost to lose a good employee to a competitor who offers health care benefits? Indeed there is a higher price on the down time, training costs, and lost sales or manufacturing. Fortunately it no longer has to be a choice of one or the other.

One solution for high cost of health insurance premiums is a non-insurance solution. Discount Health Care Plans. This alternative to health insurance only costs a fraction of what a traditional group insurance policy would. More importantly, it still meets the health care needs of a company's employees on a discounted basis.

These programs are not insurance but rather medical savings programs. It's more like having a health care advocate by which medical bills of members are reduced before they even start. Employees still have to pay for their healthcare, but the employer gets the credit of giving them substantial savings on medical, dental, vision, hearing, pharmacy and many other types of necessary medical care. These programs can also be used to supplement existing insurance programs with high deductibles or policies that pay a flat fee for hospital stays or certain conditions.

Affordable health care becomes possible through group representation. Discount Health Care Plan providers carry enough clout to get prices reduced down to what insurance companies have enjoyed for years. In other words since they have enough participating members, they have superior buying power in order to negotiate discounts with providers of medical products and services. Some Discount Health Care Plans have been around for 23 years.

PH Balance the Path to Optimal Health

These programs combine fully insured benefits to health care providers through group blanket policies that cover its members.

These Plans provide affordable health care coverage to its members by giving access to hundreds of thousands of doctors, dentists, specialists, labs, pharmacies and hospitals throughout the U.S. that have agreed to charge significantly reduced pre-negotiated rates for procedures that can be done. Healthy discounts of 30% to 70% off medical, dental, vision, hearing, prescription and chiropractic care. For the uninsured or under insured this often makes a world of difference in their ability to receive needed medical care. Acceptance is guaranteed, anybody young or old, regardless of pre-existing conditions can participate and some even covers maternity.

Several features of discount health care plans come as an advantage. There are no claims forms to fill-out, no limitations, no waiting periods or pre-existing conditions, no age restrictions, and with some you can become a member today and get healthcare treatment the day after. That's why testimonies of members like one below are not uncommon.

"To date, I've had the opportunity to utilize the discount health care services on numerous occasions and have always been pleased with the savings. Last February, I had a hospital bill that was $2900.00 and reduced to just $410.00. I had a pinched nerve in my shoulder and went to the chiropractor. The initial charge was $620.00, but I only paid $203.00. My chiropractic treatments also went from $62.00 to $40.00. At the dentist, my savings have been about 60%. My brother, who is also a member, has prescriptions that were $574.00 and through our mail order program are now $299.80. The best part was that it was easy to use. All I did was call the member's support phone number and they took care of everything." - Richard P., Dallas, TX

Membership fees are significantly lower than traditional health insurance. Membership fees can be anywhere from $8 per month for minimal benefits to $50 per month for the comprehensive packages. Furthermore, companies get up to 20% discount on membership fees when they enroll 25 members or more.

For employers who can no longer provide health insurance for their staff, these discount health care plans could just be the answer. A service that is in many ways similar, and some would argue, better than health insurance at only a fraction of the cost. Companies can still reduce their cost on insurance benefits while gaining loyalty from their employees.

Abel Quitoriano is the webmaster of EZ-Entry-Medical-Dental-Benefits.com. It is a free resoucrce on affordable health care alternatives for the millions of people in America who do not have health insurance coverage. Either they cannot afford health insurance or they are not eligible due to pregnancy or pre-existing conditions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

The Ultimate Fishing Trip Guidebook...How To Plan, Organize and Catch More Fish On Your Next Fishin...

Western Australia Driving Adventure
Great Australian Road Trip

Large is not the word for it. Massive doesn't cover it either. Gigantanormous might be a little closer to the mark, but unfortunately you won't find it in any dictionaries. Welcome to Western Australia, where elbow room has never been a problem.

If you're looking for the ultimate Great Australian Road Trip, then flying into Perth is an excellent first step. One of the most popular road trips you can do in the big WA is cruising up the enormous stretch of coastline to the north, stopping along the way to visit tiny towns, romp along beaches with no footprints, and burrow around mind-blowing national parks.

Gearing up and getting outta here!
The adventurous will be aiming for Broome and beyond, to lose themselves in the wilds of Kimberly, freaking out at the alien landscape of the Bungle Bungles before crossing the border and heading for Darwin. Those of us who like to shower a little more often will probably cruise along the North West Coastal Highway as far as the popular holiday town of Exmouth - possibly popping over to Karijini National Park (well worth a look) - before turning around and heading home.

Before you rush out into the unending horizon, make sure you've got a trusty car at the ready, able to take punishing distances, and equipped with life-saving air-conditioning. Not

Networking - perth speed business

having a car isn't even an option in a state the size of India, with the majority of the population clinging to the outskirts of Perth and south coast. So if you don't have your own, grab yourself a good deal for a Perth car hire, chuck your luggage, stores of water and petrol in the back, and put your foot on the accelerator.

Need a car for your road trip? Rent one at Car Rental Perth

Cavorting up the coast
First stop should be the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park near Cervantes with random spooky limestone pillars standing silently in the sand, staring at you. Stay over in Cervantes or keep the wheels turning until you reach Geraldton - WA's second largest city. If you're a keen diver or like to snorkel, then charter a boat (or catch the seaplane) and check out the Abrolhos Islands, and have a float around the Batavia shipwreck. Just up the road (relative to distances regularly encountered in WA) is the resort town of Kalbarri with its national park - easily accessible by cars and walking.

Get back in your car and keep your foot on the gas until you get to the World Heritage listed Shark Bay. This unbelievably ecologically diverse area tends to be overshadowed by the fame of Monkey Mia's friendly dolphins, but poking around the bays to spot turtles and serene dugongs can be infinitely as rewarding as an encounter with one of the bottle-nosed dolphins. Visit the Zuytdorp Cliffs and Shell Beach (where the sand is actually composed of - yep, you guessed it - little white shells). If you're roaring around in a 4WD you can hike your way out to Francois National Park.

The next mandatory stop is Coral Bay and Exmouth to reward yourself with balmy year-round weather, and Ningaloo Reef, where you can't splash around without bumping into a big underwater creature of some kind.

After this, it's the determination of dusty traveler which will get you past the next many hundreds of kilometers, past the industrial towns of Dampier, Karratha and Port Hedland and on into Broome, the charming doorstep to the wilds of the Kimberley - one of the last great unconquered expanses of nature left in the world. It's here you can throw around all the over-the-top descriptors you like: rugged, breathtaking, spiritual, bloody brilliant. But you'll have to go there yourself. Save me from using up all my adjectives.

Beyond that, you've only got Kununurra and the Bungle Bungles before you cross the border and into the NT.

Need a car in Perth?
There's a plethora of websites out there which hunt down cheap car hire deals and put them all on the one website. Just do a search on google for "car hire deals" or go to a website such as http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au who often have good Perth and Western Australia deals.

Drive Safe and Happy Adventuring!

Alyssa Betts
Vroom Vroom Vroom / Carhire
http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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The Kaizen of Goal Setting. How To Repair Your Credit Report.

2005-10-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

Kaizen Marketing System

There is an old way of goal setting and a new way of goal setting! The old way of goal-setting involved setting yor goals, preparing a list of sub-goals, and then carefully checking them off one after another (as and when they were being accomplished). Am I trying o pour cold water on the goal setting method many of us grw up on? Not necessarily

While I am not saying the step-by-step approach does not work, I am advocating a flexible-goal setting approach. The flexible goal-setting approach acknowledges the presence of chaos and unpredictability of our modern times, where change is rapid and conditions shift in an instant.

What's more, a tiny weeny change nowadays has the potential to create major upsets and instability.

Enter the flexible goal-setting system. And, this is how it operates. Set big-picture, lief-enhancing goals with flexible sub-goals that you can adjust to fit in with shifting conditions. The simplest way of putting this into practice is to build into your goal-setting, daily incremental steps that aggregate into your vision. Add to this sub-goal A, sub-goal B, sub-goal C, maybe sub-goal D.

Remember, each sub-goal must be flexible enough to respond adequately to the requirements of the shifting conidtions.

You don't want to throw your hands in the air in desperation because your plans and goals have been derailed, do you?

Well, the 'Kaizen of Goal Setting' is about knowing the difference between the old and the new, and applying it to your goal setting.

Ke o agile is an NLP Coach and publisher of In TheZone, an NLP focused ezine for capacity builders in the personal and professional skills development areas. In TheZone can be accessed at http://inthezone.port5.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

A credit report is run on a buyer when he or she needs to buy something that will take a long-term loan, such as an automobile or a house. The credit report can come from one of three agencies - Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union.

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Each of these three agencies uses their own techniques of arriving at a credit score and receiving credit information, so attention should be paid to all three. A credit report score can go up to 800, and an increase of 50 points is a big one, enabling borrowers to get loans they previously were denied, and getting loans at much better interest rates. A 1% drop in an interest rate on a $150,000 house, for instance, may drop a payment by over $100 a month, saving the borrower over $35,000 over the life of the 30-year loan.

Each of these credit agencies have taken all the financial information they can find about you and tabulated a credit score from those results. Information will include your current and previous home addresses and employers, the credit cards and loans you have, and any late payments made over the last ten years. These agencies' credit reports will

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be very similar, but there will be differences, as they all make mistakes, and the banks and credit card companies giving them the information make mistakes, too.

Here's where you can improve your credit score. Any request for a change in information in a credit report must be answered and corrected within 30 days because federal law regulates the credit bureaus. If you write in to a credit bureau complaining that one of the late payments on your credit report is wrong, they must investigate and correct the information within the 30 days, or delete the information. Because this deadline is very difficult to make, often the late payment report is simply deleted off of the credit report.

This procedure is very slow and time-consuming, and you can either do it yourself or hire an agency to do it for you. Each letter should only request one change, otherwise the credit bureau will usually declare the request to be frivolous and thus they are not required to do anything. Each letter should be written to all three credit reporting agencies. These agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union, all have PO boxes specifically set up for complaints, but they change the PO Boxes often to make it difficult for customers to find. Every month you, or the agency you have hired, should send out another letter referring to a different mistake in your credit report. After many months, your credit report will show many fewer late payments, perhaps even none, and your credit score will have improved dramatically.

The author runs the finance website http://www.pawninfo.com about short-term loans and payday loans, and any or all of this article may be reproduced in any form as long as there is a link to the website. Pawn Shops and Short Term Loans

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Basics of Photography. Legal Issues of Offshore Outsourcing to India.

2005-10-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

Understanding light is one of the very basic principles of learning to be a photographer. When you have a group of people in front of you with smiling faces ready for you to say &cheese' or if you are taking a shot of a scenic area, the most important consideration is the light factor. Light controls the type of exposure and therefore the quality of the photo is dependent on the quality of the light on your subject and the amount of light that impacts on the film or digital sensor when you click. Controlling the amount of light is a good pre-occupation in the mind of a photographer keen to get a good shot. It should be one of the key considerations.

The word &exposure' is a very important word in the lexicon of both amateur and professional photographers and is based on the understanding of light in creating good photographs.

--If there is too much light, the photo will look overly bright and over exposed.

--A happy group of people will not look as vibrant if there was inadequate light when you took the picture.

--Bright sunlight can create shadows under the eyes.

--Poor lighting may not bring out the colors in the scene to maximum effect

There are a few basics that you can apply to circumvent poor picture quality due to unfavorable light conditions:

--Change the position from which you take the shot

--Change the light if clicking indoors

--Use the flash

The use of the flash can be a boon when you operate in different light conditions. If you have an overcast sky, the flash in your camera will serve the purpose of letting some light into the image that you are trying to capture and brightening it up. The flash also works to your advantage when your subject is not too close but slightly away from you.

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But you have to check the &flash range' of your camera in your manual. The flash works best when your subject is within a recommended range that is usually at least 4 ft and generally not more than 10 ft.

Most simple cameras have an automatic flash. Slightly better models will have settings for fill-flash. The concept of fill flash revolves around filling light in areas of a picture that may turn out dark or shadowed. Fill-flash has the ability to balance the amount of light on different parts of a subject to ensure that the exposure is adequately bright. For instance, a portion of a person's face may appear shadowed and the fill-flash setting can help iron out this problem.

The angle of light is another important consideration. You have to pay attention to the direction from which light falls on your subject and there are several approaches in manipulating the angle of light to improve the visual appeal of a picture.

Sideways lighting: Light from the side is used to creates depth in the picture and is considered one of the best ways to use light if you are taking a portrait photograph.

Light from the top: This is a method used to brighten up most of the scene but does not work as well when you take a photograph of a person. It tends to create shadows on the lower half of the face when the lighting is high.

Light from behind your subject: This strategy is sometimes used by photographers to amplify the impact of the picture.

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It can create a halo like effect; it can add artistic shadows and can also create a striking contrast between the subject and the background if used effectively. When you use a &back light' it is recommended that the fill-flash settings on your camera are also adjusted in order to avoid shadows in your photograph.

The second issue in photography is the aesthetics of the picture. Aesthetics is the creativity and attention to detail that you bring to your photograph. It is the most interesting part of photography since it is almost like a visual equivalent of composing a poem or writing a story. Aesthetics requires the use of visual skills to compose and deliver a pleasing, eye-catching and captivating image. It is a type of vision that you have for your photograph in terms of look and appeal.

Aesthetics requires a good eye for detail. The following factors have to borne in mind in creating an aesthetically appealing photograph:

Background

--Periphery

--Distance from subject

--Changing the direction of your camera based on picture dimensions

--Objects impinging on the picture

--Avoiding too many elements

Each of these factors that go into aesthetics are described and explained below-

-->Background

The background in a photograph requires much consideration. It influences the manner in which your subject is portrayed in the photograph. Depending on your choice of background, your subject will be shown to effect or may be overshadowed. The background also makes the difference between a boring and an interesting photograph. The colors, the type of background and the context add to the vibrancy of the photo.

-->Perphery

A common problem among beginners in photography is not paying attention to whether the image is being captured fully. When you view your subject through the viewfinder, you may think you have clicked a person from head to shoulder or from head to toe in a full shot. But when the actual photograph is processed, the top of your subject's head or part of the hair may be missing! Or, if you did not center your subject when you composed the shot through your viewfinder, a part of the shoulder or hand may be lost into the edges of the photo. You need to concentrate when you view your subject through your camera before you click, in order to get the picture exactly the way you want it.

-->Distance from Subject

The distance from a subject is another critical aspect in getting a good picture. You want to see facial expression, not a mass of faces when you take a photograph. To do this, you have to be at a suitable close distance from your subject. On the other hand, when you click pictures of a campus, the distance that you click from can give you a wide view and take in a lot more of the scene. To take close up pictures of flowers or crystal or any decorative item, you have to move into close range and use suitable lenses to achieve the right magnification.

-->Changing the Direction of Your Camera Based on the Picture

Many a time you may not be able to capture the subject in it's entirety in the conventional horizontal position in which the camera is usually held. You can easily change the direction. Hold the camera vertically and then view your subject. You will be able to capture more of a longish subject like a tall monument, a full-length picture of a child, and so on.

-->Objects Impinging on the Picture

At times there are certain objects in a scene that seem to almost invade into the picture. For instance, if you take a picture of a group of your friends on a street, chances are that a street sign may gain prominence in the photograph unbidden and may seem to sprout out of the head of one of your friends in the photograph. Or the light fixtures in your living room may find a place in the picture and appear in the form an unseemly blob in your photo. And the tough part is, when you take the shot you may not be aware of this because the eye is focused on the people in the picture.

-->Avoiding Too Many Elements

A picture cluttered with too many objects may detract from the actual subject. For instance, a wide view of a room in which your subject is sitting may create a photo in which too many objects vie for attention. If the person in the picture is your main target then narrow down and concentrate mostly on clicking the subject. While a good background adds value to a picture, too much paraphernalia could take the attention away from the main subject. Your picture may be focused and the lighting may be good but there is so much going on in the picture that it becomes aesthetically lacking and maybe even a little jarring.

Besides Light and Aesthetics, the third issue in photography basics refers to &focusing' the picture. Getting the right focus is the difference between a blurred image and a sharp image. If you have an auto focus camera, the camera will do the job for you. This is available in most basic models. You can also achieve focus manually in other cameras using the mechanism to adjust the focus and to lock the focus on the subject before you click.

To achieve the right focus, it is important to decide on the artistic elements of the final picture. There are areas of a scene that you may want sharper and clearer. For instance, when you photograph a famous monument, you may want the building as well as the blue sky against which it is silhouetted to be crystal clear. If you are photographing a camel in a desert, you might want the camel to be clear and a slightly hazy/blurred effect of the surrounding sand. If you are taking a shot of a room containing a priceless vase, when you look through your viewfinder, you want the finer details of the intricate patterns on the vase to be clearer than other objects in its vicinity. So, it's also a question of the portion or key part of your picture your focus is really on.

This area that you identify for your focus is referred to as the &depth of field'. You can lock the focus on the depth of field that you choose. You can control the focus and depth of field depending on your objectives for different shots.

The basics of photography are better applied when you put into perspective the capabilities of the camera model that you use or plan to purchase. Simple point and shoot cameras require minimal knowledge in operating them. They are easy to use and have the bare minimum controls. The user has to just compose and aim the shot on the subject and presses the shutter button. &Click' and the job is done. The camera handles its functions automatically.

For those of you who want to work with a slightly more sophisticated camera, you have the option of a Single Lens Reflex camera popularly called the SLR system. This type of camera is available in both 35mm film format as well as digital format. Digital cameras have no film but the image is captured on an image sensor and stored in photo memory. Digital cameras in general provide superior picture quality. The internal system of the SLR camera is made up of angled prisms and mirrors that actually work like a lens when you click. But you have a few things to learn about this camera system before you can achieve better light exposure, sharpness and good focus. While it is imperative that you study the instruction manual of your SLR camera system thoroughly to understand the features and functioning, given here are some of the features and a brief explanation on how these features can help you in achieving the right exposure.

-->Additional Lenses for Close Up Shots

An additional feature in an SLR camera that makes it far superior to a simple &point and shoot' camera is the ability to use add-on lenses. When you attempt to take a close up shot of objects in nature like a flower or a butterfly, you might want a very high level of clarity. You can add power to your camera by attaching an additional lens onto your camera lens for greater magnification of your subject. These supplementary lenses are available at reasonable prices in different powers like +2, +3 and so on.

You can also look for a model with an optical zoom lens that gives you the flexibility of variable focal length and a range of lens options within a single zoom lens.

-->Shutter Speed

The shutter in your camera lets light in during a shot and keeps light out at other times. When the shutter opens for an exposure, light is allowed to impact on the film or image sensor. If you set a slow shutter speed, more light impacts on the sensor and affects the type of exposure. When you use a faster shutter speeds your picture is sharper and clearer. There is a maximum shutter speed that is available to you in your camera system. The shutter speed is set at a fraction of a second- for instance, 1/1000th of a second. It could also be 1/2000th or even the much-preferred higher speed of 1/4000th of a second that is available in certain models. Professional use models boast of even higher shutter speed of 1/6000th or 1/8000th of a second. If you want to freeze action such as in sports, you require fast shutter speeds.

There are many more features that when used effectively can add value to the impact of your photographs. Most 35mm SLR cameras have a TTL viewfinder. TTL stands for &through the lens' metering system. This device has the ability to measure (on a scale) the amount of light impacting the film. Using this device is the key to control the exposure and get the right amount of light in order to capture a proper image. You can also use a tripod with your SLR camera. A tripod is your answer to achieving the right exposure in a close up shot and in low light conditions. It holds the camera steady, helps in focusing and ensures a sharper picture even when shutter speed is slow.

The guidelines discussed here on the basics of photography and the additional features of the SLR system, will not only get you started but also help you avoid the common mistakes that many budding photographers make. Study your manual thoroughly for insights and ideas. Learning photography requires patience and the ability to constantly experiment and teach yourself through a process of trial and error.

The author, Chris Haslego, is founder of http://www.cameramanualstore.com, the internet's foremost source of camera manuals. With over 4000+ camera manuals available from all major manufacturers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Claim Funds - Find Money and Property held by the Government in Your Name!

If you are considering outsourcing to India, but need some information on the legal issues in offshore outsourcing or are worried about whether your contract will be honored by the Indian Legal System, read on.

Indian Laws on Intellectual Property

Laws in India are always undergoing amendments, according to the needs of the changing times and in unison with International Laws and practices.

India has ratified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement, which came into force on January 1 st 1995 and has also become a party to the Agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights. In the last few years, India has effected several legislative changes in copyrights, trademarks, designs, patents, and other issues besides enacting new legislations on bio-diversity and geographical indications. These measures have drastically reformed Indian laws on Intellectual Property.

Laws Governing International Contracts

When contracts transcend national boundaries, the national Legal Regime of any single country becomes inadequate to grapple with the situation. When the parties to the contract are located in different countries, at least two systems of law impinge upon the transaction and the rules of Private International Law come into play.

The best way to ensure the application of a particular legal system to international contracts is to choose a particular law to govern this contract. This law is called the "Proper Law of the Contract". The Courts have held that "Proper Law is the law which the parties have expressly or impliedly chosen, or which is imputed to them by reason of its closest and most real connection".

Indian courts uphold choice of law

When the parties in the Contract make an express choice of law, the Indian Courts have always recognized such choice of proper law. Previously in the US , though Courts generally honored the law chosen by the parties, the same was limited due to the holding that there should be some "reasonable relationship" between the transaction and the chosen law. This created some uncertainty. This legal quandary was fully removed by the New York General Obligations Law, which became effective on July 19 th 1984. According to Section 5-1401 of the said Law, parties are given freedom to select New York as their proper Law regardless of any relation to New York .

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However, where parties have chosen any law other than Indian Law, the choices of law have always been upheld by the Indian Courts.

Outsourcing parties are free to choose the law that will govern their contracts.

Under Indian Law, parties are free to stipulate their terms of contract and lay down the law by which the Contract is to be governed. Courts in India have held that the intention of parties would decide the law of which country would govern the Contract and which Court would have jurisdiction. Sections 13, 15 and 44A of the Indian Civil Procedure Code and Section 41 of the Indian Evidence Act, govern the conclusiveness and enforcement of foreign judgments in India . If there is a reciprocal arrangement between India and the foreign country whose judgment is sought to be enforced, then under section 44A of the Indian Civil Procedure code, the said foreign Decree could be executed as if it were a Decree passed by the Indian court without the need to file a Suit. If there is no reciprocal arrangement between the foreign country concerned and India , then the said Judgment/ Decree can be enforced in India by filing a Suit on the foreign judgment.

Guidelines to follow while entering International Contracts Companies enter into International Contracts, as they are always profitable. The following aspects should be considered while entering into International Contracts, which would safeguard the interests of all the parties to the Contract:

�€� There should be an express choice of Law governing the Contracts.
�€� Ensure that the legal regime of the Country whose law is chosen, recognizes the proper law for enforcement.
�€� In cases where Contracts are signed in a country which is different from the country whose law is chosen, it should be ensured that the formal requirements of that place of Contract are fulfilled in all respects.
�€� Where the chosen Law is Indian Law and if Indian Judgment is to be enforced on any foreign soil, ensure that the said foreign soil has a similar law on the lines of Section 44A of the Indian Civil Procedure Code.
�€� Where Arbitration is chosen as the method of dispute resolution, the place of arbitration and other aspects have to be properly determined.

For more reading on Outsourcing, log on to http://www.outsource2india.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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California Financial Privacy Law Partially Invalidated. A Fragile Lifeline: Lessons I Learned Answering The Aids Hotline.

2005-10-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

The 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals has dealt a blow to privacy advocates by invalidating a California privacy law. In litigation brought by the American Bankers Association and others, the appellate court overruled the finding of a trial judge that the California law could stand. Instead, the appellate justices found the law to be pre-empted in part by the federal 2003 Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.

When a state law conflicts with a federal one, the federal law takes precedent. For instance, the Supreme Court has ruled abortion to be constitutionally protected. No state may pass anti-abortion laws and have them enforced.

The question at issue in the California law was a section giving California residents the right to block financial institutions from selling their private information to third parties.

A San Francisco trial judge, Morrison C. England, Jr., had ruled the section conflicted with provisions of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, but was not pre-empted because the federal law allowed for stricter state laws. The 9th Circuit court disagreed.

The case will be returned to Judge Morrison in the next 60 days.

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He will then determine whether any other provisions dealing with the sale of personal financial information are still enforceable. Given the appellate ruling, it is difficult to imagine a ruling upholding this section of the California law.

Notwithstanding these developments, approximately seventy percent of the California privacy law is still enforceable. Financial institution still must get permission from customers prior to selling or sharing your information with third parties.

You should be concerned about financial institutions selling your private information to others. With all the incidents of identity theft in the news, chances are you will eventually become a target. Banks should be focusing on protecting their customers, not making a buck off private information.

Richard Chapo, Esq., is a business lawyer with http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com - offering legal advice to San Diego businesses. This article is for general education purposes and does not address every facet of the subject matter. Nothing in this article creates an attorney-client relationship.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

NATURAL CURE YEAST INFECTION TREATMENT, SYMPTOMS, CAUSE, PICTURES

Dial 1-800/AIDSNYC

Every Monday and Wednesday morning, promptly at 10 a.m., I leave behind my daily life and turn to volunteering as an AIDS Hotline counselor at New York City's GMHC [Gay Men's Health Crisis], the nation's largest social service agency for AIDS.

For the next four hours, my co-volunteers and I sit in front of a bank of constantly-ringing telephones, talking to men, women, and teens who call in from across the nation with urgent questions about AIDS, the ravaging disease that has left 13.9 million people dead worldwide.

After almost 20 years, a whole generation, families are still facing the heartache of tending the sick, while scientists continue to be confounded by this stubborn, ravaging virus.

Although the federal government currently spends$4 billion per year on AIDS research, and $15 billion worldwide, there is no cure in sight for the viral infection and no vaccine available. Small wonder that the GMHC AIDS Hotline, the nation's first, is flooded with more than 40,000 calls each year.

Listening to callers 8 hours each week, I often think the Hotline is actually a direct link to the soul of callers--an anonymous forum that allows each to reveal secrets and fears that they might otherwise never discuss with anyone. A Morning in May

This is the way it began: "Good morning, GMHC AIDS Hotline, can I help you?"

"Yes...I have a question...[hesitantly] My son...he's 21...and he just found out...he's HIV-positive [voice breaking] I'm.....alone, divorced. And I need some help...someone to talk to..."

"Of course....happy to talk to you...it sounds like this has been devastating for you...."

"It's terrible. He told me two nights ago....he's...he's so young....I don't want him to die. He's my only child....why did this have to happen?" [crying]

Her son, she explains, had sometimes neglected using condoms, convinced he wouldn't contract HIV infection from his female partners.

"How could he be so stupid?" she now asks angrily. "Why didn't he know how to protect himself? I don't understand. What am I going to do?"

We talk for 35 minutes, and by the end of the conversation, I notice I'm barely breathing. The distraught woman's anguish is palpable. Her situation is every mother's worst nightmare.The life of her child is in jeopardy and she feels helpless and afraid. I can't imagine anything worse.

During the call, I do my best to employ the GMHC Hotline protocol of "active listening," which involves using silence, empathy and gentle probing with open-ended questions. I'm also having my own emotional reaction to the panic in her voice, and I'm worried about whether I'm doing enough.

Toward the end of the clal, when she exclaims: "I don't want my baby to die," my heart plummets: "I know....I understand that, but there is hope," I tell her. I find myself on the verge of tears. The Bad News

This mother's story is too common. According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga., 40,000 Americans (half of them under 25) are newly infected with the AIDS virus each year. Unprotected sex and intravenous drug use remain the principal modes of transmission.

"Teenagers," notes AIDS activist Elizabeth Taylor, "are being very hard hit." She refers to the three million adolescents who contract a sexually-transmitted disease annually.

"Heterosexual teenage football players who are healthy and drink milk can get it too!" says the 71-year-old actress, who has singlehandedly raised $150 million for AIDS research. "But teens are very ignorant and feel invincible. They believe there's an invisible shield protecting them from the virus, when it's actually aimed right at them."

Taylor believes in addressing the problem head-on: "Tell your teenage son: &Maybe a condom doesn't feel as good, but if it saves your life, it's better than being six feet under.' Intelligence must replace random sex."

Although a new generation of AIDS-fighting medications is prolonging the lives of thousands, nearly half of the 900,000 people infected with HIV in the U.S. cannot afford these drugs. Since the virus was discovered in l981, 410,800 Americans have died from AIDS-related complications, and the disease has left 13.9 million dead worldwide.

Who Calls a Hotline?

Not long ago I took a call from a 15-year-old boy living in a small town who said he feels guilty about his sexual attraction to other boys and is scared to discuss this with his parents. I ask him if there's a school counselor or relative he might talk to, but he says he's too afraid to confide in anyone.

Being a teenager is hard enough, I thought, without the pressure of keeping this kind of secret. I felt angry and saddened that this child can't comfortably discuss his feelings with his own parents.

I encourage him to call the Gay Community Center Youth Program in a nearby city. In the meantime, I assured him that he could call our Hotline anytime, that we'd be there for him.

This call was typical of the many we get from teenagers,whispering from their parents' homes, confiding their blossoming sexual feelings and concerns. Our Hotline also receives calls from married men who phone from their offices, worried about extramarital sexual encounters; gay men suffering side effects from medications; mothers caring for a sick child or grieving for one lost to AIDS; even health care professionals themselves confused and requiring burnout support.

One particular morning, I'm struck by the number of single women who turn to our hotline for help. At 10:15 a.m. a distraught young woman calls, explaining that she had been dating someone "very charismatic," after a two- year period of sexual abstinence.

"At first we used condoms and I was taking the pill to avoid pregnancy," she says. But after her partner assured her he was HIV-negative, the couple began having unprotected sex. A few months into the relationship, she recounts, his behavior became "unpredictable," until he finally admitted he was sleeping with other women and was addicted to heroin. Now she has to withstand the "terror" of waiting 3 months before getting an HIV antibody test. To help her cope, I give her the names of three terapists in her area. The call lasts 43 minutes.

At 11:15 a.m. I take a call from a woman who is breathing heavily. She says that four months earlier she'd had a brief affair with a limousine driver, "not out of passion, but because I felt lonely. This was so totally unlike me," she continues. "I come from a traditional Orthodox Jewish family..." Although they used condoms, and she has since tested negative for HIV, she feels deeply ashamed, and has stopped seeing him. And because she has both a persistent vaginal yeast infection and a rash on her neck, she's convinced she must be infected by HIV.

Although rashes, high fever, swollen lymph glands, heavy night sweats, sore throat, or other flu-like symptoms may indicate HIV, they can just as easily accompany the common cold or flu, or other type of infection. I encourage her to seek medical help and counseling, but the calls ends on a down note. "I must have it [AIDS]," she moans. I'm exasperated because it doesn't sound that way to me, yet I can't get through to her. The call lasts 22 minutes.

It's 11.38 a.m. when a well-spoken woman, who says she's an attorney, calls from her office, asking for the names of anonymous testing sites. At first very businesslike, she calmly takes down all the information. I ask her why she's considering a test. Total silence. Then she begins to cry: "I....I can't talk....I'm sorry...you see, I have swollen lymph glands....[crying]....And my doctor wants to rule out HIV...I feel overwhelmed..." Then, abruptly: "Where can I send a donation?" She thanks me and hurries off the phone after just 3 minutes.

These were one-time callers, but, as in any epidemic, an element of panic prevails, and our hotline also attracts an army of "chronic" or repeat callers who are intensely fearful no matter how benign their risk, many revealing continued misconceptions and paranoia about a disease that can be effectively prevented. We do our best to help them, but often they're impervious to counseling.

Most poignant are calls we get from AIDS patients, phoning from their hospital beds, attempting to navigate the exhausting labyrinth of insurance and health care matters. One man, in hospice care, said he craved companionship and missed the "good old days" when he was handsome and healthy.

That call was a tough one for me as just the day before a close friend of mine, Joe, who had battled HIV for 16 years, had finally succumbed. Although at the end Joe was a mere skeleton, he was nonetheless at peace. "I've done what I wanted to," he told me on our last visit. An avid gardener, he insisted on a final trip to his country house to see his garden one last time. For a moment the caller's reality and the memory of my deceased friend blurred in my mind and I was overcome. Time for a break.

Face to Face

One of the most and unique services GMHC offers is called "A-Team Counseling," a one-time, in-person session that's free and anonymous.

Recently, I was on an A-Team counselling a 26-year-old HIV-infected mother from the Midwest. She had traveled to Manhattan by bus to find her estranged boyfriend, who, she recounted tearfully, had kidnapped her 7-year- old son. Disheveled, painfully thin, the woman was a disturbing sight. She's learned that the two had already returned home where the boyfriend was, and the child put in his grandmother's custory. custody of his grandmother. Meanwhile she'd run out of money for the return trip, been refused a loan by her family, lost her ID, gone hungry and spent two nights on the street.

Fortunately, this woman was registered at a local AIDS organization in her town. I telephoned her caseworker and persuaded him to buy her a one-way Greyhound bus ticket for $115.00. I also gave her subway tokens, a basket of food, juice and coffee. Smiling shyly, she thanked me for caring.

Shaking hands good-bye with this woman was a bittersweet farewell. What will happen to her? I wondered will her health deteriorate or improve? Will she gain control of her life and be able to provide for her son? I'll never know. One thing I do know: She'd appeared with the sorrow of a difficult life in her eyes, but when she left, she was elated at the thought of being reunited with her child. It seems that with faith and a helping hand, almost anything is possible. * * * * *

10 BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT AIDS AND HIV (This list would probably be most effective when presented in a vertical chart, the misconception on the left, the correct answer on the right.)

1)The AIDS virus can be transmitted through saliva, sweat, tears, urine or feces; also through deep kissing.

1) HIV can ONLY be transmitted through four bodily fluids: blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk--and can also be transmitted from a mother to her child before birth, during birth, or while breast feeding. The exchange of saliva through kissing is no-risk, unless the saliva has blood in it and both you and your partner are bleeding in the mouth simultaneously.

2) HIV may also be transmitted through casual contact with an infected person.

2) You can't get infected from toilet seats, phones or water fountains. The virus can't be transmitted in the air through sneezing or coughing. You can't get HIV from sharing utensils or food or from touching, or hugging. HIV dies after being exposed to the air. Therefore, touching dried blood on a shaving blade, a toothbrush or a bathroom counter top is no risk. In any case, unbroken skin is impermeable, like a rubber raincoat, and cannot absorb the virus whether it's alive or dead.

Blood transfusions and medical procedures in the U.S. are safe. Giving blood is completely risk-free. The chance of getting HIV from dentists or other health care providers is too low even to measure.You can't get it from mosquitoes or other insect or animal bites.

3) Oral sex is just as risky as vaginal or anal intercourse.

3) Although not 100% risk-free, oral sex is considered a low-risk activity,except if: you have bleeding gums, recent dental work, open sores such as a herpes lesion, any cut, blister, or burn in the mouth, or if you've just brushed or flossed your teeth. Also, oral sex with an infected woman is riskier if she is having her period, since menstrual blood can contain HIV. Overall, latex barriers, (such as condoms or dental dams) used during oral sex reduce the transmission of not just HIV, but other sexual transmitted diseases.

4) Animal skin, latex and polyurethane condoms are all equally effective in preventing HIV infection and you can use ANY lubrication on the condom desired.

4)Only latex or polyurethane condoms may be used, as HIV can pass through an animal skin condom. With latex condoms, only water-based lubricants--like K-Y jelly or H-R jelly--may be used. No lubricants with oil, alcohol, or grease are safe.Petroleum jelly,Vaseline, Crisco, mineral oil, baby oil, massage oil, butter and most hand creams can weaken the condom and cause it to split. However, with polyurethane condoms, petroleum-based lubricants can be used.

5) Women have to rely on men using condoms during intercourse to protect themselves against HIV. 5) Women may employ the "female condom," a plastic sheath that can be inserted in their vaginas and used for protection against HIV. It can be inserted up to 8 hours before sex, has rings at both ends to hold it in place and can be lubricated with oil-based lubricants that stay wet longer. In addition, women can carry conventional condoms for their male partners' use.

6) If a woman is HIV-positive, her offspring will automatically be born infected with HIV. 6) With no medical treatment taken, about 25% of HIV-positive women will give birth to infants who are also infected. However, the use of anti-HIV medications has resulted in a significant decrease of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in utero and during delivery to less than 5%. (NYT 10/19/ 99].

7) AIDS is fundamentally a gay disease contracted by white males. 7) Recent data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that young gay Hispanic and African-American men and heterosexual women are the fastest growing segment of the population being infected with HIV. Women now account for 43% of all HIV infected people over age 15. [NYT 11/24/98] African-American and Hispanic women account for more than 76% of AIDS cases among women in the U.S.

8) Heterosexual men are not really at risk for contracting HIV, even if they don't use condoms. 8) The inside opening of the penis is composed of highly-absorbent, sponge- like mucous membrane tissues, which can provide a route for HIV-infected vaginal secretions or blood to enter the bloodstream. Proper condom use protects men from infection.

9) The AIDS epidemic is largely over because new AIDS medications like protease inhibitors and others have turned AIDS into a chronic, not a terminal disease. 9) In the U.S., AIDS is the fifth leading cause of death for people 25-44 years old. Roughly half of all those infected with HIV in the U.S. are not receiving any medications or medical care. AIDS now kills more people worldwide than any other infection, including malaria and tuberculosis.[NYT 11/24/98] In 1998 alone, 2.5 million people died of AIDS worldwide. 13.9 million people have died since the virus was discovered in 1981.

10) If you think you've been exposed to HIV through unprotected sex, you can take an HIV antibody test 2 weeks later and get an accurate result.

10) The standard "window" or waiting period remains a full 3 months. However, because the widely-used HIV antibody tests (The ELISA and Western Blot) have become so sensitive, about 95% of people will procure an accurate result 4-6 weeks after a possible exposure to the virus.

* * * * [Note:The information stated above was reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Todd J. Yancey, an infectious disease specialist practicing in New York City and affiliated with New York Presbyterian Hospital, NY, Cornell Campus.]

THE CHILD LIFE PROGRAM

"Mommy takes a lot of medicine and Mommy's really tired sometimes and she can't take you to the park as much as she used to. It's not that I don't love you...and that I don't want to...but Uncle Jack's going to take you to the park today." --A mother living with AIDS, a client at GMHC, talking to her 6-year- old son.

In New York City alone, 28,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS since the epidemic began [NYT 12/13/98]

GMHC's unique Child Life Program serves HIV-infected parents and their children--who may, or may not, be infected with the virus. "We help families strengthen their ability to cope, relieve the pressure of parenting with support services, and teach parents how to talk to their kids," says Child Life Program Coordinator Alison Ferst. "Unfortunately, should a parent or child be sick enough to be facing death, we also help them walk through it with grace and dignity---as opposed to feeling alone, isolated and frightened.

"We also encourage sick parents to make stable legal plans for their children who may be left behind," adds Ferst, "and to have disclosure conversations with the children in advance, so you don't have a child standing at her mother's funeral, not sure where she's going next."

When an HIV-infected Mom arrives at GMHC to have lunch, attend a support group, consult with a lawyer, or access the acupuncture clinic, she can leave her children in a spacious playroom, decorated with fanciful murals and a giant tree hand-painted by the famed children's story writer and illustrator, Maurice Sendak, who donated his art. [see photos] The program provides: child- sitting, nutrition services, a food pantry, art and magic classes, and recreational trips--church picnics, seasonal apple-pumpkin picking, amusement parks, zoos, museums, beaches. Also: homework help sessions, holiday parties, hospital visits, summer sports and weekly support groups for HIV- positive parents and their HIV-negative children.

This unique program also features: Cooking classes for kids who sometimes prepare meals for sick parents; Pediatric Buddies, GMHC adult volunteers who play with sick children and also assist with family chores; Fun With Feelings Support Group, Friday Evening Family Time, Birthday parties, and a Holiday Gift Drive.

"Children infected or affected by AIDS," concludes Ferst, "want to be like other kids: They want to play with their friends, want to know that someone will always take care of them, want to know they're not alone, and often wonder if it's their fault when Mom or Dad gets sick." These children need a helping hand and any of us can provide one.

Bestselling author GLENN PLASKIN is one of the nation's leading psychology reporters and celebrity interviewers. His specialty today is interviewing the nation's top experts in spirituality, motivation, happiness, and self- improvement. A contributing editor at FAMILY CIRCLE, the world' s largest women's magazine, he is available for TV, radio, and print interviews. He also coaches those interested in writing articles and books.He can be contacted directly: glenfamilycircle@aol.com

He is the author of two books--HOROWITZ--the biography of Vladimir Horowitz--and TURNING POINT: Pivotal Moments in the Lives of America's Celebrities. His celebrity interviews have appeared in Family Circle, US, Ladies Home Journal,Playboy, the New York Times, the New York Daily News, and more than 50 U.S. newspapers.

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An Introduction to Text Messaging. Multiple Affiliate Sites Means Multiple Revenue Streams.

2005-10-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

Use Federal Government grants to fund your technology business. Small Business Innovation Research ...

Why Text?

Text messaging is a quick way to stay in touch with people for personal or business purposes. With text messaging, you can chat with a partner by typing on the keyboard and reading what they write to you on the screen. Many text messaging products can work with cell phone text messaging (aka SMS or Short Messaging Service) so you can chat with people who aren't in front of their computer. So, why not just pick up the phone and talk?

It's faster than e-mail and phone calls. And you don't have to pay anything to text. If you need to chat with someone briefly or ask a quick question, it's much less intrusive than calling someone. As with most developing technologies, several types of text messaging are available and each one is incompatible with the others. But don't let that keep you from trying it out. The main text messaging products are ICQ (www.icq.com), MSN Messenger (www.msn.com), AIM (www.aim.com), and Yahoo Messenger (www.yahoo.com).

btw (By the Way...)

Each one is free and simple to download, install, and sign up. You can locate your "buddies" by searching in an online directory by their screen name, e-mail address, name, or telephone number. Once you get the hang of it, text messaging can be extremely addictive. As you continue to use text messaging, you will find yourself learning to abbreviate words and sentences. When you leave an online chat, you might say BRB (Be Right Back), I'm afk (away from the keyboard), or TTYL (Talk to You Later). See glossary below.

Some text messaging products are beginning to offer voice and video chat. The future of digital communication is an integrated product, since voice, video, interactive text messaging, and e-mail are all effective means of communication. In the future, you will be able to switch between text, voice, and video with ease. Until then, we will continue to use different methods for different communication needs :-(

Glossary

:-) Smiley face. Means that someone is happy

;-) Smiley face with wink.

:-( If someone sends you this in an e-mail, they're probably not having a good day

BTW - By the Way

Your #1 source for natural bodybuilding information

FYI - For Your Information

FWIW - For What It's Worth

IMHO - In My Humble Opinion (or IMO) TIA - Thanks in Advance

WRT - With Respect To

LOL - Laughing Out Loud

ROTFL - Rolling on the Floor Laughing

AFK - Away From Keyboard

TTYL - Talk To You Later

CYA - See You Later

About The Author

Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive educational background in computer information systems, Deryck currently manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support directly to small businesses as he has since 2000. His areas of expertise include networking, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh systems and he is the author of The Guide to Technology for Small Business. For more information on Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

CBPlugin - affiliate profit plugins generate commissions and automatic revenue streams

You hear lots of stories these days from people who have struck it rich through affiliate programs. Often times, an entrepreneur creates a unique affiliate site and markets it well, bringing in a huge audience and an even bigger income.

While this happens all the time, usually a single affiliate site alone will not make you rich. Most super affiliates subscribe to what I call the "Rinse And Repeat Process." After they operate an affiliate site that is successful, they make another site on the exact same subject and do it again. And again and again and... you get the idea. It is not uncommon for an affiliate marketer to have dozens, even hundreds, of sites on the exact same subject.

These super affiliates enjoy an increased market share compared to an affiliate with only one site. A smart SEO (Search Engine Optimizer) marketer can often have several sites in the top 10 of the search results.

I prefer making complimentary sites, rather than exact replicas. This allows you to share traffic between your sites. For example, your affiliate site which promotes flowers could refer customers to your chocalote candies site.

Multiple sites on different subjects make up a diverse web portfolio. If you have several sites promoting different subjects or merchants you are limiting the risk of losing significant revenue if the genre fades or the merchant goes out of business. Do not put all your eggs, or revenue streams, in one basket.

Avoid these pitfalls.

Do not make a new site until your current site is fleshed out. Is there sufficient content? Have you filled your advertising space? Are there any products or services you can offer your visitors, either yourself or through an affiliate program?

Avoid cookie-cutter sites. Too many affiliates throw up a site instantly by throwing up one of their exisiting sites and changing a few words here and there to match the subject of their new site. This is likely to get filtered by some search engines as being "duplicate content," leaving potential referral commissions hanging in the ether.

The Complete Business Package v1.0 with Templates, eBooks, Software Tools and Scripts - All you nee...

Make sure you do not use templates provided by the merchant or standard templates from a software program. That's because you're competitors are using them too. Depending on the industry and merchant, you could have hundreds of competitors all sharing the same template as you, which could trigger the duplicate content filter. Besides, you want to stand out from your competitors. The last thing you want to happen is to lose a referral commission because your site reminded the consumer of another site which didn't have what they were looking for.

Don't leave your sites behind. Many affiliates do not maintain their websites, preferring to spend their time making new sites. That may seem wise on the surface. However, search engines are beginning to reward sites that are current and active. They do this by measuring how often content is added or updated on your site. Sites that are not maintained will fall in the search rankings and more active affiliate sites will position themselves at the top. Besides, consumers want to know someone is home. Encourage repeat visitors by maintaining your site.

How can you build new sites while continuing to maintain old ones? If you don't have the necessary time, consider hiring some help through an online freelance site. They are surprisingly inexpensive. Or hire a local student to handle trivial tasks while you build your affiliate sites.

Build multiple sites the right way and enjoy your multiple sources of income!

Mr. Maxwell writes for ReveNow, the online marketing and revenue portal. He has been marketing online for 10 years and has covered affiliate marketing, AdSense, and PPC advertising. Learn more about this subject at ReveNow or in the ReveNow Forums.

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Travel to South America: How to Start. Flaming Guitars! Minarik Fuels The Excitement Of A New Generation Of Musicians.

2005-10-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

Brilliant mental math short cuts that will amaze everyone!

You set your mind and you're ready to travel to South America, a magical place of immense beauty where myth and legend continue to walk hand in hand. I've traveled 18 months in South America and can give you some tips on how to prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure.

Common Sense

We all hear the unpleasant stories and South America has a fame of being dangerous. I traveled thousands of miles traversing cities, jungles, islands and mountains. I survived 6 weeks in a street child care center in the favelas of Salvador da Bah�½a (Brazil) and had the party of a lifetime during carnival. Nothing, I repeat, nothing happened. Use your common sense. Avoid badly lit streets at night and if your sixth sense is giving you the "something is wrong" sign then take a taxi to your destination.

Travel Guide Book

The first thing that you will need is a travel guide book. It will be your best companion in your search for adventure. I can highly recommend Lonely Planet�½s South America on a Shoestring to get you started. The book covers all you need to know to get the most out of your trip and is ideal to plan your journey ahead. I've used the guide extensively during my 18 month adventure. They offer excellent

Save time and money, learn how to travel on a shoestring budget and get free airline tickets

separate travel guides of all the countries (besides using the Lonely Planet Shoestring I've used their separate travel guides of Peru and Brazil). Their guides are the most popular among backpackers.

Other popular guides are The Rough Guide to South America and the South American Handbook. Ideal, but not practical because you want to travel light, would be to enjoy the adventure with a Lonely Planet and either the Rough Guide or the Handbook.

Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese

The most rewarding thing for me was the fact that you can travel in a huge continent like South America with only 2 languages. Spanish and Portuguese. If you plan to travel just for a few weeks you can invest in a Spanish and/or Brazilian Portuguese Phrase Book. English is not widely spoken and even a basic knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese makes the trip so much more rewarding (they're extremely willing to help you, so don't worry, be happy).

If on the other hand you're planning to travel for a few months I can highly recommend taking a language course. Ideal would be in a school in South America (I took lessons in Quito, Ecuador, and had a private teacher for $2.50/h).

Walking Shoes

South America's nature is overwhelming. You'll walk for many hours day after day. It would be a shame to walk in the footsteps of the Incas with blisters on your feet. My biggest recommendation is to invest in high quality walking shoes with Gore-Tex.

Health Vaccinations

Yellow Fever (if you plan to go to the Amazon Basin), Typhoid (consists of two injections taken 4 weeks apart), Diphtheria-Tetanus, Polio, Cholera (only when necessary), Smallpox

Medical Kit:

Depending on what you plan to do you can include the following: Antiseptic cream, aspirin, lomotil for diarrhea, antibiotics, throat lozenges, ear and eye drops, antacid tablets, motion sickness medication, alcohol swabs, water purifier, lip salve, foot and groin powder, thermometer (in a case), surgical tape, assorted sticky plasters, gauze, bandages, butterfly closures, scissors and last but not least, first-aid booklet

Note: malaria pills are required in the amazon basin, please be aware that those pills are very strong and you should check with your doctor before departure

Traveling Gear

Backpack:

Obviously a high quality backpack is a must. Choose the type that has different compartments that can be opened separately. Very handy if you need something quickly. Travel as light as possible. A heavy backpack is destined to undermine your traveling pleasure.

Clothing:

Depends on where you go. If it's the mountains and the jungle, get some quality clothing from home. If it's the beach, buy your t-shirts there (cheap).

Camping and Climbing Gear:

You can rent camping and climbing material in South America but the quality may be questionable. Always check the material. Bring your own gear if possible. I traveled 18 months with my own tent and various camping utensils.

Photography

Pictures are something personal. Some people just want some snap shots, others want to publish in the National Geographic. All my pictures were taken with a cheap Nikon F50 camera. Have a look at some amazing photographs at www.travel-amazing-southamerica.com.

I had two zoom lenses, a 35-80 mm. and a 70-210mm. I also dragged a tripod and an excellent flash with me. I used FUJI slides (100 ASA) but you definitely need 200 to 400 ASA if you plan to go to the jungle. A polarize filter enhances the colours tremendously on sunny days.

Conclusion

South America will embrace you with open arms. It's nature, people and history is overwhelming. With the right preparation and set of mind you're ready for an unforgettable adventure.

Mark Van Overmeire is a passionate musician, photographer and traveler. He has traveled extensively in South America and Southeast Asia.

After

Police career, law enforcement, Cops, book. Critically acclaimed book leads aspiring police officers...

spending 4 years in South America he released his critically acclaimed CD Impresiones, a musical adventure traveling from world to jazz, from folk to classical, from ambient to soundtrack. The 6 compositions on Impresiones were composed, arranged and produced by Mark.

On his journeys around the world Mark has been able to take many wonderful photographs and various pictures have been published in magazines and websites. You can visit his portfolio at Shuttermap.com

Mark founded Travel Amazing South America, a travel website at http://www.travel-amazing-southamerica.com on June 2005. Travel Amazing South America offers many wonderful photographs, stories and tips for a journey to south america.

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Flaming Guitars! Minarik Fuels The Excitement

Massive Guitar Tone - Modify your guitar effect pedals to sound like boutique 'high dollar' effect p...

Of A New Generation Of Musicians

Celebrating an endorsement between G-Man Music and the fiery axe-makers known as Minarik Guitars, Scott G (The G-Man) reviews the Minarik Inferno X-treme.

From the Telecaster to the Flying V to the Iceman to the Warlock, some guitar designs are forever branded on our consciousness, and now there's a new one: the Minarik Inferno X-treme. The body shape erupts in furious fingers of flame. If ever there was a guitar design destined to ignite the imagination of young players, especially boys and girls who want to rawk, this is it.

Not that the Inferno X-treme lacks subtlety. With scientifically placed tone chambers, this instrument can sing sweetly if that's what you desire. Or, it can live up to its appearance and enable you to carve sonic craters in the parking lot.

Although this guitar has a look that will inspire thousands of preteen statements along the lines of "Mom, that's the one I want," I suspect that tons of established players will find it useful in the studio or on the road because of its delicate balance, sleek feel, and stunning versatility. (And besides, the cunningly crafted guitar is also available in a more traditional body shape.)

"So, what's the story on Minarik Guitars?" I can hear you ask. As the designer of the B.C. Rich Goddess Warlock and several other noteworthy models, Marc Minarik already has a legacy in the business. Now heading up his own company, Minarik has the goal of fusing quality workmanship with visually exciting design concepts.

Actually, his plan is much more complex than "make it attractive and build it right." Marc Minarik is as eager to talk about the playability of his guitars as about their construction and appearance. And if you inquire about the light weight and the chambered body, he is just as pleased to demonstrate the superior nature of his firm's products.

The flame-shaped body isn't just flashy; the size and curve of the flames have been carefully calculated to positively affect the tone and balance of the instrument. The flame design is eye-candy, but it's the application of the physics of sound that makes the Minarik Inferno X-treme really hot.

With a wonderful combination of form and function, the Minarik guitar line may have some interesting side effects, like bringing vitality to retail sales, launching a new generation of guitar players, and saving music from passive pop.

Not bad for a guy with a dream about a flaming guitar.

Minarik Contact
www.minarikguitars.com
818-383-1254
minarikguitars@aol.com

About The Author

Scott G (The G-Man) proudly plays a Minarik Inferno. He creates radio commercials and composes music for songs and spots at G-Man Music & Radical Radio.

Music Recording Music Industry Audio Recording and Free Drum Samples

A member of the National Association of Record Industry Professionals (www.narip.com) and The Recording Academy (www.grammy.com), he also writes about music for the Immedia Wire Service. He is on the Web at iTunes, www.myspace.com/thegman, and www.gmanmusic.com.

immedia@pacbell.net

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How To Choose Wisely A FOREX Broker. Online Shopping Saves You Time and Money.

2005-10-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

Most traders use a FOREX broker to handle their transactions. What exactly are brokers? Strictly speaking, brokers are individuals or companies that buy and sell orders according the investor's decisions. Brokers earn money by charging a commission or a fee for their services.

FOREX brokers need to be associated with a large financial institution such as a bank in order to provide the funds necessary for margin trading. In the United States a broker should be registered as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as protection against fraud and abusive trade practices.

Forex Trading Strategy

Before trading FOREX you need to set up an account with a FOREX broker. You may feel overwhelmed by the number of brokers who offer their services online. Deciding on a broker requires a little bit of research on your part, but the time spent will give you insight into the services that are available and fees charged by various brokers.

The best advertising is word-of-mouth advertising, and this is just as valid in FOREX trading as it is for any other type of business. Talk to friends and associates to see who they are dealing with and find if they have any complaints or difficulties in dealing with a particular broker.

You could try selecting a few online brokers and contact their Internet help desks to see how quickly they respond to enquiries and whether or not they answer questions to your satisfaction. Keep in mind, however, that pre-sales service may be better than after sales service. This can be true for any online business, not just FOREX brokers.

Customer satisfaction and safety are just part of the story. You want to find a broker who executes orders quickly and with minimum slippage. All online brokers should offer automatic execution and have clear policies regarding slippage. They should be able to tell you how much slippage can be expected in both normal and fast-moving markets.

Next you want to know the fees involved. What is the spread? Is spread fixed or variable according to the type of account? Are mini accounts subject to wider spreads? Are there any other charges?

Earn $$$ with 'Spread Trade to Win', the ultimate tax-free living, learn to trade the World Indices...

Smaller spreads mean more profit for the trader, but there may be a trade-off between spread and service. Look at the overall picture before deciding to go with a particular broker.

Margin accounts are the lifeblood of FOREX trading, so be sure you understand the broker's margin terms before setting up an account. You need to know the margin requirements and how margin is calculated. Does margin change according to the currency traded? Is it the same every day of the week? Some brokers may offer different margins for mini and standard accounts.

The Trader Online - helping people earn online since 1998

Trading software is very important for the online FOREX trader. Get a feel for the options that are available by trying out a demo account at a few online brokers. Above all, you are looking for reliability and the ability to perform well in fast-moving markets. The software should offer automatic trading and may have special features such as trailing stops and trading from the chart. Some features may only be available at an extra cost, so be sure you understand what your trading needs are and how much the broker charges to provide them.

Other information to find out about includes the broker's policy regarding minimum account balances, interest payments on account balances, which currencies can be traded and whether or not non-standard sized lots can be traded. You should also find out whether clients' funds are insured and the extent of that insurance.

New to FOREX trading? Don't panic!

Day Trade Forex System: The ULTIMATE Step-by-Step Online Currency Trading Course

Abc-of-forex.com gives you all the basic information you need to get started in currency trading. For more info visit this FOREX trading website.

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Shopping seems to have existed for as long as people have had a need for items they could not make themselves. Even before cash was "invented", people would barter and trade for things they wanted and this was essentially shopping. Shopping has evolved quite a bit over the years.

Learn how to make a passive income online

Internet shopping can be a great way to make passive income if you are a stay at semi retired or a home mom. If you spend any time at all online, you've probably seen plenty of ads enticing you to earn six figures from the comfort of your own home. All of these promotions focus on one main theme - the growth of online shopping.

Most of these advertisements are geared toward multi-level marketing (M.L.M.) or affiliate programs. Since M.L.M. requires each person enrolled to get more people enrolled underneath him or her, it creates a large number of online ads. M.L.M is usually not that reliable or reputable but you don't have to involve yourself in the world of M.L.M. to take advantage of the growth in online shopping.

For instance, you may choose to sell products online of your own making. You could set up your own website shopping cart and then sell products your make or own or even sell products you have purchased at a reduced price. Many people earn their living this way.

1MerchantCart - The All-in-One Merchant Shopping Cart and Affiliate Processing Software - Ecommerce ...

Things people need to make money online are websites, shopping cart systems, and products. If you are a coach, or consultant, your product can even be your own existing knowledge! Consider selling tele-classes, coaching sessions or e-Books online. However, digital product delivery can be difficult, so make sure your shopping cart provider is a good one.

As a consumer, online shopping carts are normally very easy to use. The order forms are usually quite simple, the encryptions are secure, and the whole process seems to go easily and quickly. Behind the scenes, however, implementing online shopping carts can just be a nightmare. So it is critical that you link up with a shopping cart provider that provides a straightforward system that is low cost and gives customer support.

As a merchant, shopping carts are critical. You can't expect to compete online if you ask potential customers to pay you with a check, and then wait two weeks for the check to clear. Regardless of what you are selling online, you need to make it possible for payment by credit card. With good quality shopping carts, you can accept monies from all over the globe.

How to Quickly and Easily Claim the Job You Desire!

You can make changes to items like shipping costs quickly and easily. You can even change items with the blink of an eye. You can offer coupons, rebates and other bonuses to your clients. You can even gather vital information about your clients, to help you understand and target your customer base more effectively.

Jeanne Goodale is passionate about shopping and is the webmaster of FTR Shopping

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Free Tips To Increase Self-Esteem. The Mobile Freelancer: Freedom to Make a Living from Anywhere.

2005-10-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

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I have had many confidence issues in my life, all of which I have either dealt with or overcome. I have written about some of these issues below.

1. The Bald Patch

2. My height

3. My weight

4. The stutter

5. My lack of belief in myself

6. My career

THE BALD PATCH

Even though to some people it may seem trivial, I was born with a bald patch the size of a ten pence piece. As I went through childhood and especially the teenage years I became more and more self-conscious and paranoid about it.

It was especially noticeable when it rained or when I went swimming as my hair would become wet. People at school would ridicule me and I was forever trying to hide and cover the bald patch even though most people knew about it.

It hurt when people laughed at me and eventually I stopped going swimming altogether.

MY HEIGHT

Out of all of my close male family and friends, I am the shortest at 5ft 4. This probably should not influence my confidence however with people continually looking down on me it did. I have been called many names, the nicest being "Shorty".

I was always jealous of other people taller than I was. I hoped that one day I might have a late spurt. This never came.

My height affected me with sport. I wanted to be a striker at football however the coaches only wanted people over 6ft tall. At snooker I am constantly have to use the rest which makes it difficult to play up to the best standard and at tennis I was constantly being lobbed.

It also meant that I only felt comfortable dating women 5ft 3 and under which reduces the available market considerably.

MY WEIGHT

During senior school I was very thin. This may have been the result of my parents turning vegetarian when I was twelve. At the time there were very few replacement foods and it seemed as though we went from having meat and two veg to just two veg.

As my parents cooked the food I had little option but to also turn vegetarian. After a few weeks I approached them and told them that I missed and wanted to eat meat. They were understanding to a degree and said:

"If you want it, you cook it"

At this age I could only really be bothered to cook properly a few days of the week and that gradually became less and less.

People at school would call me names like skin and bone and my weight became another area of paranoia for me.

THE STUTTER

At the age of four I developed a stutter. This became gradually worse as I became older even though my parents were told that I would grow out of it.

For what fluent people would class as simple tasks like reading from a book at school, answering questions, saying my name and address, ordering items at the bar or in a restaurant, and speaking on the telephone became a constant battle.

It was a very frustrating impediment, as I seemed to be able to talk quite fluently to people I knew well and whom I felt comfortable with, but at other times especially under any form of pressure could not say a word.

At the age of twenty two after about eleven months of sheer hard work and practice I managed to overcome the stutter and I now help other people who stutter to achieve fluency as well as helping people with confidence problems.

Lacking Motivation ? Help Is Waiting For You

MY LACK OF BELIEF

I always had a lack of belief in certain areas.

I would notice a female in a bar for example and would want to go over and talk to her but would have the negative attitude of I'm not good enough, why would she be interested in me? I stutter, I have a bald patch, I have a menial job and I am very thin.

Even if I approach her and am successful, I would then be expected to buy her a drink, possibly phone her, possibly meet her parents, and maybe even get married! The thought of attempting these things with a stutter and with a lack of social confidence was far too daunting for me.

I left school at sixteen mainly due to a lack of confidence and the stutter, but then had the problem of finding a job. Again my lack of belief came shining through. Who would want to employ somebody with a stutter, who has a lack of confidence and who is shy around people?

MY CAREER

After leaving school at the age of sixteen I now had to find employment. Suffering with a stutter and a general lack of confidence meant that work involving the phone or regular interaction with other people were not really an option.

I decided that I could probably cope with filing duties in an office and eventually gained a position at an insurance company.

I started at the lowest grade, a grade two and the work was routine and mundane. The average time to stay at this level before being promoted was six months. The grade three post involved sharing a phone and this is something I found very difficult to use.

To become upgraded you had to apply in writing to the personal officer and then if you passed the interview were then promoted. My attitude was that if I don't apply I would stay as a grade two, which is what I wanted. I was probably the only person in the country who did not want to be promoted.

My boss would ask me at regular intervals why I was not applying and I would make up an excuse. To keep him happy I took the insurance exams. After three years I had completed the first qualification which was a set of five exams. To my horror my boss congratulated me by stating that he was upgrading me to a grade three starting Monday without the need of an interview.

This promotion should in effect have given me a confidence boost however with my stutter out of control under the pressure and some of my colleagues mocking me I became more and more withdrawn and depressed.

I would be invited to social events and would make up excuses of why I could not go as I had a lack of belief that I could cope with the occasion and all the socialising involved.

Stephen Hill now helps people to increase their confidence. He has a website at http://www.gain-confidence.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Hosting4Writers.com - affordable hosting for writers, authors, freelancers

There has been a huge amount written about the benefits of working from home.

Individuals run small businesses from home. Large corporations even set up home offices for many of their employees.

Right now most freelancers work from a home office. Some may invest in modest office space, but most of the freelancers I know work from their homes.

It's good to have such a short commute time in the morning!

>> But what if you want more?

With smaller, more powerful laptops, improved internet connectivity worldwide and a host of cellular and web services to choose from...we're no longer confined to working from home. Now we can work from almost anywhere.

This opens up a host of new possibilities in our lives.

* We can travel the world, and still keep working

* We can live almost anywhere, out in the country or even in a different country

* We can travel to visit clients, attend seminars or pitch for new business in other cities without losing touch with our current work and customers

The list goes on and on.

>> Our only limitation is our fondness for old work habits

As freelancers we are literally free to work from most parts of the world.

So why don't we all strike camp and explore the world?

There are many practical reasons, including the needs of other members of our families and communities.

But be careful when you list the reasons why you absolutely can't work from anywhere other than your home or office.

How many of those reasons are absolutely unchangeable, and how many have you listed simply because old habits die hard?

* Is it truly impossible for you to work for a while from a rented house in Southern Italy?

* Is it absolutely out of the question for you to rent a cottage in the country for a month or so?

* And is that dream you had about moving to Mexico or Panama really and truly impossible?

With any one of these options, you can plug your laptop in and keep working. And nobody need even know where you are!

>> Some more modest ambitions

Embedded Components brings your technology to the marketplace

Even if you don't want to use mobile technologies to make dramatic shifts in your life, you can still get out from behind your desk from time to time.

You can work from the park, from the beach, from a local coffee shop....from an airport, on a plane, from a city you are visiting. The possibilities are endless.

>> As a freelancer, you are free

That's what we are, we're FREElancers. And now we have access to technologies that allow us to unplug and work from just about anywhere.

Isn't there an opportunity here to make our lives a little more interesting and adventurous?

Nick Usborne is a freelance copywriter, author and speaker. For more articles and resources on making money as a freelance writer, visit his site, http://www.FreelanceWritingSuccess.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Hypertension -Twelve Simple Things You Can Do To Lower Your Blood Pressure. How To Meditate?.

2005-10-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Recommendation letter toolkit offering information, tips, and downloadable templates for writing all...

Headlines:

Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with a new disorder: pre-hypertension. Is your blood pressure low enough?

Nearly 23% of people over the age of 18 have pre-hypertension (blood pressure over 120/80 and less than 140/90). Another 25% of those over 18 have full-blown hypertension (blood pressure over 140/90).

Hypertension

At age 34 I had to have an insurance exam. I weighed 175 pounds on a 5'6" frame and for the first time in my life, had elevated blood pressure, 140/90, up from 118/78. That was one of the first major health warnings my body gave me.

Pre-hypertension

Back in those days hypertension was considered anything above 140/90. Today we have the diagnosis of "pre-hypertension" which is any elevation of blood pressure over 120/80. Starting as low as 115/75 the risk of heart attack or stroke doubles for every 20 point increase in systolic pressure (the higher of the two, when the left ventricle of the heart actually pumps blood out into the body) and for every 10 point increase in diastolic pressure (when the heart is resting in between pulses). Between the pressures of 120/80 and 140/90 there is a fourfold increase in heart attack, compared to people with normal blood pressure. According to Aram Chobanian, M.D. Dean of Boston University School of Medicine, people over 54 years old have a 90% chance of developing hypertension at some time.

Aging does not necessarily correlate to hypertension.

For some reason especially here in America, there has been the idea that there is a normal increase in blood pressure as one gets older. That has been proven to be false. There are many populations around the world that reach old age and beyond without any increase in blood pressure. The idea that blood pressure goes up with age is based on studying the American population where it does in most cases. However, this does not mean that it is normal and is most likely a reflection of the eating habits and lifestyle of most Americans. I can still remember when a serum cholesterol was considered normal if it was less than 275, hardly normal for anyone.

Prevention is the best approach.

Better to not get hypertension than to try to control it with drugs once you have it. This means lifestyle changes that to some, are not really what they want to do. No free lunch here. If you want to prevent hypertension or control it once you have it, diet and exercise are the answer. Below are twelve simple lifestyle changes you can make to help keep your blood pressure under control.

Lose Weight

Exercise

Drinks lots of water

Dietary modification to decrease animal products and sugar and increase fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates. (The sugar-free vegan MericleDiet is the optimal diet to help you control your weight, blood pressure and risk for serious disease).

Stop Smoking

Reduce salt intake

Increase potassium intake (bananas, melons, potatoes)

Reduce or stop alcohol intake

Reduce or stop caffeine

Avoid drugs ... recreational (cocaine, ecstasy), birth control pills, some over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines

Relax, as much as you can.

If you want sweet -use Stevia. It has been shown to be the safest sweetener today and in well designed experiments it has reduced blood pressure.

The MericleDiet and Hypertension.

Current dietary recommendations for hypertension are a low salt diet that restricts saturated fat, cholesterol and total fats and emphasizes fruits, grains and low-fat dairy. This diet, however, still allows fish, chicken, dairy and insulin stimulating sugars such as sucrose and maple syrup. While there is no doubt that cutting down on these will improve your blood pressure, it would be best to stop them. Also, there has been some difficulty with adherence to these dietary recommendations. Why not learn to transition completely away from all hypertension causing meats, dairy and sugars with the MericleDiet, which also is much easier to adhere to. It is the only 100% organic sugar-free diet there is today. To visit the MericleDiet please follow the link below:

http://www.DrMericle.com

Endorsement

The Mericle Diet and Me

I have been reading about diet and health since 1986, but The MericleDiet has definitely helped me the most. After following Dr. Mericle's suggestions for over 15 months, I can truthfully say I will never stray from his program. One of the unseen benefits has been the reduction of blood pressure medicine I take. Although I have never been a big consumer of sugar, I now consume even less since I now understand the importance of keeping your insulin levels low. I am now able to keep my blood pressure at an optimal level with half the medication of my pre-MericleDiet days. And, the ease of this program! I always have something yummy and ready to eat! For the first time in my adult life I no longer suffer, and I do mean suffer, from the yo-yo syndrome!

This is absolutely the best program for me and my family...

Kay McIlroy

Colorado Springs

Reference:

Health24.com
MyWebMD.com

If you would like to take stevia for a test drive or just purchase some online, the link below will take you to Carol Bond Health Foods. Just search stevia or "Stevita" when you get there.

http://www.DrMericle.com/rcb.php

Please stay tuned for next week when we will discuss in more detail the twelve recommendations for controlling your blood pressure.

Thanks for your time.

DrMericle.com is devoted to achieving optimal health and peak performance through diet and lifestyle change. Dr. Mericle brings together a unique blend of formal training in organic chemistry and biochemistry, medical education, 29 marathons, 3 Hawaii Ironman competitions and a lot of practical real life experience.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

We are surrounded by negative

Mental Health Support. Treatment For Depression, Anxiety and Stress with Zen.

forces like jealousy, hatred, fear, doubt, worry, despair, guilt, resentment, anger, pride hatred and anxiety. These are the dominating forces of the universe.We are constantly attacked by these negative forces day in and day out.The only medicine to fight this deadly disease is Meditation. Through Meditation we can get everlasting peace, that is what we know the "Divine Peace". To grow in light and to fulfill ourselves in light and purity we need to practice meditation regularly.

What is actual Meditation?

Meditation doesnot mean just sitting quietly for 15 to 20 minutes. It requires concentration. You have to calm and quieten your mind.It requires conscious effort. You have to free yourself from repetitive and unwanted thoughts that distract your attention. As you learn to calm your mind you feel a new creation is dawning inside of you. When your mind is vacant and tranquil your whole existence becomes an empty vessel. You will attract infinite peace, joy peace happiness. This is actual meditation.

Yoga Meditation Techniques - Learn How to Meditate

How many ways are their to Meditate?

1. Silence your mind. Once you do that you are in a position to please and Fulfill God.

2. The Second way to meditate is to empty your heart.Human heart is full of chaos and turmoil. As you empty your heart there is a Divine peace and harmony which will fill your heart.

3. The third thing is through prayer.Prayer is nothing but a communion between Spirit and Form.If you pray from your heart all your fears, doubts, sorrow, resentment and anxiety will be eliminated and joy, peace and tranquility will fill your heart.

How to Meditate

1. First find a quiet place away from people and telephone.

2. Early morning is undoubtely the most powerful time to meditate.

3. Before you start meditating say to yourself 'I will be focused and calm'.

4. Have light music at the back ground if you like.

Improving concentration - Quick and easy ways to Improve your mental focus and concentration

5. Using candles during meditation can improve your concentration.

6. Take shower or atleast wash you face before you meditate.

7. Meditate with the empty stomach.But if you feel hungry have a glass of juice or milk.

8. Aromas have been proven to be an effective means of entering a state of relaxation.

9. When you meditate keep your eyes half open.

10. When negative thoughts enter, donot force them out but simply let them pass away.

Breathing Techniques

1. Keep your spine erect while you meditate

2. You can sit on the floor or you can sit comfortably on the chair.

3. Sit very relaxed.

4. Proper breathing is very important so make yourself comfortable.

5. Take a deep breathe and hold for a few seconds and then breathe out.

6. Feel the breath is coming directly from God, so that your breathe can be easily purified.

7. Each time you breathe feel that you are bringing infinite peace and happiness into your body.

8. When you breathe out feel that all the negative thoughts anger, hatted, fear, doubt, resentment, guilt, and anxiety are being expelled.

9. Repeat this morning and evening 20 minutes every day.

10. When bad thought comes to your mind say 'Today I am at peace'. I will not allow bad thoughts to enter into me.

11. When you breathe in hold for 6 seconds and breathe out. If you are on medication please consult your doctor before you start.

The aim of meditation is to free yourself from all worries and unhappiness.All the negative thoughts attack your mind. The heart is much purer than the mind.

Welcome to Blue Tranquility

Love, grace, mercy, peace, tranquility, affection are already there in the heart.

Before you start Meditation 'Repeat Supreme'or Heavenly Father 400 times. By doing that your concentration will improve.It is almost a waste of time if you want to purify your mind because negative thoughts are always floating on the surface. So concentrate your attention towards your heart. It is already illuminated. It has all the good qualities you desire.So everytime when you are not able to control you mind please donot feel unhappy. But focus your attention towards your heart and within few seconds you will be able to meditate without any disturbance.Heart is like a fountain full of peace, joy and love. You can sit at the base of the fountain and enjoy it. So it is better to meditate in the heart than in the mind.From your mind you get inspiration and from your heart you get aspiration.

How to Concentrate

1. Find a quiet place

2. Make a Black dot on the wall

3. Stand 20 inches away from it.

4. Concentrate on the dot.

5. Then Breathe in deep and breath out.

6. Feel that when you are breathing you breathe is actually coming from the dot and that the dot is also breathing in, getting its breathe from you.

7. Feel there are two persons. You and the dot.

8. Do it for 15 to 20 minutes every day before you start to meditate.

9. If you dont want to concentrate on the dot you can concentrate on counting your heart beat mentally.

As you practice doing it for few weeks you can concentrate better. Also when you meditate negative thoughts will slow down and you will have full control over your mind.

Winston Saga is one of the world's leading sales legends. He is also the CEO of Sales and Motivation International. Winston has been acknowledged as a unique and distinctive authority in the field of sales and personal development. Last year International Biography Centre selected him ''International Man of the Year'' for his outstanding contribution to sales and Service. He has written 100's of articles to magazine, journals and websites.

Visit http://www.telesalestips.com to know more about the Author.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Story of Solomon. A Friend in Need.

2005-10-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

Without

A Ministry of Grace and Peace, Free Online Bible studies from EternityNow Ministries, Keywords: gr...

question, the greatest story in the Bible of someone who sought after the knowledge and wisdom of God and actually received it was King Solomon in the Old Testament. What happened to this man was just about beyond belief.

When Solomon became King of Israel, he knew he did not have the knowledge and wisdom to properly rule his people. So what did he do? He went direct to God the Father and asked Him for His knowledge and His wisdom to rule the people. He admitted his weakness in this area and was not afraid to press in and start asking God for His knowledge.

So what did God do when he asked Him for His knowledge to help rule his people? God did not meet him halfway - He met him all the way! As you will see in the two verses I will list below - God tells Solomon because he did not ask for long life, riches or the death of his enemies for himself - but just asked for an "understanding heart" to judge his people and help with discerning between good and evil - God tells him that He will give him a "wise and understanding heart."

But then God takes it one more incredible step further. He tells Solomon that the knowledge and wisdom that will be given to him will be like what no man has ever had before him and what no man will ever have after him! In other words - God will make this man the smartest man in God that has ever lived, and that there would never be another man in the course of human history that would ever have the knowledge that he would be given.

Just stop and ponder on what an incredible thing that this was - to have been given so much knowledge and wisdom direct from God Himself - that no man would ever be his equal in this gift!

Then God goes one more extra step in order to put the icing on this man's cake. He then tells Solomon that since he did not ask for riches for himself - but just for the knowledge of God to rule his people - that he will now be given incredible riches and honor to go along with the knowledge and wisdom to rule his people. Then God adds the final touch on the riches and honor he will be given - telling Solomon that there shall never be another king like him all the days of his life and that he will surpass all the kings of the earth in "riches and wisdom." In other words - God ends up making this man the smartest and richest man in all of the earth at the time that he was living!

If Solomon was really not asking God for wealth and riches - but just for the knowledge and wisdom to rule his people - why would God go so overboard in blessing this man with this kind of wealth - especially if he was not asking for it and possibly not even desiring it?

I believe the main reason God rewarded Solomon with this kind of maximum wealth was not only to show him, but

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the rest of His people that would come later on, the extreme importance that each and every person seek after the knowledge of God for their own lives. By blessing Solomon with this kind of wealth - God is telling all of us the extreme importance that we seek after Him and His knowledge for our lives.

In other words - seeking after the knowledge of God has to be a major priority in a believer's life. We cannot spiritually grow and develop in the Lord unless we have His knowledge worked into us that will cause this spiritual growth to occur in the first place. And you can't get this knowledge worked into you unless you are first seeking after it!

Seek and then you will find. But the reverse is also true - don't seek, and you will not find. And if you don't find the knowledge of God for your life - then the Holy Spirit will not have anything to work with to start the transformation and sanctification process within you.

Grab a hold of these two verses and the statements that God is making to Solomon - all because he got this ball rolling by simply asking God for His knowledge to help rule his people.

"Therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked for this thing.Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.

And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." (1 Kings 3:9-14)
"So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart." (1 Kings 10:23)

If King Solomon was able to receive this kind of knowledge and wisdom from God - simply because he asked and really pressed in for it - then what can God do for you in this realm if you are willing to expend the time and energy to seek after it?

The Victorious Network - Christian Articles, Books, Bible Studies and Sermons

Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible knowledge. They currently have over 100 Bible articles. All free of charge.

The article was an excerpt from Michael's E-book titled, Seeking After the Knowledge of God You can go to their site and download the book free of charge.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Here's the scenario:

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Private Investor Lending

Julie, a hardworking secretary, lent money to her good friend Ray; $1300 to be exact. Ray had just moved to a new town and claimed that he needed two new suits: one for an upcoming wedding and one to wear on job interviews. Ray lived in a beautiful penthouse. He had a degree in Computer Science and was accustomed to the finer things in life - designer labels, frequent travel, and spa week-ends. When Ray told Julie he would repay her and signed a paper promising to do so, Julie didn't think anything of it.

A couple of weeks later, Ray tried to hit Julie up for more money; this time to furnish his new home. When she told him that she wouldn't be able to help him out this time, he accused her of being cold and hung up the phone on her. Julie suddenly realized that she was being taken advantage of. Her hurt quickly turned to rage. She wanted to know how someone could be so self-serving and inconsiderate. If Julie had been weak enough to lend Ray another several hundred dollars for furniture, how could he sleep at night knowing that she had expenses of her own to look after?

We as women have an innate desire to nurture whenever possible. Many of us have learned the hard way we must always keep our guard up - spot when we may be being misled or taken advantage of. It is a common belief that a woman who is eager to lend money to a man, suffers from niavity, desperation, or poor self-esteem. But in this case it was a loan not a gift, and a friendship not a romantic relationship.

We all know how risky it is to lend money to a friend of either sex. Some of us decide to give the lendee the benefit of the doubt because we think we know and trust them. Some of us are vigilant enough to take precautions to make the loan legally binding. The bottom line is that we need to stop stereo-typing and pointing fingers at a woman who would lend a man money. We need to take a closer look at the character of anyone who would try to take advantage of a friend's genourostity .

Along with her respect for him, Julie also lost all compassion for Ray and their so-called friendship deteriorated.? The fact of the matter is that no one can respect a man who fails to respect others. When he performs actions that are self-serving and manipulative, his sincerity, his honour, his integrity, are all called into question.

They say:

It's not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.

Check out www.DenniGill.com for her personal collection of uplifting articles, parables, and poetry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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The First Step. 15 Ways to Help Kids Like Themselves.

2005-09-29T23:14:00.000-07:00

Today is an anniversary of sorts

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for me. Three years ago today, I publicly launched Tomorrow's Edge after years of getting ready, talking about how I was someday going to do it, and researching everything but advertising! It was a huge first step in the middle of a bunch of first steps that I had taken up to that point. Naturally, it fell flat on it's face because of my lack of education in the marketing area. So, here I am three years later, better educated, dusted off, boot straps pulled up, repeating that first step. I take a deep breath, psyche myself up, wiggle my toes a bit, bend my knee, lift my foot, and sit back down with another cup of coffee.... Maybe in a minute or so.

Isn't it funny how that first step gets to us? I'm not even scared this time. Heck, I wasn't scared last time. It's the only career I've ever really wanted with any kind of passion and fire. Why is it we choke up when taking first steps towards those really big goals that we love so dearly? Ever notice that when it's something you don't give a rip about, the freeze never happens? We freeze up when taking that first step towards something special, because now we have something of importance to fail at. It's not the goal we're afraid of, it's the failing that scares us.

The key here is to start. So many people speak of a journey starting with a single step. It's true. However, even if you have quit and are picking it back up again, at least the first step this time is farther along then the last time you started. For some of us, every single step towards success is so terrifying that it is a first step. Every step along the way towards our goal is a challenge. Keep in mind that each step is closer than the last one was. If you could do yesterday's first step then surely you can do today's first step because it is farther down the path. If you stop and look back over your shoulder, you'll see that you've actually come quite a bit further than you'd realized. You will feel a greater sense of progress than you did yesterday.

It really doesn't matter who you are or what you are trying to accomplish or who might not approve or what your current standing in the community is or anything else. What matters is that you get past the inner dialog that tells you those things do matter. No excuses are really valid. Our excuses are our first steps. "I do not have the capitol to start a business." Then my first step is to get the capitol, rather than shelf the whole idea. "I do not know the first thing about building a house." Then my first step is to get training. "

I do not know how to read music." Then my first step is to take a class. Make your excuses your first steps and watch your pride grow.

Remember to analyze each of those excuses like any other fear and make sure they are valid and worth becoming a step on your journey. It would be easy to get off track by taking care of your excuses instead of taking care of your dream. The point is to start taking action towards the life you have envisioned for yourself. "How is my attitude? Am I in charge or is my fear?"

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What if you're scared to death of your next step and you want to step away from that fear? You just want a quiet moment to breathe without the fear. Did you step forward to breathe or did you step backwards? Did you sidestep? Remember this when stepping away from fear. Is the step away from fear also away from your dream? Is the step away from fear bringing you closer to your dream?

So many of us have been taught to dive in headfirst and attack our goals like we are some sort of mighty warrior gone to battle. We run full steam ahead without wisdom to temper our actions. This will usually cause problems later. Occasionally, I will get so excited about charging in to face my fears, that I will become almost manic in my attempt to push forward to the end. This almost always messes me up.

Conquering Fear

I have learned to stop and relish the moment, say thanks for the opportunity to conquer fear, and then when I have calmed back down, I can continue making plans.

It really does help to pace ourselves so that we have the staying power to complete a long involved project. Too often we knock ourselves out trying to force it too fast and then we drop off exhausted. It does not feel good to continue at that pace and we will often quit rather than reevaluate our timetables and slow down. Creating the dream can be as fulfilling as seeing the end results. Do not cheat yourself out of the positive feelings that come from overcoming fear and doubt by racing through too fast.

So, here I sit with my thoughts remembering all the times I've failed at this. You know what's funny, in retrospect each event that appeared to be a failure was actually an amazing learning tool. I hate learning things that way!! Seriously though, I never really failed, I just became more and more educated, tempered, stronger, more self-confident, more defined, more focused, more streamlined, more global, more spiritual, more patient, and more harmonious with how it was all supposed to play out. I can see now why I had to go through those other first steps so that I could be here today in this moment taking this step. It's all exactly the way it should be. An infinite wisdom must have been at work somewhere behind the scenes. &Thank you.' I'm ready now.

About The Author

Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everyday practical approach to spirituality, motivation, and inspiration in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, motivation, and parenting. More of her articles can be found at www.tomorrowsedge.net as well as free previews of her books.

skye@tomorrowsedge.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Printable Love Coupons, Cards, Love Notes and More!

1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your child to focus on her many strengths.

2. Reinforce the positives. Give praise, recognition, a special privilege or increased responsibility for a job well done.

3. Define limits and rules clearly. A family council is an excellent place to discuss, explain and get a sense of ownership to the rules. Discuss what consequences will follow if the rules are not followed. Don't have a lot of rules, maybe four or five, but be consistent at following them.

4. Give your children responsibility to make the house a home. Everyone in the family should be responsible for some household chores daily. Responsibility makes them feel valued and part of the team.

5. Don't re-do their jobs. If you expect perfection, it is too easy for them to quit trying or else hope that you will step in and "save them" when it gets difficult.

6. Laugh at their jokes and listen attentively when they are talking to you. Being fully present when you are with your child is the only quality time there is.

7. If they don't fit in, teach them basic social skills. There are a number of behaviors that can be learned to help the "left out" child to fit into the group more easily.

8. Show them that what they do is important to you. Talk to them about activities and interests. Help them to find a hobby or interest that they excel at. Go to their games, presentations and activities.

9. Help them to set goals. Teach them to break each long-range goal into manageable bites. It is important to succeed at something ever day. Acknowledge your own successes so they can be more aware of progress they are making.

10. Don't punish them for telling the truth. Discuss problems without placing blame or attacking the child's character. Worry less about "who did this?" and more about "Let's get this mess cleaned up." If a child knows he has made a bad choice but doesn't feel attacked, he will feel more secure in trying to find solutions.

11. Create opportunities to give service and to develop tolerance for others with different values and backgrounds. These experiences can help a child to see himself in reference to the rest of the world and to be more understanding of the needs of others.

12. Give them opportunities to make decisions. Help them to see that each decision has pros and cons and may have consequences for themselves and others. If they want to do something that is clearly harmful, explain why you cannot allow them to act on it.

13. Teach them to deal with money and time wisely. When children are organized and responsible for their homework and allowance, it breeds self-assurance and personal responsibility.

14. Be a good role model. Let your children know that you feel good about yourself, but also teach them by example that mistakes aren't final but learning experiences.

15.

Start and end each day on a positive and loving note. Give lots of hugs, kisses and high fives. Let them know on a consistent basis that your love is unconditional and that you are proud of them as a member of the family. You may occasionally be disappointed in their actions or choices, but will always be available for support.

This article was written by Judy Wright, parent educator and author. Feel free to use it in your newsletter or publication, but please give full credit to the author and mention the contact information of JudyWright@ArtichokePress.com, 406-549-9813.

You will find a full listing of books, tapes, newsletters and workshops available on finding the heart of the story in the journey of life by going to www.ArtichokePress.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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