Energetic Fir

USB Key Drives - Useful Tool. Domain Names Explained.

2005-10-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

There are many different names for these drives, just so we are all on the same wavelength about what I'm talking about, here are a few of the other names:

USB Key Drives, Thumb Drive, USB Pen, Key Drive, Microdrive, Flash Drive.

These drives, regardless of what you call them, are an extremely handy tool for anyone who uses computers at different locations. USB drives are great because they are very small, and fit in your pocket, necklace, or keychain. They give you anywhere from 32 MB to 4 GB in storage, and require no software! You just plug it in to the USB port on a computer and boom, instance storage and transfer device.

These drives save you a lot of time and money. It's a quick way to transfer personal documents, projects, pictures from home to the office and reduces the waste of burning CD's, or using diskettes. We moved away from the paper based office to the electronic office, now we are enhancing that more, my using reusable data transfer devices with much higher capacity and life span.

USB drives provide a quick transfer between your devices, you don't need to waste money on blank CD's, DVD's, Diskettes, you just transfer it over, probably much faster than you could burn a CD, and you are good to go!

These drives give us a low cost, environmentally friendly, high capacity, fast, and cross platform compatible device. With all these great reasons for having one, I can't see why more people don't use them! The prices are constantly dropping on this form of media and almost every computer used today supports USB devices.

By the way, did I mention they look cool?

Ken Dennis http://KenDennis-RSS.homeip.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

If you are totally new

RED6: Domain name registration services, COM NET ORG, via CORENIC

to the internet then you may not realize that the web address you type into your browser is known as a domain name. A domain name is an easy way for humans to understand and navigate the internet.

A domain name is a string of characters used to make a name. There can be up to 63 characters in a domain name which can consist of all the letters in the English alphabet plus the numbers zero to 9 and the hyphen or dash symbol. The name can consists of a mixture of these characters but they cannot start or end in a hyphen. The hyphens are used to separate words within a domain name to make them more readable for humans.

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All domain names must have a top level domain suffix. The top level domain extensions are the characters at the end of your domain name after the last dot. This extension is used to describe the country or type of website that the domain name represents. The most popular top level domain extension is com and this will probably continue to be so for some time due to it's ingrained relationship with the internet. Web business's are mostly referred to as dot com's.

Domain names can be purchased from a domain name registrar. Domain name registration is a process of registering a domain name, much like you would register a new car or the birth of a new baby.

The cost of domain name registration will vary depending on the registrar and the domain extension that you choose. To register a dot com name you should expect to pay about ten dollars for a years registration. You can register a name for up to ten years and you would usually expect to get a small discount for this.

Allan is the webmaster at NameSearchDomain.com where you canfind out all about Domain names.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Five Ways to Increase Your Website Conversion Rate. Multi Family Property Living.

2005-10-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Five Ways to

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Increase Your Website Conversion Rate

Though it's wonderful to get all those hits to your e-commerce web site, hits don't mean much unless you convert them into sales. This is especially true if you are paying for, and not converting, clicks.

If your website is suffering from the "Conversion Rate Blues", consider the following steps for improving sales and ultimately, profits:

1. Make sure your website is optimized to attract people with the highest potential to buy

When I first designed my log furniture website, Log Cabin Rustics, I unwittingly targeted an audience that wasn't the perfect one for my site.

Spy software free. Key-Logging software free.

As things turned out, I didn't even rank for my two top key phrases, log furniture and log beds, in the search engines. I managed to get pretty high on the scale, however, for log cabin related searches.

People who build log cabins are a target market of mine, since many of them eventually purchase log furniture to go with their home. The most likely immediate customers, however, are those who actually searched for the term "log furniture" rather than "log cabin". When I re-optimized my site for the search terms I thought would bring the highest conversion rate, visitors to my site were more likely to buy because my site was selling what they were searching for. My efforts paid off, when my conversion rate (and sales) doubled in the month or two following my changes.

2. Add a personal, trustworthy touch to your site

I don't personally care to have my picture posted on the front of my website, although many people do. I do have my name prominently on the site, together with information about why I sell log furniture and my business background as a CPA. I have found that a personal touch goes a long way towards selling log furniture. Many of my customers spend $2,000, $3,000 or even $4,000 on their log furniture order, and some of them have waited years to get the furniture they want.

They didn't find what they wanted in their local area (they must not have many white cedar trees in Texas), but they found it on my site. There's just one problem, however. They wish they could touch the furniture, slide the drawers in and out, look for drips in the finish, and generally evaluate the quality before the drop that kind of money. I have had people drive 4-6 hours on more than one occasion for that very reason, and frankly, I don't blame them. I'm pretty picky about my furniture too. This is where I can help my customers. I use primarily local suppliers, and finished furniture that I sell is finished right in our building. I can and do inspect much of the furniture before it goes out. Our finishing department does a pretty good job, but if I see something I don't like, I have them sand it down and get it right.

Some people I sell furniture to place their order online or with one phone call, but many of them talk to me several times before they place their order. They start to feel like they know me, and I start to feel like they are my friends. The last thing I want to do is ship a suite of log furniture from Michigan to Caifornia and have it come back because the customer isn't happy. And I don't want to let down my friends. When customers understand this, they trust me to deliver what my site promises, and that translates into sales.

There are many ways you can build trust in your website. When I realized my conversion rate was not what it could or should be, I went out and researched the topic on the web. By reading a number of SEO articles on the topic, I came up with a checklist of things to do on my site. My list included:

�€� giving name and contact information for the owner of the site

�€� telling a personal history of the business

�€� showing pictures of your factory, office, semi-truck or anything else that makes your business real. If possible, give an online office or factory tour.

�€� getting a secure security certificate and posting it on your site, and

�€� posting a privacy policy, warranty information, and product testimonials

3. Include a detailed FAQ on your site

A detailed FAQ that answers just about every conceivable question can do much to improve customer confidence in your site. Many people are quite methodical in their product research. They may be looking at my site at 3 in the morning, have a question, and want an answer NOW. Otherwise they will migrate on to a competitor who has both the information and product they are looking for.

I am continually tracking the questions people ask and modifying my site to make sure it answers those questions. That way people can get answers to the most common questions right away, and I don't spend time answering the same questions over and over again.

While a good FAQ is a great time-saver for the person who has to answer those questions, it also gives site users the impression that your site is well-thought-out, that you care about their questions and will take time to answer them thoroughly. You can build trust in your website by having relevant product-related content throughout the site as well, but there's nothing like a well-planned FAQ to assist in answering questions.

4. Make Your Shopping Cart Easy to Use

I've had a little trouble with my shopping cart from time to time. It seems that if I modify the header for my site, and put in a link that says "http:" instead of "https:", the secure part of my shopping cart pops up an error message with every click of the mouse. Take it from the voice of experience-this is not conducive to sales.

If your sales are clicking right along, then suddenly drop into the abyss, it's a good idea to go out and place a test order. I'm embarrassed to say that in my busy-ness, I've had to have a customer inform me of how very difficult it was for them to place an order. Upon investigation, I have found several times that something had gone wrong on my site.

In addition to making sure your shopping cart is fully functional and doesn't return error messages, it pays to have a shopping cart that is easy to use. I am not an affiliate for Clickbank,

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but whenever I buy an e-book from someone who is using their service, I am always impressed with how smooth and quick the online transaction is. There have been other times when I really wanted to purchase something, but some little glitch in the shopping cart wouldn't let me proceed with the order, and nearly drove me to distraction. As a customer I always think to myself, "if these people can't get their website to work, how do I know they can ship me an order?" As a webmaster or mistress, you certainly don't want to be on the receiving end of such thoughts-and you can prevent it by making sure your website shopping cart is easy to use, and testing it every now and again to make sure it's working properly.

5. Give Free Shipping or Make a special offer

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it really does work. I used to give away a free rocking chair to anyone who bought a suite of log bedroom furniture, and you'd be surprised how many customers I had say to me "I just love the idea of getting something free!" At the moment, I give a 5% discount for the purchase of multiple items. That might not sound like much, but its $100 on a $2000 order and many people are glad to have it. I also include free shipping in the continental 48 states. This makes it much easier for people to know the exact cost of the furniture. I used to have people people contact me to see how much shipping would be, then I would estimate the cost of the furniture they wanted, contact several freight companies for a quote, re-contact the customer, etc. Free shipping makes everything so much easier, and it really seems to appeal to my customers too.

In conclusion

I'm sure there are other quality ways to build people's confidence in your site-thereby increasing both conversion rate and sales. Some of my friends have Better Business Bureau seal on their sites, or participate in BizRate or other rating services. I haven't tried any of these yet, so I can't speak for them. But I have learned from experience that people want to know you are a real person with a real business. They want to know that you care enough to answer their questions, they want a smooth shopping process, and they really do like special offers.

In these days of security breaches and privacy concerns, many customers will need extra reassurance about the care you take in such matters. You can accomplish much in that direction by spelling out company policies on your site.

If you think the conversion rate on your site could be better, why not make a to-do list of items mentioned in this article that might not be all they could be on your site. And oh yes, if you have a website selling "widgets" but the only people finding your site are those who are searching for "bridges", you really should change your keywords.

Cari Haus has been successfully selling rustic log furniture and log beds on the Internet since 1997.

Permission is granted to reprint this article, either online or in written publications, as long as the copyright information, this paragraph, and a link address or a link to the Log Cabin Rustics website is attached at the end of the article.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

While most multi family properties are designed to allow the peaceful coexistence of many families within their separate units, some apartments and houses give you the feeling that you're actually living in one big family. Things like sharing one washer and dryer between five families means you never know whose underwear you'll have to fish out of the washer before you start your own laundry. And a shared water heater means that now there's an incentive to early morning classes. Catching the &Cosby Show' every night at seven through your living room wall keeps you conveniently updated on the latest goings-on in the Huxtable home.

While living in multi family housing may not be an ideal situation for some tenants, it can be a way to wealth for the person collecting the rent. My own landlord, also currently a college student, manages several properties for his wealthy, out-of-state family, collecting a handsome property manager's fee in the process. Sure he had to evict the people upstairs, replace the roof, renovate the unit next door, and perform other sundry tasks, but at the end of the month, he's got another $2500 in the bank.

One time

Canadian Land Letter - Canadian Real Estate Property Investment Report

while he was fixing a clogged drain at our place I asked him how his family got to be so successful in the multi family investment property business. He told me that his family hadn't always been the housing barons they are today; after scraping together everything they had, even borrowing from extended family, they still had to take out a substantial loan from a local bank. With this they bought their first multi family property-an old duplex three blocks from the university. Although the location was great, being as close to campus as it was, the purchase had depleted the family's financial resources to the point were they had to move into the property while renting out the other half. From this experience, my landlord's family gained some useful insight into multi family apartment financing.

Several weeks later I had the opportunity to speak with my landlord's father, the owner of the property my wife and I were currently living in. While enquiring about his investment property business I learned a little about multi family investment property financing. According to him, most lenders will only provide financing for multi family dwellings of five units or more, with a minimum loan amount of $500,000. Apparently it isn't worth a lender's time to finance smaller investments.

Most multi family or apartment loans have a thirty-year term with interest rates ranging from 4.7% to 6.625% for loans up to $3 million. I learned that most of the time these "smaller loans" carry a little higher interest than loans exceeding $3 million and are termed as &recourse' loans; in other words, if you default on the loan the lender may take &recourse' by seizing your private assets. Loans in excess of $3 million are termed as &non-recourse', meaning private assets are protected in the event of a borrower default. In addition, most lenders offer basic options like fixed and adjustable rate loans.

In the final analysis, the key to the success of this family in the multi family investment property market wasn't the way they quickly handled tenant complaints or provided decent amenities; these things merely kept them in business. The reason for their success was a thorough understanding of investment property financing gained from years of research, experience, and trial and error.

Cameron Brown is an internet marketer specializingranking automation. For information on multi family financing, visit Security National Capital .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Evaluating Starting Hands In No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments. The Bad Guys Are Phishing For Your Personal Information.

2005-10-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

There are three main factors that influence how you should play your hole cards in

Online Poker Strategy - Play Online Poker As A Business

No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments. They are: your position, the size of your chip stack, and the size of the blinds. As a basic rule you need to avoid marginal hands that appear playable pre-flop but which can lead to huge losses in a single pot. The classic starting hands that fall into this category would be any Ax lower than AQ where both cards are unsuited, any Kx unsuited lower than KQ, and low suited connectors.

The tricky aspect of no-limit hold'em both in a tournament structure and in a regular cash game is that these hands can also lead to the greatest rewards. They are extremely volatile, however, and much of the skill of no-limit is knowing how to recognize when that starting hand is a liability and when it could potentially break an opponent. This requires a great feel for the game after the flop. Naturally beginners lack this experience and nuanced understanding of the game, and so it is far safer for a novice to limit himself to playing premium cards only before the flop. The problem then becomes one of predictability - if you only raise with big pairs you are unlikely to get any action, and when you do get action you're in trouble because the rest of the table clearly knows what you're holding to begin with.

If you are one off the button or on the button you should loosen your restrictions and play more starting hands, including those marginal ones, provided no one else has entered the pot showing obvious strength. To vary your play effectively you should also consider raising with these hands as a semi-bluff tactic, but no more than one in four times.

Keep most of your initial raises down to between 75% and 100% of the pot. If you make it 3 times the size of the big blind to go that typically equals an 80% pot bet. This will protect you in case you get re-raised or called by stronger holdings. If there are limpers in front of you and you are going to raise then you need to make a significant bet, especially in no-limit where you have to make it punitive for other players if they intend to draw out. In that case you could raise as much as 6 times the big blind.

Have a healthy and watchful respect for strong-tight players who are rarely in hands, particularly if they play the hand out of position. If a player like this raises in early position you should fold all those marginal hands, and small pairs as well.

When weak players have entered the pot, you should be happy to call and take flops with them provided you can do this inexpensively. Slow playing big hands has a higher expected value in No-Limit than it does in Limit games where it is rarely the right way to play. That being said, it is a skill that takes a lifetime to master, and can easily backfire on you.

As the blinds increase in tournament play you must be flexible with your evaluation of starting hands as you have to keep your chip stack well ahead of the pace set by the blinds. In tournament play you cannot wait for the perfect starting hand, and frequently you need to make your own luck. Be selectively aggressive, especially in the later stages of the tournament. Initially you should be tight at least until you have a good read on some of the opponents at your table. Try to avoid coin-flip scenarios where all your chips are at stake. This happens all the time in online tournaments where players feel comfortable going all-in on AK and equally comfortable calling that hand with any pocket pair.

The winners of tournaments at all levels are usually those players who pace themselves early on, make a move in the middle stages of the event, and then start all over again at the final table by once again playing strong-tight.

Ryan D. is a poker fanatic and regular poker tournament player.

For more interesting articles about playing online poker, visit http://www.online-poker-insider.com. Online Poker Insider guarantees online poker room deposits up to $500.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Bad Credit Loans - Personal Loans - Credit Cards - Home Loans - Auto Loans - Credit Repair

Do you know what "phishing" is?

No, it doesn't mean you grab a pole and head to the late to catch some phish.

The official Webopedia definition of "phishing" is as follows:

The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit

a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user's information.

Phishers prey on ignorance, fear, and emotion. They also play the numbers game. The more bait they email out, the more phish they'll catch.. By spamming large groups of people, the "phisher" counts on his email being read and believed by a percentage of people who will volunteer their personal and credit card information.

The latest attempt by identity theives to steal the personal information of eBay members hit my inbox earlier this week and I have to say, this one is pretty convincing. Even this old dog did a double-take before realizing that the identity thieves were phishing for my personal information again.

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The sender of this email is listed as: eBay Member - rivernick and the email subject line reads: Question from eBay Member.

The email begins: "Question from eBay Member -- Respond Now. eBay sent this message on behalf of an eBay member via My Messages. Responses sent using email will not reach the eBay member. Use the Respond Now button below to respond to this message."

Listen to me: DON'T TOUCH THAT BUTTON

Of course the email was NOT sent by an eBay member or sent via eBay's messaging system, as it appears.

The email then takes on a threatening tone.

It reads: "Question from rivernick: I'm still waiting payment for my item for about 7 days. What happened? Please mail me ASAP or I will report you to ebay."

The recipient is then prompted to respond to this rather disturbing email by clicking a "Respond Now." button.

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Doing so will take you to a website designed to look like eBay where you will be prompted to login using your eBay user name and password.

Once you pass this point you will be asked to update your account information before proceeding. Unknowing souls will offer not only their eBay password, but personal and credit card information, as well, without even knowing that they are about to have their personal information stolen.

The one thing that makes this scam so effective is the threat by the supposed eBay member to "report you to eBay."

The email preys on the fear of most eBay members that they are in danger of receiving negative feedback. Many eBayers would rather you cut off a pinky than leave them negative feedback. It is this emotion that the new phishers are hoping to hook.

The phisher is betting that most people will either be horrified by the threat of being wrongly reported to eBay or they will be ticked off that some jerk is threatening them by mistake.

Either way the phisher is counting on a percentage of people to have a knee-jerk reaction and login to the fake eBay website he has set up clear matters up.

I've yet to see what percentage of people who receive these phishing emails fall for the scam, but if a phisher gets 1% of recipients to turn over their personal information, he will probably consider his phishing expedition a success.

I've warned you about these phishing scams before, but let's review it one more time.

NEVER reply directly to an email that appears to have come from eBay, Paypal, Amazon, or anyoen else asking you to click a link in the email to update your account information. If there is any doubt in your mind whether or not the email is really from eBay, for example, open a browser and type in the URL http://www.ebay.com. NEVER click a link within the email to respond.

NEVER believe that an email supposedly from another eBay member is for real. Again, do not click an email link to reply. Open a browser and go to eBay directly and log in. If the email was from a real member, there will be a record of the inquiry in your My eBay account.

You must be aware that there are bad guys out there who do nothing but spend time trying to come up with new and innovative ways to steal your information.

Be paranoid. Be aware. But don't be fooled.

The phishers will cast their line, but you do not have to take the bait.

Here's to your success,

Tim Knox

Tim serves as the president and CEO of three successful technology companies and is the founder of DropshipWholesale.net, an online organization dedicated to the success of online and eBay entrepreneurs. http://www.dropshipwholesale.net
http://www.30dayblueprint.com
http://www.prosperityandprofits.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Breaking Research: What's a Dieter To Do?

Breaking Research: What's a Dieter To Do?

Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight loss or nutrition is released to the public. These studies tout the latest and greatest trends, products or discoveries and then a willing public jumps on the bandwagon expecting mighty results.

Have you ever wondered about the reliability or efficacy of those studies? Do they stand the test of time or slip into obscurity only to be replaced or supplanted by another study?

Well, Greek researcher Dr. John Ioannidis decided to study the studies and he came to some very interesting conclusions. Dr. Ioannidis reviewed 45 studies published in one of three prominent medical journals (New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Lancet) between 1990 and 2003. Of the 45 studies, seven of them (16%) were contradicted by later research and another seven (16%) were found in subsequent studies to have effects that were lesser than initially thought.

At this rate, over three in ten studies released will report results that are either not as solid as originally reported, or are completely incorrect. Going six or seven for ten in baseball is a Hall of Fame-paced trend, but what does this mean for those of us who are relying on these studies to help us win the "Battle of the Bulge?"

Like choosing a new shirt or blouse, a haircut or hairstyle, or a paint color for a house or a room, there is inherently more risk in selecting an option that has not been time-tested than one that has. We've all come across a garment in our own closets that caused us to wonder just what we were thinking when we bought that horrible thing. Similarly, jumping on a scientific bandwagon that "promises" to be the road to success can leave you broken down on the side of the road.

When new studies are released, remember that there are members of the media and business people who stand to gain from over-promoting results that are too new to trust. Of the contradicted results, half were completely incorrect (or so it seems) and half were shown to be much less effective than originally reported.

From a practical standpoint, ask yourself if you are willing to set yourself back by gaining weight rather than losing it, or by spending time pursuing an option that simply doesn't produce the results you expected. Fighting the Battle of the Bulge successfully means that you need to have a positive attitude at all times. It is too easy to become discouraged and make destructive decisions and following advice from reliable sources that turns out to be bad can be just the kind of discouragement you don't need.

As with fashion and paint colors, if you are making decisions for the long haul, it is better to be conservative than to go with the latest trends. When you read or hear of new scientific studies whose advice you might be tempted to follow, the best decision would be to find out if the study is confirming earlier or previous work. If so, odds are that the advice is going to stand the test of time. In the meanwhile, eat fewer calories than you burn and drink lots of water and you'll continue to move in the right direction!

Michael Callen is the author of the Weekly Weightloss Tips Newsletter (weeklyweightlosstips.com) and the Chief Technology Officer for http://www.WellnessPartners.com, an online retailer of dozens of health and wellness products such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), r+ alpha lipoic acid (R+ ALA), and Green Tea Extract.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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The Beauty Of Working At Home. The Shattered Identity.

2005-10-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

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Working at Home is growing at a phenomenal pace around the world. The beauty of it is that your time is your own and you can dig in anytime you want. Even Large multinationals are now seeing the benifits of employing people in the home workplace.

Because of the vast improvement of communications in the last 10-15 years, the home is now becoming its own office or company in its own right. All of the machines and instruments that were once only located in the work office can now be located and used just as efficiently in the home office. Powerful computers, fax machines and internet connections can now be easily installed in the home.

Dicipline and honesty are huge traits that have to be addressed when working from home. Procrasdinating your work is not a problem as long as the work gets completed. When working from home, the important matter is not when the work is done, it is that the actual work is being done.

Many entrepreneurs that work from home will tell you that if they have missed work by running some errands during the day, they will complete the work later on that evening or they will do extra the following day. Until you reach a point in your life where you can pick and choose when and where you work, disipline is the foundation on which your work at home business will thrive.

If you have a full time job and are insecure about trying a work at home job, I would first suggest doing it part time. By doing it part time you will start to understand if this life is for you or not.

There is definately people (of which I am not) that love the great out-doors and want to be constantly out of the house 9-5 Monday to Friday. No matter how good a oppurtunity came along, these people still would not like to do it. On the other hand I believe there is the majority crying out for change. These are the people that would love to try something new if it only would increase the quality of their lives.

These people are the new leaders in internet and network marketing. These people are the people that provide the real determination to succeed in their home based businesses. By reading this article, if you think you are one of these people, then you are in the right place. Give your home based business a try, you have nothing to lose only a regret that you didn't start it sooner!

Author Jack Foley works from home in Ireland For more articles and information about Jack's home business, visit Jack's website:

http://residual-income-home-based-business.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

I. Exposition

In the movie "Shattered" (1991), Dan Merrick survives an accident and develops total amnesia regarding his past. His battered face is reconstructed by plastic surgeons and, with the help of his loving wife, he gradually recovers his will to live. But he never develops a proper sense of identity. It is as though he is constantly ill at ease in his own body.

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As the plot unravels, Dan is led to believe that he may have murdered his wife's lover, Jack. This thriller offers additional twists and turns but, throughout it all, we face this question:

Dan has no recollection of being Dan. Dan does not remember murdering Jack. It seems as though Dan's very identity has been erased. Yet, Dan is in sound mind and can tell right from wrong. Should Dan be held (morally and, as a result, perhaps legally as well) accountable for Jack's murder?

Would the answer to this question still be the same had Dan erased from his memory ONLY the crime -but recalled everything else (in an act of selective dissociation)? Do our moral and legal accountability and responsibility spring from the integrity of our memories? If Dan were to be punished for a crime he doesn't have the faintest recollection of committing - wouldn't he feel horribly wronged? Wouldn't he be justified in feeling so?

There are many states of consciousness that involve dissociation and selective amnesia: hypnosis, trance and possession, hallucination, illusion, memory disorders (like organic, or functional amnesia), depersonalization disorder, dissociative fugue, dreaming, psychosis, post traumatic stress disorder, and drug-induced psychotomimetic states.

Consider this, for instance:

What if Dan were the victim of a Multiple Personality Disorder (now known as "Dissociative Identity Disorder")? What if one of his "alters" (i.e., one of the multitude of "identities" sharing Dan's mind and body) committed the crime? Should Dan still be held responsible? What if the alter "John" committed the crime and then "vanished", leaving behind another alter (let us say, "Joseph") in control? Should "Joseph" be held responsible for the crime "John" committed? What if "John" were to reappear 10 years after he "vanished"? What if he were to reappear 50 years after he "vanished"? What if he were to reappear for a period of 90 days - only to "vanish" again? And what is Dan's role in all this? Who, exactly, then, is Dan?

II. Who is Dan?

Buddhism compares Man to a river. Both retain their identity despite the fact that their individual composition is different at different moments. The possession of a body as the foundation of a self-identity is a dubious proposition. Bodies change drastically in time (consider a baby compared to an adult). Almost all the cells in a human body are replaced every few years. Changing one's brain (by transplantation) - also changes one's identity, even if the rest of the body remains the same.

Thus, the only thing that binds a "person" together (i.e., gives him a self and an identity) is time, or, more precisely, memory. By "memory" I also mean: personality, skills, habits, retrospected emotions - in short: all long term imprints and behavioural patterns. The body is not an accidental and insignificant container, of course. It constitutes an important part of one's self-image, self-esteem, sense of self-worth, and sense of existence (spatial, temporal, and social). But one can easily imagine a brain in vitro as having the same identity as when it resided in a body. One cannot imagine a body without a brain (or with a different brain) as having the same identity it had before the brain was removed or replaced.

What if the brain in vitro (in the above example) could not communicate with us at all? Would we still think it is possessed of a self? The biological functions of people in coma are maintained. But do they have an identity, a self? If yes, why do we "pull the plug" on them so often?

It would seem (as it did to Locke) that we accept that someone has a self-identity if: (a) He has the same hardware as we do (notably, a brain) and (b) He communicates his humanly recognizable and comprehensible inner world to us and manipulates his environment. We accept that he has a given (i.e., the same continuous) self-identity if (c) He shows consistent intentional (i.e., willed) patterns ("memory") in doing (b) for a long period of time.

It seems that we accept that we have a self-identity (i.e., we are self-conscious) if (a) We discern (usually through introspection) long term consistent intentional (i.e., willed) patterns ("memory") in our manipulation ("relating to") of our environment and (b) Others accept that we have a self-identity (Herbert Mead, Feuerbach).

Dan (probably) has the same hardware as we do (a brain). He communicates his (humanly recognizable and comprehensible) inner world to us (which is how he manipulates us and his environment). Thus, Dan clearly has a self-identity. But he is inconsistent. His intentional (willed) patterns, his memory, are incompatible with those demonstrated by Dan before the accident. Though he clearly is possessed of a self-identity, we cannot say that he has the SAME self-identity he possessed before the crash. In other words, we cannot say that he, indeed, is Dan.

Dan himself does not feel that he has a self-identity at all. He discerns intentional (willed) patterns in his manipulation of his environment but, due to his amnesia, he cannot tell if these are consistent, or long term. In other words, Dan has no memory. Moreover, others do not accept him as Dan (or have their doubts) because they have no memory of Dan as he is now.

Interim conclusion:

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Having a memory is a necessary and sufficient condition for possessing a self-identity.

III. Repression

Yet, resorting to memory to define identity may appear to be a circular (even tautological) argument. When we postulate memory - don't we already presuppose the existence of a "remembering agent" with an established self-identity?

Moreover, we keep talking about "discerning", "intentional", or "willed" patterns. But isn't a big part of our self (in the form of the unconscious, full of repressed memories) unavailable to us?

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Don't we develop defence mechanisms against repressed memories and fantasies, against unconscious content incongruent with our self-image? Even worse, this hidden, inaccessible, dynamically active part of our self is thought responsible for our recurrent discernible patterns of behaviour. The phenomenon of posthypnotic suggestion seems to indicate that this may be the case. The existence of a self-identity is, therefore, determined through introspection (by oneself) and observation (by others) of merely the conscious part of the self.

But the unconscious is as much a part of one's self-identity as one's conscious. What if, due to a mishap, the roles were reversed? What if Dan's conscious part were to become his unconscious and his unconscious part - his conscious? What if all his conscious memories, drives, fears, wishes, fantasies, and hopes - were to become unconscious while his repressed memories, drives, etc. - were to become conscious? Would we still say that it is "the same" Dan and that he retains his self-identity? Not very likely. And yet, one's (unremembered) unconscious - for instance, the conflict between id and ego - determines one's personality and self-identity.

The main contribution of psychoanalysis and later psychodynamic schools is the understanding that self-identity is a dynamic, evolving, ever-changing construct - and not a static, inertial, and passive entity. It casts doubt over the meaningfulness of the question with which we ended the exposition: "Who, exactly, then, is Dan?" Dan is different at different stages of his life (Erikson) and he constantly evolves in accordance with his innate nature (Jung), past history (Adler), drives (Freud), cultural milieu (Horney), upbringing (Klein, Winnicott), needs (Murray), or the interplay with his genetic makeup. Dan is not a thing - he is a process. Even Dan's personality traits and cognitive style, which may well be stable, are often influenced by Dan's social setting and by his social interactions.

It would seem that having a memory is a necessary but insufficient condition for possessing a self-identity. One cannot remember one's unconscious states (though one can remember their outcomes). One often forgets events, names, and other information even if it was conscious at a given time in one's past. Yet, one's (unremembered) unconscious is an integral and important part of one's identity and one's self. The remembered as well as the unremembered constitute one's self-identity.

IV. The Memory Link

Hume said that to be considered in possession of a mind, a creature needs to have a few states of consciousness linked by memory in a kind of narrative or personal mythology. Can this conjecture be equally applied to unconscious mental states (e.g. subliminal perceptions, beliefs, drives, emotions, desires, etc.)?

In other words, can we rephrase Hume and say that to be considered in possession of a mind, a creature needs to have a few states of consciousness and a few states of the unconscious - all linked by memory into a personal narrative? Isn't it a contradiction in terms to remember the unconscious?

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The unconscious and the subliminal are instance of the general category of mental phenomena which are not states of consciousness (i.e., are not conscious). Sleep and hypnosis are two others. But so are "background mental phenomena" - e.g., one holds onto one's beliefs and knowledge even when one is not aware (conscious) of them at every given moment. We know that an apple will fall towards the earth, we know how to drive a car ("automatically"), and we believe that the sun will rise tomorrow, even though we do not spend every second of our waking life consciously thinking about falling apples, driving cars, or the position of the sun.

Yet, the fact that knowledge and beliefs and other background mental phenomena are not constantly conscious - does not mean that they cannot be remembered. They can be remembered either by an act of will, or in (sometimes an involuntary) response to changes in the environment. The same applies to all other unconscious content. Unconscious content can be recalled. Psychoanalysis, for instance, is about re-introducing repressed unconscious content to the patient's conscious memory and thus making it "remembered".

In fact, one's self-identity may be such a background mental phenomenon (always there, not always conscious, not always remembered). The acts of will which bring it to the surface are what we call "memory" and "introspection".

This would seem to imply that having a self-identity is independent of having a memory (or the ability to introspect). Memory is just the mechanism by which one becomes aware of one's background, "always-on", and omnipresent (all-pervasive) self-identity. Self-identity is the object and predicate of memory and introspection. It is as

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though self-identity were an emergent extensive parameter of the complex human system - measurable by the dual techniques of memory and introspection.

We, therefore, have to modify our previous conclusions:

Having a memory is not a necessary nor a sufficient condition for possessing a self-identity.

We are back to square one. The poor souls in Oliver Sacks' tome, "The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat" are unable to create and retain memories. They occupy an eternal present, with no past. They are thus unable to access (or invoke) their self-identity by remembering it. Their self-identity is unavailable to them (though it is available to those who observe them over many years) - but it exists for sure. Therapy often succeeds in restoring pre-amnesiac memories and self-identity.

V. The Incorrigible Self

Self-identity is not only always-on and all-pervasive - but also incorrigible. In other words, no one - neither an observer, nor the person himself - can "disprove" the existence of his self-identity. No one can prove that a report about the existence of his (or another's) self-identity is mistaken.

Is it equally safe to say that no one - neither an observer, nor the person himself - can prove (or disprove) the non-existence of his self-identity? Would it be correct to say that no one can prove that a report about the non-existence of his (or another's) self-identity is true or false?

Dan's criminal responsibility crucially depends on the answers to these questions. Dan cannot be held responsible for Jack's murder if he can prove that he is ignorant of the facts of his action (i.e., if he can prove the non-existence of his self-identity). If he has no access to his (former) self-identity - he can hardly be expected to be aware and cognizant of these facts.

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What is in question is not Dan's mens rea, nor the application of the McNaghten tests (did Dan know the nature and quality of his act or could he tell right from wrong) to determine whether Dan was insane when he committed the crime. A much broader issue is at stake: is it the same person? Is the murderous Dan the same person as the current Dan? Even though Dan seems to own the same body and brain and is manifestly sane - he patently has no access to his (former) self-identity. He has changed so drastically that it is arguable whether he is still the same person - he has been "replaced".

Finally, we can try to unite all the strands of our discourse into this double definition:

It would seem that we accept that someone has a self-identity if: (a) He has the same hardware as we do (notably, a brain) and, by implication, the same software as we do (an all-pervasive, omnipresent self-identity) and (b) He communicates his humanly recognizable and comprehensible inner world to us and manipulates his environment. We accept that he has a specific (i.e., the same continuous) self-identity if (c) He shows consistent intentional (i.e., willed) patterns ("memory") in doing (b) for a long period of time.

It seems that we accept that we have a specific self-identity (i.e., we are self-conscious of a specific identity) if (a) We discern (usually through memory and introspection) long term consistent intentional (i.e., willed) patterns ("memory") in our manipulation ("relating to") of our environment and (b) Others accept that we have a specific self-identity.

In conclusion: Dan undoubtedly has a self-identity (being human and, thus, endowed with a brain). Equally undoubtedly, this self-identity is not Dan's (but a new, unfamiliar, one).

Such is the stuff of our nightmares - body snatching, demonic possession, waking up in a strange place, not knowing who we are. Without a continuous personal history - we are not. It is what binds our various bodies, states of mind, memories, skills, emotions, and cognitions - into a coherent bundle of identity. Dan speaks, drinks, dances, talks, and makes love - but throughout that time, he is not present because he does not remember Dan and how it is to be Dan. He may have murdered Jake - but, by all philosophical and ethical criteria, it was most definitely not his fault.

About The Author

Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He is a columnist for Central Europe Review, PopMatters, and eBookWeb , a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory Bellaonline, and Suite101 .

Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia.

Visit Sam's Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com

palma@unet.com.mk

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Creating Successful Alliances and Partnerships through Networking. How Good Is Your Health?.

2005-10-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

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Douglas Wilder, former Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the first elected Black Governor in the United States gave me advice that I will never forget. He said, "From this point on, when you walk into a room, walk in that room like you own it, when you talk with people remember to stand on your principles, keep your word, and people will want to associate with you." His advice became synonymous with my career and everyday living.

At the time, that advice seemed a bit arrogant, but in retrospect, his advice has granted me passages into many executive suites, corporate boardrooms and has helped me build solid relationships. His advice came at a time when I was desperately seeking to glean knowledge and help from anyone who was willing to share insight on what it takes to be successful in business as a young African-American-especially one on the lecture circuit.

Seemingly overnight, in a section of Fairfax, Virginia, businesses stretching a two-block radius have changed ownership from a predominately-White entrepreneurial establishment to an Asian and Latino establishment. They are receiving thriving support from each other. Granted, I find it great to witness that in the land of milk and honey success can be achieved by all. But, how long will African-Americans continue to allow years of division to stop us from gaining the riches and wealth we deserve?

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Why is it difficult for African-Americans to build business alliances and partnerships with each other?

Marie Johns, President and CEO of Verizon Communications Washington Company said, "Creating alliances and partnerships is a dynamic organic process. It is formed and reshaped. As professionals move to different sets of responsibilities there is a need to network with new people as well as maintain current alliances. One can never say that their network is complete. There are always interesting people with whom one can engage who would end up being a valuable experience."

In today's business culture, having productive relationships for commerce exchange is a way of life. People do business with people they know and with people, they like. They do business by referrals from people whose judgment they trust. Albert Einstein said it best, "Trust is what stands the test of experience."

Similarly, Frank Fahrenkopf, Co-Chairman of the Commission for Presidential Debates said during our interview it's best to "Look for opportunities and see where there is a need, think about it while making sure that you have a plan, set objectives that are reachable then prove yourself by your professionalism as you go along with every small step until you reach the end. It is highly important to be able to articulate your views once your objectives have been set."

It's foundations like Emerging Business Forum who

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see the need and are bringing minorities together as a culmination of the essentials for business growth, knowledge transfer for personal and business relationships. But, does former Governor Wilder have a valid point in how to attract quality relationships? More importantly, what are colleges doing to educate students in creating alliances before they get into the workforce?

Cliff McKnight, Counselor and Associate Professor at Montgomery College in Maryland believes "that colleges should engage students in leadership activities such as clubs and other organizations through the office of student life. It's a major component for student development." His belief is noble. But without a formal setting is joining clubs enough to provide competent networking skills?

Dr. Ivan Misner, President and Founder, of BNI (Business Network Int'l), an international organization that manages two thousand networking chapters says, no! Colleges and universities are not teaching networking skills because the professors don't know the subject matter." Why? "Because it's an emerging topic and many are unfamiliar with the art of networking themselves," Misner said.

After years of research, informative interviews, and hundreds of social events, I discovered the key to creating successful alliances and partnerships is by utilizing the NAAP Approach. The NAAP Approach is coined and defined as a three-dimensional approach to creating long-lasting partnerships. The rules of engagement are:

�€�Networking-First stage, strictly for building a Rolodex of contacts and expertise. Identify professionals that have partnership potential.

�€�Action-Alliance-Second stage, relationship building takes place at this stage. It is important that keeping in touch or practicing due diligence. This process can take months or several years.

�€�Partnerships-Third stage, after completing stages one and two, a shared purpose for partnering can be determined. At this point, there should be a solid foundation for working together; call in your chits.

Contrastingly, Marilyn Crawford, of Primetime Omni media says, "If you have established a genuine relationship with a person there's no such thing as calling in a chit. If you need help with something and you go to a certain person, you are essentially forwarding the relationship. In turn, they are simply forwarding opportunities to other people." Crawford continued by saying, "If I need something from an alliance, I am comfortable enough with the relationship to pick up the telephone and say this is what I need, can you help me? On the other hand, because that person is comfortable with me they will say either yes or no. Just be prepared for possible rejection."

Rejection! Rejection? Many African-Americans will say that the fundamental nature of rejection is nothing new and the word itself carries no meaning until the banks and lending institutions makes the word real. "It's the banks, they refuse to give minorities loans," a woman said while reading the draft of this article. Maybe Rennie Williams, a professional barber dubbed by the Washington Post as a "debater laureate" says what some are afraid to say, "It's trust. Whom can you really trust in business? Many African-Americans don't trust each other and that mistrust stagnates our culture."

In my opinion, the easiest and most effective way to accomplish creating many strong partnerships simultaneously is to:

�€�Go direct to the decision maker. Begin at the top. It's the top down theory. Going direct to the top will eliminate corporate politics that come with starting at the bottom. Top decision makers assign projects to the appropriate person.

�€�Present your credentials before an introduction. Having a good image can open many doors. Presenting your credentials before you meet with potential partners allows them to have an idea of who you are and the past work you have done.

�€�Provide any professional supporting documentation. Submitting supporting documentation such as patents, trade articles, or related accomplishments is often the deciding factor whether executives will accept your request for a meeting.

�€�Have a reason for the dialogue. Make sure the purpose for communicating with potential alliances is compelling. Ask yourself this, is the meeting more to help them or help me? If it is more for them, your chances of collaborating are greatly increased.

�€�Maintain good values, strong ethics, and moral principles. Would you do business with a liar and a cheat? Of course not! Never assume that you know someone's values and ethics. The best rule of thumb is to carry yourself and treat others with the highest respect.

Creating successful alliances and partnerships is critical more than ever before. It takes more than having a college degree and it takes more than just having a prominent job title. Just remember, it doesn't matter how much money you have, creating partnerships that work takes personality and action. Once you put these two ingredients together and see the benefit of the alliances you form, you will understand why Tim Russert, Host of the television news magazine Meet the Press says, "Creating partnerships has been the most important component helping me build my career."

Melvin Murphy
Speaker and author of: "It's Who You Know: Creating Successful Mentor-Based Alliances, Coalitions and Partnerships Through Networking"
Email: MMurphy833@aol.com

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It is a question we must

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ask ourselves continually if we want to live a healthy life. Your health is your most prized possession. Without good health your whole life suffers.

When was the last time you really thought about your health? Last week last month or maybe never it is something we must consider. When it comes to our health we takes a lot of things for granted. We take better care of our cars than we do our own bodies. That car is replaceable your body is not.

It is not enough just to eat good foods and exercise anymore. They are important, but clearly not the whole equation. How many stories have we heard of athletes dying suddenly? Athletes are supposed to be the epitome of good health!

Our bodies are bombarded daily with innumerable microbes and toxins that continually try to destroy our health. We continue to hear news reports of some virus that cannot be killed with antibiotics. Question: what are we to do? Answer: boost our immune systems.

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Our day-to-day survival depends on the state of our immune systems. Poor nutrition, stress, exposure to toxins etc., all hurt immune function. New research strongly suggests that undetected microbes can live in the body for years causing everything from heart disease to obesity.

In 1949, while conducting research on tuberculosis, Dr. H. Sherwood Lawrence discovered a means of �€�transferring�€� an immune system response from a healthy person to a person who is weak or infected. These �€�transfer factors�€� (the term coined by Dr. Sherwood) use white blood cell extracts as transporters for positive immune responses.

Dr. Lawrence�€�s discovery of transfer factor science has been hailed as �€�one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the past half century.�€� So, why have few people heard about it? In 1950, antibiotics were introduced and pharmacology gained new prominence in battling disease, triumphing in both the popular media and the scientific communities.

Researchers have continued to test and explore Lawrence�€�s discovery. 4Life Research participates in this ongoing scientific research, the result of which is the 4Life Research patent of its Transfer Factor product and process.

In conclusion, it is very evident that good eating habits and exercise is not enough if we plan to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We must continually boost our immune systems to enjoy a long and healthy life.

Eric L. Huntley has 23 years of experience in supplementation and exercise. To learn more about Transfer Factors call toll-free 24 hour message 888-402-6432 to recieve FREE booklet.

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How to Dispute Credit Report Errors. Building a Character Wall.

2005-10-21T22:30:00.000-07:00

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Your credit report--a type of consumer report--contains information about where you work and live and how you pay your bills. It also may show whether you've been sued or arrested or have filed for bankruptcy. Companies called consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) or credit bureaus compile and sell your credit report to businesses. Because businesses use this information to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, and other purposes allowed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), it's important that the information in your report is complete and accurate.

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Some financial advisors suggest that you periodically review your credit report for inaccuracies or omissions. This could be especially important if you're considering making a major purchase, such as buying a home. Checking in advance on the accuracy of information in your credit file could speed the credit-granting process.

Getting Your Credit Report

If you've been denied credit, insurance, or employment because of information supplied by a CRA, the FCRA says the company you applied to must give you the CRA's name, address, and telephone number. If you contact the agency for a copy of your report within 60 days of receiving a denial notice, the report is free. In addition, you're entitled to one free copy of your report a year if you certify in writing that

(1) you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days,

(2) you're on welfare, or

(3) your report is inaccurate because of fraud. Otherwise, a CRA may charge you up to $9.00 for a copy of your report.

If you simply want a copy of your report, call the CRAs listed in the Yellow Pages under "credit" or "credit rating and reporting." Call each credit bureau listed since more than one agency may have a file on you, some with different information. The three major national credit bureaus are:

Equifax, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241; (800) 685-1111.
Experian P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013; (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742).
Trans Union, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022; (800) 916-8800.

Correcting Errors

Under the FCRA, both the CRA and the organization that provided the information to the CRA, such as a bank or credit card company, have responsibilities for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To protect all your rights under the law, contact both the CRA and the information provider.

First, tell the CRA in writing what information you believe is inaccurate. Include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your report you dispute, state the facts and explain why you dispute the information, and request deletion or correction. You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled. Your letter may look something like the sample below. Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the CRA received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.

CRAs must reinvestigate the items in question--usually within 30 days--unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all relevant data you provide about the dispute to the information provider. After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the CRA, it must investigate, review all relevant information provided by the CRA, and report the results to the CRA. If the information provider finds the disputed information to be inaccurate, it must notify all nationwide CRAs so they can correct this information in your file. l Disputed information that cannot be verified must be deleted from your file.

If your report contains erroneous information, the CRA must correct it.

If an item is incomplete, the CRA must complete it. For example, if your file showed that you were late making payments, but failed to show that you were no longer delinquent, the CRA must show that you're current.

If your file shows an account that belongs only to another person, the CRA must delete it.

When the reinvestigation is complete, the CRA must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or removed, the CRA cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies its accuracy and completeness, and the CRA gives you a written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the provider.

Also, if you request, the CRA must send notices of corrections to anyone who received your report in the past six months. Job applicants can have a corrected copy of their report sent to anyone who received a copy during the past two years for employment purposes. If a reinvestigation does not resolve your dispute, ask the CRA to include your statement of the dispute in your file and in future reports.

Second, in addition to writing to the CRA, tell the creditor or other information provider in writing that you dispute an item. Again, include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. Many providers specify an address for disputes. If the provider then reports the item to any CRA, it must include a notice of your dispute. In addition, if you are correct-that is, if the disputed information is not accurate-the information provider may not use it again. Accurate Negative Information When negative information in your report is accurate, only the passage of time can assure its removal. Accurate negative information can generally stay on your report for 7 years. There are certain exceptions:

Information about criminal convictions may be reported without any time limitation.
Bankruptcy information may be reported for 10 years.
Credit information reported in response to an application for a job with a salary of more than $75,000 has no time limit.
Credit information reported because of an application for more than $150,000 worth of credit or life insurance has no time limit.
Information about a lawsuit or an unpaid judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer. Criminal convictions can be reported without any time limit.

Adding Accounts to Your File

Your credit file may not reflect all your credit accounts. Although most national department store and all-purpose bank credit card accounts will be included in your file, not all creditors supply information to CRAs: Some travel, entertainment, gasoline card companies, local retailers, and credit unions are among those creditors that don't. If you've been told you were denied credit because of an "insufficient credit file" or "no credit file" and you have accounts with creditors that don't appear in your credit file, ask the CRA to add this information to future reports. Although they are not required to do so, many CRAs will add verifiable accounts for a fee. You should, however, understand that if these creditors do not report to the CRA on a regular basis, these added items will not be updated in your file.

Sample Dispute Letter

Date

Your Name

Your Address

Your City, State, Zip Code

Complaint Department

Name of Credit Reporting Agency

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute are also encircled on the attached copy of the report I received. (Identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.)

This item is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please reinvestigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)

About The Author

Omar M. Omar is the owner of http://www.deleteuglycredit.com. The website is dedicated to provide credit consumers with information about their credit right and how to dispute inaccurate information on their credit report. Omar M. Omar is also the author Of "The Credit Repair Bible" book.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, in your Newsletter, on your website, or in your E-Book, as long as the author's Resource Box is included with the article.

omar@deleteuglycredit.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

For any great novelist, defining your cast of intriguing characters is the key to the success of your story. So how do you maintain the image of your characters�€�both their physical attributes and their personality? It's easy! Build a Character Wall...paper by paper.

A Character Wall is simply a character profile wall. It displays letter-sized pieces of paper featuring photos and key points on the cast of characters in your novel or story. It enables the writer to visualize his or her characters more fully, to give each cast member a face and to bring them to life. It ensures that the basic facts of each character's existence are easily accessible. And it keeps the author consistent with those facts.

There is nothing worse than reading a novel and having the handsome hero's hair color change from sandy brown to black, midway through the story. Or visualizing a ragged z-shaped scar running down the left side of his face in Chapter 2, only to see it miraculously change into a c-shaped scar running across his lower lip in Chapter 15. Of course, we hope that the editor catches these inconsistencies, but in essence, the author would be better off to have an easy and accurate reference. The Character Wall is exactly that!

Let's look at the key elements of building a Character Wall:

Instant, Fill-In-The-Blank Love Letters From A Man To A Woman

You will need a wall�€�any large blank space near your computer where you can tape up letter-sized pieces of paper for each key character in your novel.

* Label each paper with one character's name.

* Find photos of actors who you think physically resemble your characters, and add a small photo to each paper.

* Label the papers with each character's key attributes: profession, age/birthday, marital status/children, best friends and personality traits.

* Label each character's physical attributes: height/weight, color of hair/eyes, scars/tattoos, speech impediments/physical disabilities, speech/tone.

On the Character Wall, keep the main character(s) in the center. As you add the major secondary characters, try to position them in order of their relationship to the main character. Only add a character if they are important to the story or if you need background information or need to create a history, etc. Minor characters like the pharmacy clerk or the gas attendant won't be necessary unless they are truly part of the story.

Shop New Faces - Products for Models and Actors

Consider them extras or background actors, unless they speak more than three times. Sometimes it is helpful to add a strip of paper leading from one major character to another, to help clarify their relationship to each other. Be sure to make notes on the strip.

Some authors have a difficult time naming their characters. Use the White Pages of your telephone book if you run out of ideas for unique names. Figure out whether each character has a nickname or shortened version of their name and note that on their paper. Pick names that fit each character and their specific role or personality. If your lead character is a tough, butch-like cop, don't name her Isabella Maria Fiori. This name would be more suited to the dead swimsuit model that your cop finds in the Presidential Suite of the Fairmont Royale.

Choosing the photos of the actors to play the roles in your novel isn't always easy either. Most often writers already have a clear picture in their head as to what the character looks like. If you can draw, then go ahead and create your character. If not, then go online and search the celebrity sites. Pretend you are a casting agent.

Play-Dead Murder Mystery Plays and Dinner Theater Scripts

Whom would you cast in the role of the mad scientist in your conspiracy theory novel or the dimwitted secretary in your murder mystery? One of the easiest ways to find your actor is to simply watch television. If you are looking for a face to play your private eye, then check out some of the detective shows. If you need a child, watch a good family show�€�if nothing else but to find that face. Find the face that inspires you, that makes you believe "Yes, she is Del Hawthorne!"

As a Canadian author, I have written three novels using the Character Wall method, and I recommend this useful tool to all fiction writers. I selected Charlize Theron and Johnny Depp as the Character Wall models for my most recent novel, The River, a nail-biting techno-thriller that is scheduled for release in late September 2005. In fact, if I have my way, Theron and Depp will become the actual actors in the movie version of my novel. My advice: "Put your Character Wall papers into a binder after the novel is finished, for easy reference and sequel info."

During your novel's progression,

Secrets of Internet Dating

there will be many tidbits of information that you can add to each character's profile�€�secrets from their past, important dates and more. Don't forget to list any bad habits your character might have. If she is a compulsive hand washer, make a note. If he's a nose picker, the note on his paper will act as a reminder and keep you consistent. As each character develops, continue to add any new information to each sheet. Plots change and characters mutate. They grow, they learn things, they react. List anything important to the story.

The advantages of building a Character Wall:

* Not only will a Character Wall help to keep your characters organized and in your face, you will start to really see them. And once an author can see her characters, there is a better chance that the reader will visualize them also.

* Choosing an actor to represent these characters will give them a voice, a stance, a personality, and life. No novel can survive without characters with depth, heart, soul and spirit.

* For anyone writing a novel that might spawn a sequel or could become a series, the wall will act as a condensed information booth. Papers can be compiled into a folder or binder, and stored for future reference.

* And last but not least, you will have at your fingertips an entire casting list for the movie version of your novel�€�once Steven Spielberg gets a hold of it and reads it!

A Character Wall is an invaluable tool that will assist you in staying focused and on track. It will keep you true to the personalities and physical attributes of your novel's cast of characters. And like Rome, it won't be &built in a day', but will evolve over the duration of the creation of your novel. If you build it, you will see your characters, hear them and breathe with them. So build that Character Wall�€�paper by paper�€�and watch your characters come alive.

* * * * * * * * * * *

How to write and publish a novel

Cheryl Kaye Tardif, a Canadian mystery author, is the author of three published novels: Whale Song, an emotional mystery; Divine Intervention, a scorching psychic suspense; and her newest release, The River, a terrifying techno-thriller. http://www.cherylktardif.com or Email Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Designing a Comprehensive Franchise Company Computer System. Freewriting: A Strategy That Will Bring Your Writing To Life.

2005-10-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

IT Project Management Tools Templates Workbooks Guides and Methodologies

One of the most important management tools a franchised company needs is a great computer system. The system must integrate with all the franchised outlets and also be able to interface with the Corporate HQ computer system. There are many companies which have already set up specialty IT systems for franchisors, but much of an off the shelf system will need modification. Be sure when talking with software vendors that you make sure that you get what you want and do not simply fall for the sales approach of them telling you what you need? After all, how on earth would they know that? Designing and/or securing a computer system will require some pre planning thought on your part.

Below is pre-planning exercise I went thru in an outline form to help you determine your own needs. Each company is different and you need to determine what you want, what you may want in the future and make your system scalable and able to handle feature creep as it grows.

Online futures trading, futures trading system, commodity futures trading

You should probably print this outline and modify it to fit your needs and then take a large sketch pad and draw out the your future system. This will assist you when taking to software consultants. Be careful not to take much advice from software consultants on what you will need, but listen very closely to their confidence and ability to make what you envision possible. Think on this, it is one of the most important decisions a new franchisor founder must make.

FRANCHISOR'S COMPUTER SYSTEM

I. COMPUTER PAGING SYSTEM

A. Central Answering Service

B. Alphanumeric Dispatching

C. Customer Data Bases

D. Sky Pagers (Cost)

II. QUALITY CONTROL

A. Outside Vendor

B. Post Cards

III. FRANCHISEE CONTROL

A. Egos

1. Press Releases

2. Cash Flow

3. Toys

4. Life Style

B. Name

1. Trademarks

2. Copyrights

3. Fictitious Name

4. Artwork

5. Logos

6. Programs

C. Money

1. Wells Fargo Bank

2. Royalty

3. Credit Cards

4. Applications

D. Customer

1. Data Bases

2. Faxing

3. Etc.

E. Business Model

1. Spare Trucks

2. Radio Ads

3. Training

4. Bonzai And Blitz

5. Etc.

IV. ANSWERING SYSTEM

A. Press One

B. Press Two

C. Press Three, Four, Five, Six

D. Fax On Demand

E. Credit Card Processing

V. ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE

A. Objectives

B. Reasons And Goals

C. Cost Re-Coup

D. Calculate Exponential Growth

E. Net Worth

F. Royalty Verification

G. Leasing Companies

H. Better Coverage

VI. PROGRAM DIAGRAMS

A. Program Menu

B. Accounts Receivable

C. P & L Statement

D. Balance Sheet

E. Customer Payment History

F. Faxing Data

G. Customer Profile

H. Customer List/Schedule

I. Statements

J. Depreciation

K. Tax Records

VII. FAX MARKETING

A. Fleets

B. Rainy Days

C. Data Bases

D. Corporate Car Washing

E. Rideshares

F. Etc.

G. Timing

VIII. CREDIT CARD DATA BASE SYSTEMS

A. Future Catalog Sales

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B. Internet Sales

C. AAA

IX. ON LINE SERVICES

A. Corporate Employee Program

B. Work Stations

C. Network Interface

X. PAYMENT METHODS (OTHER)

A. Automatic Debit

B. Payroll Withholding

C. Customer Rewards Cards

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Freewriting:

College Admission Essay writing toolkit offering advice, tips, pointers, tools and downloadable temp...

A Strategy That Will Bring Your Writing To Life

Freewriting is a release from the prison of rules. It allows the fastest and deepest improvements to a writer's creative process. Freewriting shows writers how to overcome past resistance challenges. Either in writing, control, or other fears. It returns the power of free thought. It also renews the energy flow with the universal laws of attraction.

Let me recommend that for this writing exercise you use pen and paper. This way you can accomplish it anywhere -- on a metro, waiting for the plane to take off, before a meeting starts or when you are waiting for someone. Laptops take time to boot up, a precious time when memory can become an endangered species.

This process is easy to remember, easy to complete, yet needs pushing to start. The exercise only requires that you write fast for 10 minutes. The goal is to let go of control or any other block. Give your supraconscious, subconscious, and conscious permission to let anything roll out.

Topic doesn't matter. Even if you start with monkeys, run through the grocery or chore list, and finish up starting the first chapter of a novel that you didn't know you wanted to write. You might even start and end on just one topic. Allow and know all is perfect, no matter what appears.

This stream of conscious writing has few goals except to write nonstop during the 10 minutes. Writing well, how fast is fast for that particular writing, paragraph division, spelling, grammar, or anything else doesn't matter. Just keep the pen moving. If you can't remember a person's name or place, leave a blank, e.g., "______." Return later and insert. If your mind goes blank, begin the next sentence using the last one or two words from the previous sentence.

Let me make two suggestions. First, you will want to remember to breathe normally through the exercise. It isn't uncommon to hold your breath or breathe very shallow during the exercise.

Actually, breath reduction is a common occurrence during any type of timed writing. Breathing controls the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain. Less oxygen, less clear thinking, and yes, less creativity and poorer expression.

Second, please be careful not to let this exercise fall into the category of journaling -- personal writing -- in other words, all about you. If you are trying to move away from journaling into other types of writing, or product production, you will want to give up journaling for a short time in order to allow the new process to take hold. Not forever mind you, just a little while, while you learn to open your writing to a higher level of purpose and possibility. The freewriting exercise is one of the best ways to transition to another style of writing.

If you prefer your freewriting exercise to have more focus, you can begin with a concentrated statement. I do suggest that you allow yourself to become comfortable with unfocused freewriting before exploring concentrated freewriting. This transition usually doesn't take long. Maybe a month or two, if completing this exercise as frequently as once a day.

When beginning with a focus, write a question or statement at the top of the page. Give yourself a minute or two to reread the focus, let it swirl around in your mind, and then begin writing. Still you don't want to control the freedom. This means that if the topic begins to go south, give your writing the girth that it needs to do so. If the thoughts stop, you can easily reread the statement or question to trigger the flow again. If you find that you repeat yourself after a stop/trigger/start, let this occur as well. You will find that the repeat usually adds clarity.

A personal preference of mine is to keep my freewriting exercise in a subject notebook. I write "FREEWRITE" on the cover. Previously, when I used single sheets, they became something else I needed to organize. The stack grew. I wanted to toss them out but just couldn't for some reason. The compromise was the notebook.

In the inside front cover, I wrote my contact information, just in case I left it someplace. I number each page before I start to write in the notebook. I also start a reverse (from the back page inwards) table of contents, labeled TOC1, TOC2, etc. in the upper corner. When I begin to start my freewriting exercise, I record the date in the large margin at the top, along with a circled 1. Meaning that is page 1 for that date's freewrite. Then continue the process with circle 2, etc.

Later, if I feel the material is ready to blossom, I type, usually rewriting at the same time. Afterwards, I mark those pages with a light slash corner to corner and write "typed" in the top margin. After printing I sometimes, but don't always remember, staple a copy to the page. I do so in a manner whereas I can still read my original writing. Sometimes after I finish my freewriting, and it isn't ready to be typed, it could be ready to outline. Since I'm a trainer in Mindmaping (clustering), I might also outline in the notebook.

Usually, I have no idea what is going to appear. It usually takes more than one 10-minute freewrite to get to whatever wants to shine. Since I purposely wake up three hours early every morning to devote to my writing, there is more than one segment available for the sun to appear.

Scattered throughout my day I like to add a 10-minute freewriting session. After a coaching call, reading, or watching television. TV programs like, "The Associate" trigger ideas and thoughts, but nothing concrete, and with the freewriting exercise I can pull out what is gnawing at my gut.

The best part of having my exercises in a notebook is being able to reread and see my progress. Seeing the changes in my style, language, and creativity is enough push for me to keep completing the exercise day after day. Even years after completing this exercise, I'm still delighted with the progress I'm seeing. Occasionally, I'm shocked with, "I wrote that." Those are warm fuzzies all writer's need, including me.

Allowing is a major principle under the Laws of Attraction. Here are the 10 gifts that freewriting provides within the principle of the Law of Allowing:

1. Allows the use of good time management skills.

2. Allows less negative energy expenditure for worry or doubt and increases positive energy for creative allowance.

3. Allows separation between the production process and the revising process.

4. Allows dancing around the inner critic.

5. Allows the writer to be in the present moment.

6. Allows the focus to transition from the result to the process, thus reducing the pressure to produce.

7. Allows the mind and heart to melt together into unprecedented language.

8. Allows a virgin flow of creativity to materialize.

9. Allows current emotion to manifest in the writing. 10. Allows a connection between your knowledge and the universal knowledge field.

Catherine Franz, a Professional Marketing & Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Baby Shower Gifts. The History of Costume Jewelry.

2005-10-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

As a host, you need to consider the people that will be on the invitation list. Sometimes, finances are tight and buying gifts are tough. You have a couple of options. First, you could set the tone on the invitations advising that while gifts are appreciated, they are not mandatory. This way, people know they can attend the shower but not feel embarrassed if they come without a gift.

Another option is to purchase a few extra, inexpensive but nice gifts from the funds collected. As the host, if you know someone is one a tight budget, you could tactfully let them know that you had extra gifts purchased so if they need one, they are certainly more than welcome simply to take one to give the couple. This way, that individual could choose a gift to give without feeling bad.

SIBLING GIFTS

For siblings, a new baby in the home can be a stressful and insecure time. After all, they are used to getting all the attention and now, everyone who comes to the door is offering something to the new baby, completely looking past them. To ensure siblings are included, we would highly recommend the following:

Always speak to the sibling before making over the baby...

The sibling will know what is going on while the baby has no idea. Therefore, when you enter the home or place of the baby shower, take just a moment to greet the child. Instead of saying, "Do you like your new sister/brother" put the focus on them. Something as simple as, "How are you, you look so cute! I bet you are the best big sister/brother in the world." You would be amazed at how such a small gesture can make such a big impact. Not only is the child getting the recognition needed but also, the parents appreciate this since they too understand the insecurities occurring with the sibling.

Bring a small, inexpensive gift for the sibling...

Although the purpose of the shower is to celebrate the life of the newborn baby, a small $2 gift is important. You can take a plain

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brown lunch bag, draw pictures or paste cartoons or stickers on it, and inside, add a granola bar, a coloring book and crayons, book, toy car, etc. All these items are inexpensive and can make the baby shower more enjoyable for the sibling.

Cathy lives in Gold Coast Australia, has two children aged 3 and 5 and has been hosting baby showers for friends and family for many years. Cathy is the Author of Baby Shower Moments A to Z Baby Shower Guide and also the owner of http://www.babyshowermoments.com where you will find information relating to Baby Showers. Visit us here Baby Shower Ideas or Baby Shower Invitations

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

"resources for treasure hunting, gold prospecting, metal detecting and exploration."

There is virtually no difference between costume jewelry and antique jewelry. Costume Jewelry dates back to the 1930s. By the definition of antique that would also make it antique jewelry. However, most jewelry experts have come to agree that antique jewelry predates the 1930s.

Costume Jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap disposable jewelry meant to be worn with a specific outfit, but not meant to be handed down through generations. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, out date itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit purchase, or with a new fashion style. It became available in large quantities during the 30s.

Cheap jewelry also existed prior to the 1930s. Paste or glass jewelry as far back as the 1700s. The rich had their fine jewelry duplicated for a variety of reasons, using paste or glass stones. By the mid 1800s with the growth of the middle class there were now different levels of jewelry being manufactured using fine, semi-precious and base materials. Fine jewelry of gold, diamonds, fine gems such as emeralds and saphires continued to be made. Jewelry from rolled gold, which is a thin layer of gold attached to a base metal, entered the market for the middle class. This jewelry was often set with semi-precious gems such as amethyst, coral or pearls, and was much more affordable. And then there was jewelry that most anyone could afford, consisting of glass stones and base metals made to look like gold. All three types were intended to be passed down to future generations.

There are usually clues that can help one identify what era a piece of jewelry is from. Style, material, the type of piece. For example dress clips came in in the 1930s and were out of style by the 1950s. Jewelry reflects styles, designs, colors and stones of the era. For example from

1910 to 1930 silver was the favorite color for metal, so jewelry was found in platinum, white gold, silver or a base metal colored to look like silver. By World War II, gold was popular again but in short supply, since it was vital to the war effort. What gold was available was made into very thin sheets and usually bonded to silver (called vermeil) before being turned into jewelry. By the 1930s rhinestones popularity was ever increasing in Europe. It was not available to the Americans until the 1940s. As a result, many of the pieces from this period tend to feature lots of metal and a single stone or a small cluster of tiny rhinestones.

Today is certainly not much different from past times. We still have fine jewelry, semi precious jewelry, and of course costume jewelry available to us. Costume jewelry can add the finishing touch and show your fashion sense. Costume Jewelry styles of past years are now becoming very fashionable and many are being reproduced. Even with costume jewelry there is a difference in quality. Many of the new pieces do not have the vibrance in the stones or the weight of the older pieces.

Antique and vintage costume jewelry are both fun to collect and fun to wear. No longer is costume jewelry simply "collectable." It is "in style, and" "fashionable," and a terrific conversation starter. Dress to impress!

© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved. Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry,and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Building Your NETWORKING is the Key to Succeed on Home Business. Have You Tested Your Plot?.

2005-10-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

Building Your NETWORKING

SecureYourComputer.NET - Finally, the Easy to Follow, Step-by-Step Internet Security Guide for Ordin...

is the Key to Succeed on Home Business

HERE IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS

There are 100 people on this planet whom you have a reasonable amount of influence. Take advantage of this fact. Make darn sure that every person within your own circle of influence KNOWS that you are in business for yourself, and make sure they understand what your business offers.

When your friend is asked to make a referral, they will recommend you.

PASSIVE VERSUS ACTIVE REFERRAL NETWORKING

When people ask your friends for a referral and your friend mentions your business, that is passive referral networking.

Active referral networking is when you can get your friends go directly to their friends and say "Hey, I have a friend who just started a business. If you are in need of what he offers or you know someone who will need his services, would you please give my friend a call or make the referral to his business?"

If you can get even a portion of the

How to Hypnotically Influence Other People

people in your own circle of influence to actively refer your business, then you have built the foundation to build an advertising campaign even more effective than the average local television advertising campaign.

Think about that for a moment.

Most people only dream of reaching 50,000 potential customers with their television advertising dollars. You now have the knowledge to reach 50,000 people without spending a single penny.

Home Biz Marketer, Proven and Selected Affiliate Program Specialist, Stock Market Investor and Trader.

Ordinary people are making EXTRAORDINARY money WORKING FROM HOME on the Internet! Subscribe to FREE News Letter by email. Send your blank email to: 33homebizparadise@getresponse.com

Owner: http://www.33homebizparadise.com

http://www.itosh10.com

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Graves4Sale.com - the online place for selling unwanted cemetary plots

Creative Writing Tips -

Our plotting stage is our testing area.

Everything in the plot should be tested for its effectiveness before we put in into our stories. If you believe something in your plot could be better, make it better.

Figuring everything out in your plot will save you time rewriting later.

So how do you test your plot?

Start with everything that has gone into it.

For example...

Are the events interesting?
Does your plot contain problems for the character to solve?
Have you given your character a goal?
Is the conflict strong?
Is the resolution of the conflict interesting?
Is the character interesting?
Is the setting of the story interesting?
Will the incident or situation be interesting to your readers?
Etc

Make a list of what your plot contains. Comb through it carefully and tick off each item. If you find that some things need to be worked on some more, work on them.

I know to some this might be tedious work, but...

"Every one-minute you spend in planning
will save you at least three minutes in execution."
Crawford Greenwald

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers' funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com

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What's All This Hype About Links?. How To Get Slim With Healthy Eating Habits.

2005-10-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

Reciprocal Link Manager - Link Manager Plus - Effortlessly Manage Your Link Partners

What's all the talk about links we hear about? Reciprocal links? Non-reciprocal links? Targeted links? Link Popularity? I need links. You should have links. What about the dead links? I don't have enough links! Ever since I joined the link farm, I dropped out of the search engines! Well, you musn't fret; we're going to shed the light on all theses different links. You'll learn the different types, how to get them, how to keep them and how to keep them current.

Over the next few issues, we will investigate the ABCs of linking, look into some helpful software and a take a close look at how Technet has solved this time consuming, but necessary issue for several top sites.

Let's start with some definitions.

Reciprocal Link (Two-way link):

ReciprocalManager.com - Easily Manage Your Reciprocal Links, Increase Your Site Traffic & More!&...

When you link to a web site and that web site links back to you, you have one reciprocal link. Reciprocal links need to be related to your web site's subject matter. For example, if your web site sells Milk, then links from other sites that sell milk products. Sites about dairy products would also be good reciprocal linking candidates. While, a link from say a tobacco company would not be recommended. Your reciprocal links need to be related to your web site's main keyword phrase or subject matter.

Non Reciprocal Link (One-way): These links are the most beneficial and also can be the hardest to obtain. Links from search engines or directories are a form of a non-reciprocal linking. However, the links that hold the most weight with the search engines are from other relevant web sites, sites we have not linked to. When a dairy site links to your milk site because they feel your site is of value to their visitors, it is the ultimate compliment and also holds more weight in the search engines. The best way to get this type of link, is to have unique content that is well written. Your site needs to look professional and sound professional. Related sites will be eager to link to you because you have quality, relevant content.

Targeted Links: Targeted links are just what they sound like, links that are related to your sites main subject matter. For example, if you have a site devoted to music then links from other music sites or music stores are good, while links from a site specializing in window blinds are not so good.

Text Links: Text links are simply that, text links. Text links are very important as a search engine can follow a text link and catalog it. It's like a vote for your site.

Graphical Links: Graphic links, such as logos and banners, may look great and attract visitors, but they cannot be read by search engines and are rarely followed by them. While having a graphical link, such as a logo, can give you some recognition and look professional, it must be well made and identifiable. Furthermore, you should always add alt* tags to the graphic html code, as alt tags help with content and keyword density. A text link directly below the graphic for the search engines to follow should be included when ever possible.

* (An alt tag or alternate text is an attribute added to the image tag in html. It is designed to give a text example of what the image is for people browsing without image support, some search engines count this as part of the page content.)

Links Page: This is very important. Your links page needs to fit into your site. It should have the same look and feel as the rest of your pages. Unless you only have five or ten links on your link page, you will need to have categories and even sub-categories for extensive link pages. It's important to keep the number of links per page as low as possible and never over 100 links.

Adding a small form for visitors to suggest links can be a nice feature and I recommend it, but it also can lead to a lot of off-target links suggestions.

When exchanging links, you will have to show the other site owners where their link is placed on your site. Therefore, you'll want to have the links page well laid out and visually appealing.

Dead Links: This is really a maintenance issue, sites go off-line, from time to time page addresses change, or the site changes owners and the content changes. It is important to check your links often to ensure you don't have a page full of dead links or links that have changed and now point to unrelated content. If you don't keep up on this task, you will soon have a page full of dead links and visitors wont come back to use it. Search engines also frown on pages with too many dead links.

Link Farms: Link farms should be avoided; adding your site to one can cause you to loose popularity or have a negative effect on your Page Rank, joining one and displaying their links on your site can get you banned from the most important search engines. With 90% of web traffic originating from only a hand full of search engines, this is something you don't want to happen. It is almost impossible to reverse and it can take you out of the search engines for up to a year or more. Staying away from places that guarantee hundreds or thousands of links by filling out a form.

Links should be arranged one at a time by contacting the desired site owner, by e-mail or more prefferrably by phone, and notifying them that you want to exchange links. This is the best way to do it, any short cuts or get link quick schemes can lead to trouble as soon as the search engines crawl your site.

Links are very important to any site that wants to rank highly in the top search engine results. The more targeted links you have pointing to your site, the more important your site is to the search engines. It's like a voting system. If 100 sites think your content is worth linking to, then search engines like Google will take notice. However, if 10,000 related sites link to you, then search engines will treat you like a king and you will be on the A list for sure.

About the Author:

Mark Hochhaus owns and operates InHisServiceProductions, a Web site design firm based in Washington State. He also publishes weekly SEO and online marketing articles in an RSS enabled blog titled The Optimizer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of them. Perhaps you're getting married soon and you want to fit into your wedding gown comfortably. Or perhaps you simply want to look (and feel) great in a swimsuit or bikini.

Diet Plan - Why do you overeat? When all you want is to be slim. By Zoe Harcombe, Diet Guru.

Whatever your reason for wanting to be slim, there are some things you can do to become slim while staying healthy. If you are reading this article, chances are you want to know what those things are. Read on then, to find out.

First thing is to assess your current eating habits. This is important because you need to know what's not working. If your current eating habits are keeping you overweight, and you want to be slim, it figures that you need to change those eating habits. If something is not working, change it.

Assessing your current eating habits.

Keep a record of your eating habits for a week. The record should contain the following information:

What you are eating
How much you're eating
When you eat (note the times) - you want to know how far apart your meals and snacks are.
Why you're eating at those times - is it because you're hungry, or are you &comfort eating'?
How you feel after eating - pleasantly satisfied or bloated and stuffed.
How many glasses of water you drink each day

When you find out your current eating habits, you'll need to determine which habits are sabotaging your efforts to lose weight. Those are the ones you want to change. More on that later.

Goal Setting

Determine what your weight goal is. Or you may prefer to monitor your progress in terms of your waistline or hip measurements. Whichever one suits you is best.

Form a mental picture of yourself looking the way you want to look. Goals are more powerful and empowering when we visualize them. Hold that mental picture in your mind at all times.

NOTE: Eating healthily is not all there is to getting slim.

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT - PERMANENTLY! - PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS WHEN YOU LOVE TASTY FOOD!

You must become more physically active (read &exercise') in addition to eating properly if you're to lose weight permanently. This article deals with the healthy eating part of that equation.

Action Plan

Now that you know what your ideal size is, you have a goal that you're working towards. You need to then determine a plan of action to help you achieve that goal.

To help you decide on the right plan, bear in mind that eating should be a pleasure. Ask yourself the following questions:

Which nutritious foods do I enjoy eating ?
How soon after eating do I get hungry again? Most adults get hungry about 3 to 4 hours after eating a meal.
Do I eat only when I'm hungry? Hint: You should.
How can I stay full? Drink lots of water. Scientists recommend between 6 and 8 glasses of water daily. Your body needs it, and it helps you stay full.

With the answers to those questions in mind, form an action plan, and start a new daily record to help you keep track of your progress. This new record should contain the same columns as your initial current habits record. This way you can monitor each improvement and celebrate accordingly.

When deciding on which actions to take, you need to refer back to your initial assessment of your current eating habits. Decide which habits are preventing you from losing weight. Write down alternative habits that you want to cultivate, which will help you get slim.

These new habits you want to form are now your &targets' - milestones on your way to your ideal body shape and size.

Taking Action

To form healthy eating habits, start with small changes.

Don't make too many changes at once. Set yourself main targets, such as &I will drink 8 glasses of water each day', then set smaller targets to help you reach each main target.

Using the example above, a small target could be &I will drink an extra glass of water after each meal'. When you break down your targets, they don't seem so daunting. They seem easily achievable, so you feel encouraged to stick to them.

Decide on the foods you will be eating regularly. Make sure they're foods you enjoy.

Eat small portions, about 5 or 6 times each day, instead of three large meals. This helps keep your metabolic rate high, and helps you lose weight naturally.

How to stay motivated to continue eating healthily

Believe that you can do it, and accept responsibility for your health and for the way your body looks.
Reward yourself each time you successfully complete a small target. Celebrate each small success - don't wait until you've lost tons of weight before you reward yourself. Make the journey enjoyable by treating yourself each time you make progress.
Keep in mind what you hope to achieve - remind yourself of how lovely and healthy your body is becoming each day as a result of your new eating habits. Remember, each small step in the right direction is bringing you closer to your main target.

With a clear goal in mind, a feasible action plan and tips to help you stay motivated, you should find it easy to form habits that keep you slim and healthy at the same time.

Here's to your new healthy eating habits!

About The Author

Ruth Hinson is a successful slimming consultant. She helps women lose weight safely and healthily using the SlymRyte Healthy Eating Plan (tm). Visit www.slymryte.co.uk for more information.

To receive a FR*EE report titled &Get Slim, Stay Slim', please send a blank email to slymryte@blueyonder.co.uk with the words &free report' in the subject line and your first name in the body of the email.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. Please print the article in its entirety unchanged and notify the author by email when you use it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home. 7 Key Ingredients for Rock Solid Website Hosting.

2005-10-18T01:55:00.000-07:00

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Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home

1. Create a communication center on the fridge for messages, chores etc.

2. Make a calendar for everyone to refer to - write in daily schedules, appointments etc.

3. Keep the grocery list posted where all family members can add items as they run out.

4. Create recipe categories that make sense to you.

5. Keep related items together, for example the coffee filters and coffee "live" above or near the coffee maker.

6063-->60-->60-->60-->6. Make a closet, drawer or shelf just for certain items (i.e., bathroom supplies, batteries, cook books).

7. Keep cleaning supplies in a bucket for ease of use.

8. Start a child's file system with a simple container, basket, file or shelf. It may contain information about their medical records, medicines, education, extra curricular activities, memorabilia, etc.

9. Finish one task at a time. Distractions will leave you with a lot of chores that are half way done.

10. Practice the art of wastebasketry.

Y.A.S.C :: Purge-it! The Complete Trojan Protection

Take a minute and clean out, toss and purge whenever you can, don't put it off to another day.

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

7 Key Ingredients

How to Sell Web Hosting For A Profit - Start Your Own Web Hosting Business Today!

for Rock Solid Website Hosting

Every website needs a great web host, however when you are looking online for a host you may be overwhelmed with the wide variety available ranging from absolutely free to relatively expensive. How do you know what you need and what is the best choice? The answer to this depends on your business and whether you will have a lot of business or none at all, however you always want to have more space than you think you will need as well as the following options for a great web host.

Ingredient #1 24/7 Support

When choosing a web hosting company you definitely want to make sure that they have 24/7 support. The reason for this is if you have a problem with your website, you need to be able to talk to someone and have them fix it immediately. As long as the host offers this type of support it should not be a problem. If they don't, you might wait several days with your website down and not be able to contact anyone. Think of the customers you will be missing and all of the lost sales you'll suffer.

Ingredient #2 Large Bandwidth

You want to make sure your web host offers a generous amount of bandwidth in order to support your website and ensure it loads as quickly as possible. The more bandwidth means the more information that is carried and the quicker your page opens. So, make sure you have a web host with plenty of bandwidth to support your site.

Ingredient #3 Excessive Storage Space

Regardless of whether you need it now or not you want a web host that offers plenty of storage space in case you do need it. Give yourself some growing room.

Ingredient #4 E-mail

When you have a web host as well as URL you will also want to have your own e-mail that ties into your company name. Find a web host that offers this as well. Most do, but some might trick you with fine print so be careful.

Ingredient #5 Additional Domains

You may only have one domain name today, but the future holds all kinds of possibilities. Be sure you can add additional domain names if you need to.

Ingredient #6 Domain Parking

If you have a domain name, but do not have your own name server then you will certainly want a web host that will allow you to store or "park" your domain name on their server for your domain to remain valid for an extended period of time.

Ingredient #7 Tools to Manage your Site

While you have found a web host that meets all of your needs, be sure you also have a tool box that will help you manage your site easily and whenever you want. This is really important for you to be able to do, especially if you need to change something like prices, or other important information.

Michael Turner reveals step-by-step how you can increase search engine traffic in his free 7 part mini-series. Grab it now at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Achieve Your Health And Fitness Goals By Getting SMART. 14 Habits For A Happier You and I.

2005-10-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

Achieve Your Health

Smart Stork - baby gender selection, fertility advice and hormonal health

And Fitness Goals By Getting SMART

Get SMART to Get Fit

I'm not sure who was creative enough to make the acronym work, but work it does and it can fit in quite nicely with your fitness goals.

If you want to succeed you need to get SMART about your goals.

SMART is a great way to help you stay on track and achieve your goals.

The S stands for specific. Be specific about the goals you want to achieve. Forget things like, "I want to get in shape", "I want to add muscle", or "I want to lose weight", or "I want to increase my bench press."

Weight Loss By The Numbers - How I Lost 28 Pounds and 3 Pants Sizes in Only 3 Weeks!

Instead try things like "I want to run a 6 minute mile", "I want to add 10 pounds of muscle", "I want to lose 20 pounds of fat, or "I want to add 40 pounds to my best bench press."

The M stands for measurable. This ties in very well with specific. You can't measure 'getting in shape", but you sure can measure 'running a 6 minute mile'.

With a pair of trusty skin fold calipers, you can also measure pretty accurately adding 10 pounds of muscle or losing 20 pounds of fat.

And of course, you can easily measure the poundage increase on your best bench press.

Polish your writing and achieve your professional goals

The specific and measurable aspect can be broken down even more to bring you closer to achieving your goals. For example, if you want to add 10 pounds of muscle, what other specific and measurable things must you do to reach your goal?

One could be that you must eat 6 high protein meals a day.

A second could be that you must eat 3,500 calories and 300 grams of protein every day.

You must train with weights three days per week.

You must add weight to your exercises at least every other workout.

All of these are specific and measurable. The more specifics that you have, the more likely you will add your 10 pounds of muscle as quickly as possible.

You can make a list of your daily, weekly, and monthly goals that you must do in order to meet your top goal of adding 10 pounds of muscle.

Each day, place a check mark next to each measurable and specific goal you achieved that will help you conquer your top goal. Obviously, the more checks you have, the more likely that you will achieve your goal.

In addition to specific and measurable, your goals must be A, or attainable. The R stands for realisitic. As I've said before, it's important to set challenging goals.

Challenging, but attainable, that is. A goal of a 50 pound increase on your bench press max in 12 weeks would be a challenging goal, but also one that is possible.

Bench Press Routine

However, setting a goal of bench pressing 300 pounds in 4 weeks when you currently bench press 75 pounds will do nothing but set you up for failure and frustration.

Obviously, weight loss is on the minds of many people, which is why so many fall victim to promises like "lose 30 pounds in 30 days without getting hungry and without exercising."

As a reader of this newsletter, you know that the above is neither timely nor realistic. But many people do fall for such things because they want results NOW! They are setting themselves up for failure. Please don't join them.

The T stands for Timely. If you do everything previously mentioned, it's still not enough. You must give yourself a deadline to achieve your goal. More importantly, if your goal is attainable and realistic, but also long term, break it up into smaller goals.

If you wish to lose 75 pounds, start with losing just 10 pounds in 2 months. Reaching that goal will motivate you further and before you know it, enough time has passed that you've lost the 75 pounds.

But if you focus solely on losing the 75 pounds, which could take a year or more to accomplish, your motivation and discipline could wane, and you could fail to follow through on what you need to do to make your goal a reality.

Making goals timely hold you accountable and creates a positive sense of urgency.

Wedding Cakes: Wedding Cake Pictures - Photo Gallery

You may think twice about eating that piece of cake when you know you are having a body composition test and pictures taken in 2 weeks.

In addition to getting smart, celebrate your successes. And I don't mean that you should allow yourself to dust off a gallon of ice cream in one sitting because you lost 10 pounds. That would be self defeating.

But you could treat yourself to a movie, or a pair of jeans you've had your eye on, or an extra hour of sleeping in on the weekend. Don't sabotage your wonderful efforts by giving yourself destructive rewards for accomplishing your goals.

Gregg Gillies is a speaker, consultant, fat loss expert, trainer and author. He teaches fitness via his articles, books and courses at his web site http://www.buildleanmuscle.com . He is the author of two books: Complete information on his books, along with lots of free articles are available at his site. And while there, don't forget to sign up for his free newsletter, "Fit Physique".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

BC Sports Picks - Consensus Picks-NFL,College, NBA, NCAA, Football, Basketball Picks!

Many people exercise, play sports, or know someone who does. Having done so almost my entire life, I have a few pearls of wisdom. To gain an advantage, focus on a full body workout. In sports your base (waist down) are more important than your upper body except the mind and heart. It will bring more life to your conversations and rejuvenate your outlook.

I met a 74 year old man playing full court basketball. He was a teammate of Oscar Robertson (The Big O) on the Cincinnati Royals. He's a joy to watch because of his subtle technique and confidence. He has a team called "Man Up". In an effort to "One Up You", let me know how the following works for you.

If you would like to read the definitive book on basketball, I encourage you to check out The Art of Basketball by Oscar Robertson (The Big O). Be sure to interpret the words on the pages correctly and add your touch. Here's wishing you a lifetime of swishes and assists.

Champion Plays - Sports Winners

I'm sure for those who play other sports there is a book. Use your imagination to visually practice the techniques. Try blocking 30 minutes of time, identify the skill(s), count the number of mental repetitions, and sets. Then, try it on the field of play. I think you will like the results. Be sure to lead a balanced life.

Good sportsmanship has its privileges. I recently attended a high school basketball game and am disgusted at the behavior of a few. It must be stopped because it sends the wrong message. Additionally, realize it is about winning the game. A negative habit will only hinder your progress as you progress to the next level and beyond. Be in control.

1. Listen to your body and check with your physician before starting an exercise program

2. Do a variety of exercises

3. Play a sport

4. If a body part hurts, don't aggravate it & seek medical attention

5. During the exercise, mentally focus on the body part you're exercising

6. At least two genuine smiles while resting during an hour workout

7. Vary cardio routines including length of time, day, and speed

8. Have at least one brief conversation before or during workout

9. Compete with a sub-goal in mind (repetition required before going to the next level(s)) and reaching a goal

10. Less is more if done correctly

11. Drink eight glasses of water a day .... Start the day with one glass & drink less with meals .... Don't drink it all at once

12. Eat a variety of nourishing foods (include some fruit, one walnut, one pecan, two almonds)

13. Drink no more than 1.5 cups of your favorite sport drink after exercise

14. Don't eat within two hours of exercising for optimal stomach strength

Raju Gavurla, President of LiiiVEN(tm), Inc. is a Motivational Speaker and Business Development & Growth Consultant.

Health-E-Meals.com - Quick and Healthy Recipes, Snacks, Fitness Tips, Motivation, Links.

Client Modular Approach programs on motivation, communication, and mental health assist you in achieving your professional/personal goals. Contact him at 404.918.7366, e-mail raju.gavurla@liiiven.com or visit http://www.liiiven.com. Copyright 2003-2005 LiiiVEN(tm), All rights reserved. Duplication whole or in part must include this entire attribution.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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What You Need To Know About Spinner Fishing. How to Leverage Your Influence.

2005-10-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

Largemouth bass fishing tips Extreme, guide, lures, expert bass fishing techniques

Many people know just what type of lure they want to use in order to catch the elusive fish. In fact, one of the most common types of lures is called a spinner. Spinner fishing is a great way to get the fish you want. The spinner works by attracting a fish to the location by bumping into things in the water and spinning. This movement will attract your fish. But, what type of spinner fishing lure do you need? Where can you find the one that will work the best for you?

To begin, you need to know what type of fish you are going to be spinner fishing for. What specific interests in this fish are you looking for? Are you looking for a large fish?

► Trout Fishing Secrets

Are you looking to go spinner fishing for trout? Take this knowledge with you to the tackle shop and ask them there what they recommend as a type of spinner fishing lure will work. Or, if you have the time, you can research online what others have used and been successful with.

If you plan to take a fishing trip to a location you are not familiar with or if you plan to fish for a specific fish you have not fished before, it is wise to consult someone who does know. In some cases, you can take a spinner fishing trip with a guide in an area in which you have not been.

Make Fishing Lures

They can teach you what type of fish are available in that area as well as what type of spinner fishing lure has worked for them in the past. This way, you will know just what type of spinner fishing lure is the right one.

Spinner fishing can be a great way to lure in the prized fish you have been waiting for. You can learn just what type of spinner fishing lure to use when you ask questions to experienced local fisherman as well as if you take the time to look up your options online. With so many choices in spinner fishing lures, you are sure to find a suitable choice for your fish. Do enjoy your spinner fishing.

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Independent contracting,independent consultant,employment agreement,independent contractor agreement...

Why do we get into sales? Typically it is two reasons for most people. One is to make money, and the other is often that we like working with other people.

Yes, there are good reasons to be in sales. To be highly effective and win on a consistent basis, we must remember that sales is a team effort. Its great to have a big ego (of course you would here this from me). A big ego will carry you far. A big ego is also a strong ego in my world. A strong ego is someone who knows when and how to put him or herself aside, and bring whole team along.

There are two sales then that we must constantly win to be effective in sales. The first is the one that we talk about all of the time - selling to our prospects and customers. This is where we spend most of our time.

The other is the internal sale. To be effective, everyone who supports us in our jobs has to believe that we are as great as our customers think we are (and we that we are). Top salespeople know this. They make sure that their sales consultants, sales engineers, financing specialists, product support personnel, contract administrators, office managers, administrative assistants and receptionists absolutely love them.

This is an important way to achieve real influence. When your internal team loves you, you are a force to be reckoned with. You can call resources to bear when you need them most. When a big deal comes up, and you need the extra help for the fight, the support staff will want to give it to you because they like you.

Salespeople that behave like raging assholes around their support staff don't get a lot of help when they are in a bind and really need it. Sure, you can have their boss order them to do it. Then their boss will dislike you too. And the first time you stumble, people will be line up to pile on you. And in today's less than certain economic environment, you'll be on high on their hit list.

Having been in sales for a long time myself, I admit that there have been times where I have been less than wonderful to some of my support people. Since I've been there, I know how it happens. You're under a lot of pressure. You've got a quota that you gotta make. Maybe you don't know everyone well because you are new. You are not so certain that you are going to get the help that you need before either losing the sale or being fired.

The common reaction for some people is to become a little Hitler. We have all this work that has to get done. It has to get done now. There's not enough time in the day or in the week. Yet these people that work with us, they don't seem to share our commitment to doing whatever it takes to getting the job done. Doing whatever it takes to win the deal.

So we get strident with them, speaking in stressed out voices with wrinkled faces, repeating over and over just how urgent things are and that they must get done now.

Well, these people that work with us and support us, don't for the most part have the financial incentives that we do. They aren't the risk takers that we are. If they were, then they would be in sales too.

This is the source then of the stress that comes up at times between salespeople and our support staffs. We have different incentives towards the same common business goals of selling products and acquiring new customers.

To be a leader then, one must have perspective. One must remember that while we may be in a risky business, the potential rewards are why we are here. Our support staff do not share the same rewards as we do, nor the same risks.

It is unreasonable then to expect our support people to "do whatever it takes" without having a reason for such a commitment.

You must become the reason.

When you do, you will feel your influence increasing and your power multiplying.

We want to sell and influence our support people just as we sell and influence our customers. That is, first get to know them individually. Find out what their wants, desires, and pains are. See how you can make their job easier and more enjoyable while working together to make more sales. Everybody wants to enjoy their work and to get some fulfillment from it. They will enjoy working with you, and will want to help you.

Doing this will help you to get what you want out of sales - to make money and to enjoy working with people.

Shamus Brown is a Professional Sales Coach and former high-tech sales pro who began his career selling for IBM. Shamus has written more than 50 articles on selling and is the creator of the popular Persuasive Selling Skills CD Audio Program. You can read more of Shamus Brown's sales tips at http://Sales-Tips.industrialEGO.com/ and you can learn more about his persuasive sales skills training at http://www.Persuasive-Sales-Skills.com/

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The Truths About Beaded, Costume, and Cubic Zirconia Jewelry!. Designing Your Website's Directory Structure.

2005-10-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

Shopping for Inexpensive Yet Brilliant Pieces

History of Beaded Jewelry

Beads have been used to create jewelry and adorn costumes since the dawn of time. If you were to look back on the Ice Age you would discover small objects crafted of natural "beads" including animal bones and teeth, seashells and colorful stones. These items were usually attached to clothing or plant fibers to form the most primitive forms of beaded jewelry.

Beaded jewelry symbolizes many

Culture Briefings are your guides to foreign cultures, customs and traditions

different things for different people; different cultures have associated beads with varying spiritual beliefs, cultural customs and social traditions. Beads, like many other jewelry items, have been used throughout time to adorn the bodies of men and women alike, signifying power, beauty and the human spirit.

The very first actual "beads" that have been discovered date back to approximately 38,000 BC. Made by cavemen, these beads were crafted from animal parts. In later times, beads were crafted as symbols of fertility and animal spirits.

During the stone age, beads were crafted primarily as a means of adorning the body; they were also used for trading on occasion however. A couple thousand years later, beads were crafted out of coral and other "precious" substances. In ancient Greece there is evidence that carnelian beads and beads made of lapis lazuli were worn by wealthy members of society.

The Complete Bead Guide - Everything You Have Ever Wanted To Know About Beads!

The use of semi-precious stone beads began to become more popular about 2800 BC among the Syrians, who fashioned beads of materials like agate and serpentine.

Since that time beaded jewelry has become more and more valuable and popular. Gold and other semi-precious stones are often used to craft beaded jewelry.

Perhaps the most popular form of beaded jewelry is glass jewelry. Evidence of the first glass beads suggests that glassmaking was common in Mesopotamia around 2180 BC. Glass beads were popular then and are popular now in part because of their durability and inexpensive pricing. The Egyptian and Phoenician cultures are well known for their use of glass to make beaded jewelry. Beaded jewelry was commonly found buried with wealthy pharaohs in the ancient tombs of Egypt, though it was not uncommon for glass beads to be buried with poor families as well.

In modern times beaded jewelry is popular because of its versatility and diversity. Beads can be crafted from almost any material including the following:

Coral/seashells
Gemstones
Glass
Rock Crystal
Gold
Silver
Stone
Pearls

Beads can even be crafted out of plastic (though this is of course less lovely than some other more traditional options). Though in times of old beads served as symbols of status, wealth and heritage, today beaded jewelry is more much representative of a persons unique style preferences and personality. Beaded jewelry can be custom made in almost any style, using any type of chain and any type/combination of beads.

Beaded jewelry is just as popular today, if not more popular than it was in ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian times. Buying online is easy, and perhaps the best option for bead savvy and not so savvy consumers alike. Buying online eliminates the hassle of traveling from store to store, which can take days or more to find the right beads or beaded jewelry. By shopping online, you have literally tens of thousands of unique selections to choose from. Though no longer traded for food, modern jewelry enthusiasts often engage in bead trading for fun and camaraderie.

Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry is sometimes referred to as "fake jewelry" by some well meaning but unknowing individuals.

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Costume jewelry is crafted from among other items, rhinestones, glass stones and gold plated metal or sterling silver. Costume jewelry first surfaced in the United States around the early twenties; it was very popular among European immigrants that settled into the states during this time. Movie stars and common folk alike wore costume jewelry that was carefully crafted and ornamentally designed.

Costume jewelry, particularly antique pieces, are well worth their weight in gold. Many hand crafted pieces can fetch thousands of dollars on the open market. There are some designers that are more well known than others in the world of costume jewelry:

Napier
Nettie Rosenstein
Ciner
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Hattie Carnegie
Miriam Haskell

Even celebrities currently invest thousands of dollars on costume jewelry every year. Because unique pieces are harder to come buy and rarely mass produced anymore, some pieces created in the early 30s to late 40s can be hard to find. More common are pieces that were created in the 1960s or later. Costume jewelry is fun in part because the wearer is at liberty to make a bold statement. Not modest, most costume jewelry shouts out "here I am, look at me!" An excellent choice for the bold and daring, costume jewelry can be a wonderful accessory to just about any wardrobe.

Costume jewelry collecting has even become a favorite pastime among many jewelry enthusiasts, much like beaded jewelry trading and collecting. The appeal of both of these styles is their uniqueness and diversity. Though in some instances hard to find, costume jewelry can be easily explored via online shopping. When buying online, be sure to have in mind a price range and style before shopping. The selection available online might leave you a bit overwhelmed.

If you collect costume jewelry, you might be wondering just how much it is worth. Just as there are popular designers for look and feel, some designers work is more valuable than others, including:

Ciner
Marel Boucher
Eisenberg
Hobe
Kramer
Vogue
Hollycraft
Monet
Coro
Kenneth J. Lane

These precious gems are often marked when crafted.

Cubic Zirconia Jewelry

Cubic zirconia jewelry has to be among the most popular inexpensive "knock off" jewelry items to buy. Part of the appeal of cubic zirconia jewelry is its remarkable ability to look exactly like real diamond jewelry. Most cubic zirconia is hard to distinguish from its natural cousins.

The widespread use of cubic zirconia became popularized around the 1980s, when it first became mass produced. It is created through a chemical process that combines zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide, which when melted together form a radiant and shiny crystal resembling a natural diamond.

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Most cubic zirconia jewelry is very durable, brilliant and long lasting. Some people have to look at a cubic zirconia under a powerful magnifying glass to distinguish it from a real diamond, a testament to its quality and aesthetic appeal. If you are looking for a clear, brilliant and inexpensive option to traditional diamond jewelry, don't hesitate to shop a wide selection of cubic zirconia jewelry. Buying online provides the most advantages, because there is a wider selection and you have the ability to customize your pieces with the click of a button.

About The Author:
Successful freelance writer, Antigone Arthur has completed a number of informative articles providing valuable insight for consumers on such topics as beaded jewelry, costume & vintage jewelry, and cubic zirconia jewelry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Any kid, and their grandmother too, can make a webpage.

Hartworks: Providing creative alternatives through books, videos, and informative webpages

There are many "wysiwyg" webpage design applications that let you create a webpage as easy as typing text. But only a few people can create a WEBSITE. The stumbling block is knowing how to link webpages together to form a website. I have seen many websites that consist of a single webpage - about a mile long!

The first problem is that websites are contained in virtual directories. You know that your webpages can be found at yourdomain.com, but the actual path to yourdomain.com on the web server may be known only by the system administrator. And the system administrator can move your website to a different folder, or even a different computer, without changing its virtual address.

The second problem is that most people don't know how to write a relative link. Relative links have the advantage that you don't need to know the path to the webpage that you want to link to, you only need to know where it is "relative" to the webpage containing the link.

Designing Your Directory Structure

The first step to implementing a website is to design the directory structure. Let's design a directory structure for a simple download website. The website consists primarily of articles and digital material that visitors can download. You could just dump everything at the

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top level of the website. Good luck maintaining that website!

To keep the files organized, you need to create sub-directories (folders) on the website. Even though the website consists only of articles and digital downloads, you need five sub-directories, as described below.

articles
downloads
general
common
cgi-bin

You understand what the "articles" and "downloads" sub-directories are for, but what are the other three sub-directories for? It's standard practice to provide certain features on your website, as listed below.

About
Contact
FAQ
Privacy Policy
Search
Sitemap
User Agreement

Each of these features requires a webpage. Instead of dumping the webpages at the top level of the website, or mixing them in with articles or downloads, let's put them together in a folder named "general" (I'm sure you can think of a better name).

All of your webpages use certain things in common, for example, your logo graphic. If your web server provides SSI (Server Side Includes) all your webpages can share a common header file and a common footer file. You might also define all your website's styles in a common style sheet. Let's put all of these files in a folder named "common".

Your contact page might use an email form. If your server provides server-side scripts, you would place the email form script in a folder named "cgi-bin". Cgi-bin stands for "Common Gateway Interface - Binary". Few people use CGI any more, and those that do don't use binary files, but the folder name has stuck as a traditional place to store scripts. Almost all websites come with a preconfigured cgi-bin folder, and the website may be configured so that the cgi-bin folder is the only folder with rights to run scripts.

I would also recommend that you create certain sub-directories for some of the above mentioned directories. Most web pages contain images.

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You could dump all the images in the same folder with the webpages, but when you get more than about 50 files in a folder, it becomes difficult to maintain. You should create an "images" sub-directory in the articles, downloads, and general directories. The downloads directory should also have a "files" sub-directory to store the downloads.

This arangement of directories and sub-directories will provide good file organization for the example website. Understanding my reasoning for this directory structure should help you to design a directory structure for the website you have in mind.

Default Page Configuration

Every website has at least one default webpage configured (also called the "home" page). The default webpage is the webpage that is returned when the user enters or clicks on a link containing only the domain name, without a specific file name. On a Unix or Linux web server, the default webpage will usually be "index.htm".

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On a Windows web server (IIS), the default page will usually be "default.asp".

The website administrator, or if your webhost provides the required "control panel" feature, you can actually configure any page to be the default page. If your web server has more than one default page configured, I would recommend removing all but the default page that you intend to use.

Now, let's assume that all of your webpages need to link to an image file named "logo.gif" stored in the "common" folder. The relative link on your default webpage would be as shown below.

"common/logo.gif"

The website file manager interprets this as "look in the folder named common for the file named logo.gif".

However, the link on any webpage contained in one of the sub-directories would be as shown below.

"../common/logo.gif"

The website file manager interprets this as "go up one level, then look down in the folder named common for the file named logo.gif".

This difference in the link may not be a problem unless you use SSI or ASP (Active Server Pages) to build your webpages from a common header file and a common footer file. Then you need a different link in the common file depending upon whether the page linked to the common file is the default webpage (where you would use common/filename) or a webpage contained in a sub-directory (where you would use ../common/filename). There are several ways to solve this problem.

1. If your website has a server-side scripting engine like ASP or PHP and you know how to program, you could implement code that selects the proper link.

2. You could use the complete path, including the domain name, on all pages. This will cause problems if you ever have to move your website to a different web host (Until all the dns servers across the planet have been updated).

3. You could put your home page in a sub-directory, for example "common", and make your default page into a re-direct to your home page. Then you would use "../common/filename" for all links. The following meta tag, placed the head section of your default webpage, will immediately redirect the users browser to your real home page.

meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0,url= "http://yourdomain.com/common/homepage.htm"

In this article, I

Webmaster tools to create webpages the easy way

showed you how to design a directory structure for your website and how to create relative links to link all your webpages together to form a website. Website visitors don't like to do a lot of scrolling, so try to keep your webpages to only two or three screens high. Please, no more websites that consist of only one mile long webpage!

Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

About The Author

Stephen Bucaro

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp.

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Advice for Pressure Washing Companies Cleaning Marina Docks. Doing It eBay: An eBay Business Means Fun and Profits in a Global Marketplace.

2005-10-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Buy, sell or trade your decorative concrete stamping equipment, concrete staining supplies, and conc...

So you are in the pressure washer business and you want to clean the local docks at the Marina. Good plan, let us give you a little advice on this. First you have to sell the account. Explain to the marina manager or the dock master or municipal purchasing agent that their clientele and/or citizens will be very impressed to see that this normally much neglected area of the marina and/or pier is being taken care of and cleaned. It's going to make it much more presentable. The clientele will be happier, therefore will be more likely to keep their moorage in storage there and be happy-paying customers for long into the future. Explain to the dock master or marina manager also that it can be a safety issue. The cleaner and less slippery their docks are the better and safer it's going to be for their clientele. This is also a good selling point. This is an easier sell to government agencies since everyone wants to stay away from lawsuits.

When doing areas that are consistently shaded, or in dark recessed areas, make sure that you remove the excess water to avoid the growth of algae. If you are doing anything inside a building that's over water or anything similar to this, make sure that you remove as much water as possible. You may also want to, in certain situations where their docks warrant it, use a staining product to re-stain the docks to keep them up since a lot of them get weathered and they are consistently exposed to sunlight and harsh salt air and water. For the best products on wood we recommend Lifeguard Water Proofing Products which are guaranteed for five to seven years depending on which grade you buy. You can purchase them at Eagle Hardware, in Canada at Depots.

Other products we recommend are Behr Products, which are the second best and can be found at Home Depots around the country. If they ask you for a wet look go buy a product called Sikkens and this is also available at Home Depot.

If you do any re-staining on decking, be extremely careful not to let the stain material drop into the water as it can sometimes drift and attach itself onto the gel coat of other boats right at their water line. Although it can create some work for you, there will be some unhappy boaters and they will know directly who to go to if you do not work carefully. So, just be cautious, since most stains are lighter than water and they float until they wash up against something, such as a boat hull.

Wood Discoloration Factors and Procedures for Dock Cleaning

There are many types of stains, which can get on a dock at the Marina, if you do not have a pressure washer or steam cleaner and you need to clean these stains you may wish to know how to clean them without expensive equipment. If you have the proper equipment but a stubborn stain, you might want to use these procedures to increase your success.

Algae: Use a diluted bleach* solution (4:1). Saturate algae growth and allow to sit five to ten minutes. Scrub and rinse well.

Extractive/Tannin Bleed: Use a four to five percent solution of oxalic acid. Allow solution to remain on spot until the darkness disappears, then rinse well with water.

Grease: Use a strong household detergent in warm water and agitate with a brush. Automotive degreaser has also shown to be effective when used according to directions.

Mildew: Use a diluted bleach* solution and scrub.

Mill Stamps: There are no solvents available to remove these stamps. Sanding is the most effective means. They will also fade with time.

Leaf Stains: Use a diluted bleach* solution and scrub.

Pitch/Rosin: Scrape the excess material from wood using a putty knife or steel wool and clean the area with hot, soapy water. Turpentine is effective in removing pitch, which is still sappy.

Rosin from surrounding trees: Wipe area with a wet cloth with turpentine.

*Sometimes when cleaning wood with a stain, especially with bleach, the natural color of the wood may disappear. Check with your distributor/supplier for products than can be used to ensure uniformity and restore the wood to its natural color.

Wolmans, Behr, Sikkens, Lifeguard and others have company websites with all this type of information and more. You would be wise to understand these procedures to insure a perfect job. Do it right, do it efficient. Think about it.

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

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Auction Revolution eBay Seller's Quiz

1995, when Pierre Omidyar introduced an online business venue that was essentially a virtual garage sale with auction pricing, no one knew a retailing revolution was about to occur. That site became known as eBay, and it's hard to find someone today who hasn't at least heard about the popular online auction company.

What's important to understand from the start is that eBay is a sales channel that you can use exclusively or in addition to selling through a retail operation, mail order catalog, independent Web site, or network of direct salespeople. You decide the type of business you want to have, what type of merchandise you're going to sell, and how you're going to operate.

To sell on eBay, you'll pay a listing fee to post your merchandise and a final value fee (a small percentage of the sale price) when the item sells. For the current eBay fee schedule, check the eBay site.

What can you sell on eBay?

Though eBay is a popular place for the sale of used items ranging from high-dollar antiques to second-hand junk, it's also a venue for brand-new, up-to-the-minute merchandise of all types and in all price ranges. Deciding what to sell on eBay can be particularly challenging because your options are virtually limitless. Some of the

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more popular categories of items are cars, computers, consumer electronics, books, movies, music, sports items, collectibles, clothing and accessories.

As you take the first step of deciding what to sell on eBay, keep these points in mind:

�½ Have an interest in the product. Don't choose a product based on potential profits alone; be sure it's something you'll enjoy working with.

�½ Cost and sale price. How much will the item cost you and how much can you reasonably expect to sell it for?

�½ Availability. Is the merchandise readily available or will you risk having to deal with supply problems?

�½ Storage. Do you have room to store the merchandise?

�½ Packing and shipping. Consider what is involved in packing and shipping the merchandise. Even though the buyer typically pays the shipping costs, think about your labor, time, and potential breakage.

�½ Seasonal issues. Will the item sell year-round or be subject to seasonal fluctuations?

How do you sell on eBay?

You have a variety of ways to sell on eBay. In addition to the traditional basic auction, where you post your item with a starting price and wait for bidders to drive the price up, you can use a number of other pricing features and auction types. In addition

How to sell on ebay, selling on ebay, ebay stores, ebay secrets, ebay secrets revealed

to auctions, you can also set up your own eBay store, which will allow you to sell auction and fixed-price merchandise from your special location on eBay. You'll pay a monthly fee based on the level of store services you want, plus additional fees for items listed and sold.

The technical side of eBay

eBay has evolved into one of the most user-friendly sites on the Internet. Getting set up as a user is a simple process that you can complete in just a few minutes. You will be required to provide your name, address, e-mail, and telephone

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number, as well as a credit card number and your checking account information. eBay uses this information to confirm your identity, which protects the integrity of their operation, and to collect auction fees. If your contact information changes, be sure to notify eBay immediately.

You must register to buy or sell on eBay, but you can browse around the site without registering. Before you do any business on eBay, take the time to get to know the site. Set aside several hours to get online and browse around, study listings, read the help pages, understand the various tools and how you can use them, check out the forums, and get comfortable with how the site works.

Once your business

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is up and running, you'll probably want to consider using supplemental auction management software, which will save time and money, make you more efficient, and improve the level of customer service you offer.

Getting started as an eBay seller

Start off by buying a few things, then start selling, posting just one or two auctions at a time until you're comfortable with how the process works. You'll make mistakes, especially in the beginning, but if you learn from them they'll be worth the cost.

Keep in mind that eBay is ever-changing. As the economy cycles, you'll experience changes in pricing and demand. And as more people start operating on eBay, the competition will increase and prices may decline slightly (great when you're buying, but not when you're selling).

If you plan to make selling on eBay a full-time business, expect to work hard. Though there is plenty of money to be made on eBay, it's not a get-rich-quick or easy deal. You'll invest as much time and energy as you would in a traditional retail operation--but your potential for profits is greater.

Don't be intimated by the sheer size of the operation, and keep in mind that eBay has reached less than ten percent of its potential market-which means there is plenty of room for you. So find your eBay niche, get online, and watch your business grow.

Jacquelyn Lynn is the co-author of Make Big Profits on eBay: Start Your Own Million $ Business (with

Your Own eBay Consignment Business

Charlene Davis, Entrepreneur Press, 2005) and the author of Start Your Own Business on eBay, plus nine other titles in Entrepreneur's Start-Up Guide Series. For more information, visit http://www.jacquelynlynn.com

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Is This The One?. The Dawn On The Nile Valley "Has" Secrets To Tell! (3).

2005-10-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Isn't that the million dollar question? How can I tell if this is the one? Is this one my soulmate? How will I know when I find the right one? There is no magic answer, but I can tell you what seems to work. I asked a psychic one time if a certain person was my soulmate. His answer, "If you have to ask, then he's not the one." He went on to explain that with soulmates no matter how good or bad a day you have together,

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you wake up in the morning knowing without a doubt that this is the one and you go to bed at night knowing without a doubt that this is the one. Nothing that happens in between those two points can change your mind.

Whenever I find happily married couples in their fifties or older who have been married for most of their lives to each other, I always ask them, "How did you know this was the one?" Every single one of the men answered the same way. They all said that the first time they laid eyes on the girl, they knew in that moment that they would eventually propose to her. For every one of those men it was love at first sight. "But why that one? What made you fall in love with that particular woman at first glance?" Each one answers differently, but they all have a vague unanswerable quality that the guy just knew she was it before they even knew what the girl's name was.

The women all said they thought the guy was nice enough, just okay, or a little goofy but not too bad. None of the women fell head over heels right away. The women were all living a happy upbeat life and were not really searching for a husband when the guy came along. That may be a big part of the mystique that these women created. They were not needy nor desperate. Truth be told all of the lifetime happily married women I know are very strong and independent, but loyal and loving women. None of them are nags nor codependent types.

The thing that all of these couples have in common is that the each one was relatively happy and mentally healthy going about their lives, their goals, and their dreams. All of them planned to some day fall in love and get married to one person for life but none were attached to a soulmate type concept or ideal. None of these people were sexually loose but they weren't complete prudes either. They chose not to sleep around because they had a strong sense of self-respect. Some had religious beliefs that added to the dynamic and others did not. All were of a mindset that you simply didn't whore around for the heck of it.

In all cases, the man chased the woman. You have to remember the deep underlying needs of the male and females of our species. The man must hunt and conquer. If she's too easy to catch, then there must be something wrong with her. Right or wrong, men have a very deep down need to 'win' the girl. They were all upbeat, bright, kind, loving women with full happy lives of their own. None of the women were pushovers and none of the women were easy to 'win.' It was always love at first sight on the man's end, but not on the woman's. The women were not cold and unapproachable, so the men were able to charm them and 'win' them over. All of these relationships had at least a two-year courtship and engagement period. Their eyes were wide open when they said, "I do."

Were they soulmates or just lucky? It depends on how you define soulmates. If you define a soulmate as your cosmic twin, then I'd say no these people were very different types that hooked up and stayed happy together for life.

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In one example, the woman was a devout Catholic and the husband was just sort of generic Christian. She didn't try to convert him and he respected her need to go to mass every Sunday. No, he didn't become any more or less of a Christian then he already was. They each respected the other's right to be who they were. Nobody tried to change anybody. Who they fell in love with is who they stayed in love with. In another example, he was from an extremely conservative religion and she was very lightly Christian. She completely changed her entire way of life to be with him. She gave up makeup, stylish haircuts, jewelry and sexy clothes to become almost Amish in her life with him. She never regretted it because he was everything to her and she came to agree with his family's religious beliefs. In none of the relationships were the couples a twin copy of the other. Yes, every one of those couples struggled in the first years of their marriage to find a balance between 'me' and 'we'. Every one of those couples had to learn to listen, to compromise, to be fully present in the moment, and to show their love in a way that resonated with the other. However, they all managed to live that elusive 'happily ever after' that the rest of us only dream of.

If you define a soulmate as the right one for you, the one you were meant to spend the rest of your life with, the one specially designed to create 'happily ever after' with you, then yes, they were soulmates. No matter how bad things got, these couples never ever contemplated divorce. They didn't stay together because of a vow before God. They stayed together because they couldn't fathom the concept of not loving the other one. Every morning they woke up knowing they were both in love. Every night they went to sleep knowing they were both in love.

About The Author

Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrow's Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith. She became a writer in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, soulmates, and parenting. Her books and articles have inspired people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of happiness. After years of high heels and business clothes, she is currently enjoying working from home in her pajamas. To read more of her articles, sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter, and get free previews of her books go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net.

Skye@TomorrowsEdge.net

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Low cost hypnotherapy training diploma course for only $148.00/�79.00 including final examination an...

Me and Mao Tse-Tung!

My first political experience was with Mao Tse-Tung 1968-69.

That was exactly before the second Sudanese military dictator Ga'far Numeri took over power through his coup d'etat in May 25, 1969.

I was at the final level of my intermediate school and about to receive the results of the high secondary school examination that time.

I read a lot of Mao's Red Books during the second democracy in the Sudanese history.

It was called democracy, but I was not sure if it really was!

I always have a lot of DOTS in the Sudanese way of understanding DEMOCRACY and practicing it, because the three periods of what they call democracy in Sudan led to dictatorship. So, what's the odds?!

Well, early in that year of my age in the intermediate school, I had much respect for Mao Tse-Tung so I wore one of his Red beautiful Medals on my T-Shirt just over the heart.

I came this way one evening to the school and found my class-room door closed. Just before I put my hand on the doorknop, I heard the heavy steps and the voice of the headmaster coming along the corridor. I pushed the door open and entered the class-room to hear some of the students singing and to see one of them dancing.

At that specific moment and exactly while I held my index finger over my lips saying "shhh", the headmaster entered, glanced like an eagle and captured the full "prospects". Everything, even the small details. He was a "rightist" member of one of the top governing parties.

The student who was dancing was a son of a well known Islamic figure in the town. And I who carried Mao's thoughts am a son of a well known unionist member. The majority of my comrades were from the middle class, except few who were aristocratic.

So, when the headmaster heard the music, saw who was dancing there and glanced Mao Tse-Tung on my chest, he got crazy enough to pull Mao until my T-Shirt came into pieces on his fat hand.

I was not afraid at all although he gathered all the school next morning to lecture the students about that event and to punch us. He slashed everyone of us very hard 30 times in front of all the students.

It was happened in the second turn of what they call democracy in Sudan!

So, for this reason and other logical political points I say: Sudan knows no democracy since what's so called independence!

We've got up to this moment right there two political categories consist of: 1- The Military Dictatorship! and 2- The Civil Dictatorship!

And since the Civil Dictatorship built up its mechanical majority dependent on the climate of illiteracy, it still influences the very simple and traditionally Muslim Sudanese people by an alleged Islamic emotions.

So it gave the army its "climax" three times to bring those militant adventuerers to power. The army took over power not to correct this situation but to be more and aggressively fundamentalist.

Nowadays the third military dictatorial regime plays the political game very wise, by importing the same Islamic emotions and using them against the innocent Sudanese people, its neighbors and the World.

Khalid Osman
--
ezine-act-politics-business-and-love.com

Khalid Osman is a webmaster. He was a teacher, a journalist and a freelancer with 30 years experience. He wrought in Sudan, Iraq, Kuwait and Eritrea. He was a freelancer contributed in many newspapers and magazines published in London, Paris, Cyprus, Amman and Beirut.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Benefits of Web Hosting and Choice of a Web Host. Busy Mum's Guide to Losing Weight.

2005-10-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

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

Well let me start this way, a lot of people don't know why we need web hosting packages, some people feel web hosting ids just another Internet thing, while others feel web hosting is an opportunity for some people to make out something i.e. money making.

But lets ask ourselves what is WEB HOSTING. Web hosting is the ability to move a business or information, product content, research to the Internet. Also a web host is the person who offers web-hosting services to clients, persons or business

Web hosting has many benefits, among them is

1. Advertising your business ideas and potentials on the internet; in today's world more and more people are driven by the need to have Information, on anything from Tourism, to potential businesses, the safest Banks etc

2. Web hosting also provides jobs for people who can act as resellers for web hosting companies or act as server based Network or Affiliates to other web hosting companies who pay commissions to such clients.

So far web hosting is a million dollar business as it attracts more and more people by the day. One good thing you should do is to choose web-hosting companies that will offer you other services like free domains or web space, web designing script management and web templates. The choice of a web host is another great concern. A lot of people have fallen prey to bad web hosting companies, some web hosts are not so efficiency as they seem and kill so many business. I have seen an instance where a web host who had thousand of clients because of Spam killed their business forcing thousands of their clients to go else where, so to solve such problems one has to avoid such crisis.

One great way of avoiding such problems is to listen to people and find out from people who have hosted their services on the Net, how efficient their web host is. Don't be too attracted to web host that are so cheap and fall prey to their services. Some web hosts are very slow to upload while others enjoy great benefits because they had a listening ear. No doubt, there is no site that will enjoy 100% trouble free operation, but a key fact to find out is how often your site is down. Another thing is never be in a hurry to change a web host always lay your troubles to other people who are in the business and find out how they cope with such problems.

For me patience is the key, never be too in a rush in choosing a web host and don't play it down on cost. Of course everyone would love to be very fast and act right in changing hosts as long as the problem persists.

Finally, I would recommend two web hosts that can stand the test of time as having being efficient for a long while.

One Template .com is web site design so versatile, you'll use it again and again!

Uzoma Eze is Web consultant and Infopreneur the web host I strongly recommend are:

www.betteryourselfbooks.com
www.19jawebhosting.com

Uzoma Eze is an inforprenuer, publisher, and web designer. He is also presently a student of Statistics in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Abia State.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Triathlon Training and Swimming Workouts for Beginners

Hormonal changes during pregnancy, and quite normal fat gain often makes many women feel unattractive and sometimes quite depressed. Many women still believe that "eating for two" is the way to go during pregnancy. I am sorry if I disappoint some of you, but this really is not the case. If a woman eats to satisfy her appetite, her weight will usually increase by about 3.5kg (8lb) in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and then by about 0.5kg (1lb) a week until the end of the pregnancy. The total weight gain during pregnancy will be about 12.5kg (27lb). Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can raise blood pressure and increases the risk of becoming obese (very overweight) in the future. Although women should not restrict their food intake or go on slimming diets when pregnant, there is no need to increase food intakes significantly until late pregnancy. Incidentally, those who do gain weight over and above what is normal are the ones who struggle most with post-pregnancy weight loss, and fatigue.

LATE PREGNANCY
The estimated averaged requirement for energy (EAR) increases during the last three months of pregnancy by an average of 800kJ (200kcal) per day... equivalent to 2 oatcakes with ricotta cheese and fruit spread and 2 dried figs - a snack like this would provide extra iron and calcium too - 2 vital nutrients to increase during these latter stages! At this time a woman's energy expenditure from physical activity is usually reduced.

So what can you do to lose any unwanted pounds gained during pregnancy?

For new mums!
The most natural, safest and easiest way to lose weight after giving birth is to breastfeed! Breastfeeding can burn up to 500 calories a day (the equivalent of a good workout) so helps drop excess pounds and enables many women to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight without too much effort.

Baby Development Milestones: The Secrets of Best Babies

Breastfeeding not only gives your baby the best possible start in life, but it also gives you added incentive to eat healthily and sensibly. Breast milk is not only the perfect food for your baby; it is also your baby's main protection against disease and infection. Baby's first milk or "colostrum" provides vital IgA antibodies (the first-line defence antibodies) received in the first 24-48 hours of life! These are not found in formula milks. Naturally the health of the mother is paramount in passing on healthy immunity to the child. Many protective antibodies are "anti-allergenic" protecting the baby against developing food allergies, asthma, eczema and other allergic conditions. Breast milk has the perfect fat and protein profile for the baby, and nutrients such as iron and manganese are much more absorbable in breast milk than they are in formula milks. Furthermore, only breast milk contains chromium (essential for controlling blood sugar levels), selenium (an important antioxidant), and normal levels of essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are vital for the baby's brain development. Lastly, breast-feeding helps to establish a protective bacterial population in the infant's digestive tract - yes, those "friendly bacteria" we hear so much about!

During the early weeks of motherhood... breastfeeding, regular daily walks, and "intelligent" eating is the way to go.

N.B. DO NOT DIET WHILE BREAST FEEDING

Fat cells contain toxins and nasty "residues" of foods eaten in previous years! Losing weight too quickly releases these stored toxins into the bloodstream. Often the liver cannot clear them quickly enough, and for breast-feeding Mums, these can easily be transported into breast milk. Remember you'll gradually lose weight quite naturally if you can breast feed. Dieting only reduces the nutrient quality of your breast milk, reduces the level of sugar in the blood and the level of certain brain chemicals. This leads to binge eating and mood changes - so DO NOT diet, especially while breastfeeding!

You must look after yourself...
In order to give your baby the best start in life, the first consideration has to be the food you eat. It is important to have an adequate intake of nutrients, particularly the B vitamins, zinc and EFAs. Foods such as oily fish, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, avocados, almonds etc. contain all these types of nutrients making them excellent snack foods or additions to salads, soups and stir-fries. The quest to cut down on calories by avoiding all fatty foods generally results in a deficiency of EFAs, which are vital to the body's metabolism.

Suggested meals and eating times for pregnant or breast-feeding Mums:

7-8am - Breakfast (Oat porridge with soya milk, chopped banana + pumpkin seeds or ground linseeds)
10-11am - Snack (a pear and 6-8 almonds)
1-2pm - Light Lunch (Small baked sweet potato with tuna, tomato, avocado and salad)
4-5pm - Snack (fresh fruit, rice cakes and fruit spread)
7-8pm - Evening meal (poached fish or grilled chicken, salad, steamed veg & brown rice)

Other snacks (nut and seed mix, fresh fruit, raw crudit�½s and ricotta dip)

N.B. Try almond or rice milk occasionally on homemade cereal. Use Tahini (sesame seed spread) or almond butter on breads & crackers, pure fruit spreads instead of jams, and use cold flax seed oil (rich in omega-3 fats) daily. Other beneficial oils include olive oil for cooking, and using cold walnut oil and pumpkin seed oil on salads, rice and vegetables.

In terms of portion sizes, work more to your natural appetite, and begin to better recognise TRUE hunger signals. If you think of hunger on a scale of 1-10, only eat when feeling about 2/3, and STOP when you feel satisfied, around 7-8. This "appetite scale" is a key tool and one I often use when helping people with weight problems and "emotional" eating - i.e. eating to fill an emotional void, rather than purely for fuelling reasons!

Dietary advise for all Mums
Watch your sugars!
Sugar is a major culprit in weight gain and obesity. Being hooked on sugar and sugary foods is easily passed on to children and a recipe for developing blood sugar and energy imbalances, behavioural and weight problems.

Easy Gourmet Chocolate Cakes & Co. ebook

Biscuits, cakes, chocolate bars, processed foods and low-fat foods contain the most "hidden" sugars. Read food labels carefully, and try and get you and your children used to more natural foods and natural sugars. Natural sweetness is present in many fresh foods. Try doing taste tests with the children, identifying different flavours and degrees of "sweetness" in fruit and vegetables, dried figs, apricots and raisins. Use honey used in cooking or drizzled on plain yogurt! Eat up to 4 pieces of fruit a day and encourage your children to do the same. Fruit such as bananas, apples, pears and berries in the summer are great snack foods to have between meals. Get out of the habit of giving sweets or sweet food as treats. This only becomes a learned habit and one, which you were probably taught as a child! Sweet things soon become something we turn to when feeling low or depressed, or something we often reward ourselves with. Try also not to use high fat and sugary snacks to fight boredom. Engage the children in a game, or take a trip to the park.

Healthy snack foods
It is OK to snack, providing a) that you are hungry and b) the foods that you snack on are nutritious. There are some good examples below! Protein foods eaten as snacks tend to fire up the metabolism more effectively than carbohydrate dense foods such as bread, biscuits, scones, flapjacks and cake. These are not the best foods for maintaining energy levels or burning fat due to the disruptive effect they have on blood sugar levels, and the ease at which excess is eventually stored in fat cells as FAT! Slow-releasing carbohydrates (fresh vegetables and wholegrains, and low-sugar fruits) and protein foods better balance blood sugar, promote energy and help to burn fat.

Here are some perfect examples of small snacks and meals to give you energy and kick-start the metabolism:

An apple or pear and a palmful of almonds
Other fresh fruit with a handful of pumpkin or sunflower seeds
2 oatcakes with mashed avocado, or Tahini spread
A tuna or poached salmon salad
Aduki bean and chickpea salad with lettuce and tomatoes
Vegetable crudit�½s and hummus
A bowl of chunky homemade vegetable soup
Stir-fry tofu or chicken and vegetables

Feeding children healthy snack foods is critical to develop good eating habits. It also means that if you are tempted to finish off leftovers, at least they will be healthy leftovers!

Great snack foods for the children (and Mum!):
Mini rice cakes thinly spread with almond butter or pure fruit spread. A few strawberries, pieces of pear or some grapes.
Carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes.
Popcorn - instead of crisps - use olive oil over high heat. Sprinkle some whole corn kernels into a pan. Cover and wait for the popping to finish. Empty pan immediately to avoid burning.
Yogurt lollies - Mix fruit juice concentrate with natural yogurt to desired taste and freeze in lolly moulds.

With children, it is better to give a couple of alternatives for snacks or foods at meal times, rather than saying "What would you like? Offer them an apple or a banana when they come in from school or nursery. Children need your authority (not your lack of willpower!). Lay the lunch or dinner table with 2 or 3 choices of things they can eat, and use lots of colours and shapes.

Children's health and vitality largely comes from the food they eat. By teaching your children to eat healthy, nutritious foods, you will also be teaching or re-training yourself to understand how diet can make all the difference when it comes to looking and feeling your best!

Dietary advice for Mums
Eat regularly, 4-5 times a day.
Eat 4-5 pieces of fruit a day.
Keep sugars and refined carbohydrates to an absolute minimum.
Avoid carbohydrate-dense foods such as bread, scones, biscuits etc. during the day.
Snack on fresh fruit, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, �½ an avocado etc. All these foods keep blood sugar levels stable, reduce sweet cravings, and nuts and seeds contain EFA's. Remember, EFA's are essential for normal metabolic functioning and remove stored fat from fat cells.
Try and eat fish as a main meal at least 3 times a week.
Drink at least 2 litres (3 �½ pints) of filtered tap water a day.
Don't eat late, especially not a high fat, high calorie meal.
Eat a large bowl of fresh salad everyday.
Cut right back on tea and coffee and avoid all together if breast-feeding.

Suggested meals and eating times if you want to lose weight:

7-8am - Breakfast (Chopped apple & pear, live plain yogurt + 1 dessert spoon of seeds)
10-11am - Snack (2 oatcakes with Tahini spread)
1-2pm - Light Lunch (large salad with tuna, tomato and avocado) 4-5pm - Snack (1-2 pieces of fruit)
7-8pm - Evening meal (steamed or grilled fish, tofu or chicken, salad, steamed veg & 1 tbsp. wholegrain or basmati rice)
Other snacks (peaches, raw carrot, olives, celery and tomato)

N.B. Try soya or goat's milk on cereal. Use dairy-free spreads such as Vitaquell margarine or Tahini (sesame seed spread) on bread & crackers, pure fruit spreads instead of jams, and try flax seed oil (rich in omega-3 fats), sesame oil, or walnut oil on salads, rice and vegetables.

Some exercise advice when you've found your "me time"!!! Exercise (coupled with a healthy eating regime) makes all the difference when trying to regain pre-pregnancy, or simply an ideal weight and shape. Exercising regularly can be difficult with babies and young children... BUT, it is not impossible!

Keeping fit and toned creates a happier person, a happier Mum, and happier children. Surely that's incentive enough! Staying active with energetic children is easy, and at the same time it's helping keep the metabolic rate active. However, to really burn excess fat, it's necessary to literally "train" the body to do this. Regular cardiovascular exercise that significantly raises the heart rate has to be a major consideration when wanting to lose weight. The sooner you can start a regular programme of aerobic activity the better.

Brisk or power walking, jogging, steady cycling, mountain biking, aerobics classes, step classes or swimming are great examples of cardiovascular activities that are particularly effective at teaching the body to better burn body fat. Try these exercises for 30 minutes 3-4 times a week if possible. It is important to take time out for yourself, so don't feel guilty about doing this. Husbands, partners, parents,

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

friends etc. can watch the kids while you go for a 30 minute brisk walk, a gym workout, a swim, or continue with your favourite exercise class. Alternatively, cr�½ches nowadays are very accessible and a &haven' for many busy Mums. They can be very useful, and a great opportunity for your child to begin interacting with other young children.

Sitting at home is a recipe for eating too much so try and spend as much time being active with your children. Weather permitting, spend time in the garden or park, go walking, and involve yourself and your child in activities such as throwing and catching a ball, swimming or tennis.

Pelvic floor exercises - essential after giving birth! Try and perform some "pelvic floor" strengthening exercises. These can be done literally anywhere and at any time of the day. The pelvic floor muscles become weakened after pregnancy so need to be worked in order to avoid embarrassing "leaking"! The easiest way to do this is to imagine you're desperately trying to stop the flow of urine. Squeeze the muscles upwards, HOLD for 30 seconds, and then release. Complete this exercise up to 20 times, twice a day if you feel these muscles have become weak. It is also important to re-strengthen weak abdominal muscles. Abdominal curls are one of the best exercises to tone and flatten the abdomen, so try and do a couple of sets after your 30 minute aerobic sessions. With any exercise, perform the movements slowly and in a controlled way, working to the point of "muscular fatigue" (i.e. the last few are hurting!).

Tips to remember
* Be active as much as possible
* Take time out for yourself
* Try and routinely do 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 3-4 times a week
* Cut out sugar and sugary foods
* Get used to naturally sweetened foods such as figs and grapes, and raw vegetables such as carrots and tomatoes
* Replace desserts with fresh fruit or have a salad starter instead
* Avoid carbohydrate dense foods throughout the day
* Drink part fruit juice and part water to increase fluid intake
* If you're a new Mum, remember breast is best for natural weight loss!

Lucy-Ann Prideaux MSc BSc RNutr Registered Nutritionist

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Guerilla Marketing Lesson 2: Why Do People Call Me?. Self Improvement and Living in the Present Moment.

2005-09-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

Real Estate Investing at Flipping Homes - Make Money Flipping Real Estate & Ugly Houses &amp...

Before we begin, I want you to think about how many times you actually sought out an advertisement. How did you know where to look for it? Why did you choose that one? Whether you know it or not, the number of times you were exposed to the message has a huge impact on you. Also, the message and how it made you feel had a large influence on your response.

On the other side of the table, how do you know how well people are responding to your advertisement? If you are spending your hard earned cash advertising, you should be able to tell exactly what type of response you are getting and be able to track the performance of your ads.

The above are two separate but related topics that need to be evaluated when developing an advertising campaign. And as with all marketing programs, it begins with demographics and your expected return on investment.

Step One: Know your audience. Once again, what is your target audience? For a real estate investor, what type of property and owner situation are you looking for? What are your customer's hot buttons? Back to the initial question in this article, if you responded to a print ad, you responded to the one that stuck you emotionally and fills a need.

Step Two: Speak to your customer's needs. Think about this, if you are facing a foreclosure and need to sell your home yesterday, to which ad would you personally respond:

"I buy ugly houses. Fast Closing, Call our 24 hour recording (800) 668-6688"

"Need To Sell Your Home For Cash? Let me help you. If I can't buy your house I will find someone who will. Foreclosure? Not a problem. Call me right now (949) 858-1877"

If I were in dire straights, I would choose a real person over a 24 hour recording and a local number over an 800 number. Also, I would be more likely to respond to the advertisement that is offering an action (to help) instead of just stating what they do. Finally, I would probably be more likely to respond to the ad that has a call to action "Call me right now" simply because it told me to do so.

What is the moral of this story? Make sure your ads speak to your prospect's emotions. Always have a call to action in the ad, and always be available to receive the call. If a prospect takes the steps to call you, they are in the mood to deal right then. If you don't answer the phone, they may or may not leave a message before moving on to the next advertisement.

Step Three: Periodicity: One of the first questions that I asked in this article was how would you know where to look for an ad? The answer is periodicity. If an ad has been run continuously, prospects will know where to look for it when they need it. Rarely will a prospect take action when they are first exposed to your message. However, if it is in front of them on a weekly basis and they need your services, they will immediately know where to look for your info. Run your ads continually. If your placement is correct, you should be making a return on investment from your advertising so keep your message out there.

As a personal example of the necessity of continual advertising, I found a local pizza place through our local Pennysaver. They run the same ad every week. After a couple of months of scanning the periodical for investment opportunities, I ended up ordering pizza from this place. Their food turned out to be great however, I did not write down the number. Their advertising worked, they recruited a customer.

However, the next week I was in the same scenario and was craving their pizza. I flipped opened the Pennysaver looking for their ad so that I could get the number and order dinner. That week they had discontinued placement and their as was not running. Instead of going to the hassle of calling information or opening a the phone book, that night I ended up grabbing a bag of chips and proceeding with my routine of looking for deals in the Pennysaver. They lost a sale simply because they discontinued ad placement and I, like most people, didn't have the motivation to go searching for their information.

To summarize the message, repeat your advertising enough to make your customers know where to find you. They will call when they are ready.

Step 4: Tracking Response: If you are spending money advertising your services, you should be able to know the exact response per ad you are getting. With that in mind, find a way to track the calls to your specific advertisements. For me I use different telephone numbers for different ads. Also, know the circulation of your advertisement so that you can gauge how well the masses respond to your message. Finally, know what return on investment you are getting for each month's worth of advertising. More to the point, know how much money in the form of deals or purchases is coming in as a result of your advertising.

In summary, make sure your print advertisements and classified ads speak to your prospects' emotions. Include a call to action in your ad, and always include a way to track your response. Finally, remember that you must run your advertisements often to grow the response that you need.

About The Author

Barrett Niehus is a principal in IP Ware Real Estate Investment Software http://www.realtysoftware.org and a part time real estate investor. Mr. Niehus has served as a marketing consultant for a number of product launches and has written extensively on the topics of marketing, sales and business development.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Visioform Personal Growth Resources offers the ebook Beyond Suffering

Having clear goals and desires for our future, and planning for their fulfilment are vital steps if we are serious about self improvement and achievement.

Delayed gratification is something that is practiced by many successful people, even if they aren't aware of it. In simple terms, delayed gratification means making sacrifices now in order to achieve greater rewards in the future.

Most successful people become successful because they take actions and make sacrifices that less successful people are not prepared to do or make. However, in order to live a well rounded life and enjoy a rewarding lifestyle, we also need to be able to make the most of where we are at any given time.

Most of us have on ongoing internal dialogue within our minds, even if we aren't aware of it. We rehash events that have happened to us in the past and replay them in our minds, both good and bad. We also visualise events that we expect to happen to us in the future, both good and bad. When we're at work we spend time thinking about our domestic lives, and when we're at home we think about our problems at work. If we're not careful our days can slip by without us really noticing.

This can happen so easily, that we sometimes need to make a concerted effort to enjoy each present moment - or run the risk of depriving ourselves of a lot of pleasure. Planning for the future is essential, and we can all learn from the past. However, savouring the present moment and enjoying the simple pleasures, like a beautiful sunset, or the joy of a laughing child, or a walk on a deserted beach with a loved one, can make our lives infinitely richer.

Self Improvement Quote of the Day:

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." - Buddha

Garry Zancanaro is the founder of Self Improvement Directory, a website dedicated to Self Improvement and Personal Development, and to helping people live more successful and fulfilling lives by providing a directory of the highest quality Self Growth resources available. Includes many FREE eBooks and much more. Visit http://www.SelfImprovementDirectory.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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The One-Minute Horse Training Manager. Bob the Dragon Slayer - Book Review.

2005-09-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

If your life

Sales Training, Selling Tips & Selling You: Sellfire.com Is Your Source.

is so busy you literally only have a minute or two a day to spend with your horse, then here are 5 smart training tips you can use to keep your horse "tuned up" when you have just minutes a day.

Smart Tip #1: Practice Backing Up

Suppose you just fed your horse some hay and he's eating. Assuming you have enough room to get beside him, put your finger into his chest and get him to back up. Getting a horse to back up is a basic and essential lesson horses should know. Plus, when you get a horse to move in a direction you want him to move, you earn respect from him.

Smart Tip #2: Practice Getting His Head Down

Just before you feed your horse approach him. When you get to him pet him a couple times. Then put your thumb and first finger on his poll and push down. Do not increase the pressure of the push. Instead, on a scale of one to ten, push at a one. Then say "head down". If he doesn't drop his head increase the pressure to a two. Then say "head down". Repeat the process increasing the pressure until his head drops.

When his head drops, reward him with a petting above the eyes on the forehead.

Over time, work on getting him to drop his head down where you can easily put on a halter.

Smart Tip #3: Quick Lunge

If you have a minute or two, before you feed your horse slip on a halter with a lead rope. Lunge your horse left and right a few times and get him to back up and come forward. You can accomplish this in just about two minutes.

Smart Tip #4: Pick Up The Feet

Before feeding your horse, go pick up his feet. You should start with the front feet. Remember to reward each time he does what you ask. Then go to the back feet.

Horse Racing Systems, Free Handicapping Tips & Free Horse Picks - BW2

If your horse is sensitive about picking up his feet you can make amazing breakthroughs over time by doing this in just minutes a day.

Smart Tip #5: Brush Your Horse

Before feeding, approach your horse with a halter and brush in hand. Put on the halter then brush him. You do this because you want him to associate the halter with pleasure and he'll come to you almost every time. Thus, whenever you want to ride or work with him, and you approach with a halter, he's more willing to let you catch him.

About The Author

Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com. He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery's horse training methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com/Jesse_Beerya.htm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This very fun, exciting, fast-paced, warm novella - Bob the Dragon Slayer by Harry E. Gilleland Jr. - was a great afternoon read. In only 99 pages, this poet and author takes readers on a glorious adventure.

Bob, an orphaned peasant lad witnesses a dragon destroying an entire village and dreams of becoming a knight. Within a short time Bob is presented with a historically important magical sword by a strange wizard named Stephen.

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The trouble is that no one else can see the wizard who only appears when people are not around. This does not damper the doubt in the minds of those around the ambitious peasant boy.

Bob's fierce, but chance victories with dragons build respect from the people throughout the land. Soon it is discovered that Bob has royal lineage - in fact the brave peasant dragon-slayer that had once desired to be a knight above all else, is actually the rightful King. Bob becomes the only hope of uniting the people of his land against an evil King bent on conquering and destruction.

Saving the kingdom with the help of his mighty sword, a meddling wizard and loyal friends takes the young man on adventures he had never dreamed of before. Far beyond involving dragons, damsels in distress, civil war and romance, he also had to think his way around of legal obstacles along the way and politics between peoples.

This is an excellent book for anyone over the age of 10.

ISBN#: 1411633156
Author:

Essential reading for every worship leader Building a House of Worship by John Pape Jr.

Harry E. Gilleland, Jr.
Publisher: Lulu Press

~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment - Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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America Stands Tall in The Wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Secret to Lifetime Fitness.

2005-09-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

Your Opinion Matters - Get Paid To Work At Home by Premier Companies Offering Guaranteed Jobs Makein...

The Hurricane Katrina tragedy once again shows the strength, compassion, and toughness of the greatest nation in the world. Through all the hardships American people, companies, institutions, and governments are all working hard to solve the short term and long term needs of the Hurricane Katrina disaster victims.

Walmart the largest retail chain in the world has donated 15 Million Dollars to the relief effort. The Walton family has donated an additional 8 Million dollars. In addition Walmart has said that any Walmart employee who is out of work because of the disaster just needs to report to the nearest Walmart store after they resettle and they will have a Job.

Harrah's a large casino gaming company with casino's in New Orleans and Mississippi has announced all employees will be paid for up to 90 days. Colleges all over the country have agreed to admit students from the gulf area so they don't have to miss a semester or more of classes.

Many Cities across the country have stepped up and agreed to take some of the evacuees and provide them with food and shelter. Companies in these cities are offering jobs to the Hurricane Katrina Disaster victims.

Grade school children are adopting families and selling lemonade and cookies to raise money. Seniors with little resources are using donated wool to make blankets and sweaters and ponchos for the victims. People are lining up to donate blood, man phone lines and collection centers. Music concerts are being organized to raise money.

Even the international community is getting involved with assistance being offered by over 60 countries.

America you will not only get through this tragedy but you will emerge bigger stronger and prouder then before. New Orleans and the other great southern cities effected by this will never be the same but I know in my heart given time to heal and repair they will be even Better then before.

About the Author
Mike Makler Offers Financial Services (Mortgages,Life Insurance, Annuity) in Florissant Missouri which is in North St. Louis County Missouri Just Across the Bridge from St. Charles Missouri

Call Mike at 314 398-5547

Visit Mike's Web Page:
http://ewguru.com/finance

For Missouri Specific Insurance and Loan Questions:
http://ewguru.com/Mo-Finance

Get Mike's Newsletter Here
http://ewguru.com/fin-news

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

I consider myself

Christian Finn's Facts About Fitness

a fit person. Of course, I am not a professional, world class athlete either, but I have learned a few things about fitness and how to achieve a "feel good/look good" level that I am happy with. I used to be sporadically active in my early 20s, until a few years back I decided it was time to take fitness seriously and make the necessary changes. My motivation? Envy. Yes, I was envious because my boss - a woman much older than me-looked younger than her age and said she felt great after her workouts! I was never obese, maybe only slightly overweight, but I wanted to look and feel good, so I embarked on a journey of discovery.

I have a co-worker who wants to do the same: she's about 40 pounds overweight and only about 4' 11" tall. It breaks my heart to see her struggle and fall prey to the latest "fad" or "diet" to hit the market. She spends money on gym memberships and "diet clubs" that charge her for so-called "advice" and food. So I decided to give her big "secret" to a lifetime of fitness. You want to know what it is? Ok, here it goes:

FITNESS EDUCATION

I mean your fitness education. You, my dear reader, have to educate yourself if you have decided you want to live a fit life. And let me define what I mean by fit, or, better yet, what I don't mean by fit. I don't mean:

�€� Spending hours at the gym everyday
�€� Starving till you pass out
�€� Sacrificing day in and day out over your "guilty" foods
�€� Giving up your social life and friends
�€� Taking magic pills or spending thousands on liposuction
�€� Achieving the "movie star" look overnight

What I mean by educating yourself is that you have to read, read and do more reading. Study fitness: separate fact from fiction. Apply your knowledge. Listen to your body. Remember genetics. And most importantly: have patience.

I am sorry that my secret is no "silver bullet". It will require time and effort to understand yourself: how your body works, how it processes food, how it can either flourish or decay. But there is no other way around it. Unless you learn and form your own opinion about what works best, you will NOT succeed in achieving a fit lifestyle. That I can guarantee.

Vera Vanicek is VP of Marketing for The Beach Collection, Inc., in Hollywood, Florida. Vera promotes an active lifestyle through her line of beach gear at http://www.animaltowels.com. Learn how to become fit at http://www.alienstyles.com/Links.htm

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Time Management. IRS Certifies 2006 Toyota Hybrid for Clean Fuel Deduction.

2005-09-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Does it ever feel like there is never enough time in the day? Are you always rushing? Do you feel stressed at the end of the day? Do you believe that you are not accomplishing what you hoped? Better time management may be the answer.

Dr. Respect at http://marcusgentry.blogspot.com says we must "protect, organize and prioritize our time". If you are having any of the above listed difficulties, then my guess is you are missing at least one of those elements.

Protecting our time is important. We all have the same amount of time in a day. It's what we do with it that is critical. Do you find yourself doing things you really don't want to do or spending time with people who take more than they give? These are examples of not protecting your time.

Your time is your gift to spend, as you will. You can spend it wisely or you can waste it. It's your choice. However, one thing you can't do is get it back to do over again.

Sometimes we all do things that we don't really want to be doing but when we do, it should be in furtherance of a bigger goal that we have. Maybe we don't want to be going to work today but we want to collect our paycheck at the end of the week, so it's something we choose to do to get to the bigger payoff.

However, there are things that we do that just aren't important, don't lead to anything and waste our time. Can you think of any activities that fall into that category for you? Do you know that the average American watches on average three hours of television each day? How is that for a time waster?

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I know when I first got my computer, one of the things I unwisely spent my time on was computer games. I don't mean an occasional game here or there. I'm talking about an addiction, an obsession---playing solitaire until 2 AM. If I didn't get that under control, I would have not only been wasting my time, but I would have been wasting my life.

I have three general categories for which I like to protect my time. One is for making progress toward my work/life goals. These are the things I do to move me forward in life. These are generally geared toward helping people in some way, generating more clientele, and increasing my revenue streams.

In this category, it is my sincere hope that one day I will have enough

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income to hire out all those necessary jobs that I don't love to do so that I can focus all my time on the things that are my passion but until that time, there are still things I do to move myself forward that I don't totally love. However, I try to get them done as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

The second category would be spending time with people I care about---those people who nurture me. I protect time for the special man in my life, my sons, my extended family and my friends. There are some people whom I avoid when I am protecting my time. They are the ones who generally take more than they give. Do you have people like that in your life? If they can't be totally eliminated, at least minimize the time you give to these people.

The third category would be simply things that bring me pleasure or joy. There are things I do that I can do alone or with others when I need relaxation. I like to read a good book, watch a good movie, horseback ride, canoe, ski, walk in the woods and something I got to do this weekend---swim. Protect your time so that you get to do the things that bring you joy.

Organizing your time has to do with having a good time management system. Don't wait until something is due tomorrow to start on it. Have a good plan and systems in place so you are in charge of your time instead of your schedule being in charge of you. Learn more about time management systems in our Time Management teleclass.

Another aspect of organizing one's time is maintaining laser-like focus. Did you know that the average person's mind wanders around seven to eight times a minute? Developing good work habits that include staying focused until the job is done is critical to organization.

Prioritizing your time has to do with deciding what's most important. I said I have three categories---goal-oriented actions, time with important people and time doing enjoyable activities. They don't necessarily prioritize in that order.

There must be a balance. I know that when I spend too much time working, I start to feel on edge and tense. This is generally a strong indicator that I need to switch my focus to one of the other areas. A person cannot be in control of their time if all they do is goal-oriented activity. A healthy balance is necessary for good time management and a healthy lifestyle.

To learn about stress management, visit www.Coachingforexcellence.biz and schedule a time management workshop for your workplace or check our events calendar for upcoming teleclasses, chats and workshops.

Kim Olver has an undergraduate degree in psychology, a graduate degree in counseling, is a National Certified Counselor and is a licensed professional counselor. Since 1987, Kim has extensively studied the work of Dr. William Glasser's Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Lead Management. She was certified in Reality Therapy in 1992 and continued her studies to become a certified instructor for the William Glasser Institute. She is an expert at empowering people to navigate the sometimes difficult course of life---teaching them how to get the most out of the circumstances life provides them. These are incredibly powerful ideas with equal application to one's work and personal lives. Kim can work with you to empower your staff and clients and propel your organization to the next level.

To learn more about Kim and how she can help your organization, visit her website at http://www.Coachingforexcellence.biz

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The Internal Revenue Service has certified the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid as being eligible for the clean-burning fuel deduction. This certification means that taxpayers who purchase one of these hybrid vehicles new during calendar year 2005 may claim a tax deduction of up to $2000 on Form 1040.

Under Working Families Relief Act of 2004, which was signed into law in October of 2004, the clean-burning fuel deduction is limited to up to $2,000 for certified vehicles first put into service in 2005 and $500 for vehicles placed in service in 2006. No deduction will be allowed after 2006.

Federal Law allows individuals to claim a deduction for the incremental cost of buying a motor vehicle that is propelled by a clean-burning fuel. By combining an electric motor with a gasoline-powered engine, these hybrid vehicles obtain greater fuel efficiency and produce fewer emissions than similar vehicles powered solely by conventional gasoline-powered engines.

This one-time deduction must be taken in the year the vehicle is originally used. The taxpayer must be the original owner. Individuals do not have to itemize deductions on their tax return to claim this deduction. This benefit can be taken as an adjustment to income on the Form 1040.

The amount of the deduction for the

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Toyota Highlander Hybrid was set after the manufacturer, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. documented for the IRS the incremental cost related to the vehicle's electric motor and related equipment.

A $2,000 tax deduction? I'm off to my local Toyota dealer!

Richard Chapo is CEO of http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses by finding overlooked tax deductions and credits through a free tax return review.

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