What's Holding China Back?

We have added many new words to our regular vocabulary in recent years and a lot of them have come from the Internet. However probably the most used of them all is Google as a substitute work for search. It can be taken for granted that you can find an answer to any question, review of any topic or information on any item by typing in a few relevant words and “googling it”. Imagine this situation whereby you wanted to find out about a travel destination you were thinking of visiting in South East Asia and “googled” it only to find that you got very few results. You would probably think, “that’s funny, I know Thailand and Vietnam are very popular tourist destinations and there are bound to be newspaper and magazine reviews, traveller discussions forums and chat rooms, informational sites about famous attractions, etc.”. Then you notice on the Google results page some text stating that certain sites have been blocked because of either politically sensitive material on the site or just because the site itself is not an accepted source. Suddenly the Information Age has become the Dark Ages in that the only information you are allowed to know is what the establishment tells you that you are able to know.

Now why am I telling you this and what does this have to do with a firewall or China? Well four of the biggest players in the business world, let alone Internet world, have made deals with the One-Party, Chinese Government whereby they will restrict content and access for Chinese Internet users. These companies, who incidentally are fierce competitors, are Microsoft, Cisco, Yahoo and probably most surprisingly, Google. I say Google is the most surprising as they are the youngest of the four companies and have turned so many things in the industry upside-down by their free and universal access to information policy which extends to visions like providing free wireless Internet for users in major cities. Basically this means that Chinese users when using the Internet services provided by these companies, will find their access to information severely compromised and as I said this has potential to extend beyond just specifically politically sensitive information. It could also restrict sites just because it may come from a source or area that may be in opposition to the Chinese government. In case you were wondering, Cisco is a company that provides network devices for most major companies and governments around the world. Many estimates state that 80-90% of all Internet traffic goes through Cisco equipment meaning that they are in a position of power to create a barrier or in computer terminology, firewall, between China and the rest of the world.

In case you didn’t realise how serious this has become, a Chinese journalist was jailed for 10 years for posting a negative comment about the government on a regular discussion forum. Now China has about 30,000 employed cyber police whose job it is to track people like this down. When it was found that it came from a normal Yahoo mail account, Yahoo provided the local authorities with the name of the person and as mentioned he was soon sent to jail. Perhaps this is why Google have decided not to host any mail servers in China itself. Currently in the US, these four companies are all facing questioning by Congressional hearings about there dealing with the Chinese government and whether their censorship based on political reasons is against overall US interests and laws. The general response from all companies so far has been that it is better that the Chinese people have access to a little information then none at all. There are also 110 million Internet users and growing in China, making it a very profitable area for these organisations. However they all would welcome US government involvement is helping settling this issue, which is unlikely to happen. China has threatened to create their own World Wide Web if companies don’t comply with their standards which would split the Internet in two and be catastrophic for global commerce and social relations. For a country about to host an Olympic Games in two years, welcoming huge amounts of tourists, especially from the Western world and reaping the economic benefits of opening up their country to capitalism this shows there is still a long way to go before China will achieve the global economic and political supremacy for which they seem destined. China’s recent successes are based on their increased interconnectivity with the world and step backwards like these will only postpone their own success.

TILL NEXT TIME........

Chris JacobCybill Blog70233
Cristin Blog41965

Advantages and Disadvantages of Broadband Phone Service

Broadband phones, also known as VOIP are catching on faster than ever. And no wonder, since the monthly cost of broadband phone service, including long distance, is probably cheaper than what you pay to your phone company for just a dial tone. Yes of course you need a highspeed Internet connection that you connect your broadband phone to, but a majority of homes have that anyway, so this is just another service that takes a minimal amount of that speed away, and only uses it when you are having an active conversation on that phone.

Yes, broadband phone service is extremely popular. In fact, about a year ago the number of new phone activations in the US that were broadband phones or VOIP phones surpassed the number of new traditional phone services for the first time in history! Yes, there are advantages, as well as some neat features offered by some (not all) of the broadband vendors. But there are also some disadvantages, so lets take a brief look at both angles.

The Advantages

As stated earlier, broadband phone service is significantly cheaper than traditional phone service. Most broadband phone services include unlimited long distance calling in the continental US, as well as locally. With traditional phones, you either pay a huge premium for the unlimited feature, or even with a discount long distance plan, you are still paying about 2.5 to 3 cents per minute (or more) for long distance calls.

There are many vendors and companies offering residential broadband phone service, it seems like everyone wants to get in on this. But from what I have observed, the most expensive place to get it is from your cable company! Yes, your cable company, the same one who provides you with cable TV and maybe also cable Internet service, will typically offer you broadband phone service for almost TWICE what you can get it for elsewhere. It pays to be a knowledgeable shopper!

Yes, almost everyone has heard of Vonage, and this service can be purchased at places like Best Buy, Circuit City, even Walmart. But again, you are paying about 20% more than you need to, if you realized what else is available out there.

For long distance, some broadband phone plans include Canada for the unlimited calling area, and some also include Puerto Rico. Some like Packet8 have separate plans to allow you to call Europe and/or Asia. Be aware of where you want to call and verify if that is included in the carriers plan.

A word regarding the unlimited part its not really unlimited, at least not according to the definition of unlimited that I read in my Funk & Wagnall. Most carriers allow about 3000 to 4000 minutes per month, then they may call you and ask you about such excessive usage, maybe thinking you are a business (higher rate) or using some kind of auto-dialer (a strict no-no).

The Disadvantages

Remember that with broadband phone service, you make and receive you calls via your highspeed Internet connection. You need to have a GOOD connection, not on the fringe areas of DSL. And if all you can get is satellite Internet, then hang it up, because VOIP on satellite is not going to be pretty at all.

Since you are using your Internet connection, it should be stated that if your Internet connection goes down, so does your broadband phone. Thats right, so if you need phone service and your Internet connection is not reliable, you may want to think twice about VOIP phone service.

Do you run part of your business from your home? If so, is fax any part of that? Today, from virtually any carrier on the planet, fax is not reliably supported, sending or receiving, via a broadband phone connection. If fax is important to you, you will want to have a phone line from the phone company dedicated to your fax machine, or subscribe to one of the online fax services.

Broadband phone service can save you a bundle, but you need to understand your usage requirements and needs before selecting which carrier is best. It is more, MUCH more than different carriers just having different pricing. You need to look at the whole package to ensure you are getting what you think you are paying for.

Jon Arnold is a computer engineer and long-term world traveler who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about VOIP and a comparison of popular VOIP offerings at his web site at http://www.broadbandphoneinsideinfo.com.Ddene Blog69324
Crysta Blog94283

Hypnosis and Religion

As a Christian hypnotherapist I believe it is important to know that Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state, commonly experienced on a daily basis when we lose awareness of surrounding distractions. We all enter the hypnotic state just before we fall asleep at night, and again just before awakening in the morning.

Other forms of hypnosis include daydreaming, becoming engrossed in a book, movie, or sport. While in hypnosis, the subconscious mind will not allow a person to do or say anything against their moral or ethical beliefs. Hypnosis is neither a belief nor a religion. It is not even a matter of conviction. Used in therapy, it is simply another tool, further, hypnosis has no need to be defended. When properly used by a trained professional, it defends itself by the results obtained.

The good it does speaks on its behalf. I wonder if God used hypnosis when He "...caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam..." (Genesis 2: 21). Was formal hypnosis used in Bible? Were hypnotic techniques used? Paul speaks of being in a trance [Acts 22:17) and Peter "fell into trance" [Acts 10:1-48] Paul gazed into his eyes and he was healed [Acts 14:9-10) Something else is evident. Not for his own benefit, but rather for the sake of those He helped, Jesus very frequently used the power of suggestion in his ministry. In fact in all his parables He suggests some specific truth regarding his Kingdom. He said: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto..."

We see what may be considered the classical example of Jesus using the power of suggestion in His great parable of The Good Samaritan. He ends the incident by telling the lawyer: "...go, do likewise." That lawyer nor any of those with him or anyone present was hypnotized by Jesus. Yet, they received the same suggestion. What they did need but had failed to recognize was the one thing Jesus suggested: "Show mercy to him who is in need!" "Be his neighbor!" In all his teaching, Jesus often used metaphors. His message of the passing of a camel through a needle's eye can readily be understood as teaching about values and priorities. How can anyone miss the message conveyed in Jesus' statement about faith enabling the individual to cause mountains to be removed!

A powerful suggestion this is of self-confidence based not on self-sufficiency, but on divine help. Besides Jesus' divine power working, in many of his signs and wonders we can see the power of the suggestions. Trained in Clinical Hypnosis by instructors who teach the Ericksonian Approach, I think it is reasonable for me to submit these views.

Helping people meet their needs, solve their problems or find a feasible way to cope with them is the goal of therapy. Hypnosis is merely one more means of helping the client reach his/her goals. I have the privilege of helping my subjects understand that hypnosis will help them work toward their good. People with whom I have worked have corrected previous misconceptions and have actually been complementary about hypnosis. Many have remarked that it helped them significantly and some have simply stated that "It is just simply relaxing and wonderful"

Hypnosis is a great and wonderful tool and more professionals should use it. CEO's use it, pro athletes use it and so do the most successful people in all areas of life. It is without doubt the most beneficial, powerful and result oriented tool available to all of us, yet most people never even know it. Better yet, after you master it, it costs nothing, is easy to do and can be utilized immediately. Many practitioners in the various areas of health care have incorporated it in their practice. More and more, regardless of their specialties, medical doctors use hypnosis to better treat their patients. Many of them are now referring their patients to hypnotherapists. For a long time most scientists opposed the use of hypnosis in therapy. They considered it as of little or no value. Many discarded it as "hocus pocus". Nevertheless, thanks to the constant, indefatigable efforts of those who see its true value, Hypnotherapy is now recognized as a true science in the medical field. Surely this should help the general public to have a better view about it.

All things can be used for good or evil. Even religion. Wars have been fought and are still being fought in the name of religion. There is nothing new under the sun and that includes "hypnosis". Godly people and prophets went into "trances" to receive revelation from God. When you are trying to replace a bad habit with a good one, you are, in essence, renewing your mind.

Dr. Bunny Vreeland Ventura County Hypnotherapist Bunny Vreeland serves Camarillo, Oxnard ,Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Ojai, Moorpark and Santa Paula California Bunny Vreeland provides hypnotherapy solutions for weight loss, hypnosis to stop smoking, IBS, fibromyalgia, stress relief, and more. Dr. Bunny Vreeland can be reached at 800-755-4083 or 805-984-1237 or at http://www.bunnyvreeland.comCelka Blog97388
Cornelia Blog15769

7 Feng Shui Tips For Spicing Up Your Lovelife

Are you happy with your lovelife or would you like to see it improved?

No matter who you are, there are times when "the bedroom" is not the loving and fun room it should be. There are of course numerous reasons why this may happen but there are some simple things you can do to help you make things better.

Your bedroom acts as a magnet both literally and metaphorically for your relationships. It is also where you sleep during the night renewing your energy levels in preparation for what the world has to offer to you the next day.

It is most likely where your romantic life is centered - unless of course you like to experiment - perhaps you're a free spirit who likes to commune with the outdoors ;-)

Your bedroom is your and your homes sanctuary.

The positioning and layout within it plays a massive role not only on your passion and romance chances but also your health, wealth and other relationships in general.

Careful attention should indeed be paid on this highly important room. When you get it right, positive energy (called "chi" by the Chinese and "ki" by the Japenese) will flow easily through your home.

Get it wrong...

All things in life are connected at the minute quantum level and the following information will help guide you so you and your relationships flourish:

1. Make sure your bedroom "feels" inviting - it must fulfill the role of a place of safety for you. When you look at the state of your bedroom now - what does it say to and about you? Does it say "I'm at home with myself" or is it a big jumble and in disarray? Is it just functional - it's purpose only for sleeping in your eyes, if so - if you want your love life to change, then this has got to change too.

2. Look around at all of the items - furniture/trinkets etc... in your bedroom. Do you have good/loving memories and feelings for these items? Or are there items which hold bad memories? If there are - get rid of them, they hold a residual energy and act as a constant reminder to your non-conscious mind. How about photos? Are there any old flames "hanging around" - again, chuck them out - you do want to move on to a new relationship - don't you?

3. Your bed should be the focal point of the room - this is where both "action" and "inaction" takes place, where you are both energized and renewed. Does your bedroom have a "personality problem"? Is it in effect multitasking? Do you have a home office or perhaps a treadmill beside you? Again, these items should not be here. You want to focus on your relationships rather than your body or mind in this room - move them out. If this is not possible due to space constraints, you will need to use a screen to keep them "at bay".

4. The ever present TV. Yes it can be cosy to curl up in bed and watch a great movie but a TV sends out a stream of positive ions (rather than positive chi) - this device is "yang" in nature and will ensure your body does not get the rest it requires. It also represents a 3rd party in the room - not particularly conducive to a stable and healthy monogomous relationship... Once again - the TV has got to go.

5. Make sure your bed is as far away from the door to your room as you can. If you are unable to see the door, you will feel ill at ease at a subconscious level - this is because you will sense you cannot see if an intruder will enter your room (heaven forbid!). This unease will of course impact how you rest at night.

6. Choose a bed which has a solid and sturdy headboard. In Form School Feng Shui, the headboard represents a supportive mountain to your back.

7. Your bed holds residual energy from those who have come and gone before. In an ideal world, if you have had a partner and wish to attract a new one, you should purchase a new bed. This gives you and your new relationship an optimal chance to flourish. Regardless, you should invest in the best bed you can as if you sleep 8 hours per day, this means you will spend 1/3 of your entire life in it!

Tracy O'Brien is a long time student/practitioner of the art of Feng Shui and also founder of FengShuiAstrology.com. Visit now for more Feng Shui Tips and a FREE Feng Shui Astrology Personality Profile: http://www.fengshuiastrology.comCeline Blog6615
Daune Blog93956

Dealing with Distractions

In todays business world it is not uncommon for many sales people to work from a home office. At first this may seem like a great opportunity, however, it does create some unique challenges. One of the biggest obstacles is the number of distractions that can take us away from our work and prevent us from achieving our objectives.

When you work from a home office it is easy to get distracted from work, especially if it is work that you do not particularly enjoy like prospecting or cold calling. Watering the plants, running errands or even doing laundry can be a welcome change from the daily drudgery of selling. And, if you have young children, the number of distractions increases dramatically.

I, too, work from a home office and have had to deal with this challenge. Here are a few ideas that can help manage these distractions and improve your productivity.

- Create an office. When I first began working from home almost a decade ago, I used to work at my dining room table. Unfortunately, this put me in the middle of our household action. My wife would turn on the television and I would be instantly distracted from my work. In other cases, she would talk to me or ask me a question simply because I was in the same room. As a result, it was often difficult to focus on my work. Now I have an office and do the majority of my work there. If you dont have space to create an office, find somewhere in your house that has the least amount of traffic and opportunities for distractions.

- Set specific business hours. This is particularly important if you have young children. It can be very difficult for children to understand that they cant disturb us while were working. If you have an office, close your door and place a do not disturb sign on it. This is particularly important if you are making client calls because it prevents family members from inadvertently barging in on you during a critical call.

- Use a to do listeveryday. Having a list of what you need to accomplish each day can help keep you focused; otherwise, it becomes too easy to do other things around the house. If you know that you need to accomplish a certain number of tasks by the end of the day, it can prevent you from getting distracted during the day. One of the challenges with this is that household duties or running errands are more enjoyable compared to work we have to complete. However, I have frequently found that once I get involved in my task, the desire to do something else fades.

- Set deadlines for the projects youre working on. Although I dont have anyone holding me accountable to these deadlines, it find that this approach can help keep me on track. You can also share these deadlines with other people to help keep yourself focused especially if this type of accountability works for you.

- Give your permission to relax from time-to-time. Its okay to allow yourself to get distracted once in a while. As long its not a regular occurrence, you dont have to worry too much about it. However, if your relaxation time overtakes your work time, then you need to reconsider your priorities.

- Share your goals and objections with a group of advisors. This type of accountability works well for many people because they know they will have to report their progress on specific projects.

- Recognize that the results you achieve are a direct result of the effort you put into your work. When I first started my private practice, it was easy to put aside work and do chores or run errands. In my first year, I treated work like a part-time job, clocking an average of 20-25 hours per week. When I evaluated my results at the end of the year I realized I couldnt afford to maintain this mentality. So I started working more. And, I got better results. I eventually learned that the more effort I put into my work, the better results I achieved in terms of the revenue and income I generated. This made it easier to avoid the distractions and focus more on my work.

- Lastly, you can try an approach I learned from Brian Tracy many years. When you find yourself procrastinating on a particular task or project, repeat the following three words to yourself over and over. Do it now. This can be a great way to prevent yourself from getting distracted by other things you would prefer to do.

Distractions are sometimes positive. A break away from work can clear your mind, give you the opportunity to refresh yourself, and increase your energy level. However, it is important to remember that you have a responsibility to yourself and your business to limit these distractions.

© 2006 Kelley Robertson, All rights reserved.

Kelley Robertson, President of the Robertson Training Group, works with businesses to help them increase their sales & profitability and motivate their employees. Receive a FREE copy of 100 Ways to Increase Your Sales by subscribing to his free newsletter available at http://www.RobertsonTrainingGroup.com. Kelley speaks regularly at conferences, sales meetings, and corporate functions. For information on his programs contact him at 905-633-7750 or Kelley@RobertsonTrainingGroup.com.Constantine Blog67050
Colleen Blog44884

I Love Italian Wine and Food - The Lombardy Region

If you are looking for fine Italian wine and food, consider the Lombardy region of northern Italy. You may find a bargain, and I hope that youll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour.

Mountainous Lombardy is located in the north central zone of Italy on the Swiss border. It is one of the few regions of Italy without a seacoast. On the other hand Lombardy is known for its beautiful lakes. Lombardy owes its name to the Lombards, a Germanic people who ruled it and neighboring regions for two hundred years well over a thousand years ago. Other rulers included the Celts, the Romans, and the Franks. Its population is 9.4 million, the largest in Italy. In fact, about one of six Italian residents lives in Lombardy.

Lombardy is second to Emilia-Romagna in agricultural production. Among its many agricultural products are rice, wheat, corn, fruits, olives, cattle, pigs, and sheep. Natives still eat more risotto (a rice dish) and polenta (corn bread) than pasta.

The capital of Lombardys is Milan, Italys financial, fashion, and media center. With a population of 1.3 million, Milan is larger than seven regions of Italy.

Lombardy devotes about 66 thousand acres to grapevines, it ranks 11th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine production is about 44 million gallons, also giving it an 11th place. About 62% of the wine production is red or ros, leaving 38% for white. The region produces 15 DOC wines and 3 DOCG wines, Franciacorta, a sparkling wine made in the traditional (Champagne) manner, and 2 red wines; Valtellina Superiore, reviewed below, and Sforzato di Valtellina. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Over 47% of Lombardys wine carries the DOC or the DOCG designation. Lombardy is home to about four dozen major and secondary grape varieties, approximately three fifths red and two fifths white.

Widely grown international white grape varieties include Pinot Bianco, known as Pinot Blanc outside of Italy, Chardonnay, Trebbiano, and Malvasia. The best known Italian white varieties are Gargena, an Italian variety of Riesling, Renano Italico, and an Italian variety of Trebbiano, Trebbiano di Lugana.

Widely grown international red grape varieties include Pinot Noir. The best known strictly Italian red varieties are Barbera, Bonarda, Lambrusco, and a local Nebbiolo called Chiavennasca.

Before we reviewing the Lombardy wine and cheese that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.

Start with Pizzoccheri della Valtellina, Buckwheat Flour Ribbons with Wilted Cabbage, Potatoes, and Mountain Cheese.

For a second course try Ossobuco all Milanese, Braised Veal Shanks with Grenolata (Parsley, Garlic, and Lemon).

And for dessert, indulge in Budino di Pannetone, Pannetone Bread Pudding

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY While we have communicated with well over a thousand Italian wine producers and merchants to help prepare these articles, our policy is clear. All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed

Triaccio Sassela Valtellina Superiore 2002 13% alcohol about $16.50 DOCG

In his work Codice Atlantico, Leonardo da Vinci described Valtellina, the source of this wine as A valley surrounded by tall and terrible mountains, it makes really powerful wines. This area has made wine since the days of the Etruscans and the Ligurians, prior to the ancient Romans. It is the northernmost area for growing the Nebbiolo grape. The wine itself is one of the three DOCG wines in Lombardy.

The marketing materials stated that its nose is quite outspoken, with aromas including mushroom, dried cranberry, and paraffin. It is dry with good fruit, surrounded by supple tannins. This medium-bodied wine is recommended with hard cheeses or grilled game birds.

This wine was aged 18 months in large wooden casks and a further 6 months in steel tanks. The producer says it can be cellared for 8-10 years and suggests drinking it with pasta of all sorts, air-dried beef, and cheese.

I first tasted this wine with beef ribs. It was round but a bit intimidated by the spicy cumin and curry sauce. Paired with a slow cooked beef and potato stew it handled itself better. It was quite fruity and cut the meals grease. It almost tasted like a Beaujolais.

I tried it with two cheeses. Grana Padano is a classic Parmesan-type cheese made for a millennium in northern Italy including the Lombardy region. It is a cylindrical, cooked, semi-fat cheese which matures slowly. It has a grainy consistency and may be sliced or grated. The cheeses taste is fragrant and delicate. The wine brought out the nutty aspect of the cheese, while intensifying its fruit. It paired well with Pecorino Toscana from Tuscany, two regions south of Lombardy.

Final verdict. I was a bit disappointed with this wine, DOCG is supposed to mean top of the line, and it was not.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com. You can reach him at ital@mail.theworldwidewine.com.Dannie Blog44677
Deeanne Blog71376

Every Day Giveaway

Almost every day I get Notices about the opening of one more Internet marketing Giveaway. There are all kinds of reasons for a Giveaway: Easter, Christmas, summer and even the organizer's birthday.

Ezines, sales pitches and special blogs announce such events and invite to register for them as a user and/or as a JV partner.

But why are such events are so popular? Why did the marketers become so generous?

First, because the users win. Hundreds of successful internet marketers are coming together and promise hundreds of scripts, books and tools to download for FREE. The User only has to opt-in for a selected gift. It is known that there is a lot of junk among these gifts. But there are always a number of gems that in the same time are also sold on the Web. So the user receives useful tools and saves money.

Second, because the marketers win. In the course of a few days, they get a list of thousands of targeted leads. And they can make the user a tempting "One time offer" and earn money. Also they receive a lot of goods to sell or give away from their own site.

Third, because the JV partners win. They receive pretty good commissions when the user comes through their link and buys a "One time offer". And there are almost no investments in buying or studying the product before advertising it.

Fourth, because such giveaway is a very democratic institution.

There is no need to take care of and "dance around" big guys to participate in this kind of JV. There are no limits on the number of participants. There are no limits on the level of the marketer: a guru with a huge list participates side by side with newbies without a list.

What I don't like about these events is the extremely boring task of opting-in for every gift. I know that there is a problem with anti-spam laws but I believe a procedure can be found to delegate a permission to send emails from a JV organizer (that always has the permission) to the gift supplier.

Today all giveaways are only in the niche of "Internet Marketing". But I think that giveaways in different niches also have good chances to succeed.

Samuel Stambler - Owner of http://www.readerspot.com and http://webmarketnotes.blogspot.com.Darcie Blog33246
Christal Blog16309

Creative Writing: Tips To Make Your Creative Written Work Sell

Creative writing is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. However, you really don't need a special talent for it. What you need is a paper, a pen and a very good imagination that is worthy of telling your story to other people.

With good imagination, you can really capture your audience's minds and keep them reading your work. However, you have to know that a good imagination is simply not enough when you are writing. You also need to consider quite a few things first before you start writing.

It is a fact that many authors find it hard to write an article or a novel. So, if you are experiencing difficulty in writing an article or a novel, it is just natural. The first thing you need to consider is to have an appropriate environment in order for you to concentrate on work. Create your own writing environment to enable you to write more effectively and think more effectively. Consider the clothes you wear, the music you want to hear while writing, the temperature of the room, the lighting, the chair and a lot more. You should be comfortable with all these things. If you are, you will find it easier to write.

You will also need to have a writing schedule. You have to remember that nothing can be more frustrating when writing when someone is always barging in your writing time. You need to know when you can write in order to avoid interruptions from friends, family, co-workers or whomever that may interrupt you when you are writing. You have to concentrate on writing so you have to turn off anything that will interrupt you. Consider diverting all calls to a machine, turn off your pager, mobile phones, PDA and others that may interrupt you. Remember that you will be in another world in creative writing; you have to get out of the real world.

It is recommended that you should write when you are at your mental best or when you are not tired. However, some of the best novels were written on hours that would normally be your bedtime, try and write during these hours and determine if it will indeed affect your writing positively. If it doesn't, you should stick to your regular schedule where your mental state is at its prime.

If you are writing about a character, you should relate to them. Imagine you are that character and know their different behaviors and talk to an imaginary character. By doing this, you can effectively show your characters personality and will definitely make your readers think as if the character is real.

Writing is a very hard task to do. It will affect you physically and mentally. If you want to ease the tension, you have to invest in good writing tools that are readily available in the market. A fast desktop computer is a great way to start and as well as a writing software program that will enable you to write more effectively. It is also recommended that you purchase a large flat screen monitor to make it easier for your eyes.

These are some of the things you need for you to be able to write more effectively. Creative writing is a very tiring task to do, by following these advices, you will definitely write a good novel that everyone will surely buy.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information checkout http://www.ideacenter.com and http://my-updates.info.Christabella Blog46480
Charisse Blog89319

Do It Yourself or Hire a Contractor?

When remodeling your home, whether you are installing new circuits, redoing your living room, or just fixing that stubborn sink, homeowners are always caught in a quandary as to whether or not to call in a hired hand.

Calling in an expert is, for most people, the most prudent choice. A good many number of people have learned the hard way that fixing that leaky faucet isn't as easy as it looks. However, these experts can come with quite a price tag and in most cases, enough to make the homeowner think twice about doing the installation or repairs themselves.

If you are one of the millions of homeowners that are considering doing the job yourself, or one of the other million seriously considering hiring a contractor, here are some tips to help you make that decision: a decision that could either cause that busted circuit to blow up, or your wallet to hemorrhage.

Does The Repair or Installation Need a Permit?

This is the first question you must ask yourself, whether or not the work to be done needs a local building permit. Simple repairs will not need such permits, but major installations may require that you apply for one. Installations that may require a permit include electrical wiring, plumbing, and other major physical additions to your home.

Most permits will require that you hire a contractor to do the job stated. So in that case, you should have one on hand.

Can I Actually Do the Thing?

You will need to honestly ask yourself whether or not you can do the installation or repair yourself. This is probably the trickiest question to ask yourself, and is probably where most homeowners fall in over their heads. If you have had experience doing jobs similar to this, or if you have been able to observe others at work with such a project, or if you aren't confident enough to do the repair or installation yourself, then it is probably worth hiring a contractor.

Will This Fall Within My Budget

You have to be financially realistic with an installation or repair project. Some people don't realize that they actually can save more when they hire a contractor then doing it themselves. This happens when the time spent working on an installation costs you more than it would if you hired a contractor. This is especially true in the case of very busy people who actually spend money just to have annoyances fixed so that they can focus on their work.

Large projects may cost you more than it would a contractor – who will probably have better access to higher quality materials. However, if you are intimately familiar with the job to be done, you might have an advantage over these contractors and will be able to customize the materials and the jobs to your liking. Then again, practically speaking, larger projects are better off in the hands of contractors.

But if your project is small, like broken faucets and doorknobs, you will probably save a ton if you do it yourself. But if you worry in the very least that you could break the broken part further, then call your contractor.

Doing it yourself is risky; if you do get the hang of it, it's usually at the cost of a few more irreparable jams, faucets, and etc. due to having practiced on them - you will save a lot more in the long run. You will also be the envy of your neighbors' wives and husbands, "Look at them, they do their own faucets!"

Time is gold, so you should also consider how much time such repairs or installations will cost you. If you have time to burn, and would like to improve your skills at building and repairing, then by all means take a shot at it.

In the end, you may want to do some of the repairs yourself, but you will also want to keep the number of a trusted contractor in hand for jobs you don't want to touch. The truth be told, if you have a good-relationship with a contractor you are comfortable dealing with, you probably won't need to consider the alternative : unless you just want to try to be Builder Bob for a day.

The above article was written by Sarah Miller on behalf of http://www.quotecity.com, a buzzing online homeowner and contractor community which allows homeowners to find the right contractor for their home improvement projects! Also check out the QuoteCity Blog for more related home improvement articles and resources at http://www.quotecity.com/index.php?do=home.showArticles.Danni Blog55774
Daune Blog93956

Six Tips For TARGETING Your Prospects

Would you like to have the webtraffic that the top promotors get? You can buy MLM leads or use a traffic system. I am going to give you a few ways to attract more qualified prospects to your program and tell you ways to help them once they are part of your business.

1. Laser Target Your Potential Prospects

You must target people who want what you are selling. You don't want to sell your program or products to a very general audience. If you are too general, your response rate will be very low and of poor quality. If you are in a health food MLM, you don't want people that are interested in selling cell phones looking at your opportunity, you want people who are interested in selling health food products.

2. Get The Best Bang For Your Buck

Learn how to properly advertise on pay-per-click search engines. Don't be too general - you need specific keywords that apply to what you are offering. If done properly, this is one of the best ways to bring qualified prospects to your site.

3. Test, Test & Test Again

You can always improve on your advertising copy. Different ad copy, with some changes to your ads, can make a big difference to your click through rate. Test many keywords with changes to your ad and see what works best. Promote the ads that receive the most click throughs to get the targeted prospects to your site.

4. Other Options

You know Google is one of the biggest, but they are certainly not the only search engine out there. If you are just starting out or have a limited budget, look at some other options like GoClick and Search-World. There are so many places online that offer pay-per-click advertising that it could make your head spin...but stay focused and just start small with one or two ads.

5. Have A System And A Plan

You would be surprised to realize how many people get into MLM and Network Marketing that just sign up to a program and then sit there and do nothing. So, will it surprise you to find out that the reason they are doing nothing is because they don't have a clear plan of action?

6. Your Website & Follow Up

Your website needs to be your sales page. If you are getting website traffic but no signups, there is a problem with your website design. You need to have a way to "capture" your prospects name and phone number when they come to your site.

When you start getting prospects to your site, make sure you contact them and say something like, " I see you visited my site. I would just like to introduce myself to you and see if you have any questions." This is what will set you apart from everyone else.

How many times have you recieved personal support from your upline? Sure, sometimes you may get lucky, but the majority would say, "Once I got in I was on my own."

For assured success: Make sure you follow up with everyone and make sure they have a plan of action and goals.

Just support your new members like you would like to be treated yourself. You need a "system" that they can follow, and give your new business partners a day by day, step by step plan of action that they can follow. If you do it right, you will have a true MLM system that works. A traffic system will allow you to drive more qualified prospects to your website, assuring that you can make money online instead of wasting your time and money on useless advertising.

James Shutt has been in the network marketing industry since 1990. As an Excel Communications representative, he built a large organization and had a flourishing business until the company went bankrupt.Charil Blog72094
Daisy Blog89059

Custom Gift Wrap Promoting Your Brand

With retail chain stores on every high street, there's never been a more important time for independent retailers to find ways to promote their own brand. However, whether you have one store or five hundred stores your brand is central to everything you do to promote your business.

A growing trend among retailers is to offer a gift wrapping service. This is true both in the physical world and also with retailing on the internet. It is possible to buy a huge range of stock gift wrap papers. But, this has its disadvantages. Not only is it almost impossible to match your company's corporate colours, but with changing trends, a paper chosen today could be out of stock tomorrow.

A better solution for gift wrapping is to have your own gift wrap paper custom printed. A simple idea would be to have your logo repeated to make an overall pattern using your corporate colours. This will work well with a particularly good design. A much better idea would be to commission some bespoke illustrations that either reflect your store's product range or possibly a seasonal theme. The company logo can be included, but with more subtlety. This way you can maintain your corporate brand whilst offering the recipient of the gift something much more appealing.

Remember to give some thought to whether you are going to include ribbons and bows when choosing your design theme and colours. Gift wrap ribbons and bows will add the finishing touch to any gift. Do think about how the fully gift wrapped present is to be packaged for posting if you are planning to gift wrap mail order items. You would most likely include the gift wrap materials along with the product for wrapping by the gift giver, unless you are sending the gift directly to the recipient.

Custom Gift Wrap Design and Print

There are printers who specialise in wrapping paper printing. The same is true of designers. Initially you will need to talk to someone who understands the different processes involved and being armed with sufficient information at the beginning will help.

1. Do you require rolls or sheets?
2. What is your preferred paper weight? eg. 60g., 70g., 80g., 90g.
3. Paper quality? Kraft, Varnished, Metallic.
4. Paper size? Length and width of rolls or sheets.
5. Paper finish? Matt or Varnished.
6. Quantity of sheets or rolls?
7. Colours in design? Standard 1-4 colours, Pantones.
8. Type of printing? Flexo, Gravure, Litho.
9. Any special effects? Metal foil, spot varnish.

The quantity and paper finish required will very quickly dictate what is possible and what is not for your budget. The budget will be dependent on the value of the gift, assuming you won't be charging for a branded gift wrap service. There are three types of printing used to print wrapping paper. These are Flexography, Gravure and Litho printing.

Printing wrapping paper rolls using Flexography. For simple designs in 1 or 2 colours the minimum quantity is approximately 6 to 12 rolls per design. Roll widths are typically from 30cm to 100cm and have a roll length of 250m. Rolls can be cut and supplied as gift wrap sheets.

Printing wrapping paper rolls using Gravure printing. Minimum quantities are often referred to by weights from 100kg for a single colour and up to 1000kg minimum for 4 colour printing per design. Roll widths are from 30cm to 100cm and in roll lengths of 250m.

A weight of 100Kg is equivalent to approximately 15 to 25 rolls, depending on the paper weight and roll width. These 250m counter rolls can also be cut and supplied as gift wrap sheets or converted into consumer rolls. Consumer roll lengths are specified by the customer and typically vary from 1m to 5m in length.

Printing wrapping paper using Litho printing. Gift wrapping paper is relatively thin, 60-90g, and not many printers like to put such thin paper through their litho printing presses. Some will print on thicker paper. This isn't normally recommended as it makes wrapping gifts more difficult. A 90g matt white paper provides an ideal base for printing gift wrap designs and is thick enough for litho printing if you can find a supplier that will do it. The most popular sheet size is 500m x 700mm or very close, depending on the printing press and country of supply. Typical minimum quantity is 1000 sheets per design.

There are definite advantages to printing litho. With low print runs possible and high quality multi-colour printing, the starting price for being able to print multiple designs is kept low. With some creativity a wonderful selection of designs is possible while including a central branded look.

Richard Leeds is the founder of PrintJuggler, and provides a personal service for customers with custom printing and gift wrap packaging requirements. For more details visit http://www.printjuggler.comDenna Blog68123
Darcie Blog33246

Critical Characteristics To Demand From Your Timesheet Vendor

Timesheet software is not just for payroll anymore. Increasingly, project accounting and client billing are becoming important to professional organizations of all sizes.

If youve outgrown your current paper-based or homegrown timesheet system; if youre trying to use Microsoft Excel for timesheets; or if you have multiple installed time collection systems that produce inconsistent data, you need timesheet software. Without using timesheet software, it is difficult to understand project costs, figure out what people are working on, and send correct and timely bills out to your customers. It also can make payroll very frustrating.

How can you be sure youll get a system that works for your company and is immune to the most common problems people experience when buying a timesheet collection automation system? Here are a few things to consider:

The Most Common Mistake In Buying Timesheet Software

Dont fall for a deceptive demo.

You have the power to demand that any vendor absolutely, completely prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that their solution will solve your companys specific business problem. You deserve a detailed demonstration that uses your employee list, your customer list, your project list, your companys logo and your color scheme, and that shows you reports on your data that will prove to you that your business problem is solved. If a vendor can't make you 100 percent certain that the solution will work for your specific business needs, then walk. Period. Canned demos are designed to deceive. Don't believe them.

What To Ask Vendors Can you absolutely prove to me that you will solve my business problem, using my employees, departments, projects, etc., and then show me the reports I need to see? Can you provide references of clients that have successfully integrated your product with my accounting system, my project management system and my payroll service provider?

How To Know If You Will Get Responsive Support.

Many vendors provide a static outdated FAQ list, and a support staff that is part of the sales team. When support is part of the sales force, you only get help as a prospect. Once they've got your money, getting help is difficult.

What To Ask Vendors How many cases do you have published in your automated helpdesk tool? Is your support staff part of the sales team? What is your support staff response time? Can I talk to three recent customers that are happy with your support that are in my industry and are about my size? (And you need to actually call those references and verify theyre really a customer and all is well.) What did your most recent support poll reveal as the overall satisfaction level for your supported customers? Do you even do such polling? What percentage of your customers renew their maintenance contracts each year? What is the retention rate of your ASP customers?

ASP Flexibility Allows Early Rollouts, Server Protection and Easier Upgrades.

Some timesheet software companies either sell software that you must install at your location or sell an ASP service. Since most software of this type is primarily web-based these days, there is no reason a provider cant do both.

ASP means 'application service provider'. It means you can rent access to web-based software that's running on one of the vendors servers instead of installing it on a server at your office. This allows early rollouts, server protection and easier upgrades. An early rollout is when the vendor lets you temporarily use the ASP site until your IT shop gets the machine purchased for your local installation. Server protection is the process of sending a backup to the vendor in case of machine failure at your local installation, so that the vendor can get your system up on his ASP site instantly. ASP vendors allow easier upgrades because they can provide you with a test site during the upgrade process that requires no hardware purchases on your part.

What To Ask Vendors What sort of backup generator do you have in case of a power outage at your ASP site and where is it hosted? How many connections to the internet does your ASP site have? How much does server protection cost? Can I rollout on your ASP servers and later transfer the data to my own servers? Where are ASP backup tapes stored?

In summary, you deserve to be 100 percent positive that the timesheet software you purchase for your company is the right choice for you, and is capable of early rollouts, server protection, and simple upgrades. You have the right to demand responsive support and a tailored demo with your companys information.

Tom Jacobs writes for http://www.superbtimesheets.info where you can find out more about timesheets and other topics.Cornelle Blog56778
Chrissy Blog2315

Make An Impact With Your Trade Show Display Graphic Images

So, youve decided on the trade show display you think will best represent your company. And after deciding on the model, the trade show graphics you select are the next most important element to help you really stand out at a trade show your graphics.

Just as you want your trade show display materials to be as professional as possible, you want your trade show display graphic images to be as bold, clean and powerful as possible. The steps to achieving this are quite simple, but require a good marketing foundation, some creativity to develop eye-catching graphics and a thorough understanding of how to prepare those graphics for use in your trade show display.

Here, we are going to focus on the last step gathering information and preparing your trade show graphic for submission to the trade show display companys production department. Each company has a different procedure which makes it essential you work directly with the company from which you purchased your display. Make sure you learn the specifics of each step of the design process, from submitting your graphics files to receiving a proof/sample of how the final product will look.

Below are some details to keep in mind before you call, so you can help make the process as seamless as possible.

Minimum size The files must be appropriately sized in order for the trade show graphics to work. If your image is too small, or the resolution of your photography is too low, blowing it up to a size that will fit your trade show display and accessories will result in a distorted or blurry image. Ask for the smallest and largest acceptable dimensions for your graphic images to avoid needless design steps with the design department.

Lambda or Ink Jet - Lambda graphics produce higher resolution than ink jet graphics, but at a higher price. If you furnish graphics files that are a minimum of 400 dpi, you may be able to get finished graphics that are more than four times that size. If your budget is limited, you an ink jet graphics may be a better option.

Color Match Your version of royal blue may not be the same as the trade show graphic designers version of royal blue. And asking to see an electronic sample can be tricky, because the different settings on different computer monitors can distort the colors appearance and the same goes for printouts as well. Because of this, many designers use CMYK or RGB color models as standardized guidelines for choosing universal colors. Find out which ones your design team follow and choose a color that best represents your company from there.

Fonts It is recommended you include the font files for the different types of fonts used in your trade show display graphic images especially if your graphic combines actual text files with graphic files to create one graphical element or file.

Format Should your trade show graphic be submitted as an Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Quark Xpress or InDesign file? Does the design department prefer a .tif, .pdf, .eps file or some other file format? Also, should you submit your materials on a CD, DVD, ZIP disc or upload it to a FTP site?

Production Time Begin your submission timeline by backtracking from the time you expect to receive the completed trade show display. Ask your customer service rep how long it will take the company to complete the trade show graphic production to determine when you should expect delivery. Dont make the schedule too tight you want to leave some wiggle room for yourself and the designers in case there are any obstacles or last minute details to be worked out.

Your trade show display introduces your company to trade show visitors and prospective clients before they ever meet anyone from your company. Your trade show graphics are the most important part of creating that first impression, and can make or break your image.

By discussing your graphics concept(s) with your customer service rep at the very beginning of the design process you can streamline the process to ensure your trade show graphic images will be the most compelling they can be. Follow these preliminary guidelines to save yourself and the graphic design team time and frustration.

Jim Deady, founder of Showstopper Exhibits, provides online assistance with http://showstopperexhibits.com/Trade_Show_Display_Graphics.htm materials. The company specializes in trade show displays and accessories. Visit: http://www.showstopperexhibits.com.Christalle Blog42552
Cordelie Blog32046

Essential Oils with Dr. Daniel Pnol

In November and December 2005, Dr. Daniel Pnol (a French medical doctor picture left), visited Perth, Melbourne and Sydney for a series of workshops on Aromatic medicine. I was fortunate enough to attend his Sydney seminar, along with 150 other aromatherapists, health care professionals, and keen essential oil users. His 2 and a half day seminar was an amazing introduction to the French school of aromatherapy. In this bulletin, I want to share with you some of the highlights from Dr. Pnol's seminar.

In the world of aromatherapy, there are 3 schools of thought. The first is the British school, which teaches the dilution of essential oils, and its application often through massage for relaxation and balancing. The majority of Australian aromatherapists are trained in the British system. Secondly there is the German school, which relies on the aroma of the oils, rather than direct application. And thirdly, there is the French school, which treats essential oils as a valid form of medicine, to be used as in any other medical protocol internally, by injection, topically (undiluted), rectally, and vaginally. As Dr. Pnol said, In my country, we've given millions and millions of clinical treatments with essential oils. It is from this medical application of essential oils that the term Aromatic Medicine was derived.

Dr. Pnol described the differences between the 3 schools very humorously, when he said: The German system of aromatherapy (smell) is comparable to platonic love. You cannot make babies with platonic love. The English system is like flirting. You still cannot make babies. The French system of aromatherapy is like The Full Monty, and it will make babies!

In France, Doctors trained in aromatic medicine will often prescribe essential oils in preference to antibiotics. But first, they will conduct an aromatogram. This is a simple test involving taking a sample (e.g.. a swab) of a patient's diseased area. This swab is sent away to a laboratory, and tested with a wide variety of essential oils and allopathic drugs, to see which is the most effective against the specific disease or condition.

There are many cases where essential oils are more effective than antibiotics. However, in the case where an antibiotic proves more effective, the doctor still needs to weigh up the potential side-effects of the antibiotic (such as its long-term effects on gut flora), before deciding which treatment should be undertaken.

If essential oils are the chosen treatment, the doctor will supply the patient with essential oils, and instructions on where and how to use them, and in what proportions to mix them up. This means that patients are more involved in preparing their own mixtures and remedies than in traditional allopathic medicine.

It was fascinating to hear Dr. Pnol's strategy for fighting an infection using essential oils. He begins with a mix of oils where the stronger oils are in higher concentration. The stronger oils are those with higher percentages of phenols (such as Oregano). These phenols are very aggressive against many infections (viral and bacterial). However, because of the potential irritation that the phenols can pose to the stomach and intestines, after a week's use, Dr. Pnol then ramps down the proportion of oils containing phenols, and increases the proportion of other less-irritating oils.

He explained that he may start with a mix of 70% Oregano and 30% Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree oil), and after a week move to 30% Oregano and 70% Melaleuca alternifolia (and continue on this mix for another couple of weeks). In his use of essential oils internally, Dr. Pnol always includes a vegetable oil along with the essential oil in a gel cap, because the vegetable oil helps to transport the essential oil into the intestinal tract.

Another example given by Dr. Pnol was how he works with tonsillitis, using the molecule Terpinen-4-ol, which is present at about 40% concentration in Melaleuca alternifolia. Dr. Pnol demonstrated how he puts a tiny bit of high-quality, unadulterated Tea Tree oil on his hand (on a point between the thumb and 2nd finger on top of hand, which is a special acupuncture point), and then he licks the oil off.

I now have millions of billions of molecules of terpenen-4-ol which have been blended in my saliva. I bring my saliva back to my tonsils[and I have] changed the breeding ground of the medium which exists in my throat at this infectious stage. You have changed the pH of your saliva. He went on to explain that this makes the saliva more acidic, which inhibits the growth of the infection.

Dr. Pnol then described how he will swallow the Tea tree oil at this point, so that it will reach his stomach, small and large intestine to become an aromatic healing saliva. He stated that in addition to this indirect action, the Tea tree oil also has a direct action because the terpenen-4-ol in the Tea Tree oil also attacks the bacteria itself. It penetrates through the cell wall and membrane, into the cell wall, and destroys the bacteria.

One of the most interesting things I learned from Dr. Pnol's seminar was about frequency of application. He shared that when one of his patients is fighting an infection, he instructs them to take a smaller amount of essential oil more often, so that the molecules are consistently in their blood stream. For example, in a simple case of tonsillitis he instructs his patients to lick the Tea Tree oil from their hand every minute for 5 minutes, then every 5 minutes for 15 minutes.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Dr. Pnol was discussing important oils for a first aid (emergency) kit, when he said: The #1 problem we face in our daily life in emergencies is pain. We want to find a molecule which is endowed with the capacity to stop the pain, instantly. One molecule which can achieve this is menthol (contained in Peppermint essential oil)..So in your emergency kit, use Mentha piperita (Peppermint).

But don't use peppermint on a large area of the body. It's OK to use on a small area of the body. It must be used neat, exactly as it's been extracted from the plant. Use just a few drops neat, and the pain will go away almost immediately. This is because peppermint has a cooling action, so it blocks/inhibits the pain transmitters.[After applying Peppermint oil], you will suddenly feel the cold more. This means that although the outside temperature may be warm, your body feels as though it's had ice placed on it (so it has a similar effect to putting ice on pain)."

Natural Home Health Care with Essential Oils by Dr. Pnol

Dr. Pnol is a native French man and as a Medical Doctor, he uses essential oils in the treatment of his patients. He advises his patients to take essential oils internally, against all the advise of the English school of aromatherapy. The results speak for themselves. In this marvelous volume, Dr. Pnol demonstrates just how you can use Essential oils as a drug free alternative for health. What distinguishes the oils that Dr. Pnol uses is that they are therapeutic grade essential oils and the majority are organically grown.

Dr. Pnol spent sometime with his wife Rose-Marie, in a medical practice in Adelaide, South Australia. Here he met Abby who had been suffering from chronically blocked sinuses for many years. As these things go, Abby was due for an operation, the final resort, to alleviate the problem when she met Dr. Pnol.

Given just two weeks to turn Abby's condition around, Dr. Pnol launched on an intensive aromatic care program. This involved essential oils, of course, but demanded the dedication and co-operation of his patient, Abby and her parents.

Needless to say Abby was much improved and the surgery was cancelled. The book has photographs of Abby and reproductions of her X-rays before and after her treatment with Dr. Pnol. You can judge for yourself the effectiveness of his protocol.

Dr. Pnol goes on to give recipes and protocols for some common ailments. Since all circumstances are unique, we suggest using common sense when integrating any new health system and especially essential oils.

For anyone seeking a drug free alternative to mainstream medicine, this book is an excellent place to start. At times the English is a little stilted but this does not detract from the wealth of information it contains.

With oil, Noel Cunnington

The author, Noel Cunnington, holds a Bachelor Degree in Film and Television with a Graduate Diploma in Education. After discovering high-quality essential oils in 1998, he has been passionate about them and their applications. With his wife, Artemis, he operates a web site www.healthgarden.com.au that speicalises in Essential Oils and Aromatherapy related books, audio tapes, audio cd's, video dvd's and powerpoint presentations. This article and others can be seen at http://www.healthgarden.com.au/wordpress/index.php.Cindie Blog33420
Cindie Blog79937

The True Splendor Of Wood In Interior Decorating

We love wood all kinds of wood from pine and oak to cherry and mahogany. We use it as wall paneling, make furniture and home accessories from it and even use it as cove and crown molding to finish off the rooms in our homes. It is probably near to impossible to enter any home in the USA and not find wood somewhere.

Wood has a special presence and unique charm all its own and it lends an air of permanence and character to a home. If it is made well, it will be around many lifetimes and because of this, many homeowners use it in their house decor plans and decide on investment pieces of furniture that can be passed onto children and grandchildren.

One of the nice things about quality wood is that it can be country style in design; made from oak and suitable for the cottage or country retreat. It can be made from Danish teak; with a minimalist look and feel. Or it can be traditional; built from flamed tiger oak and used in a grand foyer.

Another important point about quality wood unlike anything else in your house, it only gets better with age. For example, wood floors look better with scrapes and marks that give it an authentic appeal, and are reminiscent of time spent with your family. Solid wood furniture takes on a rich patina with time, which glows quietly and emits a subtle sense of ageless pride.

More recently, North Americans have once again fallen for with the historical craft of wood carving and skilled carvers and artists are once again busy creating one of a kind wood mantels and artful crown molding. The old fireplace wall and drab wood paneling that used to be made of inferior quality pressboard are now being created in tongue and groove panels made of solid mahogany, maple and cherry woods. Each of these examples is a great way to spend your decorating budget that will raise the value of your home, provide unparalleled grace and elegance to last a lifetime.

It really makes no difference whether your house is brand new or 80 years old; formal and conservative or modern contemporary. Wood works in all types of homes and is durable for even the busiest household.

One of the attractive aspects about decorating with real wood is how well it blends with the rest of your home carpet, curtains, accessories and wall color. There are so many choices in wood stains these days that you can literally match your homes wood to any color or design scheme.

Without question, nothing beats natural wood in your homes interior decorating if you are after genuine warmth, unique character, grace and permanence. Carved wood crown moldings from a time gone by still exist in stately homes all across the United States. Georgian dressers and hall trees can still be located in antique stores everywhere. Imagine buying a solid wood fireplace mantel today and have it end up in your grandsons living room one day.

Wood never goes out of style making it an ideal way to inject quality and charm in your homes decor.

Kim Vedros is a professional woodworker and the owner of http://www.arch-wood-designs.com Architectural Wood Designs, an ecommerce store specializing in hand carved wood components for home.Devan Blog7555
Denise Blog21443

Telecommuting Safely for Better Business

Imagine lounging in your most comfortable outfit, sipping on home-made chicken soup and enjoying the sounds of your favorite CD... all while managing national accounts, answering inquiries from curious clients and preparing to send out a detailed report for your upcoming company meeting. When email in your employees' home offices is secured, telecommuting can be a valuable resource for your business without the risk of compromising crucial information.

Millions of Americans are already taking advantage of the benefits that come with telecommuting and the trend is only expected to grow in the coming years. High-speed internet connections, laptop computers and email make working outside of the conventional office setting convenient; productivity can be improved while reducing travel time and the ever-increasing cost of transportation. The telecommuting population is predicted to reach 9.9 million by 2009! (1)

Many benefits can come from allowing your employees to telecommute, but let's not forget about making it safe for all parties involved. You can take every precaution to make certain that sensitive data regarding your company and clients is secured when it's kept at company headquarters, but these defenses become much harder to implement at a worker's home office. Loss of intellectual property can do much to damage the potential for revenue, as well as brand reputation, for any size company.

Employees who work from home may use their company machines to do non-work tasks like:

- download and store non job-related files on their work machines
- allow their children to use their workstation to do homework or web research
- let their significant other check personal email

Company email and work assets are susceptible to being accessed and inadvertently misused or misdirected by others in the household. Every time a telecommuter's workstation is used for non-work tasks it creates a risky environment for your company's files, such as client account sheets, prospect lists or an important business partners marketing plan.

What can your business do to offset the risk of unintended email redistribution, while allowing employees to telecommute? Solutions must be easy to install, intuitive and effective in protecting sensitive data from being copied, edited or forwarded. For those employees working in a non-technical field, it is likely that they lack adequate knowledge on how data theft is possible or legitimate ways to prevent redistribution, so user-friendly software is best.

Since you can't invade your employee's home and rummage through his/her PC, your best bet is to research software that will secure their incoming and outgoing email. A solution that is user-friendly will be utilized to its full extent by the employee and in turn will provide the highest level of protection for sensitive communication.

Email anti-theft software that integrates with Microsoft Outlook or another existing application that your employee is already familiar with is a simple and cost effective option. A security solution that works with a program your staff is comfortable with eliminates anxiety that comes with using unfamiliar high-tech programs. When email anti-theft controls are available at the click of a button, workers are more likely to take the time to protect their messages.

Today, telecommuters include employees of such organizations as The Defense Information Systems Agency, Kettering Medical Center Network as well as many small businesses in your region. (1) Email anti-theft software allows telecommuting to be a safe and effective alternative to working in a conventional office setting. The option to work from home makes for content employees, satisfied customers and a more profitable business. So secure your data and take advantage of all that telecommuting can do for your company!

Mila Levkovsky is part of the marketing team at Essential Security Software (ESS), the leading provider of email anti-theft software for small business. ESS has developed a premier, easy-to-use, peer-to-peer content protection and user rights management solution that enables small business owners and individuals to securely distribute sensitive email messages and documents.Dedra Blog13982
Dacey Blog20089

That Vital Opening Statement

Many inexperienced speakers rush their presentations because of that fear and dread of standing up in front of a live audience. They cannot wait to bring it to a close.

As long as the message has been delivered and reinforced (usually by distracting and overloaded PowerPoint slides) that's the job done. Thinking about how to win over the audience is the last thing on people's mind but it is absolutely crucial.

It's vital to get the audience on board immediately, otherwise they'll have switched off in the first 5 minutes; that should be regarded as a catastrophe, but regrettably it is alarmingly common.

In recent years I have made a point of asking people what they thought about a presentation that we have all sat through and it is truly horrifying how many people very quickly went off into their own dream world, so dull was the presenter.

It is not uncommon for 100 people to sit through an hour's presentation and only 10 to be still listening after a few minutes imagine all that lost working time.

What are the steps to winning over an audience?

Good audience reconnaissance is never wasted. Find out who they are and what are their expectations.

Imagine a politician addressing an audience of business people all of whom are running small independent operations and that politician's opening remarks being Red tape is strangling this country and impeding the ability of our entrepreneurs to thrive. We will reduce this burden at a stroke by taking the following actions '.

So long as the key message was congruent and beneficial, the audience would be convinced. The rest of the speech will now be so much easier to deliver.

Compare this to a speaker with an audience comprised solely of people working within finance departments being greeted with the remarks this initiative will allow us to reduce those working in finance areas by 50%'. It's not surprising that this is resisted at all costs!

Secondly - when you deliver this audience winning statement look them straight in the eye as you say it and see how the audience rapport builds as they look back at you. Feel the bond forging between the two of you as they do.

Thirdly - when you have finished delivering that winning statement pause briefly to allow the audience to absorb the statement and quite possibly shake their head in agreement.

Fourthly, rhetorical questions is a useful technique to passively engage the audience.

Finally, and for speeches lasting over 10 minutes; use humour to lighten the mood. This will ensure that the attention of the audience never drifts off.

Knowing that you have won an audience over is one of the best feelings in the speaking world.

Copyright (c) 2007 The College Of Public Speaking

Vincent StevensonCherilynn Blog77562
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You Want To Cleanse Your Body. What About A Detox Program?

In this day and age detoxification programs are being promoted as a remedy to counteract the unhealthy lifes that many people have led for many years. Many people who believe in detoxification note that a good program will not only help increase a persons energy levels, but also slow the aging process as well as aid the persons digestive system and help to relieve the symptoms commonly associated with diabetes and asthma. But one of the greatest benefits of any detoxification program is the weight loss experienced.

The human body is equipped with several different systems which help it to detox naturally, but with the stressful lifestyles that many people lead nowadays and the bad eating habits we all seem to have, this eventually overburdens our bodies natural detox systems. This results in our bodies being unable to cope with the amount of toxic matter that is flowing through it and in the end out body is unable to remove them naturally and the balance of our body becomes disrupted.

What a good detoxification program does for the body is help to restore the balance, remove the waste (toxics) that have built up in it and thus improve the bodies efficiency. In a number of autopsies carried out by coroners they have found that the persons colon had more than 75% of waste matter inside it. The result of this is that the systems which should cleanse the blood and our intestinal tracks to not function correctly. Because of this the nutrients that we place in our body can be absorbed properly and we begin to gain weight, often we become tired and irritable and following this a number of other health issues (problems) can come into play.

So by cleaning your colon and liver using a detoxification program you will find that this relieves any clogs that have occurred and allows your body to beginning functioning properly once again. This means that the nutrients your body requires will be more efficiently absorbed and you may find that after carrying out such a program you no longer crave either sugar or fried foods. In fact so many people have reported how good they felt after doing a detox program that they have now changed their diets and eat more carefully.

Once the toxins have been flushed out of their bodies many have reported that they have highly increased energy levels and they have begun taking up exercise to further assist their detox program, which results in them losing weight.

A number of researchers have discovered that the levels of toxins in the body rises as more fat is manufactured to protect it, and it has been found that weight gain is a natural occurrence because of toxins building up in the body. So by removing the toxins you are allowing your body to release the excess fat that you have gained and this results in natural weight loss.

Although there are many detox programs on the market today, it is better that you only choose one after you have carried out extensive research on the subject. There are some programs that also include a parasite remover as well as being able to remove toxins from the body.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised after carrying out one of these programs how much more energy you have and how much weight you will have lost!

Kerris Samson has set up this site to help people learn more about detox and detoxification and how it can help us lead a more healthy life. For further information on this subject please visit http://www.detox.whatshewants.info.Dana Blog53366
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Planning A Wine And Cheese Party

One of the most enjoyable ways to enjoy your home bar and wine furniture is to have a wine and cheese party. To make the party a big hit, however, requires creativity and planning. In planning your party, your first step is to select a theme. For example, do you want wines and cheeses from all over the world represented? Or, do you want wines and cheeses representing just one region, California for example. For the sake of putting our focus on a particular theme, let's use wines and cheeses from all over the world.

When you send out your invitations to the party, make sure they detail the party's theme. For time's sake it's best to assign a region to each guest, or multiple guests, depending on the number of people you anticipate will attend. Each guest will be instructed to bring a bottle of wine and a cheese from that region. Alternate between red wines, white wines, and even sparkling wines with each invited guest. Give your guests a suggested price range as well. For some extra fun and ambiance, have your guests bring a theme decoration or two representing their assigned regions,( the country's flag, for example). Make sure that your guests are instructed to r.s.v.p. This is important for determining the supplies you'll need to provide.

When your guests arrive, give them a glass for red wine and a glass for white wine. Also have some Champagne flutes available for the sparkling wines. Make certain that you have at least one ice bucket and/or wine chiller available to keep the cold wines chilled. As far as needed bar accessories, you'll want a cheese slicer and several special cheese knives. The cheese slicer features a thin band, and is essential for many soft cheeses. If your guests have not cut up their hard cheeses, have them do so in small squares. Make sure you provide plenty of toothpicks. It's also a good idea to have bottled water handy to refresh the palate between wines and cheeses. Your guests should be situated in " stations" around your home bar area. A word here about wine openers. An event like a wine and cheese party will definitely help you understand the value of a "heavy-duty" wine opener! When you're opening this many bottles of wine, a commercial quality opener will make the task almost effortless. A savings of energy that you'll appreciate at the end of the day! Definitely invest in a quality opener if you haven't already.

Use a mobile wine cart to move around the room and attend to your guests. A wine cart is an excellent resource at a wine and cheese party! Also, for those of you that would like to get fancy, provide your guests with wine adornments. These adornments attach to the stem of the wine glass and allow wine drinkers to identify their own glasses. Wine adornments are available in a variety of wine oriented themes. By following these simple suggestions and guidelines, your wine and cheese party will be a smashing success! It might even inspire you to form your own wine "club." Good luck!!

Feel free to reprint this article and distribute it to your favorite newsletters, ezines, and websites. Please don't alter the content, eliminate the links, or change the information in the resource box.

Michael Hutchins is a noted speaker and writer on many subjects related to home entertaining. He has created his online store, http://www.home-bars-and-more.com to be "one stop" shopping for all your home bar needs. You'll find an amazing variety of home bars, barstools, decorative wine racks, and bar accessories. It's a fun place to just browse around! Why not visit right now!Demetra Blog85531
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Ride The Rails For A Novel Vacation

Looking for a unique travel idea that travel industry insiders say is the modern-day counterpart of a 20th century steamship cruise? You might want to try rail cruising, which pairs enthusiastic travelers with classic luxury trains riding the rails through some of America's most beautiful countryside. Taking anywhere from just a few days to more than a week, these train trips offer well-appointed furnishings, gourmet dining and first-rate service to a small clientele that in most cases is limited to just a hundred or so passengers.

If you watch TV's Travel Channel, you may already be familiar with rail cruising from a travel show about one of these tour trains, the American Orient Express (AOE). The train, which was recently renamed the GrandLuxe Express when AOE's parent company changed its name to GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, is made up of polished, bullet-like lounge and dining cars originating from the 1940s and 1950s. Inside, mahogany and brass give the cars and compartments a chic art-deco touch that definitely suggests the Golden Age of train travel.

GrandLuxe Rail Journeys sends its trains on excursions that offer passengers views and experiences never dreamed of by 20th century patrons of steamship cruisers. One of the most breathtaking must be National Parks of the West, a 10-day luxury pleasure trip that starts its south-to-north leg in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From there, the train winds its way to Santa Fe, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, a choice of Bryce Canyon or Zion National Parks, Salt Lake City, Yellow Stone National Park and finally, Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. There's also a version of the excursion that starts in Wyoming and then heads south (instead of north) to finish up in Albuquerque.

Another noteworthy trip must be the 9-day journey that visits four of the Pacific Northwest's most stunning national parks. For those who choose to start their trip with the eastbound leg of the Great Northwestern National Parks tour, the trip gets underway in Seattle, Washington, and heads first to Mt. Rainier National Park, where train passengers can enjoy a stunning view of the Cascade Range's highest peak (14,410 feet). From there it's on to the Columbia River Gorge, beautiful Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, pristine Glacier National Park, Helena, Montana, and finally Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Westbound travelers start at Grand Teton and wrap up their excursion in the Emerald City of Seattle.

Remember, these are high-end tours that offer outstanding comfort and five-star cuisine in a truly unique environment, so expect to pay accordingly. Fares for the 2008 season, which includes eight separate departure dates between early May and late June, start at 5,250 dollars per person for the National Parks of the West Tour. The Northwestern National Parks tour starts at 4,710 dollars per person. Included in the fare is the cost of travel, some of the best food on rails and on board sleeping accommodations in two-person, original Pullman sleeper cars. Taking advantage of early booking can cut the cost of the trip by an average of about 250 dollars.

If fares like these are just too steep for your wallet, you can still enjoy the luxury of rail cruising. GrandLuxe Rail Journeys also offers rail trips that are significantly easier on the pocketbook. For example, you can journey from Chicago to Los Angeles for 1,599 dollars or take one of many 789-dollar trips that link cities like Washington, D.C. and Miami, Denver and San Francisco, Denver and Chicago, and Chicago and Washington, D.C.

Matthew Paolini is http://Citybook.com's communications manager for the Greensboro, NC business Yellow Pages division.Cristabel Blog11629
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A Review of the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Not long ago I bought a used 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee quite cheap. I was hoping that it will be nice and cool, but it was a real disaster. Still there are some good things in it, first of all it is big and the body is in perfect shape, and also the seating feels comfortable, however as a whole my 1994 Grand Cherokee jeep is awful. Now I am sure that I would have been better off with a sensible Honda Civic or anything of the kind, instead of buying the Jeep that I now consider as the worst ever purchase I've made.

The thing I want to begin with is the monstrous gas consumption of this SUV. I knew it will not be as for a Ford Fiesta, but getting only 13 miles per gallon is a bit too much for me, and it only makes me think about a shot engine. What comes next it the unsafe rolling of this totally unbalanced clumsy Jeep, along with its impossible shocks. With this 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee you are actually putting your life to the risk of turning over with every turn you make at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour. What I can say for sure is that I should not have rushed into that without having a detailed check on SUVs, which would have showed me what the possible and most common problems might be. And the only reason I skipped that part for was the thrilling price they gave me for the car

There are good things to be considered also in the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is very spacious at the back and offers plenty of room, a plus that makes it a great road trip vehicle. Thinking about storage room no one can deny that it is awesome too, and this once again confirms the statement that this is a road trip machine. What is more, I have a killer sound system in the SUV. It was actually decked out by the previous owner who just left it in the car. This sound system not only delivers great bass, but also keeps unbelievably crisp hi-fi sound in the treble scale. Even having that, though, is not at all enough to compensate for the faults it has, and hen I think about t eventually all the money I saved by getting it cheap will soon be wasted for repairs of the shocks, engine, etc. or even only for gas to get it going

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning cars. Learn more at http://www.carsanddrivinginfo.com/cars--driving-information/cars--driving/a-review-of-the-1994-jeep-grand-cherokee.htmlDeanna Blog58427
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MLB Tickets Will Be Available For Five More Games - Tigers Will Win World Series

Chances are that if youre a Tigers fan, youve been thinking that MLB tickets would still be available at this point. If you live in or root for St. Louis, the fact that the Cardinals are still alive may be a bit of a surprise. Whats no surprise, however, is that the World Series is off to a competitive start, tied at a game apiece, and its beginning to look like its going the full seven. A breakdown of what to expect will explain why this could shape up to be one of the all-time fall classics.

Pitching

Each teams ace has been identified, but both the Tigers and Cardinals have been getting unexpected results from their other starting pitchers throughout the postseason. Kenny Rogers stoned the Cardinals in game two, and Chris Carpenter takes the mound in game three. Each of them should win their starts, which basically gives each team a win and sets up a potentially dramatic game seven if they face each other in the deciding game.

The Cardinals have been getting great performances from the likes of Jeff Suppan, who was scorned in Boston, and the Tigers have gotten quite a bit of mileage from Jeremy Bonderman. Neither is seen as a stopper, but both have been nearly untouchable in crucial stretches.

Managers

Whens the last time the managers were catching the attention of general fans in a World Series? Managers dont normally move MLB tickets on their own, but Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland are both masters of their craft, and watching them match wits has already been a pleasure in the first two games.

Neither of them is perfect, but neither ever needs to learn a lesson more than once. For instance, its a good bet that the Tigers wont be pitching to Albert Pujols any more if first base is open, as they learned the hard way in game one. On the other side of the diamond, its already apparent that the Cardinals have figured out that the Tigers have been concentrating on plate patience, which is why so many first-pitch fastballs over the plate are beginning to appear.

Its these subtleties that make this match up so intriguing, and also why neither team is going to run away and hide with the series before either Leyland or La Russa makes the adjustments to keep everything close.

Momentum

Neither team is one of those on a ridiculous roll teams that weve seen sweep through the series in the recent past, including the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and the Chicago White Sox last year. These are evenly-matched teams, both of whom struggled badly down the stretch and both of whom nearly choked away their spots in the postseason.

Theyre not feeling lucky to be here, but theyre not feeling invincible, either, and given that competitive edge along with good pitching and top-notch game management and preparation, this World Series is going to go the distance.

However, MLB tickets in Detroit are going to take on historical value in a few days, as the Tigers will win it in seven games.

Written by Jay Nault, sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells MLB tickets: http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/ sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world.Chiquita Blog86037
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Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is common and it is not your imagination. This discharge is referred to as leucorrhea, a mild smelling milky discharge. Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is due to the fact that you are now having increased estrogen production. You are having a greater blood flow to the vaginal area as well. The secretions from the cervix and vagina, old cells from the walls of the vagina, and normal bacterial flora from the vagina are causing the excess discharge.

The so called mucus plug creates a protective barrier. When you are getting closer to labor you will notice even more vaginal discharge during your pregnancy. This discharge will look a bit different than when you were in your earlier months of pregnancy. This is fine, it is just a part of being pregnant and the body taking care of itself. When your cervix begins to thin out and dilate it will expel this mucus. Then you will notice that the discharge looks like egg white and you will probably expel the plug in one gelatinous glob. This discharge might be tinged with a bit of blood. Do not let this bother you as this is only normal before the baby is born.

One word of caution when you are getting a lot of vaginal discharge during pregnancy it can be hard for you to tell if it is mucus or youre leaking amniotic fluid. If you do have any doubts please contact your physician as this is a severe problem for the baby. If you are not yet in your 37th week and you notice an increase in discharge or a change in the type of discharge like if it becomes watery, or bloody then call the physician immediately. This can be a sign of preterm labor.

Preterm labor can be prevented if caught soon enough so you can carry your baby full term. Vaginal discharge during pregnancy, lower abdominal pain, with cramping farther along in your pregnancy is all signs of preterm labor.

This could just be a sign that your uterus is stretching or it could mean that you are indeed going into preterm labor. It is very wise for you to contact your physician immediately so he can help you prevent this process.

You may have an infection which is usually an odorless, whitish discharge thats causing you discomfort such as itching or burning. A vaginal discharge during pregnancy untreated can result in a yeast infection. It is always good for you to check your discharge because it might be foul-smelling, frothy, yellow, green, or gray which means that you have a different kind of infection or a sexually transmitted infection, even if you dont have symptoms of irritation, itching or burning. We like to advise that you should not try to treat yourself with over the counter medications. It is very important to first see your practitioner for a proper diagnosis to make sure you get appropriate treatment.

I know at this point you are wondering if there are any things that you might be able to do to help with the problem. Let me tell you now, yes there is, vaginal discharge during pregnancy is not uncommon but it is very irritating and some simple methods are available that will help. Firstly, very important - do not ever use a tampon during your pregnancy! Use panty liners to absorb the discharge and change often to prevent any infection. Next keep your genital area healthy by keeping it clean. Always wipe from front to back when you are cleaning your self. Next wear cotton underwear; avoid tight pants, nylons, bubble bath, scented pads or toilet paper. It is necessary that you also avoid feminine hygiene sprays and scented or deodorant soaps for the protection of the fetus. One other main concern that physicians and midwives have is that you do not douche. I know that vaginal discharge during your pregnancy is sometimes uncomfortable and you may feel unclean but you need to understand this is just part of being pregnant. The process of douching can upset the normal balance of vaginal flora and increase your risk of a vaginal infection. Douching has been noted in some rare cases to introduce air into your circulatory system through the vagina, which can cause serious complications. Keeping your self clean and wearing panty liners is the safest way to go when you are pregnant.

Kitty Barker who often writes for and with Pregnancy Information where there is far more information, news and resources. She also writes for Pregnancy Weight Gain If that link is inactive, you can paste this link into your browser - http://pregnancy-and-baby-tips.com/.Delila Blog17381
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