Hope diamond the killing stone

Of all the well-known big diamonds the most infamous is the Hope Diamond, a blue colored beauty that was dubbed “The Killing Stone.” According to the legend the hope was placed in front of a Buddha statue when it was stolen by a warrior, Tavernier, and a curse that foretold bad luck and death befell on the stone ever since. For this transgression, the legend says, Tavernier was torn apart by wild dogs on a trip to Russia just after he had sold the diamond. This was the first horrible death attributed to the curse. But many others would follow… The businessman who had acquired the stone sold it to king Louis XV. Soon after that, the businessman got poor, contracted a mysterious disease and died suffering terrible convulsions. When Louis XV died, his grandson, Louis XVI, became king with Marie Antoinette as his queen. According to the legend, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were beheaded during the French Revolution because of the blue diamond's curse. After the French Revolution, the diamond was hidden in a government building, where it was stolen in 1791. Six years later, the thieves were condemned to the death penalty. In 1830, Francis Hope bought the huge blue diamond in an auction for 90.000 pounds and gave the stone his name. Francis Hope, who was a member of the parliament, soon died a sudden, unexplained death. Soon after his demise, his widow was burned to death in their mansion. After receiving the stone, Francis Hope’s heir and nephew, Thomas, went bankrupted and was abandoned by his wife. Thomas got rid of the diamond, which was purchased by the Russian prince Iva Kitanovski who gave it to a ballerina. The night she wore it for the first time she was shot and killed. After a series of tragedies the stone found itself in the hands of Sultan Abdul Mamid II, who was forced to resign in favor of his brother and took the Hope along with other personal things to exile. In the beginning of the 20th century the Hope was purchased by the McLean family and soon after, their daughter committed suicide and their nine-year-old son died in a car accident. Mr. McLean got really depressed and died months later in a mental institution in 1941. Evalyn McLean had wanted her jewelry to go to her grandchildren. But in 1949, two years after her death, her jewelry was put on sale in order to settle debts from her estate. When the Hope diamond went on sale in 1949, it was bought by a famous New York jeweler: Harry Winston. For almost a decade, Winston offered the diamond on numerous occasions to be worn at balls to raise money for charity. Then, on the 10th of November of 1958, this magnificent blue diamond traveled in a plain brown box by registered mail and was met by an eager group of people at the Smithsonian Institute. Some believe that Winston donated the Hope diamond to rid himself of the curse. In 2003, the Hope was taken to a museum laboratory for testing. It was only the second time in 20 years the Hope has been removed from its necklace setting. They focused an ultraviolet beam on the stone. Then turned off the beam and, in pitch dark, the diamond glowed bright orange-amber (most blue diamonds phosphoresce light blue.) It's that strong color, which lasts for several seconds, that intrigues scientists. Some speculate it's related to chemical impurities that give its blue color. What causes the gem to fluoresce remains a mystery. But since the Hope Diamond has inspired many legends, some say that the glowing color reflects the blood of royalty spilled during the French Revolution and the trail of death and bad luck that followed the stone over the centuries. Aside from its bad reputation, this diamond has been nothing but good luck for the Smithsonian Museum. After Winston’s donation, attendance has jumped and it has encourage others to donate, helping the museum to build its world-class gem collection. So don’t worry if you decide to visit it, the Hope’s negative magnetic energy won't pass through the thick crystal glass that guards this mystical, largest deep blue diamond in the world.

5 Outdoor decorating tips

Spring is here and decorating is in the air. We all love putting out fresh new looks in our homes this time of year, but have you thought recently about the outside? Often we're so busy decorating or redecorating inside, we forget to do the same outside as well. So here are a few quick and easy outdoor decorating tips that will help spruce up the curb appeal of your home: 1. Paint: You can paint the entire house and trim, or simply touch up the trim alone... either way will make a huge impact on how your home looks to the passing public. 2. Porch or Patio: If you already have a porch or patio, simply putting new furniture out can make a wonderful difference in the presentation of your home. Alternatively, you can simply buy new cushions or covers for your existing patio furniture. Other quick patio spruce ups can be as simple as putting out a few flowering potted plants, adding gnomes or statues, or putting a small water fountain into the space. 3. Walkways: Having walkways outside your home add a cozy, homey and inviting feel to the overall outdoor presentation. Just a straight concrete walkway can be spruced up by putting a bit of garden bed edging along each side... putting small solar walkway lights on each side... or planting colorful annual flowers such as petunias on each side. If you don't already have a walkway and want to create one, I think the prettiest are those made of stone. Add an extra decorative touch by making the walkway curve or wind a bit to your front door instead of leading straight there. 4. Yard ornaments: These can be as simple as a small bird house, a pole mounted outdoor lantern light, or even a wheelbarrow with flowers. Putting a little something extra in your yard defines you and your tastes, plus it gives your home a more unique personality that stands out from your neighbors. 5. Flowers, Plants, Vines & Bushes: Probably the most popular way to spruce up a yard quickly is to simply put out some pretty plants, bushes, vines and flowers. Annuals are great for adding dashes of color quickly, because you can usually buy them this time of year in bloom. To get continuous color and greenery, plant some perrenials too. Then once the annuals are starting to die out, you'll have something to replace them. You'll also have the added joy of seeing the perrenials sprout again for several years to come. Would you like additional outdoor decorating tips? See the rest of this article and related resources at: diyhomedecorating/articles/2006-05/372/10-tips-for-improving-the-curb-appeal-of-your-house/

Which paid online survey companies really pay for your opinion

Paid Survey Companies conduct market research on behalf of thousands of companies that produce products and sell services. They will pay you for a quick 10 minute survey and they will even send products to your home and compenste you with anythwere from $10 to $75 just for trying out a new product and telling them what you think. Online surveys are are an easy way for these companies to collect consumer opinions before they launch a new product or service. Now, the question is, how much money can you make with paid surveys? It all depends on a few factors. The first factor is that you must join the top survey sites online. The second factor is that you must join a few different paid survey sites, so you always have a steady stream of surveys coming your way. Depending on the number, duration and type of survey you are sent, you are usually paid pretty well for your time. Typical surveys take about 5 to 30 minutes to complete. The longer the survey, the more you earn. From time to time, you will even be invited to join a Focus Group, which last 1 to 2 hours and usually pays upwards of $50. Most people then say to themselves, "Where do I start?". Continue on and read the tips below, and you will be well on your way to earning the extra income you have always wanted and needed. Remember, all of the information on the best paid online surveys should be free. You should NEVER pay for information about online surveys. I can't stress this enough. You don't have to pay money to take surveys or try new products. I have been a member of dozens of the top paid survey sites on the internet and not once did I have to pay a dime for any of the information I received. After extensive research, there are quite a few amazing Paid Offers out there, and now is the time for you to start collecting money for your opinion.

How to save time money on car rental

Lowest Rates Vs. A Good Bargain Many people approach Car Rental as a lowest-price-possible contest rather than to concentrate on the value of the deal they eventually would get, in terms of what type of car, what’s included (air conditioning, automatic gear shift etc’) as well as what type of service they are buying. The thing is, Car Rental market is very competitive one and rates differences for comparable quality and service are relatively small, sometimes as small as $10 to $20. These minuet price differences are going to vanish in the wind when you consider the long lines and lost time at the cheapest renter counter, drop charges for remote destinations, late return fines, and gasoline inflated rates as well as other service charges you didn’t think about when you shopped for the “best deal”. Don’t get us wrong, we don’t like to pay higher prices more than you do. We do recommend to shop around and check the various rates available, especially when it’s so easy to do it via the Internet at comparison sites. All we say here you need to consider other things beside the price and when you compare please make sure you compare apples to apples and not apples to pears. Things to consider when ordering a rented a car Who is using the car, are you by yourself on a business trip or you are traveling with the whole family? How much luggage are you going to have, does the car you are thinking about is big enough to have you all plus all your hand luggage and big suitcases? If not, consider to change to a mini van or a car with extra large trunk. Do you need an Infant seat or a child booster? make sure it is mentioned clearly with your order, usually there is a shortage of these seats and they are provided for extra charge. Check the state laws for where you are traveling. A new law in Denver for instance, requires Booster Seats for all 4 and 5 year olds who are not 55 inches tall. Do you actually need the car in the town or city at the first few days? If not, consider to take a taxi, a bus, a train or the hotel shuttle into the city and when it’s time for you to go out of town and travel around, then, rent the car from the city location and by that save up to 15% on Air-Port charges as well as on city parking fees. Are you going to a very warm and humid destination? If yes, it’s recommended to order a car with air conditioning, usually the price difference is negligible, the problem is that it’s not available in all destinations like in some European countries. Most major rental car companies allow for unlimited mileage in the same state, but it's a good idea to check their policy before confirming. Many smaller local independent companies charge mileage after 100-200 free miles per day. As mentioned before price is not the only factor to consider when choosing a car rental company. If you choose a very small, no-name company, don’t expect them to provide you with service across all nation or continent, what would you do if the car is needed to be replaced or serviced for some reason? Frequent or Preferred Renter Programs and affiliations Frequent renter programs, Like airlines and hotels, major car rental companies track their customers’ rental histories and offer preferential service to loyal customers. Most of the major companies offer frequent renter programs that are similar to airline frequent-flyer programs and hotel frequent-guest programs. Preferred renter clubs, Most major car rental companies also offer preferred renter programs or clubs (one example is the Hertz #1 Club). When you belong to one of these clubs, you get preferential treatment, including automatic upgrades when those cars are available. You can join these programs at any time, even if you are a first-time renter with that company. While basic-level club memberships are often free, higher-level memberships (as in the Hertz #1 Gold Club, which allows you to bypass the rental counter) generally come with a price tag. What most people don’t realize is that it’s often possible to avoid the membership fee by simply writing or calling your car rental company and asking them to waive it. They will do it because the car rental industry is very competitive, and they want your business If you're still faced with a steep rate, try getting discounts based on your affiliations with organizations like AARP, AAA or others. These discounts are usually not great, but they are better than nothing. In addition, always check for corporate rates if applicable to your situation. Car Rental Insurance Some of the Insurance terms seem to be confusing, let’s try to clear them out first. CDW - Collision Damage Waiver. LDW - Loss Damage Waiver. PDW - Physical Damage Waiver. PAI - Personal Accident Insurance. PEC - Personal Effects Coverage. ALI - Additional Liability Insurance. Many of the Credit Cards have most of these coverage, therefore it’s not mandatory to purchase excessive coverage. It’s better to check this issue with your travel agent, insurance agent and your credit card company a head of time. Some Car rental companies require that you show proof of insurance. Also be aware that your personal insurance probably doesn’t apply to your rental car when traveling overseas. All this is somewhat complicated and at times confusing because there are no industry standards for terminology and policies vary by locations. Important things to check and do before leaving the Air-Port After a long flight and the waiting in lines for your luggage and afterwards for your keys at the car rental counter, it is understandable you just want to take the rented car and drive away to your hotel, but wait! Here is a list of things you must check first. Start by making a careful check around the car, look for any small dents or scratches, in case you find some, don’t be lazy, go back to the office and ask a representative of the rental company to write down all of these dents, ask for a copy of that report. Other wise you might be responsible for damages you didn’t perform. Open the trunk, make sure you have a spare tire, a jack and set of tools, there is noting more irritating than to find out in the middle of nowhere that you don’t have a jack when you need to replace a flat tire. Many car companies will provide you with an extra key if you ask for one. This can come in handy for some of us who are absent minded. It is recommended to spend some time to get acquainted with the cars’ features and switches, make sure you know where the lights switches are, how to operate the windshield wipers, the air conditioner and even set your favorite radio stations as well as set your side mirrors. It might be quiet frustrating to fight with the new switches while driving, when all of a sudden it starts raining. Make sure you have a map and it’s better to spend few more minutes and plan your driving route. Last but certainly not least, If you have a lot of luggage, don’t park the car in the parking lot and go for lunch, in many countries, this is an easy target for the thieves, It’s better to buy some sandwiches and beverages in the air-port, or stop somewhere along the way for refreshing but never leave the car unattended. In case you are involved in a Car Accident These are the most important pieces of information to collect from the involved parties: full name, mailing address, telephone number, insurance details, and drivers’ license number. Also try to get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Make a note of the vehicle’s make, color, brand and license plate number. Try to pinpoint the exact time and location of the accident. If the police get involved, ensure that you receive a copy of their report. Don't forget to inform your insurance agent immediately and notify the car rental company. They will let you know about their accident procedure. If you purchased insurance through the car rental company, they will have to make the claim. If there is damage to the rental car, there will be much paper work to complete Make sure any involved parties are ok. Any injuries should be taken care of ASAP. Call the police and/or ambulance (if necessary), and then call the car rental agency. Be as cooperative as possible. The car rental agency will have its own policies regarding accidents. Exchange information with the affected parties. Try to record everything on the scene. Your notes should include details of the accident, identification of the autos and people involved, and the names and badge numbers of all emergency personnel. Take pictures if possible. If you are on vacation, you will probably have a camera handy already. File an accident report with the police, and report the claim to your own credit card company or insurance company. When returning the Car Make all necessary arrangements to return the car on time, that includes looking the location in the map especially if you return the car in a foreign city. Late return charges are high and arbitrary, secondly, if you are late, you probably won’t have the time to fill the car with gasoline yourself and the rental company will charge you exorbitant inflated gasoline rates. In case you return the car in a city location on Sunday, it might be that the station will be deserted, it will let you in via automated gate, make sure to take the card and leave it over the dashboard, this is your recorded time of arrival. In addition, lock the car, take the keys plus your rental contract and insert them into the designated box.

Covient sap business one solution provider

13th July 2006 System Application and Product in Data Processing [SAP Business One] is business Software for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). It is ERP Software that integrates CRM with financial and logistic modules. This is introduced to integrate all data and processes of an organization into a single unified system by using single database to store the data of various system modules. This is mainly useful for the small and midsize enterprise as it automates their critical operations like, sales, finance, purchase, inventory and manufacturing up to the minute picture of their business. SAP Business One is affordable and easy to implement solution designed to fulfill the specific needs of emerging and dynamically growing businesses. Covient is leading and Independent SAP Business One Solution Provider. Covient has over 15 years of experience in ERP Market, serving various industries with Integrated Software Solutions and Outsourcing Solutions. SAP Business one helps the business to manage their sales, inventory, operations and accounting. SAP business one is a complete real time business management solution with embedded CRM, sales, purchasing, inventory, MRP, production, service, workflow, powerful reporting, Microsoft office integration including outlook and complete financial accounting. At Covient, we understand all your business needs and provides total solution right from most reliable ERP Solution, we take care of all your business Software needs like customizing the solution to your exact business needs, development utilities, project management, technical support, training and implementation. For more information about us please visit us at: Covient

How to best select an affiliate program

How To Best Select An Affiliate Program Marketing products and services through the Internet is unquestionably easier and more rewarding compared to traditional marketing methods. With the millions of people worldwide getting online each day, there’s an enormous possibility for a merchant to sell his products and generate huge income. However, merchandisers are not the only ones who can benefit from online marketing. A booming industry nowadays, provides great opportunity as well to individuals as affiliate marketers. In affiliate marketing, an affiliate marketer doesn’t need to have his own products and services to sell. All he needs to do is to refer people to the merchant’s business site for them to buy the products and thereby, earn a commission. The key to an affiliate marketer’s success is to choose a good affiliate program and to employ excellent marketing techniques in promoting or selling the products to consumers. Why good and not the best affiliate program? There is no “best affiliate marketing program,” as one program might make one affiliate marketer a millionaire and the other a frustrated marketer. In other words, it can be a success to one and a failure to another. But there certainly is a good affiliate marketing program to start with. How to make it best would now depend on you. But before you think how you are going to make it best and financially rewarding, first think about how you are going to land on a good affiliate program with the thousands of affiliate marketing opportunities abounding in the Internet today. Try to look into the following tips and suggestions on how to best select the affiliate program that’s right for you. Information, that’s you need in order to make the right choice. It is helpful when you have already focused your search to a specific interest, which may be the theme of your website (if you already have one). In this way, you would be able to direct yourself towards a program that really matches your needs, wants and resources. It would be easier for you to eliminate options that are not suited to your own criteria for a good affiliate marketing program. You can join affiliate forums and learn some tips and get suggestions from experienced affiliate marketers. However, be wise enough to weigh their ideas before you buy them. The Internet Affiliate marketing program networks are good places to look for choices. Here, merchants and affiliate marketers like you meet. The merchants advertise their affiliate programs to interested affiliates who sign up in the network for free. Third party affiliate program networks are helpful since they provide you with access to a large number of advertisers (merchandisers) simultaneously. You can easily track and compare their sales records, performances, benefits, products and services. So now you have choices, the next question is which among those options is the right one. Here are some things to consider in deciding which to take and which to reject. First is the quality of the products and services. As an affiliate marketer your goal is not only to make visitors of your site click the link to the business site; but more importantly, to promote the product so they would buy it. If the customers are not convinced upon going to the business site, then you don’t earn. Make sure the products you are endorsing are worthwhile or in the business context, saleable. Ask yourself: if I were the customer, would I buy it? Would I recommend it to my family or good friend? If you can’t convince yourself or your family and friends to buy it, take a look at your next option. Another is the affiliate program or the merchandiser’s history. Look into their previous and present sales data, their proven and tested affiliate marketing systems and their partners’ experiences with them. Although, success of the program really depends on you, this one is still very important. The sales records don’t only show how good the affiliates are, but they speak about the products’ reliability, market availability and the company or the merchandisers’ reputation as well. Moreover, look into and carefully study the company’s compensation plan. Your purpose for joining the program is to earn, so make sure you’ll be paid for all your efforts fairly. If you do not have much time to promote intensively the affiliate products by creating banners, graphics and articles, choose affiliate programs that help you create these for your web site. It would be great if the company provides training on how to effectively market products online. Remember that affiliate marketing is a partnership, so make sure your partner is able to support you as you help him promote his products and services. Take down all the advantages and disadvantages of each program you are considering so you can clearly see the difference among your options; then later, compare the advantages of the programs with your own checklist. Take time to gather all the info you need to choose the right program. Remember an informed choice is the best choice.

Choices for buying cooking and enjoying fish

Wild Salmon There are six species of Pacific salmon - chum, coho, king (chinook), pink, sockeye and steelhead - and all are wild. Wild West coast salmon are harvested commercially in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and much of Canada. Smoked wild salmon is a delicious seafood item. The delicacy is simple to prepare and lends itself to a wide variety of dishes. Salmon is high in Omega-3 fatty acids which is well known as having health benefits. Studies have shown that smoked salmon has a very low level of mercury, unlike some other seafood. The Journal of American Medicine Association recently published a report stating that adding salmon at least once a week to your diet will cut the risk of sudden cardiac death in half. Tuna Tuna is consumed in a variety of ways. Tuna is the most well known and available fish in the USA and many other parts of the world due to it's popularity as a canned product. Most of us grew up on tuna salad sandwiches and associate that experience with tuna as a meal. Readers that have been lucky enough to enjoy fresh caught tuna know that there is quite a difference between a canned tuna salad sandwich and a fresh grilled tuna steak! Tuna is delicious grilled, blackened, or as sushi. Those of us that still love tuna salad can enjoy tuna from the can or use leftover grilled tuna to create a unique and delightful tuna salad with a unique flavor. Smoked fish lovers will be thrilled to know that tuna is excellent when smoked. The finished smoked product makes fish dips, salads or just eaten alone. Wahoo Wahoo are beautiful pelagic fish and are excellent table fare. Wahoo live in the open ocean and are common along much of the USA and Caribbean. Wahoo should be rinsed well and then the fillets can be removed from the body. The flanks can then be cut into steaks with the skin on or the entire sections can be skinned before cutting into steaks. Wahoo is delicious grilled, fried or smoked. Fresh wahoo are available in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Hawaii and other areas. Mahi Mahi Mahi Mahi, also known as dorado or dolphin fish are fast growing, pelagic fish. Mahi Mahi are among the most beautiful of all fish. The meat is mostly white with a high content of oil. Mahi Mahi is best grilled or smoked. Fresh Mahi Mahi is available in states such as Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Hawaii and others. Other areas of the country can enjoy this fish as a frozen product or fresh via overnight shipment. Striped Bass Cooks have a variety of favorites for cooking rockfish. Whole fillets of school sized fish or steaks of larger fish are delicious fried. Other choices for cooking striped bass include grilling, broiling, fish cakes and more. For top quality striped bass or "rockfish" as table fare, it's important to take care of the fish prior to cooking. The fish should be chilled on ice and laid out flat until cleaned. Once the fish is home, it can be rinsed thoroughly and filleted. Several cleaning methods exist and each angler learns their favorite style. The fish can be scaled and the skin left on, filleted and then skinned or the skin can be cut around the perimeter of the fish and pulled off with pliers. The skin-on version is nice when baking or grilling smaller fish. Skinning the fish before filleting has some advantages, the most important being speed. Filleting the fish and then cutting the skin off removes the most dark meat and leaves the highest quality portion, although some fish is lost in the process. Black Sea Bass Black Sea Bass are excellent table fare. The meat is firm, white and delicious. Sea Bass are superb fried, grilled, baked or broiled. Sea Bass are easily skinned and filleted. Black sea bass are common along the Atlantic coast from New York to North Carolina. They are best fresh. The fish do not freeze well. Grouper Grouper is among the most popular fish in the Southern USA. Grouper is a premium fish harvested from the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic Ocean. While individual species have unique identifiable characteristics, they are commonly described as lean, white flesh fish with a taste and texture which is popular and distinct from many other white fish. Tilapia Tilapia have gone from being an obscure fish to one of the most popular fish in many cultures. Tilapia are the second most important group of farm raised fish in the world. Tilapia has been introduced in over 100 countries. Tilapia farming and consumption are rapidly increasing in the US. Tilapia are a good source of protein and is now the fifth most popular seafood consumed in the United States.

Student loans don t bother me. i m eccentric

"Do you really see yourself as eccentric?" asked my boss incredulously. "Yes." I replied - "Eccentric means away from the centre, which means that I don't follow all the other sheep." How it Began ------------ Probably it all began when I was in my teens and found a book that showed me the easy way to write essays. "Always think what everyone else will write and make your essay as outrageously different as you can." You can get a free eBook now on the subject from studying-techniques It was such fun being outrageous that it spread to my everyday life. Often the outrageous ideas I thought of made more sense than the conventional thinking. Soon people started to accept me as an eccentric. Immediate advantages of being a known eccentric ----------------------------------------------- * You don't offend people. Everyone shrugs and says "It's just Ian!" * You can say "no" whenever you like. * You no longer have to keep up with the Joneses. You set your own targets. How being eccentric saves on student loans ------------------------------------------ I had a pushbike instead of a car like all the other students. I didn't need student loans. I set my own standards. The Joneses didn't drive me to student loans. When I needed textbooks I bought them second-hand, but decided for myself if the book was really necessary. After all, if I read the book in the library I wouldn't have to pay for it, and student loans would be kept at bay. I'm eccentric - remember? So I don't have to follow your expensive pastimes. I chose free pastimes. No need for student loans if I keep to free. What's that? Didn't I get bored with nothing to do? Far from it! Four times in my life I've had so many pastimes that I've had to prune the list drastically. Each Saturday I joined other young folk cycling round the countryside. I usually repaired their punctures, because I had the tools and it cost me next to nothing. I toured England, Scotland and Wales during my holidays with no fuel costs at all for my pushbike, so no student loans were needed. Sports: Of course I needed some eccentric sports to keep fit, so I took up croquet, fives, table-tennis, 7-mile cross-country running, hill-walking. No need for student loans because it was all free, and so were the games that I played such as chess. Each evening I had to make time to go out with my date, so had to push through my one-hour harmonium rehearsal, and one-hour violin rehearsal, and do my homework, and play some table-tennis, and read library books, and eat . . . Fortunately none of that needed a student loan - even my date. Remember, I am eccentric, so my date had to go along with me, or find someone else. I didn't need student loans for my furniture. My boss said later that I'd furnished my entire house for less that he paid for his bed. Auction prices were so low that the main cost was in carting the stuff home. Student union? No I'm eccentric. Horse-racing pool? No I'm eccentric. Join a student protest rally? No I'm eccentric. Each time students were browbeaten into something expensive because "everyone else is doing it" they didn't even bother to ask me because I was eccentric. Far from needing student loans, I saved money from my government scholarship. Then I took holiday jobs for extra money. One day the unemployment officer showed me a job which "nobody will want". I grabbed it immediately because it sounded different. I was working alone on a farm, 6 miles from my boss and was snowed-up most of the winter so that my boss couldn't get through to me. It was there that I learned to trap rabbits, skin them, cure them, train dogs, cook, hand-milk cows, make cheese - well what else is there to do when you're snowed up? I bumped into the employment officer a couple of months later and he said "You're not still on that terrible job are you?" I hastened to reassure him that it was great. He must have thought that I was eccentric or something. Why does being eccentric avoid student loans? --------------------------------------------- * I don't mind buying seconds or second-hand from the op-shop or Salvation Army. * Anything free is great. * I'm not proud. People give me lifts in cars because I'm too eccentric to have one of my own. I used to hitch-hike before it got dangerous. People give me cast-off clothing - well only an eccentric would wear it! * Naturally I hunted for a scholarship until I found one. Everyone else may have student loans, but I'm eccentric. * "Everyone else has one" so out comes the credit card. Not me. I'm eccentric. Credit cards can charge more than one fifth of your loan per year, making them the most expensive of student loans. * Giving gifts needs more student loans. I'm eccentric. Something for 50cents from the Salvation army can make a great gift. Keep buying through the year then wrap up your treasure trove at Christmas and hand deliver to avoid paying postage. Yes - they'll all know what you're doing, but "it's just Ian" and you're eccentric, remember?

Postcards the best kept secret of modern marketing

What can be more effective than a brief, captivating message printed on a postcard? It's quick and easy to read at a glance. Yeah, it has a friendly feel that appeals to the emotional side of your potential customer as well. Sure they'll realize it's an advertisement right away, but it has the appearance of a personalized friendly correspondence that is pleasant and low pressure. No, you won't close any deals with a postcard, but you can quickly and effectively state the offer and its advantages and give them a compelling reason to get in contact with you. Yep, it'll be just enough to whet their appetite for more! People Can't Resist Reading Postcards How often do you get the mail, look at the name of the addressee and pitch the envelope and its contents directly into the trash? I do it everyday. Yeah, who needs more mail to sort through with all of the junk mail that fills our mailboxes and inboxes? What about postcards? ...no envelope to hide the contents...just the flip of a small piece of paper...and yep, you've read it! It just makes good horse sense that the advertisements that get read are going to bring more response than those that don't. Yeah, no rocket science involved here! Postcards are much more likely to get read than other mail or email...the curiosity factor combined with the ease of reading, work together to make these extremely effective marketing tools. Postcards Save You Money Add 4 to 9 cents in printing costs, and 23 cent postage... and yeah, postcards are extremely inexpensive advertisements! Think friendly...which provides a more personal feeling...the little bars and lines of prepaid postage, or the colorful design of a stamp. Yeah, you can invest a little extra time in placing stamps on each card and create a personalized affect that won't go unnoticed! Watch out for cheap immitations! Modern postcards are high impact creations. We're not talking about old-fashioned... home printed... uneven edged catastrophies here. The postcards of today have tones so vivid they jump off the paper at you, and pictures so realistic you could pick the flower of the page and put on your kitchen table. For the miniscule amount of money you MIGHT save... if you don't make too many mistakes along the way...heck, I say just order them! Yeah, let the printer do all the hard work while you rake in the profits they'll bring in

Designing your site for the search engines

When you design a website, it's easy to focus on what your visitors are going to see. What you have to realise, though, is that you're going to have another kind of visitor with a completely different agenda: they're not going to be looking at your pretty logo and they're not going to be passing judgement on your background colour. What they're looking for is the content and structure of your page. They're the search engine spiders, and they are in control of probably the largest section of your traffic. You need to please these spiders if you want your site to be successful. Here's how. Make Your Structure Clear. Resist the temptation to lay your page out in non-standard ways: you want it to be very clear to the search engine where the navigation is, where the content is, and where the headings are. As a rule, put navigation first in your page. Always use the heading tags (h1, h2, etc.) for headings and sub-headings. Avoid using generic span and div tags and only making things clear to the user through CSS font sizes: instead, use every 'semantic' HTML tag that applies to your content. If you're quoting someone, use the blockquote tag; if you're posting program code, use the code tag. Search engines love this. Keep Keywords Consistent. It's not usually worth deliberately saturating your content with keywords in hope of a higher search ranking – the engines have pretty much wised up to this tactic – but do make sure that your keywords appear consistently when they occur naturally. For example, for these articles, I have stuck with 'website' throughout, as suddenly writing 'web site' instead would bring down my rankings. HTML and Javascript. It's worth noting that search engines read HTML, but they don't, in general, read Javascript. That means that using Javascript to insert text into your page is a bad idea if you want search engines to see the text. On the other hand, you might want to have just the text in HTML and insert all the other parts of the page with Javascript: this will tend to make your page appear more focused, although you should be careful not to insert navigation links this way if you want the search engines to follow them. Use Meta Tags. Yes, meta tags are out of fashion, and search engines pay no attention to them any more when it comes to ranking your site, but they're still important in one way: the meta description tag is still often used to decide what text search engines' users see when they find your site in their results! This can be just as important as the ranking itself – write something here that will look useful to the searcher, and you're more likely to get them to click-through. Don't forget that, while search engines are just machines and algorithms, the end result of it all does involve a human decision: to click, or not to click? Avoid Splash Pages. You might think it's a great idea to have a 'splash' page displaying a full-page version of your logo (or an ad) to every user who arrives at your site, but search engines really hate that. Using this trick will get you ranked far lower than you would usually be, so you should avoid it – it's annoying to visitors anyway. Include Alt Tags. Any time you use a graphic, include alt text for it – especially if there is text in the graphic. Remember that, as far as search engines are concerned, all your graphics might as well just be big black boxes. Test by removing all your graphics and seeing if your content remains relatively intact. If it doesn't, then you'll be turning search engines away. Finally, Write Great Content. The key with modern search engines (and, at the same time, the thing you have least control over) is how many people decide to link to your page from their page. How can you make more people link to you? Make your content useful. Make it something they'll want to quote on their blogs. Content is more King than it's ever been, and the best way to design for search engines is to make your content really stand out.

Internet banking pros and cons for your business

Many businesses now use internet banking as they deem it to be even safer than the traditional method. Once suppliers' details have been entered in correctly the payment goes directly to their bank account within 3 working days. Traditional Method With the traditional method you get to deal with real people but there is a lot that can go wrong. The teller might punch in the wrong amount or you might arrive at the wrong time and end up queuing. You might run out of cheques or even forget your chequebook at the office when you most need it. Once you have written a cheque and mailed it you are relying on the post office to deliver your mail on time and to the right address. They often get it wrong. You need to wait for a statement to find out your account balance unless you are brave and have hours to kill whilst you listen to "your business is very important to us, please hold while we transfer you to the next available operator." Opening Hours With the traditional method you are tied down to normal working hours. Online banking is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day as long as you have access to the internet. With internet banking you cut out the middle man and transfer the funds directly to your supplier's bank account. It is also possible to access your bank statements day or night without having to wait weeks / months for the banks to deal with your request. Speed Bank transfers are often dealt with speedier than traditional banking. Some of my transactions definitely happen quicker through online banking. I can also access all my accounts from one secure site. You can check your bank statements for any period in the past without having to search for a long lost file! Offers Some banks now offer special deals for their online business customers only. It is possible to get cheaper loans with lower setup costs, credit cards with lower transaction charges and applying for a loan online is also quicker. Security Be very careful with your login details and do not write down your password anywhere. Always log out once you have finished your business and regularly run anti-spyware software on your computer. Spyware tries to monitor your usage of your computer and collect your personal information and use it against you. There have been breaches of internet banking in the past but now online banking technology is more sophisticated and secure. Suitability Internet banking might not suit you if you like to see who you are dealing with. If you are a "technophobe" & feel insecure about doing large transactions online then it is definitely not right for you. On the other hand if you hate queuing, despise the time it takes for duplicate statements and hate being bogged down by traditional opening hours then the convenience of online banking can not be beaten. I use a mixture of online and face to face banking. Some things can only be discussed face to face with my bank manager.

Your no gym workout

A no gym workout is ideal for those people who aren't members of a gym, and don't have any equipment of their own. There have been fascinating methods devised whereby people can use their own body weight as a tool to build muscles. Here we show you the secrets of the no gym workout. Step 1 We are going right back to basics here, so if you already know this, bear with us. The first part of a workout should involve cardio as a warm up, to get the blood pumping. A no gym workout needs to abide by this as well. There are many different ways of achieving a solid warm up, so pick the one which suits you. Jogging, running, cycling, any of these will do to get you into the prepared state. One possible routine which will definitely warm you up is to alternate a couple of minutes of jogging with a minute of sit ups. This will certainly warm you up! Step 2 The arms are so often the main feature of a bodybuilding workout, whether in the gym, or at home. There is plenty you can do for the arms as part of a no gym workout. You will need some kind of weight, and obviously professional measured weights are the best. If you don't have these, you can always improvise. Bags can contain just about anything, and you can do bicep curls with them. If you use something like tins of food or books, you can always alter the weight ass necessary. Press ups are good for the rest of the arms. Step 3 The chest is much more difficult to work at home, because the most effective exercises normally involve professional training equipment. A weight bench is ideal if you have one, but if you don't there are still exercises you can perform. In a no gym workout, you will need to do some tough press ups (one handers or declined). You can also dip yourself if you can find the right facility, maybe in the garage or the kitchen. Work surfaces have been successfully used by some people. Step 4 Legs are another area where it is often difficult to find the right circumstances to exercise with your no gym workout, but there are ways of getting round most of the problems. Squats are your first port of call, as these put a lot of pressure on the legs. You can do these without any weights, and still get good results, or else you can improvise some weights as we did for the arms. Calves can be built up by performing heel raises on a step, or similar structure. They can also be a side beneficiary of your cardio, especially if that involves skipping. Now you know how to perform a full no gym workout. Keep at it, apply consistency, and you should see results.

Quel cadeau offrir a vos employes

Les Soirйes Entreprises: Marre des traditionnels restaurants sur des pйniches, ou dans des cabarets traditionnels pour essayer de contenter tout le monde? Pourquoi ne pas rйaliser alors organiser une journйe casino au sein de l'йtablissement. Pour cela, rien de plus simple. L’option premiиre consiste а faire appel а des animateurs de soirйe casino qui, en plus d’apporter le matйriel, vous serviront de croupier pour l’ensemble de vos jeux pour prиs de quatre heures de rire et de dйtente. L'avantage, ces jeux resserrent les йquipes et permet de dйcouvrir la face cachйe de chaque employй. Les cadeaux traditionnels: 1) Les Objets Publicitaires On y retrouve du plus classique а la perfection du Hi-Tech tels les йquipements portatifs de tйlйphonie, les MP3, les DvX, lecteur CD, radio-rйveil, sans oublier les vкtements ou chapeaux personnalisйs, ou encore les cйlиbres stylos plume ou plus original, un livre sur le thиme professionnel de votre choix comme comment s'йpanouir au travail. Eux aussi on la part belle. On en trouve pour tous les budgets et pour tous les goыts. Ces derniers sont d'excellents supports publicitaires pour afficher la marque de votre entreprise. Bien que la plus part des personnes soit dйjа pourvues de ce genre d'accessoires, ces derniers restent banals. Ce qui est sur d'atteindre votre but, ce sont tous les cadeaux de maroquinerie. En effet, sur le cuir, vous pouvez inscrire ou encrer votre logo d'entreprise discrиtement et кtre sur que l'employй l'utilisera. Cela va du simple portefeuille en cuir au porte-documents, sans oublier le confйrencier et le kit de voyage. 2) Pour Noel Traditionnellement, l'entreprise se fixe sur des corbeille d'assortiments gastronomiques composйs de foie gras en boite, avec une mini bouteille de champagne et ou de vin. N'oublions pas non plus les boites de chocolat, re-designer pour l'occasion mais gare а la date d'expiration car combien d'employйs ont dйjа reзu un "chocolat empoisonnй" du fait de la pйremption? Alors pourquoi ne pas innover? Pourquoi ne pas offrir а vos employйs des places de thйвtre, autre que celles proposйes par votre Comitй d'Entreprise. En prix de groupe, cela vous reviendra moins cher et pourrez profitez de cette йconomie en proposant par exemple un dоner gourmet dans la cantine redйcorйe pour l'occasion. Ou encore, pensez aux articles de cuisine, l'art de la table, la salle de bain, autant de lieux "visitйs" rйguliиrement par les consommateurs, et oщ il est donc judicieux de vouloir "placer" des objets publicitaires а leur marques et messages. Citons aussi les outils de jardinage, les plantes, les sets de table, les horloges etc. Autres Idйes Cadeaux: D'autres idйes cadeaux sont prйsentes pour vos employйs. Tenez, par exemple le secteur de la bagagerie publicitaire, les t-shirts et casquettes personnalisйs qui sont de trиs bons supports pour afficher votre marque de maniиre bien visible. Pour vous rendre encore plus original, pensez vacances. Quel est l'йlйment qui vous sera utile pendant vos voyages? Des jumelles? Pourquoi pas? Ou alors un rйfrigйrateur rйchauffeur? Un йquipement de volants et raquettes de badminton pour les remettre en forme? Vous voyez les idйes ne manquent pas.

Are you a know all or no all

Expert or Generalist - what are you? Are you one who will know more and more about one subject and less and less about others? Or you are one who knows something about everything? Those of us who are experts are surprised that some people on the earth are generalists and vice-versa. But both the breeds exist on our earth. What are you? Which type is better? Let us take example of medicine. For example if someone gets fever, he/she cannot approach a specialist, because they would not know which specialty is concerned. In this case they will have to first consult a generalist and after that if needed go to a specialist. The problem arises when one is a total generalist in his/her profession/work/business. No growth can take place here because if you are in retail but know as much about retail as you know about export procedures, that will be of no help. Slowly you will have to develop expertise in retail to succeed. Similarly, if you are an expert in retailing but know nothing about other professions, that will hurt your interests. You will find it difficult to grow because retail does not grow alone. It has to get support of other specialties also such as manufacturing. What is the best way? The best option would be to develop expertise in one trade/profession and get related knowledge of other professions, which will be needed to grow in your chosen field.

5 Steps to securing your windows xp home computer

Most people are aware that there are continuous security issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating system and other programs. However, what most people do not realize is how easy it is to significantly improve your computer’s security and reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim to ever increasingly sophisticated threats that lurk on the internet. These steps should take less than a couple of hours to complete and should not clean out your wallet. 1) Windows Update – the first crucial step you need to take to make sure that all your Microsoft applications have all the latest product updates installed. These updates or “patches” address security vulnerabilities and other issues. Microsoft usually issues these updates on a monthly cycle. Visit the Microsoft website or switch on automatic updates from the Windows Control panel. Even if your “new” computer is second hand this is still a critical first step. If you buy a used computer with Windows XP make sure Service Pack 2 or SP2 is installed. 2) Strong Passwords - people often overlook this but having well thought through passwords is an important element of your computer security. A strong password should include at least 8 characters with a mixture of text, symbols and numbers. As a minimum you need to make sure the services most at risk have a strong log-in password. These services include your bank, credit card, other financial services like PayPal, your email address and any other services like Ebay which hackers can use to generate profit. 3) Anti Virus Protection – while it is fair to say the threat of the computer virus has receded during the last couple of years they can still inflict serious damage on your computer. Part of the reason why the threat has reduced is because PC manufactures are now more frequently bundling anti virus packages with their new computers. For example last year my new Dell shipped with a 90-day trial of McAfee's Internet Security Suite. The best bet here is to purchase a security package which includes firewall and anti virus software as a minimum. Top brands include McAfee and Symantec Norton products. However, Microsoft has recently entered the market with their "OneCare" offering which is very aggressively priced. 4) Firewall - if you are using a broadband connection then a firewall is definite requirement to manage the traffic flowing between your computer and the internet. A firewall monitors the inbound internet traffic passing through the ports of your computer. Better products also monitor outbound traffic from your computer to the internet. As per above the best bet here is buy a firewall application as part of a security package which most vendors offer as standard. If a hardware firewall is included as part of your router package then you do not need anything else. A company called Zone Labs offer a great free firewall product called Zone Alarm which should be used as a minimum. Windows XP does now ship with a free firewall but the product does not monitor outbound communication and therefore I believe does not offer adequate protection. 5) Anti Spyware Tool - this software is the last piece in your basic internet security set up. This tool helps combat spyware and adware. There is a good mixture of free and paid versions on offer. Good free software include Microsoft's Windows Defender, Spybot S&D or Ewido Anti-Malware. Ewido Anti-Malware is frequently recommended in computer help forums. Be careful if you decide to purchase a solution. There are a number of rogue vendors out there which aggressively push products which offer you little value. Stick to trusted names like Webroot's Spy Sweeper or PC Tool's Spyware Doctor. These products always come out well on independent tests.

College student credit cards

College is the place where most of us get our first taste of financial freedom and the responsibility that goes along with it. Inexperienced with debt, college students may apply for a cash back credit card thinking that it sounds like a no lose situation. They hope to charge large ticket items or living expenses that they cannot afford to buy with cash and then receive a check for cash back at the end of the year. Unfortunately, a free credit card offer can appeal to a student for all the wrong reasons. Instead of building a good credit base and starting out responsible buying habits, a college student credit card may be used to live beyond the means of the average student. This can be a trap for students and lead to years of credit damage and negative consequences. The college student credit card College students receive credit card offers on a nearly daily basis. They are included in bags with new textbooks, campus purchases, and student run newspapers. Offers for a free credit card also come in the mail marked "Pre-approved". Faced with the idea of a cash back credit card, most students are eventually lured into replying to one or more of these offers. In addition, credit card companies, such as MBNA, offer cards designed to target specific college students. This college student credit card comes in a design that features the student’s university or alumni association and is appealing for the sense of belonging and exclusivity it conveys. However, it also carries some hidden dangers that the average college student misses in their excitement to get their first credit card. Drawbacks A company that offers a free credit card to college students is familiar with the sometimes precarious spending habits of the average student. Payments from students are frequently late and the minimum payment due is the most some young people ever try or are able to pay. This delinquency adds up to a lot of money in interest and late fees that goes to the credit card company in the form of profits. Since a cash back credit card offers the incentive of a return on purchase prices, the interest rates for these cards are usually very high. In addition, the student applying has little or no credit and can only qualify for a line of credit by promising to pay exorbitant interest rates if late or overdrawn. So in order to lure students into applying, the lender may advertise a low interest rate for a trial period, such as six to twelve months. But when the student uses the free credit card, the balance accumulated ends up costing much more once the higher interest rate takes effect. But the most dangerous part of a college student credit card is the damage it does to the student’s credit rating. This damage takes place long after the purchases have been enjoyed and is usually not a factor in the decision to make such purchases. Impulse buys and peer pressure can add up to serious credit consequences. The average student has no real understanding of the implications of bad credit, which could follow them into their careers and family life. They could be denied a car or mortgage loan, as well as further lines of credit with other credit card companies.

Darth vader the making of a monster

Ever since his first appearance in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” Darth Vader has slowly attained the status of a cultural icon, a near-universal symbol of villainy and oppression. The all-black attire, the distinct sound of his mechanically-aided breathing, and the imposing nature of his presence earned him a spot as one of the most intimidating fictional characters in history. His mere presence was enough to instill fear and anxiety in his lesser officers and his targets, effectively crippling most resistance forces by merely arriving. Not only was he known for causing fear and anxiety among enemies by reputation, he also caused fear and anxiety by his willingness to strike down his foes from the front lines, something his fellow commanders refused to do. However, beneath the mask of near-mechanical dominance lay the mind of Anakin Skywalker, a young man confused by his emotions and fearful of his losses. Anakin Skywalker was a man of many traits, some of which led to his eventual transformation into one of the most memorable and sympathetic characters in popular culture. He was extremely loyal to those he cared about, willing to risk anything and everything to help them, and asking only that they be loyal to him in turn. He was a talented Jedi, skilled in mechanics, but somehow wary of why his exceptional talents didn't seem to be enough to earn him the rank of “master.” Finally, perhaps on some level, he seemed to buckle under the pressure of what his peers believed him to be. He had a destiny, he was occasionally told, and he often felt the weight of that destiny squarely on his shoulders. These qualities, while generally positive, were eventually exploited by the Dark Side and used to fight the very things he was supposed to protect as a Jedi. The weight of his destiny pressed upon him a form of performance anxiety, pressuring him and goading him to take more risks. His assumed destiny as “The Chosen One” placed a great burden on his shoulders, one that made him think that he should be able to easily achieve the feats Jedi far older and more experienced than he could achieve only with great difficulty. His performance anxiety eventually was turned into a desire for greater power, and a sense of inadequacy whenever events proved beyond his ability to control. With the right prompting, his performance anxiety became a full obsession with power, one that would drive him to become the second most powerful figure in an oppressive regime. His increasing ability to use The Force, combined with his perceived lack of recognition from his Jedi Masters, became a twisted form of status anxiety. Indeed, within the films and the novels, he often expressed worry over how he seemed to be ignored by his superiors. His status anxiety led him to believe that his abilities alone should have earned him the rank of Jedi Knight and, later, Jedi Master. The young Jedi's status anxiety was aggravated to near-breaking point when he was appointed a seat within the Jedi Council – the ruling body of the Jedi priesthood – but was denied the rank of “Master,” which was something all other members had. This apparent lack of recognition from his peers, combined with the ample praises given to him by those outside the Jedi, slowly built up into arrogance and overconfidence, as well as a resentment over his perceived “persecution.” However, the final nail in the coffin was his loyalty and devotion. He experienced separation anxiety when he was taken away from his mother as a boy. While he eventually learned to suppress it, along with all other negative emotions, it resurfaced and when he learned of his mother's death. His grief turned him into a killer, lashing out against his mother's killers and slaughtering them as if they were animals. His separation anxiety was even worse when he received visions of his wife, Padme Amidala, dying. His unwillingness to accept the inevitability of her death turned into an obsessive form of separation anxiety, making him willing to do whatever was needed to prevent her death. This separation anxiety and readiness to do what he thought must be done was exploited into convincing him to slaughter young and defenseless Jedi, as well as his more talented peers. Indeed, it was the separation anxiety turned into obsession that ultimately led to his downfall and transformation. Although, in some ways, it also led to his eventual redemption.

Vitamins promoting healthy aging

Vitamins Promoting Healthy Aging People do not realize what vitamins can do for them. Vitamins are great for those who need them. On the other hand, if you have sufficient vitamins, then you will not need regimens of vitamins. Building vitamins in your system, which has too much already, or sufficient nutrients can cause harm. Vitamins will make you look younger and feel younger as well as make you feel good about yourself, providing you need regimens suited for your system. How do I learn what vitamins are good for me? We get natural vitamins in the foods we eat. Some times, you do not get the right amount so you have to take vitamins, which come in many ways. You can get them in a pill form, liquid, powder, etc. If the vitamins you choose do not work for you, your doctor can give you a shot. You can get almost all the vitamins you may need at local drug stores. You will find vitamins at supermarkets, department stores and so on. If you cannot determine which vitamins are right for you, check with your doctor. He may have some recommendations. In fact, you should visit your family doctor first and ask him/her, which vitamins may be suitable for your body type. How vitamins help you: Taking vitamins will help you to relieve stress. Vitamins will help control your weight, and help keep you from getting sick with the common cold and the flu. There are many vitamins to help you out. You can check out at your local pharmacy many different kinds. You pharmacist is your best friend as well as your doctor. He/she may be able to help you find out which vitamins are best suited for your body type. What kinds of vitamins should I consider and for what purpose? You have a wide array of vitamins to choose from, including B1, B12, B6, E, D, K, A, and so on. B1 is designed to help your heart function in order. The vitamin will assist your central nervous system as well, helping you to have a better attitude in life. B1 will give you energy, since it is known to swap blood sugar, transferring it to energy. B1 promotes a healthy mucous membrane, and will promote the muscular and cardio functions. How to decide if you need vitamins: Some things that you may feel if you are low on vitamins are fatigue. You may feel muscle tenderness, or experience insomnia. Insomnia can benefit from Melatonin supplements. You can get natural vitamins from corn breads, nuts, oatmeal, cereal, wheat and so on. Eat plenty of veggies and fruits also to get the vitamins you need. If you have colds, you can benefit from Vitamin C. If you are searching for anti-aging vitamins consider E, since According to experts, Vitamin E is responsible for preserving oxygen in the blood, reduce more than 40% of the oxygen amount the heart needs as well. Vitamin E also has been linked to influential anti-coagulants. Some experts believe the vitamin will slow blood clotting by dilating the blood vessels. If you searching for the vitamin to help you stay young and healthy, then Vitamin E that contains 200 units is for you. According to German experts Wolf and Luczak Vitamin E is a stabilizer for youth and strong blood. If this is true, then dying cells will be replaced quickly by new cells. Dying cells is responsible for many diseases, including cancer, AIDS, HIV, leukemia and so on. In fact, T-Cells that deteriorate is responsible for AIDS, certain types of cancers, herpes simplex, and so on.

Has tv helped the online psychic readings industry

Moonwhisper as well as many other psychic reading websites has proven that the internet is a viable venue for professional psychics to display their services and provide an obviously very lucrative service to the major players in the online psychic reading industry. With an increasing demand for high quality and affordable psychic advice rising daily smaller websites are finding it easier to break into this niche market and take psychic service promotions to the next level with a complete line of co branded services on the web. You will find that the fires of this rise in interest in the psychic readings niche has been fanned in part by the rise of popular TV shows that have really brought the paranormal and psychic ability into main stream American homes. These shows have really taken a lot of the taboo previously associated with psychics and turned them into heroic figures solving mysteries, crimes as well as helping those in need with their psychic abilities. You may be asking how has this helped online psychics? The answer is simple we are now more accepting and aware of these paranormal events that have always taken place and we have been desensitized to the previous stigma associated with psychics by the constant barrage of the paranormal on TV. It has now become normal to consult with psychics and to believe that a psychic has the ability to predict the future because we as Americans are so used to it from our exposure on television. May I add it is about time we have learned to accept psychic abilty instead of shy aware from it as the answers we seek could be just a click of a mouse away. In my opinion we can look at the rise of online psychic popularity in two ways either as a sad cry for help by the public at large who are desperate to find hope anywhere or as a beginning of an age of enlightenment where we are finally at place where we are accepting of a higher spiritual plane and are not afraid to seek advice from a realm that is intangible but nevertheless very real. I find the latter to be a more optimistic and open minded way of thought and I really believe that psychics will no longer be shunned and mocked but be sought after and accepted as a genuine professional service. I see the future of psychic readings to be very bright and something that will continue to grow and blossom as our spirituality becomes more accepting and our rational minds let go and let the psychic mind be released.

Destination weddings

No matter where you and your future groom are wed, your wedding will have the same meaning and give you the same new start to a beautiful beginning together, however destination weddings can add a little extra touch to the wedding of your dreams. When planning a destination wedding talk about different places where you would like to be united. An advantage to having a destination wedding is being able to have your ceremony and honeymoon in the same location. One way to get some ideas about where to hold your destination wedding is to check out some of the different resort locations on the internet. Most resorts offer wedding packages that have everything included, even a wedding planner. All you need to do is provide the bride and groom! If you want more control over your big day use these tips and ideas for planning one of the biggest days in your life. As with every wedding, prepare a wedding planner or organizer. This will keep tasks organized and remind you of dates that certain tasks need to be accomplished by. Remember that by having a destination wedding, you will be planning your event long distance, so it will be important to have a list of things that need to be done before you arrive. When inviting guests to your destination wedding, send out announcements early, letting them know which hotel to call to reserve rooms, as well as dates and times for plane tickets so they can be purchased in advance. You may also think about having a large reception when you return home for those who cannot attend your wedding. Send out separate announcements for this and let them know they will have a chance to congratulate you at a later date. For destination weddings it is important to check on regulations and laws. If you are being married outside of the United States, be sure to have passports, blood tests, a U. S. marriage license, if needed, and any other paperwork that will need to be completed. Stay ahead of the game so when you arrive at your destination everything is in order. Also consider how you will get your attire to your destination wedding. Rather than trying to check everything in at the airport on the day you fly out, ship everything separately two weeks in advance. Call the destination and confirm that everything arrived in a peaceful state. This will also give you two weeks extra time in the event that something is damaged in travel. Do not forget to hire a photographer, clergy, wedding planner and bakery to complete your wedding. For information on different services offered, you can contact the destination’s Visitor Bureau. A few of the more popular destination wedding spots include Jamaica in the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, the blue waters of Hawaii, and Las Vegas, with its hundreds of wedding chapels. As long as you plan ahead and expect a few challenges, your destination wedding is sure to be day to remember.

Hypnosis weight loss

Hypnosis Weight Loss: Some Ways to Stop the Weighting Controlling your weight and avoiding weight gain as you get older are important ways to prevent a host of weight-related health problems. Indeed, if you are more than 20 pounds over your ideal weight, you are at greater risk for a rogues’ gallery of potentially deadly conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, endometrial cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, and breast cancer. What’s more, most people who are overweight tend to avoid exercise, and that avoidance just adds to the toll paid for extra pounds. If you have a sedentary lifestyle and are overweight, you are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems. And, if you already have a medical condition such as high cholesterol, being overweight puts you at higher risk for complications. The good news is that even modest amounts of weight loss can improve your health significantly. Loss of 10% of body weight can reduce blood pressure, high cholesterol, triglyceride, and high blood sugar levels. Today, there are many procedures that can contribute and help people loss weight effectively. One of the known procedure in losing weight is through hypnosis. However, many misconceptions have come up with regards to the application of hypnosis in losing eight. And because it does not involve drugs or any kinds of medications and surgery, many people tend to think that losing weight through hypnosis seems to be one of the safest weight loss program. To know more about hypnosis and its effects on losing weight, here is a list of some facts that will give you an insight about what it can do to your body weight. 1. Hypnosis can be an imminently risky if not done properly and not utilize by people who are highly trained with the real concept of hypnosis. Even if many people tend to think that hypnosis will not pose imminent danger to their health, still, it is important to know that the person who will do the procedure is skilled enough and that he or she knows what factors to consider before doing the procedures. 2. Hypnosis alone cannot eliminate excess fat from the body and, therefore, make somebody lose weight. Most health experts contend that hypnosis should only be a part of a whole assimilated process. It should never be used as the sole weight loss procedure. Moreover, one session of hypnosis will only have very minimal results on an individual’s weight. When losing weight, hypnosis matched with psychotherapy will be more effective than hypnosis alone. This is because hypnosis is only a state of deeply relaxing the mind, in which one can still be in control of his or her own body. 3. Hypnosis is one way of getting into the subliminal state of a person. When a person is on the “hypnotic stage,” the body is more responsive to suggestibility because of its intensified state of concentration. However, this does not necessarily mean that through hypnosis, one can already “reprogram” the mind of an individual. In reality, hypnosis can only run the range from trouble-free relaxation condition to proper initiation managed by a professional hypnotists. Hence, it should not be considered paranormal and magical in its upshots. Boiled down, people should be more aware that hypnosis is not a sole effective process in losing weight. It is more of a facilitator of various treatment techniques. Therefore, it should be combined with other weight loss management program to be effective in making people lose excess weight. In this manner, people will be able to lose more weight with a more relaxed and refreshed state of mind. As they say, a healthy mind is a healthy body.

Finding a new house

Finding a new house The adventure of moving home generally starts properly when you look for a new house. Moving home, though stressful can be a very rewarding experience, but its important to keep several things in mind when moving. These can include the welfare and comfort of your children, the support structure you'll have when you move (are you moving nearer your family, further away from your family?), ease of commute to your job, schools and more. Children usually feel moves the most, as they often find it hard to settle into new environments and like, above all else, security, and safety. If the move is in relation to a family separation, it’s important to include them in the process where at all possible, and ensure their voices are heard when picking a house. Often you can research amenities, such as local shops, schools, leisure areas and more online, which may ease the burden of investigating all of that personally. Highly rated amenities should make it easier to choose between two areas, but its also important to consider what you're looking for in an area. Your job too plays a huge part in picking a house - can you easily travel to your place of work, and more importantly, is the area able to offer a similar job, should the worst happen? You can also balance isolation and city life with what you prefer - if you prefer a quieter pace of life, its better to move to a town, though you may find that houses further out of cities may cost slightly more. But you will obviously find that the houses give you more room, including - possibly - a garden. With all the choices you may have to move houses, the best decision you can make is one that leaves you satisfied, and gives you the closest to your perfect match of needs and wants as you can find.

The adventure of a writer

I can say that I am a good writer. I adventure and writing about new topics. I can say I’ve done pretty well considering I could write about technology, medicine and health when in fact I never studied any of these. But I found a topic, which left me speechless, or should I say wordless? When I was asked to write about “adult topics” I thought we were only talking about Viagra, penis enlargement or vaginal cosmetic surgery. Topics, which, needless to say, I had no trouble writing about before. But here I am struggling to find out the definition of demand live sex and what an amateur exhibitionist does. What are fetish films and how is it different from Hollywood movies? Sure I know the difference between Hollywood and Bollywood but fetish movies are something new to me. Armed with my laptop and a liter of orange juice, I went to a public Internet shop to find the answer. More commonly known as porn, the spread of fetish videos on the Internet has caused government bodies to introduce and implement laws limiting its reach. A lot of people are involved in public discussions and debates for and against pornography. But are these really doing any good? When censorship laws were implemented, did it really prevent the proliferation of fetish video on demand? I feel that these laws didn’t really help; they only created enough noise for people to be more curious. I am not saying that porn is bad; it’s just that I can’t see the reason for censorship laws or any evidence that pornography does any harm. Well, of course when you talk about children, pedophilia is a different world altogether. But let’s talk about pornography and why people are hooked with it. Sure someone would say: people who appear in porn films are desperate for the money, are probably drug users, criminals or prostitutes. But are these assumptions true? Someone claims: “I never watched BDSM video” and then proceeds to talk down on people who did. For one, how did you know about BDSM? For another, what authority do you have to judge people who happen to like watching other people doing this most basic of all necessities? In a study conducted by Kath Albury and Catharine Lumby from the University of Sydney entitled Understanding Pornography in Australia, it was found that people like pornography because most videos reiterate that natural beauty is still most attractive for men and women alike. Also, when interviewed, people appearing in movies say that they do it because they enjoy their work. Some do it for the money, not because they are desperate but because the work is basically high-paying and safe too.

Top 7 website promotion tips that can sky rocket your online business

The success of your o­nline business is greatly dependent o­n the amount of exposure your business gets. Smart well planned website promotion strategies will ensure that your o­nline business gets the maximum exposure and continues to remain in the public view. In fact Website promotion is an o­n-going process to promote your website to bring more visitors to the website. Successful Entrepreneurs have all focused their attention o­n this aspect with the following strategies. 1. Writing Articles: Writing quality, authoritative and informative articles and submitting them to Articles Directories, Article Distributors and Article Banks is an excellent method of website promotion. Your articles will grow virally as more webmasters publish your articles and visitors will start streaming in from the embedded links in the resource box. 2. Submitting to Search Engines: One of the best ways to promote your o­n-line business is to submit your website to the major Search Engines. Optimize your site content to obtain high search engine placement in the search engines especially Google. This you should do not o­nly for the home page but also for the other pages and your articles. 3. Submitting to Directories: Submitting your business site to quality web directories is another very important promotional strategy. There are several free directories where you can submit your site. Entrepreneurs searching for businesses similar to their own will be able to identify yours and visit your site. 4. Exchanging Links: Though One Way Inbound links are considered superior to Reciprocal links, exchanging links with relevant quality websites with high page rank is very much appreciated by the Search Engines. This will improve your o­nline business site's link popularity and generate targeted traffic to your site. 5. Placing Pay per Click Ads: Placing Pay per Click Ads. with the search engines is another great way to promote your website. You have to bid for your chosen relevant keywords so that your website can be included in the sponsored links of the search engines. You o­nly pay for the visitors you get to your site. This might be a little expensive for the popular keywords but you can be assured of highly targeted traffic. 6. Building Joint Ventures: Building Joint Ventures with other o­nline business entrepreneurs are becoming popular website promotion strategies today. This is o­ne of the most powerful and free site promotion methods. By building a partnership with another successful and compatible o­nline entrepreneur you can get vary much more exposure and visibility to you site. 7. Having Excellent Content: The purpose of visiting a website is to view the content. Having excellent, unique content will make visitors return to your site again and again. Constantly updating your site with fresh content will not o­nly draw the attention of your visitors but that of the search engine spiders as well. Conclusion: It has also to be remembered that the success of your o­nline business is dependent o­n not how attractive your site is but how user friendly it is, not how much traffic it gets but how much targeted traffic it gets, not how many page views you generate but how much sales you generate. Implementing these Website Promotion Tips is the best way to boost your o­nline business to the top and achieve your goal.

Check your bank statements every month if you don t you may be losing money in unexpected ways

Awhile back I got the dreaded letter from the bank saying you are overdrawn. I couldn't believe it, I wondered what the heck did I do? Then I opened it up and I was overdrawn by over a thousand dollars and I was real concerned. I called the bank and they told me the $3000 dollar check that I had written was insufficient. Well I did not write a check for that amount but they assured me I did and told me where to. I couldn't believe I could do something so foolish but I called the company that I had written the check to and they said yep, that was what I wrote it for, and I was overpaid on my account. Then we had to start the process of me getting the money back that I had overpaid, in the meantime I needed to do a quick transfer or I would have more insufficient checks. After I got the check covered and started the return process of getting my money back I got to thinking I couldn't have done anything that dumb. So I called the bank and asked them if they were sure I had wrote it for that amount and she assured me they check those kinds of things, I still didn't believe her so I went down there and said I wanted a copy of the check. Low and behold I HADN'T been stupid and wrote a 300 dollar check for 3000. The company I wrote it to had encoded it wrong and the bank didn't catch it. So after apologies from the bank and their assurance they would fix things right up for me I called the other company back and asked them if they were sure I had made the mistake. She also assured me they always check these kinds of things. Then I said then how come I am holding the check and it is obviously written for only 300.00. She didn't have much to say then and they assured me they would fix things right up. In talking to her she said she just assumed the fault was mine because even if they had made the mistake one of our banks would have caught it, yeah right. So while most of you would notice a 2700 difference like I sure did, we may not notice those pennies and nickels if we don't check every month. Because the only one looking after your account carefully will be you!!

Fence a must have pool accessory

Pool Fences: A Must Have Pool Accessory In the United States, there are an unlimited number of individuals who have pools installed in their backyards. Many of those individuals have a household with at least one child in it. Depending on the age of that child, a pool may pose a serious or fatal risk. If you are the owner of a pool and you have children, you may want to equip your pool with a fence. In a way, a fence isn’t just a popular pool accessory, but a lifesaving device. In many areas of the United Sates, pool fences are not only recommended, but they are required. There are certain local and state governments that have placed restrictions on the use of backyard pools. One of those restrictions and requirements includes the installation of a fence. Before having a pool installed in your backyard, you are advised to familiarize yourself with those requirements. Even if you weren’t planning on installing a pool fence, you may soon learn that you are required to. When it comes to pool fences, like many other popular pool accessories, you will find that you have a large number of different options. Pool fences come in a wide variety of different sizes, shapes, designs, and styles. While you may already know that you would like to install a fence around your pool, there are others who are unsure about doing so. That is why it is nice to have a selection. Many pool owners are pleased with the fact that they can choose just about any fence style they would like. For many, this is the deciding factor. As previously mentioned pool fences, come in a wide variety of different styles, sizes, and designs. To examine all of these designs, you will have to start browsing. This can be done by visiting your local pool supply store or by shopping online. If you are looking for the largest selection of fences to choose from, you may want to examine online shopping. Online shopping tends to offer the largest product selection and it also enables to you compare prices quicker. In your search, it is likely that you will see that you can purchase metal, mesh, wood, or plastic pool fences. If you are looking for a study, dependable, and attractive looking fence, you may want to consider purchasing a metal fence. Metal fences are ideal because they last for a long period of time. While many wood fences are attractive, you will find that most need repairs every few years. Mesh fences are a fairly new concept, but they are rapidly increasing in popularity. This increase in popularity is due to the fact that many are removable. As previously mentioned, mesh fences are popular because they are removable. These fences are really the only easy-to-remove fences on the market. Some plastic pool fences may also be easy to remove, but many of the durable ones are difficult. If you are only interested in using a pool fence for a short time or if you plan on moving in the near future, you may benefit from purchasing a pool fence that can be taken down in a matter of minutes. In addition to pool fences, you may also be able to obtain additional safety equipment. This equipment most often comes in the form of pool covers. In the past, pool covers were often made of lightweight plastic materials. While this material would help to keep a pool clean, it could not be considered a lifesaving device. Now, there are a number of different pool covers on the market that have safety in mind. Many of these pool covers include netting, durable mesh covers, and durable vinyl covers. Whether you make the decision to install a fence around your pool or you use a strong and durable safety cover, it will help to keep those living in or around your home safe. Not only will you be protecting the ones that you love, but you may also be protecting yourself from being held liable in the event that a tragic accident occurs. Word Count 679

Make money as a slumlord

Be a slumlord? Okay, I got your attention, now the truth. I really don't recommend that anyone endanger their renters with unsafe housing. Much of what people call slumlording though, is simply providing reasonable housing for those with low incomes. It is of benefit to the renter AND the landlord. Why Do People Rent Dumps? People rent not-so-nice places because they can afford to. A house that needs paint, has old rusty hinges on the doors, and a dirt driveway - this is a house that cost less to buy, and therefore can be rented for less. Anything major that the landlord does to improve it will result in higher rents, and possibly drive the renter away. In fact, this often happens. A few years ago my own town enacted its first rental regulations. The fifteen pages of new rules included many non-safety-related requirements, like a minimum of windows, to allow natural lighting, bedroom square-footage requirements, and no peeling paint. These things are done in the name of low income renters, and yet the result is always the same: higher rent. With that and the regulations against mobiles homes, low income families are moving further away from town and jobs. I mention all this to let you know that if you offer an ugly, but safe and affordable rental, you are providing a real service. Why Invest In Low Income Housing? If a nice two bedroom house in a small town costs $130,000 and rents for $800, an old mobile home on a lot will probably cost $45,000 and rent for $500. Notice that the house costs almost three times as much, but the rent you get isn't even doubled. This means the mobile gives you MORE CASH FLOW. That is why old houses and mobile homes (on land) are such good investments. It's important to note that you'll have more risk and management problems with low income housing. Repairs come up more often, and rent will be late more often, on average. This is why you deserve a higher rate of return. Otherwise, who would want to provide low-cost rentals? Treat your renters well, and make your places safe. Do these things, and you can enjoy a good return on your investment - even if some want to call you a slumlord.

Choosing the best photo printer

So you have your new digital camera and clicking away to glory anything and everything in sight. Now you want to print them and you need the best photo printers to print your fantastic photos. Let us talk about the various printers in the market and some tips on choosing the best photo printers. Most of the printers could easily be purchased under $500. While all of them have similar features, it is better to be aware of certain key features that determines their price and print quality. First to look out for is the printing width. It differs among printers. Normally they are available with a width of either 8.5 inches or 13 inches. A 6 color printer is adequate but if you want good black and white images as well it is better to go for 8-color printer. Many of the best photo printers today have the ability to print directly from your camera or flash memory card through a simple device. You must also look for the printing speed per minute. Generally it takes up to 10 minutes for one color photo so you must factor it in when choosing the model. When you want to buy multi use printers, please note that for good quality photo printing you need to buy a dedicated printer or a digital photo printer that accepts the most popular memory cards. Now let us see the top 5 best photo printers and some of their features: Epson Stylus Pro 4000 can take in paper wider than 11 inches thus making it very convenient. The high quality color and grayscale printing and the ability to make use of rolls of paper instead of sheets make it very economical too. Canon Pixma IP8500 Photo Printer is another best photo printer in our top 5 list. It scores very high on speed, color and print quality. Almost all users love the 8 color cartridges. One disadvantage is the absence of media card slot – simply unacceptable in a high-end printer. The built in duplexer and good text printing however makes up for this disadvantage as it could be used for general and business use as well. Canon Slephy DS700 is the best photo printer in the portable category. It plugs in directly into your TV so you could examine your photos in detail before printing them without having to transfer them to a PC. The ever popular Epson Picture Mate is another best seller in its newest version – The Epson Picture Mate Deluxe. Though it has many added features and higher speeds, it no longer seem to have the cost-effectiveness per print of the older model. Another best photo printer worth considering is the Sony PictureStation DPP-FP30. the installation is simple and the quality is simply Sony standards. However a small problem is the high running costs. So have fun with the best photo printer that you have selected and may your photo memories come alive as good photo prints too!

Five ways to make your organization innovative

Creative ideas are what turn ordinary companies into market leaders. These companies see the end result first and then build a path to achieve those results. A safety zone needs to be established. Often, failure is punished but success is not rewarded. We must remember that failure is the second cousin to success. We learn from our mistakes. Creativity and innovation are key elements that propel businesses to the top. Without either, your company comes in second at best, and no one remembers No. 2. While being No. 1 certainly doesn't guarantee continued success, it is definitely better than being forgotten. Here are some ways to keep your company at the top: * Foster a business climate that's open to innovation and creativity. Innovation is the ability to come up with ideas and solutions to pressing problems. It is the process of producing something that has value and did not exist before. Creativity is the ability to take that new idea and make it valuable in your customers' eyes. Realize that every problem has a solution, although the solution may not be in plain sight. * Become No. 1 with your clients. The more satisfied your clients are, the more business you'll have in the future. Realize that the only commodity your clients know is you. Since you are the catalyst providing the solution to their problem, you are accountable for fulfilling their needs. As a result, you need to invest time in keeping the channels of communication open. * Create a partnership with clients. Clients recognize partnerships when the companies they work with function as problem solvers. Remember, value is something you produce by the acceptance clients place on what you do for them. * Create a partnership with employees. Asking people to be creative and then shooting down their ideas creates a rift in your organization. Instead, show people that bringing their imagination on the journey is welcome. Information wealth flows directly from innovation, not optimization. * Implement next-generation approaches. Replacing "rules" with "roles" will free your employees from the "we have always done it this way" syndrome. The secret is not knowing the formula; it is applying information in a way that works for your employees and benefits your clients. James Feldman is a motivational speaker and business consultant.

3 Perfectly effective ways to lose customers

1. Let Them Procrastinate Yeah, procrastination has stolen millions of dollars from the pockets of business men and women just like yourself. The longer it works on the customer, the less likely they will be to open their wallet and hand over the dinero they've been hording there. Here's how it works… First, the customer leaves your store without making the purchase. Second, time causes the desire for the product to fade, and distracts them from making their way back. Finally, your "almost customer" totally forgets about making the purchase, and you can kiss potential profits good-bye. Don't let it happen to you! Make deals so irresistible they just can't say no, and set an expiration date. Yes, put a little press on them to buy TODAY! Reward them for complying, and make sure they forfeit the deal if they don't. Don't be victimized by "almost sales" that could be turned into REAL profits! 2. Stay Off The Top Of Their Priority List Hey, sometimes we need to be reminded of exactly what is and what isn't important in life. Where we spend our money indicates its level of importance. Are your customers telling you that your product isn't significant to them? Put them where you want them to be with a dramatic word picture that evokes the emotions that drive purchases. Let me say it this way… If you're trying to sell them a home business… let them feel the freedom of being their own boss, and setting their own schedule. Are you selling water skis? Get them on the water in the hot summer sun with the wind blowing their hair and water spraying around them. Let them FEEL the importance of the decision. You CAN motivate buyers to put a high priority on your product! 3. Don't Build Trust Do your customers feel confident that your company will provide the services that it says it will? How many times have you raised an eyebrow at an offer that makes big promises? Yeah, if you don't already know they are a reputable company, you're likely to take claims with a grain of salt. Unconditional guarantees give credence to your desire to please customers. Testimonials are evidence that you have a proven track record. Put some facts in front of your "almost customers." Let them know a little bit about you and your staff. It's always easier to trust a person, than a business. Internet customers are at especially high risks for feeling a legitimate amount of distrust. After all, anyone can make grand claims, but who is responsible for upholding them? A personal photo, a little information, and a phone number where a contact can be reached go a long ways toward building trust on the Web. How many "almost customers" have slipped through your fingers? You can effectively turn them into loyal customers who regularly frequent your place of business with the business savvy insights we've talked about in this article.