Writing Experiment

•Learning German

2009-03-27T21:43:00.000+07:00

After learning well enough how to speak at least conversational German, my next target language is French...

In Swedish, word order and verb conjugation is mercifully similar to English, which makes learning it much easier than say German, which has a notoriously more complex word order and verb conjugation. Did you find those tips on learning German at home useful?

There are many excellent courses available online that utilizes some of the new learning technologies that can greatly enhance the speed at which you learn German. Everyone who wants to learn to speak German wants to learn as quickly as possible, so quick learning is a selling point for most products offered online and in stores as well. But, by using these three tips, you can incorporate learning German at home into your everyday life.

I myself spent 5 years in high school learning Japanese; however, I was able to speak much better German after just spending maybe 20 hours listening to audio cds. If you intend for your future to be in a Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Communication or National Defense role then learning to speak German is an absolute must. Who has the time or inclination to spend months learning Spanish/French/German or any other language when planning a three day visit

So no matter your age, lifestyle, and potential; German is taught at all levels and Learning and mastering the German language is an investment in lasting and solid values. As such, learning to speak German can be particularly useful when negotiating agreements or applying for jobs where speaking German will be beneficial in liaising with offices in other locations, seeking out new markets and clients or traveling and negotiating with business partners. Because Germany plays a major role in international relations, trade and commerce, politics, tourism, medicine and the Arts, learning German may lead to greater employment options including tourism, trade and commerce, the hospitality industry, medicine, diplomacy, journalism, teaching, translation and interpreting.

If you are learning German, for example, you might produce a "poem" like this:the dog - der Hundthe mouth - der Mundthe air - die Luftthe scent - der Duftto buzz - summento growl - brummenlittle - kleinclean - reinto brood - grübelnto iron - bügelnYou don"t have to worry about grammar - just definitions, pronunciations, gender, and spelling.

•Modern Italian

2009-03-27T21:41:00.000+07:00

Modern Italian, as often happens with many national languages, is in fact a dialect that has succeeded in imposing itself as the proper language of a larger region than the one corresponding to the land where a dialect is spoken...

In the case of Italian, the Tuscan dialect, spoken in Florence, Pisa and Siena, has become the dominant dialect.

This is not because of political reasons as normally happens, but thanks to the cultural prestige it carries due to the fact that it was the language of the famed "Divina Comedia". This literary work written in the early years of the 14th century was considered the first literary work authored in the "modern language."

The Tuscan dialect is indeed the one in which renown authors such as Dante Alighieri, Petrarca and Boccaccio wrote. These three authors were considered the most well known Italian Renaissance writers. The economic success and development of the Tuscan region during the late Middle Ages gave the dialect extra weight despite the continued influence of the Venetian dialect.

The Italian languaeg is related to the other two Italo-Dalmatian languages, Sicilian and the now extinct Dalmatian. These three languaegs are part of the Italo-Western familyof Romance languages. Italian is nearest to Latin in terms of vocabulary other Romance languages are closer to Latin in terms of noun declension, verb conjugation, and phonology.

All languages spoken as the vernacular other than standard Italian are termed "Italian dialects". These include various recognized dialects such as Friulian, Neapolitan, Sardinian, Sicilian, and Venetian.

Other dialects are generally not used in the public square and are largely limited to informal conversations. Demographically, the younger generations tend to speak standard Italian almost exclusively though local accents and idioms do continue to be present.

The Italian language is spoken primarily in Italy, where it is the national language and is spoken by approximately 63 million people. It also spoken in two cantons (Ticino and Grigioni) of Switzerland where it is also known as an official language.

Italian speaking communities however reach far beyond Italy. Italian speakers are found throughout Europe most notably in England, Belgium, the various republics of the former Yugoslavia, Monaco, Molta and Argentina Others are found Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Chile, United States and Canada.

A large community of Italian speakers numbering approximately half a million is also found in Australia. Substantially smaller numbers of speakers in the former Italian colonies of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Lybia.

•Preschool Mathematics

2009-03-27T21:38:00.002+07:00

My preschooler can count twice as high as your preschooler -- but does that mean she really understands number concepts?...

In truth, she has memorized a sequence of words. Although children can't learn math unless they know how to count, counting is only one aspect of math.

Children begin to count on their own as they grow, and they learn from everyday experiences with length, quantity, time, temperature, money, and more. Through Preschool program, children expand their true understanding of math. Adults should recognize that games such as sorting and putting objects in sequence are actually early experiments in math, even if they don't look much like geometry!

Here are some everyday opportunities for children to begin thinking about numbers:

• All about me - Teach children their own address and phone number as well as their age. Also, record their height – in centimeters and metres. Putting a child on a scale represents an opportunity to compare pounds and Kg, and heavy versus light. Children can also learn what size clothes they wear, and be able to judge what will fit and what won’t.

• Cooking -- Adults pour, measure, divide, estimate time, and read labels every time they prepare a meal. Why not include young children in on the activities? Before he can pour pancake batter or read recipes, a child can stir with a wooden spoon in a plastic bowl. Show a child how you follow a recipe step by step, and how you set the oven temperature. Remember to warn children about what's too hot to touch or eat!

• Managing money -- Children can start knowing about money even before elementary tutoring. You can start letting your child touch, count, save, sort, and spend money. What better way to teach children about the value of money than by taking them shopping and showing them how much they must pay for items -- and how much they will save with coupons!

• Around the house -- Household repairs offer children excellent opportunities to practice math skills. Let children watch as you measure a door frame, or hang a picture in the center of a wall. Children can help you make a list of items you will need to complete a project, including the number of tools. Everyday activities like setting the timer on the VCR or setting the dinner table are opportunities for children to count and work with numbers.

• Play -- Children may also race against the clock or measure the distance they can hit or throw a ball. Help children make neighborhood activities and sports more than just good exercise.

When children pretend, they often create lifelike situations in which they may check a bus schedule, or gauge how much gas is needed for a long car trip.

• Travelling -- Even a short car trip offers children experiences with math. Ask children to identify the speed limit on a passing sign. Estimate the number of minutes it takes to get to a relative's house. Remember games you played in the back seat of the car, like counting yellow school buses and adding up the numbers on license plates.

•Myth of the Sword

2009-03-27T21:35:00.002+07:00

The Myth of the Invincible Sword

Nearly all cultures throughout history have been subject to the myth of the all-powerful sword...

China’s history is filled with legendary swords and swordsmen some of whom even rose to the levels of gods. The Japanese have the legendary Samurai with their world famous katana, often referred to as the Samurai sword. Cossack, Moor, and other Muslim cultures are often remembered as mounted, saber-wielding warriors. In Western Europe the medieval knights were in no way an exception to the sword culture. The sword’s symbolic connection to the heraldic nobility remains to this day, although in ceremonial form only. For most cultures around the world, the sword still holds a position of reverence.

I have dueled and sparred with and against swords for many years and yet I am still amazed when the first words out of almost every new student are, ‘I want to learn how to fight with a sword.’ I explain that unless your armored and riding a horse whenever the sword is pitted against nearly any other ancient weapon of equal length or longer inevitability it comes up wanting. However, the invincible sword myth is so deeply ingrained in human culture that such warnings are rarely heeded, and predictably, the sword becomes most students’ first focus.

The sword’s true combat nature can only be revealed through the handling of the real thing, authentic replicas, and precise training weapons that are meticulously designed for proper accuracy and use. With the aide of such training tools the myth of the sword can be unlocked, not just from a historical approach but from a hands-on approach as well. Sadly, often schools do not follow an accuracy policy with training weapons or when sparring with weapons. This is one reason why there are so many misconceptions about genuine sword combat.

The Japanese sport of kendo is commonly believed to be a martial art based on dueling with katanas. Nothing could be further from the truth. The two are as different as kickball and baseball. The kendo sparring sword called a shinai is a straight sparring sword meant to be a safe representation of the katana. This very light weapon averages anywhere from 35” to 47” in length and is made of several straight strips of bamboo bound together with leather. With the exception of the lengths, the balance and design of this sparring tool from its tip to handle holds absolutely nothing in common with the Samurai’s curved katana. The shinai blade is straight and its handle is long, round, and wrapped in a soft leather sheath. The katana blade is curved and its handle is long and somewhat egg shaped but a little more flat along the sides, and it is braided. The hits and points scored in sport kendo have more in common with European cudgel play or fencing than with a katana duel. Points are most often scored with snapping hits as opposed to the drawing cuts that come naturally with a curved blade. Though snap cuts are also a part of the katana’s arsenal they are not a staple of attack as in kendo. A closer representation would be sparring with curved wooden bokkens, which are considerably more accurate reproductions of the katana and were the traditional training weapon of the classical Bushi. The bokken offers a close though not completely accurate representation of a bladed katana duel and was often used for dueling as a replacement for real swords. Miyamoto Musashi, arguably one of the greatest swordsmen in Japanese history, by his own account won several duels against katanas with a bokken. As with shinais, the same problem arises from modern and the ancient western forms of cudgel play. The rattan or other wooden forms of broadswords are bulkier, unbalanced, poorly weighted, and often have no obvious flat side to parry with. Because of these design flaws cudgel play can only be considered a sport not a f

orm of combat. One should not compare these sport-related styles of combat to the real thing. A comparison cannot accurately be made if for no other reason than the sparring weapons are so dramatically removed in weight, shape, and design from the weapons they are supposed to replicate.

When a student reaches a high enough sword skill to spar against other types of weapons, the design flaws of the sword as a singly competitive weapon become painfully obvious. It is not long after this realization that the sword student fades out of the picture along with dreams of becoming an invincible swordsman. The few persistent sword students who remain quickly find the value of an added weapon to their free hand. Shields, maces, flails, daggers, or other swords become the new order of training. With a little more sparring, the student begins to see the ultimate truth behind the myth of the sword. Even with the aid of another weapon, it is a very difficult task for a swordsman to defeat longer-reaching weapons. When a swordsman is matched up against a weapon that is longer and therefore holds greater reach capabilities that swordsman’s chance of survival drops dramatically. Without the aid of a companion weapon, even a highly skilled swordsman finds it difficult to defeat lesser skilled opponents with longer- reaching weapons.

The sword master Miyamoto Musashi, victor of sixty life-and-death encounters, was in a famous duel of record against the long-swordsman, Sasaki Kojiro. Kojiro called his sword ‘clothes pole’ because of its unique design: a long, straight, blade quite the contrary to its contemporary, the curved katana. When Musashi dueled Kojiro, he was not wielding a curved katana of his own or even using his famous two-sword style. Instead he wisely used a large, carved boat oar to defeat his opponent. This boat oar gave Musashi two very important advantages: first he did not have to concern himself with the angles of his cuts, and second, he did not have to worry about parrying with his sword and having it destroyed by a big boat oar. It is no mystery why Musashi won this duel. When two duelers meet and are equal or even close to equal in skills, the odds go to the dueler with the technological advantage. I know the entertainment industry would have us believe otherwise, but when it comes to sparring or dueling with weapons, you can’t change the math behind the design of the weapon, techniques, and the movement the weapon’s nature requires. George Silver, an accomplished dueler and prizefighter who wrote two treatises on combat in 1599, Brief Instructions and Paradoxes of Defense pointed out in his works, and I paraphrase, "He who moves in the least amount of space and time, moves ahead of his opponent and so stays out of harm while being able to inflect harm." To make Silver’s point consider the story of David and Goliath. Goliath is unrivaled on the battlefield and no Israelite can stand against him in single combat. He holds several advantages over his opponents: he is stronger and so can attack and defend with more power than his opponent; he is taller which gives him the ability to both outreach and outstride his opponents; and he is undefeated, which gives him a psychological advantage over his opponents. Goliath would likely have been armored and have the contemporary weapons of the times, bronze or leather arm

or, a bronze or wicker shield, spear, and according to legend a great sword.

On the other side of the dueling scale is the boy, David. David is a mere sheep-herding child, not even a warrior in the traditional sense. David’s only weapon is a sling. It would appear that the scales tip heavily in favor of Goliath, but a more detailed look reveals the opposite. The sling is a formidable weapon in this realm of single combat, especially single combat on an open battlefield that offers room to maneuver. Bearing in mind the nature of the ground in the Middle East, David also had plenty of rocks to choose from while maneuvering. Out of necessity as a sheepherder, he would have been a well-practiced slinger and skilled at keeping predators away from the herd with endless days to spend flinging rocks with his sling to pass the time away. With those skills he could have continually launched a rock at Goliath for every other step Goliath did or did not take, all the while staying out of reach of Goliath’s weapons; thus fulfilling Silvers’ recipe for victory. Due to its translation through time, the story has led us to believe that David’s sling was both laughable and ultimately a shock to Goliath. Neither would be true, the sling has been around for a long time and was a commonplace weapon in early biblical warfare. It is reasonable to believe that Goliath was defeated because of the nature of the weapon’s reach, the terrain conditions, and the psychological effects of the whole scheme of things, i.e., the undefeated war giant versus a sheep-herding boy with everybody watching. How much time would Goliath spend hiding behind his shield from a boy while the Philistine and Israeli armies watched? Let us assume that Goliath, like every other solider during biblical warfare, has seen a sling in action before, as opposed to the common belief that he thought it laughable and fell victim to his overconfidence. Goliath could hide behind his shield and try to close within sword range, but in order to hit David he has to be able to see him. When Goliath exposes his face to look, David only needs t

o time his next rock for impact into that exposed moment. It is nearly impossible to successfully time a parry against a missile weapon launched at close range. The smaller the projectile, David’s rock, the more difficult it is to see, calculate its speed, and accurately react to defending the target area of its destination. Also added to David’s advantages is he can launch his rocks continually. With the sling David can follow a familiar formula: he can attack repeatedly while remaining out of reach of his opponent’s assaults. At best Goliath would have had the opportunity for one spear throw at David, but again at the cost of over exposing himself to David’s faster sling attacks. After that spear throw its back to sword range. Whatever tactic Goliath used we all know the result of it.

Musashi used a similar technique to David’s against the chain and sickle fighter Shishido Baiken. Again, rather than use his sword and face the extra challenges that comes with it, Musashi opts to make a close range throw of his tanto, a Japanese dagger which hits and kills his unsuspecting opponent. In the West, one seldom hears of duels pitting a sword against another type of weapon. In Europe it was considered an unfair advantage to mix weapons during duels. The European duel was as often a matter of righting wrongs and maintaining honor as it was about issues of martial skills. In the East reasons for dueling ranged from matters of honor to testing martial skills. One dueled with whatever weapon one specialized in, and it was believed if you were a warrior you should be able to defend yourself with your weapon regardless of what your opponent was using, the only true rule was to win. This is a much harder test of skills than to be protected by the equality of weapons. Knowing this, one must question why dueling with the katana did not reach its peak until after the age of elite Samurai warriors. After the dismantling of the Samurai class, an action that turned the once proud warrior class into living archives of an age gone for good. During this later era, most Japanese field weapons became obsolete and where impractical to carry in public. With a major decline in the use of most battlefield weapons, the time for the sword to shine was at hand. The katana became the Samurai’s last symbolic hold on an ancient warrior system soon to be completely outdated by cheaper and more efficient guns.

The replacement of the elite warrior class by the gun was not a phenomenon known only to the Japanese. The gun in its own time systematically brought about the dismantling of the elite warrior classes worldwide. The Chinese Boxers, the Scots Highlanders, the Zulu, the Aborigines, and the American Indians were among the last holdouts of the warrior elite, and they all fell victim to the gun. For most of these warrior cultures the sword became a symbolic relic of an age far more romantic then it actually was. Since the end of the elite warrior classes the facts regarding the sword and its value as a weapon have been exaggerated far and away beyond its real functions as an instrument of war. The sword has several weaknesses as a combat weapon. Due to its limited reach or in the case of the great sword, excessive length; one has less time for reaction to an opponent’s attack. The sword’s edge is fragile and easily damaged so parries need to be made with the flat of the blade, making defense both complicated and cumbersome. The tang of the sword, the blade’s extension into the handle, receives most of the impact when parrying and can be prone to breaking. Many styles of the sword offered little hand protection and so the hand of a swordsman was a primary target. To counter this, some swords were built with elaborate basket-like guards to protect the hand. There are accounts of the basket-hilt broadsword of Scottish highlander fame having to be pried off of the Highlander’s hand after battle due to its collapsing under the pressure of enemy blows.

The sword is complicated to learn, time consuming to make, and generally an expensive arm. In medieval Europe, a single-handed broadsword could cost as much as 25,000 dollars by today’s standards. The Japanese katana was, in its own fashion, an equally high-priced weapon. One can see the obvious reasons why, during Eastern and Western sword histories, the weapon was really more of a class and power symbol than a mainstream weapon for war. There is a Japanese house code that states “Do not yearn for katanas and tantos created by famous masters. A katana or tanto worth 10,000 pieces can be defeated by 100 yari (spears) each costing a 100 pieces. It is better to purchase 100 spears and arm 100 spearmen, in this way you can defended yourself in time of war.” (Toshikage Jushichikajo, 1480)

Today the sword and Samurai have nearly become the same word. Yet during the height of the age of the Samurai, the bow, naginata, and spear were the main focus for war. The bow is found in the earliest history of Samurai warfare and the Yari-Samurai, elite spearmen, mounted or on foot, were among the highest valued warriors in a warlord’s army. The katana was more often used as a backup weapon and for personal ritualized dueling. In most cultures during the age of battlefield dueling, duels were fought on horseback with bows or lances. If the warrior lost either of those weapons, he then used his sword as a last ditch effort to save or take his life. Around the same time the drafted peasant soldier of the late nineteenth century came into full force, the sword, due to its impractical functions on the battlefield, was eventually reduced to an ornamental symbol of authority. During the Second World War the ancient Samurai sword that was made using the secrets of a holy swordsmith still remained among the upper class, but the sword for the average officer was a 1933 mass-produced weapon. This 1933 version was designed so that the older traditional katana blade could fit into the handle and replace the standard contemporary blade.

Because of the entertainment industry from ancient times to the present, the myth of the swordsman’s abilities has always been far beyond any true feat of real swordsmanship. The western broadsword has followed the same path as the eastern swords, only it has been even further reduced into a simplistic, shining hip-hanger used only for parade. The Chinese straight sword has not escaped this symbolism either. It has been reduced to a lightweight flimsy show piece far more suitable for fast acrobatic Wu-Su routines then actual combat. What the general public has been led to believe almost entirely through the media is that the sword was the most powerful dueling weapon of all times. There are many reasons why the sword could not actually hold this title. First as mentioned is reach; second, arch versus thrust; third and most important, exposure.

To better explain the realities of sword combat and the troubles a swordsman would have, consider facing a spearman with a sword. To start the swordsman’s troubles, the spearman need only keep the swordsman the distance of a spear thrust away. In doing so, the swordsman is put in danger of spear attacks while his target, the spearman, remains out of reach. Being out of reach of the attacks of his opponent, the spearman has many advantages added to his hopes of self-preservation. A spear, or even a lance of ten feet or less, can both cut and thrust like a sword and so deliver a variety of attacks without fear of immediate counterattack. For the swordsman to survive, he needs to close the distance on his opponent while trying to ward off thrusts and cuts from the attacking spear. The spearman need only keep attacking while retreating or circling a few steps if necessary. This is comparable to a man with an empty eighteenth-century musket fighting a ten-pace duel against a man with a colt revolver. Unless an act of God occurs, the musketeer is in for hard times.

The next problem is the issue of arch versus thrust. Everyone has seen a movie where the hapless spearman comes charging in with a stiff-armed thrust at the hero, who is always a swordsman, who jumps to the side and chops the oncoming spear in two. This is a perfect example of the mythological power of the arching sword stroke in its full absurdity. If the swordsman were to attempt a wasted motion like trying to cut the assaulting spear in two, it would be an ill-fated move for two reasons: it seriously exposes the swordsman to a counterattack, and it is an almost impossible cut to make. It is one thing to cut in two a shaft stuck firmly in the ground, it is another thing entirely to try and cut in two a free-floating shaft that deflects on impact.

Try hanging a spear-like shaft in the air by attaching a rope to the butt of the shaft and attaching another rope at a halfway point. Then try to chop that shaft in two with a single or several strokes. When you are through shaking your head, all those great movies will be ruined forever. The easily imagined results of this simple test are exactly like the real results of such a cut. The reader can see just how unlikely performing that cut actually is. Some Arthurian legends claimed the sword, Excalibur, could cut a boulder in two as though the rock was made of butter. Strangely, no sword culture can deny having myths of an equal nature to that of Excalibur’s. There is also a Japanese legend of a katana so sharp that when it was left stuck in a stream, floating leaves were not sliced in-two by it but actually purposely avoided the sword’s edge. Legends of this nature have always led the populous into believing that in the realm of edged weapons, the sword holds full royalties on slicing and chopping abilities. This is simply not true regarding personal combat.

All of the elite warrior-based cultures knew and used the advantages of thrusting and slicing with a spear as well as other long-reaching weapons. The difficulties of getting past that deadly reaching spear would be no small task for a swordsman. In addition to this reach advantage, even a moderately skilled spear fighter can deliver several thrusts or cuts to an oncoming swordsman before that sword can reach its target. History has shown us that one of those many spear cuts would be to either to the swordsman’s lead knee, hand, arm, or foot. A good hit to any of these areas would end the swordsman’s attack promptly. A common misjudgment is that a large portion of a weapon’s edge needs to strike the surface to do any real damage. An edge need only penetrate the depth of three fingers in the right areas of the human anatomy to be a fatal hit or lead to one. Though the stroke to the knee is not a fatal blow, worldwide archaeological finds from battle sites involving ancient weapons have consistently shown that such a wound led to a final lethal blow. In these archaeological digs, large percentages of the fallen were first struck at the bend of the knee, or other exposed appendages, and then delivered a fatal blow while they lay prostrate from the first injury. By studying the results of many years of full-contact dueling with training and blunted weapons, I have rarely found this cut to a charging opponent’s knee, ankle or foot to fail. An equally successful tactic is thrusting into the opponent’s oncoming feet.

When infantry used swords and shields against lance-carrying cavalry, the results nearly always ended in disaster for the foot soldier. When foot soldiers replaced swords with spears and lances, the disaster fell on the heavy cavalry. It was so effective that infantry pike units became the standard for hundreds of years. Pike units were not removed from the battlefield until the advent of efficient firearms sporting bayonets, which was not the demise of the pole weapon but rather a merger of pike and gun. When the sword is pitted against a spear, the swordsman also has to overcome the issue of too much exposure. Combat manuscripts of old break the sword down into sections depending on the type of sword. The first third of the blade from its tip down was for cutting, the next third was for soft parries, and the final third above the hand guard was for heavy parries and coming to grips with your opponent. The old masters from the East and West also wrote that the preferred method of defense with a sword was simply to avoid your opponent’s attacks physically and through footwork. This method was preferred over jeopardizing your sword’s cutting edge and its structural integrity by using it to fend off blows from other weapons. With exceptions, the sword length averages from 20 to 42 inches. On the contrary, the smallest battlefield spear is around six feet in length with a shaft designed for warding off blows from other weapons. The swordsman must also overcome the limited range of his defense, referring not only to the sword’s reach but also the axis with which one can parry and so defend the body.

Take into account the mechanics of the human body and the length, manner, and design of the weapon being used. The nature of the sword creates a problem when defending above or below the waist. The problem is to defend one’s body above or below one must, by the nature of the sword, expose the opposite of what is defended. This is true with all weapons but to a higher degree with sword and similar weapons. The pole arm offers considerably more options. By tipping the weapon vertically, horizontally, or diagonally out from the body, one can readily defend and strike from any axis of the body. The pole arm fighter does not even have to resort to this guard until the swordsman gets in close enough to be a threat. The swordsman, on trying to close, has to defend too much exposed area and so is subject to attack at several areas on his body. To a large degree this is why the shield was developed. In most cultures, the shield was developed for war and not dueling. The shield was designed to be part of a wall of shields used as a defensive battle tactic as demonstrated by the front lines of a Greek phalanx, the Roman turtle formation, and the Viking shield wall. In a duel or single combat, the shield is used in a considerably different manner than in a melee or mass melee. Regardless of how it is used, the shield can only effectively protect one side of the body during a charge and so forces the wielder to defend his opposite side with the sword. Because of the leverage that can be placed behind a thrusting or sweeping pole attack, the sword and its wielding arm cannot compete with the impact of an oncoming pole weapon As mentioned earlier, this is especially true when a sweeping spear cut or a thrust is delivered to the swordsman’s stressed knee, ankle, or foot. Such an attack forces the swordsman to bring the tip of his sword down; the arm position would be the equivalent of completely emptying a drinking mug gripped in your hand. Doing this simple motion the reader can see how the position is both awkw

ard and weak; furthermore, the position also exposes the upper torso. The lower guard that could be used exposes even more of the swordsman’s body. A high or low, well-timed thrust or cut to this weak side will put an end to the charging swordsman.

Though I have used the spear here as the swordsman’s nemesis, one can see that any weapon of greater length or weight would prove technologically superior. It becomes obvious why the swordsman’s survival is so unlikely. The sword has come to stand on a solid throne where its powers are more mythical than the sword-wielding heroes themselves. We have come to believe the sword and its powers as the staple of all the classical warrior societies. Swords have been given names and positions of power; some were even believed to be magical. The right person with the right sword could smite injustice, slay the wicked, and restore kingdoms, assuming that is no one else shows up with a spear, halberd, pole-flail, rake, pitchfork, or sling. The entertainment industry may keep the sword on a throne of power and awe, but for those who have fought with and against the sword in all its manifestations, it’s a translucent and mythological throne.

•Learn French Guide

2009-03-27T21:27:00.006+07:00

Learning French is now easier and more accessible then ever. I have put together a list of the top four ways to learn French...

Hopefully this will help you choose best possible French tuition option for you.

Learning a new language doesn't have to take hours each day. You'll find that most modern language courses understand how busy people are, so they create courses that require less than 20 minutes study time each day. I am sure you could spare 20 minutes a day out of your bust schedule to gain a new valuable skill. These short daily sessions help you retain more information and are a great way to keep you motivated.

Have you ever thought about using your time more effectively? I am sure there are times during you day that you could fit in some extra French tuition. What about during your commute to work? Maybe even during your lunch break? Think about it? Could you squeeze in some extra French tuition into these times? Most modern courses can be purchased in CDs or MP3s formats. All you would need to do is upload the tracks onto your Ipod and take it to work! The last thing any of us want to do when you come home from work – is work some more. If you use your time more wisely you won't have to.

Have you ever though about teaching yourself to learn French for free? I know it sounds crazy, but it's easy if you know how. The best way to start is to simply use your ears. Get on-line and listen to some French internet radio stations. The more you listen the more you'll realise the similarities between English and French. Before you know it you'll start to understand some of the things they are saying – you'll be amazed how quickly this will happen. Another great tip is to rent some French movies from your local library. All foreign movies now have English subtitles so it's understand what's being said.

If you want to learn French very quickly then you may want to think about one 2 one French tuition. This can be quite expensive, but you will be able to speak and understand French in no time at all. If you are serious about learning another language, and are prepared to pay for it then this is definitely the way to go. A great less expensive alternative is to attend an evening class. You won't receive the same amount of individual attention, but expect to see some pretty impressive results in a relatively short amount of time.

Hopefully my top four ideas on French tuition have enlightened you, and help you get a step closer to learning French.

•GAMBAR PARFUM

2009-01-22T08:22:00.008+07:00

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•10 tempat paling menyeramkan

2009-01-06T07:01:00.001+07:00

Sebuah agen perjalanan bernama Shermantravel telah membuat paket perjalanan yang sangat menarik yaitu Paket Wisata Halloween. Paket ini berisi perjalanan ke tempat-tempat paling menyeramkan di dunia dan diantaranya termasuk dalam kategori 10 tempat paling menyeramkan ini...

10. Transylvania

Kota ini terkenal karena sejarah vampir. Penghisap darah tersebut diyakini pernah menguasai kota ini. Transylvania juga diyakini menjadi tempat lahirnya dunia kegelapan. Kota yang terletak di bagian barat Rumania ini menjadi rumah drakula. Kastil Bran yang merupakan kastil para drakula pada abad 14 juga menjadi tempat yang menarik untuk dikunjungi. Sekitar 20 mile dari kota Brasov, yang dibayangi Gunung Bucegi, terdapat rumah yang dulunya milik seorang pangeran Romania yang menjadi vampir.

9. Hotel Stanley

Hotel ini dibangun tahun 1909 di pegunungan Colorado. Hotel tersebut terlihat sangat mengesankan dan mempunyai restoran yang sangat terkenal. Namun hotel tersebut juga menyimpan misteri. Seperti yang diyakini penduduk setempat bahwa Flora Stanley, pemilik pertamanya, sering melihat dan mendengar suara istri pertamanya yang telah lama meninggal, bahkan diyakini sering bermain piano bersama. Selain itu, pada lantai empat hotel tersebut terdapat ruangan gelap, dan dari kamar nomor 217 sering kali terlihat sebuah kepala raja.

8. Savannah

Savannah merupakan kota tua tertua di Georgia. Kota ini dipercaya mempunyai sejarah panjang terhadap kekerasan dan tragedi berdarah saat revolusi dan perang sipil. Bahkan hal tersebut juga tergambar dari bangunan penduduk di sana yang biasanya di buat beberapa sentimeter di atas tanah. Di sana pengunjung akan di ajak berpetualang di Rumah Bajak Laut yang dalam beberapa abad sangat terkenal. Selain itu Rumah Marshall 1851 yang diyakini menjadi tempat merawat korban perang sipil.

7. Salem

Kota Salem menyimpan cerita tragedi Salem 1692. Pada tahun tersebut banyak orang yang disiksa dan dibunuh karena dituduh sebagai penyihir meskipun tidak ada bukti. Setiap bulan Oktober, penduduk kota Salem selalu merayakan pesta hantu di beberapa tempat misteri. Salah satunya adalah Witch House, yang merupakan bangunan tertua di Salem dan merupakan rumah Jonathan Corwin, hakim yang bertanggungjawab atas meninggalnya 19 wanita di Salem.

6. Roswell

Beberapa orang meyakini bahwa puing-puing pesawat yang jatuh di Roswell, New Mexico tahun 1947 merupakan pesawat alien. Dan insiden Roswell adalah satu kontroversi hingga sekarang. Upaya keras pemerintah Amerika Serikat untuk menutupi fakta, membuat banyak pihak yang yakin bahwa ada sesuatu yang sangat penting sedang disembunyikan. Banyak yang yakin bahwa Roswell adalah satu tempat bersejarah dalam fenomena tentang UFO dan “tamu-tamu dari luar angkasa”.

5. St.John Divine (New York)

Di jalanan kota New York telah lama menjadi tempat paling aneh. Biasanya tempat ini didatangi oleh dua juta lebih penduduk New York yang berkostum menyeramkan. Acara perayaan lainnya yang menarik untuk dikunjungi adalah perayaan hari besar ghoulish yang berisi Halloween Extravaganza dan Prosesi Setan. St John Divine yang merupakan Katedral Gothik terbesar di New York juga menarik untuk dikunjungi.

4. London

Di bawah kota kuno di London terdapat kengerian. Kota tersebut dulunya diyakini menjadi saksi kekejaman dengan tulang dan darah berserakan di gang. Jalan Hantu London menjadi tempat paling menyeramkan dan menjadi tempat tur spesial yang diikuti langkah kaki berdarah sang legenda kriminal Jack Ther Ripper.

3. Lizzie Borden B & B

Pembunuh Kampak yang menakutkan di sebuah rumah gaya Yunani di Masschusett sekitar 50 mil selatan Boston. Rumah tersebut dibangun tahun 1845 dan dijadikan tempat pembunuhan Abby and andre Borden dengan kampak oleh anak mereka sendiri, Lizzi. Namun Lizzi sendiri tidak pernah terbukti melakukan pembunuhan tersebut dan bebas dari tuduhan. Kasus tersebut juga tidak terpecahkan hingga sekarang.

2. Edinburgh

Kota terpendam Edinburg, selatan Bridge yang terdiri dari jaringan ruwet bawah tanah, kamar, terowong kapal , dan gang telah terbungkus dalam misteri dan intrik selama ini. Kota ini dibuka tahun 1788 tetapi hampir tidak diketahui keberadaannya, sampai tahun 1985 kota tersebut ditemukan kembali. Diyakini di tempat tersebut menjadi tempat hidup dan matinya ribuan orang bawah tanah.

1. Segitiga Bermuda

Mendengar Segitiga Bermuda tentu semua orang hampir mengetahui keangkeran tempat tersebut. Misteri hilangnya beberapa kapal laut dan pesawat di kawasan Segitiga Bermuda tentu membuat setiap orang tercekam. Di sana juga diyakini menjadi tempat bersemayam Setan Segitiga Bermuda. Tempat tersebut terletak di antara Miami, Bermuda dan San Juan (Puerto Rico). Cerita yang paling menarik adalah hilangnya semua skuadron pesawat pembom tahun 1945 dan hilangnya beberapa kapal besar. Anehnya, tidak satu pun mayat atau puing pesawat dan kapal ditemukan. Bahkan beberapa alat mencatat gelombang electromagnet yang ganjil di tempat tersebut. Banyak orang yang percaya bahwa tempat tersebut dijadikan markas makhluk luar angkasa.

•Gurita Menangis

2009-01-06T06:52:00.002+07:00

PADANG - Peristiwa aneh ternyata sempat terjadi saat Ita (42) warga Jalan Berok I No 48, Kelurahan Berok Nipah, Kecamatan Padang Barat, Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat, memasak gurita yang kemudian diketahui memiliki kepala seperti manusia....

Kepada okezone Ita menuturkan, peristiwa aneh berawal saat dia sedang memasak gurita tersebut dalam kuali minggu 4 Januari 2008 kemarin siang. Saat itu, tiba dia mendengar suara seperti tangisan bayi.

"Saya dengar suara mengeak-ngeak seperti suara bayi, saya kira itu anak tetangga tapi itu tidak mungkin karena tetangga tidak ada yang memiliki bayi," ujarnya kepada okezone, Senin (5/1/2009).

Pada mulanya Ita tidak menghiraukan suara tersebut, namun makin lama suara itu semakin keras. Ita mencari-cari dari mana suara tersebut, dan ternyata saat dirinya masuk ke dapur suara itu semakin keras terdengar. Dia tersentak saat mengetahui suara tersebut berasal dari kuali tempat dia memasak gurita itu.

"Saya makin terkejut kepala gurita itu muncul ditengah kuali mirip orang minta tolong dan begerak-gerak, bahkan saya perhatikan lagi ternyata kepalanya mirip manusia," ujarnya.

Gurita aneh tersebut diberi nama Siti Nurbaya oleh pemiliknya. Sayang, binatang yang sempat menghebohkan warga sekitar ini akhirnya mati setelah direbus.

•Katalog Parfume 2009

2009-01-06T06:10:00.005+07:00

Dibawah ini List parfume 2009, ada beberapa yang baru juga nih... Silahkan pilih aroma favorite anda, lalu order secepatnya... STOCK TERBATAS!!! (klik readmore)

Buat Cewe :

Anna Sui Flight Of Fancy
Benetton HOT
Burberry Week End 100ml
Bvlgari Notte 75ml
Bvlgari Rosse Essentielle 100ml
Bvlgari POUR FEMME 100ml
Celine Dion 100ml NEW......!
Chanel N 05 100ml
Chanel Chance
Chanel Coco 68ml
Chanel Allure Sensual 100ml
Clinic Happy Heart 100ml
Christian Dior Jadore 100ml
Davidoff Game 100ml
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue 100ml
Dolly Girl Blue 50ml NEW......!
Dolly Girl Pink 50ml NEW......!
Dolly Girl White 50ml NEW......!
Elishabeth Arden Mediterrane 100ml
Escada Island Kiss 100ml
Escada Moon Sparkle Women 100ml NEW......!
Escada Pasific Paradise 100ml
Escada Sunset Heat 100ml
Escada S 100ml
Escape women 100ml
Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise 100ml
Estee lauder Pleasure Exotic 100ml
Estee lauder Pleasure Delight 100ml
Elisabeth Dior Summer Fizz
Giorgio Armani Sensi
Gucci Envy Me 100ml
Hugo boss Femme 100ml
Hugo boss XX 100ml
Issey Miyake 100ml
J-Lo Love Glow After Dark 100ml
J-Lo Live Luxe 100ml
Kenzo Flower 50ml
Kenzo Amour 100ml
touch of sun 100ml
Lancome Benghal 100ml
Lancome Miracle 100ml
Lancome Miracle Forever 100ml
Love sixteen 100ml
Musk By Alyssa Ashley
Mariah carey
NINA by nina Ricci 100ml
Nina Ricci Premier Jour 100ml
Paris hilton women 100ml
Paris hilton can can 100ml
Paris hilton Just Me 100ml
Paris hilton heiress 100ml
Ralph Lauren Ralph
Ralph Lauren Rock
Sarah Jessica Parker 100ml
Tommy Girl 100ml

Buat Cowo :

Aigner XXX 100ml
Benetton COLD
Burberry Week End 100ml
Burberry The Beat 100ml
Bvlgary Aqva
Bvlgary Extreme 100ml
Bvlgary Pour Homme 100ml
Bvlgary Pour Homme Soir 100ml
Calvin Klein Eternity Men 100ml
Calvin Klein Eternity Summer
Calvin Klein Obsetion 100ml
Calvin Klein One 100ml
Clinic Happy Men
Davidoff Coolwater Men 100ml
Davidoff Game 100ml
David Beckham 100ml
Dunhil London 100ml
Dunhil Desire blue 100ml
Dunhil Desire red 100ml
Dunhil Pursuit 100ml
Dunhil Pure 100ml
Drakkar Noir 100ml
Escada Sunset heat men 100ml
Escada Moon Sparkle Men 100ml NEW......!
Giorgio Armani Aqua Di Gio 100ml
Givenchi PI Paris 100ml
Hugo Boss Army 100ml
Hugo Boss Dark Blue 125ml
Hugo Boss Energise 100ml
Hugo Boss In motion Silver 90ml
Hugo Boss In motion Black
Hugo Boss Selection
Hugo Boss XY 100ml
Hugo Boss NO 6
Issey Miyake Blue men 100ml
Issey Miyake Black Intense 100ml
Jaguar Performance Men 100ml
Jaguar (Relaunched) Men 100ml
Kenzo Root (batang) 100ml
Kenzo Pour Homme 100ml
Lacoste Essensial 100ml
Mount Blanc Starwalker 100ml
Paco Rabanne Black XS men 100ml
Polo Double Black 100ml
Polo Blue Stick
Polo Sport 100ml
Ralph Lauren Romance Silver 100ml
Tommy Hilfiger T for Men 100ml
Thierry mugler angel for Men 100ml
Thierry mugler alien for Men 100ml
Versace The Dreamer 100ml
Versace Eau Fraiche 100ml

( Stock Barang sangat terbatas!!! Sebaiknya SMS / Call me Untuk menanyakan ketersediaan barang ).

•How Perfumes Make You Sexy

2009-01-06T06:03:00.002+07:00

What attracts you to the opposite sex?, What makes a guy and a girl fall in love?
Is it the way they look?, Things they have in common?, A special connection?
Or is it the way they smell to each other?...

Actually, the way you smell plays an important part in the mating game. It is true in the animal world. Like it or not, it is also true among people.

That is the secret of sexual attraction.

In the animal world, pheromones attract member the opposite sex irresistably when the animal is in heat. Think about the female cat who attracts male cats in droves, who fight over her when she is in heat.

Among insects, a starving cockroach on the verge of dying from hunger would rather follow the source of pheromones with the hope of mating, rather than go for the food that would save his life.

Humans are not spared from the effects of pheromones either. That fuzzy feeling a woman gets near the presence of her special guy could well be due to pheromones. Likewise, men are attracted to a woman, by her looks, her personality, and the pheromones she produces.

Everyone has a million apocrine glands whose sole function is to produce a smell. These only become active upon puberty. Upon sexual maturity. A sex scent, if you will.

Did you know that in certain parts of the world, during village dances, girls would hold slices of apple in their armpits while they dance. Then, they would offer the sweat soaked apples to the guys they fancy.

Perfumes as we know them were first used by Egyptians to embalm the dead bodies of mummies. Later, perfumes were used before sex. To get both parties in a more romantic mood.

Jasmine, patchouli, sandalwood, rose, ylang ylang and a number of other aromatherapy oils used in perfumery are known for their aphrodisiac properties.

I remember reading an amusing incident about a guy who used sandalwood as a sore throat remedy. It has an interesting side effect. It increased his libido significantly. That means sandalwood perfumes make you sexier.

Patchouli has a sweet, very strong, musky scent that is considered very sexy. On its own, it is the kind of scent you either love or hate, as it can be overpowering, but when blended into a perfume with other notes, it gives the perfume a sexier feel.

Ylang ylang has a strong, womanly scent. Ylang ylang can be overpowering but when used lightly or in blends, it is said to put one in a romantic mood. Ylang ylang perfumes are ideal for that romantic night out.

Jasmine perfume has a very sensual fragrance. Jasmine essential oil itself exerts an effect on a female hormones. It is used in aromatherapy to balance hormones and to boost confidence. Jasmine is popular in perfumes as it has a strong erogenous effect on people.

Then there is musk which on its own, is a potent masculine scent. With other scents, it might be barely detectable yet it gives the perfume bouquet an air of mystery. Even the lightest, most flowery perfumes contain a trace of musk.

Perfumes are often used like pheromones, for that aphrodisiac effect. Look at all the perfume ads. They usually center around romance, or seduction.

Going a step further, perfumes, which you can get at http://www.perfume-online.org also make you feel good about yourself. Many women buy perfumes for the sheer beauty of the fragrances. Perfumes can make you smell wonderful. They can make your shower a luxurious experience. You set out to face the world, knowing you smell simply fabulous and that gives you that confidence which is really sexy.

•Choosing A Perfume

2009-01-06T05:59:00.000+07:00

The choice of fragrances and scents seems to grow wider every day, as manufacturers fight for our attention and try ever harder to distinguish their offerings from the competition...

With such a selection to choose from, how does one even begin to know where to start when it comes to buying perfume?

Broadly speaking, all perfumes fall into one of six different categories based on their dominant top notes. Different categories will suit different people or occasions.

Earthy or woody type perfumes evoke smells of the forest, and are usually very refreshing. They often tend to appeal to the older generation, and may make ideal gifts.

Oriental fragrances use strong spicy scents, and are ideal for special social occasions, but be cautious giving them to anyone you don’t know well – these intense perfumes can be a very personal choice.

The so-called “greens” are much lighter than the orientals, and are well suited to more casual wear. Because they make a less dramatic assault on the nose, they are also safer to give as gifts!

Modern “oceanic” fragrances are becoming more and more popular, particularly among younger people who appreciate the intense but often quite unusual scents, which instantly bring to mind seaside scenes. Naturally these are an excellent choice in the warmer months when thoughts turn to holidays.

Spicy fruity perfumes are also a good warm-weather choice, and can be a good all-round choice for the woman who wants to wear something with some traditional base-notes but is a little different to the classic floral scents.

Finally, those classic floral fragrances are suitable for almost everyone and any occasion. But be wary of cheaper brands; this most feminine of all the main groups works best when the ingredients used are of high quality, and that means less expensive brands can smell exactly that.

Ultimately, choosing a fragrance is a very personal choice, and many women prefer to stick with what they know and buy the same thing year after year. But by trying different fragrances from the same group as your favourite smell, you may just discover a new gem.

•Tips For Wearing Perfume

2009-01-06T05:56:00.000+07:00

Perfumes can be fun to wear. Here are some tips on buying and using perfumes...

When buying perfume always try a sample. Wear it for about 10 minutes before deciding if you like it. This allows the alcohol to evaporate and the oils in perfumes to interact with the oil on the skin and will be a little different for everyone.

Try samples in the late afternoon. The power of smell is stronger during that time of day.

When starting a new perfume always use it on only one small area of skin. If there is an allergy to any of the ingredients it's the safest way to discover it. After an hour, if there is no reaction, the perfume is safe to wear.

When wearing perfume put it on the pulse points. The inner wrists, behind the knee, and below the jawline near the ears. The pulse sends out the scent.

Perfume will keep fresher longer if you store it in a cool, dark place since sunlight and heat interact with the oils in the perfume.

When testing or wearing perfume don't rub the wrists together. It lessens the effect of the perfume.

Don't apply perfume to clothing or jewelry. It can cause stains and even damage jewelry.

Don't wear one perfume all year all. Temperatures affect the scent. Cold temperatures reduce the intensity of the perfume so wear stronger scents in the winter.

In the summer wear lighter scents. But be warned, bees can be lured to the perfume mistaking it for flowers.

Once you open a bottle of perfume wear it! It will keep indefinitely when not opened but......... once the air has gained entrance to the perfume, it must be used within a year or two at the maxium.

•Types of Perfumes

2009-01-06T05:50:00.002+07:00

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of types of perfumes in today`s market. The high demand for various types of perfumes makes it easily available to find them from inexpensive to moderate expensive to very expensive types of perfumes for all tastes and pockets.

One does not have to go very far in order to find major brands available.

The most common way to describe a perfume is perhaps considering its concentration level, where it has been originated from, and the notes of the scent. The most common scent is floral with ingredients such as carnation, jasmine, violet, orange blossoms, lilies, orchids, just to name a few. All perfumes and colognes are different and they are meant to associate the personality and skin type of users.

In order to classify a perfume or cologne, one interesting aspect to consider would be the percentage of concentration by volume of perfume oil:

Perfume usually has in its content, 15 to 25% of perfumed oil.
Eau de Perfume usually has in its content 8 to 15% of perfumed oil.
Eau de Toilette usually has in its content 4 to 10% of perfumed oil.
Eau de Cologne usually has in it content 2 to 5% of perfumed oil.

Nowadays with modern technology of perfume manufacturing, new categories have been formed, the most common of them being described as: Bright Floral - the most popular of them all, meant for almost everyone and for any occasion. Earthy or Woody - it evokes the environment of the forest, with a very refreshing smell. This fragrance has a strong appeal to the older generation. Green - it is considered to be a lighter fragrance and is meant for casual wear. Oceanic - it is very popular with the younger generation. Spicy Fruit - it is a good choice for tropical weather. Oriental - it is composed of spicy scents, meant for special occasions.

Plants are the largest source of fragrant compounds used in the perfume industry. Fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit are also used. Some seeds and woods are very important in providing the base notes to a perfume.

Most modern perfumes and colognes are made using the fragrance oils that the fragrances houses develop using essential oils and aromatic chemicals. The fragrance oils are then blended with ethyl alcohol and water and then aged in thanks for a certain time and filtered through processing equipment to remove any particles before the solution can be considered ready to go into the perfume bottles.

Most fragrances with the names of well known designers are constantly improving in order to produce top quality perfumes. Due to the high demand that major brands experience, it suggests that the perfume industry will keep on a fast mode for quite some time in the future.

Finally, it is a good idea to keep in mind that different people have different tastes and the choice or preference for a particular fragrance is a very personal one and may vary dramatically from one person to another, suggesting that it is better to try it before you buy.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author´s name and all the URL´s (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

•Elvira's Paradise

2008-10-21T10:55:00.000+07:00

Just after the big flood in Katherine, I came out here with my partner on a sales trip; we used to travel throughout the Northern parts of Australia designing polo shirts and selling them...

When we got to Katherine I ran into an old friend from Townsville, after 2 weeks of coming and going they asked me if I wanted to stay longer, it being ok with my partner i said yes.

After a few days I started to get bored so I got a job at Woolworths, I liked their uniform. After 1wk I saw an ad in the paper for a Tailoress that was required at the RAAF Base Tindal, so I applied for it. I got the job, that was May 1998, and i have been there since. Every day I would drive to work and say to myself and anyone else that would listen that I wanted to buy some land along the way to work.

We made an offer for some land on that road, but the owner rejected it, we were both stubborn about it, he wanted a higher price than we were willing to pay, so we didn’t get it. Then we made an offer on a property further out of town, 2 weeks after signing the contract the owner went bankrupt, so we had to wait for settlement. In the meantime while waiting for this property to settle, we went and bought a fixer upper, in the hope of getting the house looking nice to increase equity in order to assist us in getting the finance through. We had to wait so long for the land to settle that we decided to buy another house 2 yrs later and do the same thing, after another year the land still hadn’t settled. Then we decided to make an offer on a residential block, after making the offer, we went for a drive around Katherine to have a look at some of the new kit home designs, to give us an idea of what to put on this house block.

We drove around all of the new Estates and saw a house with a for sale sign on it, near, or so we thought, the land that we had made an offer on 6yrs earlier. I liked it so much that I decided to make an offer on it. Lo and Behold it turned out to be the same one. The offer was accepted. Elvira’s Dream had been realized, or at least begun.

We have always had the idea of buying land so that we could develop a Tourist Park or Caravan Park, or provide a venue for alternative lifestylers to visit, so now the long struggle continues.

What happened to the original piece of land. What happened to the original piece of land that we have a contract on. We are still waiting for that one to settle. Lots of problems sorting out the financial affairs of the bankruptee. But if it wasn’t for that original piece of land we wouldn’t have bought the 2 houses, and we wouldn’t have got our 79acre block, which is ideal, more so than the original block, for our Tourist Park, Elvira’s Paradise.

The reason for the name.

My partner says that once people meet me they never forget me, and if they visit us here they will never forget the name of our Park either. Because our home is at the front of the development, a Tourism NT lady who visited, said that people may feel like they are visiting our home. Our answer to that is: even if our home wasn’t at the front of the land it is still our home and we aim to make all of our guests and visitors feel welcome and comfortable, just like it should be if they were visiting us in our home.

•Cruising with the Kids

2008-10-21T10:52:00.001+07:00

Think you can go an entire vacation without hearing the question made famous by kids all over the world: "Are we there yet?" It's possible with modern cruise ships and kid-friendly itineraries...

These roving resorts make traveling to the destination half the fun.

Disney launched the first family-friendly cruise boat in the mid-1990s; this venture inspired a tidal wave of cruises the gorged family can have. Nowadays, family-friendly cruises are experiencing the prevalent evolution in the cruise commerce. There isn't a cruise boat being built that lacks accommodations for children of all ages. So find your sea legs, start on timber and take your family on a vacation they will evoke for a time.

Cruising with Youngsters

Children have a way of expressing what adult generations keep bottled up inside. Perhaps this is why a screech and laughter of an elated child is so fulfilling. Bringing youngsters along on a cruise adds vibrancy to your vacation and unity to the family. There is some repayment for the kids too.

Nowadays cruise boats present an eclectic choice of activities to keep children active and entertained while learning and emergent. Cruising is an admirable way to expose kids to different cultures and subjects. What better place to explain kids about aquatics, maritime ecology and the people of the Caribbean Islands than on the ocean in the Caribbean?

Many cruise outlines make it cool to carry little tykes along with a gorged route of kid-friendly activities. They present supervised services like day-camps, merge parties, cartoon movies, crafts and competitions. Your kids will have a riot making new contacts during these trades. Some boats impart parents with pagers so you're forever close at hand for any unexpected situations.

Cruising with youth

Child a vacation that you and your teenager both enjoy can be near impossible, but the cruise outline are running on it. nowadays mega boats come entire with very-skilled, out departure teenager counselors that can direct your teenager through a number of high-adventures and learning experiences. Snorkeling, stun climbing and learning tours are just a few of the activities teenagers may experience while on a cruise. Some boats even have entire areas set whisper for teenagers to mix and combine. This hot acne comprises dance floors, mainframe labs, cafes and non-alcoholic bars.

Here are a few equipment parents can do to guarantee teenagers have the time of their lives:

* Sail during the summer and train holidays when teenagers aren't trade with the stress of mislaid train (as if any teenager stressed over mislaid train). Traveling in summer means there will liable be more teenagers around.

* promote your teenager to go to teenager clubs even if they think it will be inane. They're guaranteed to have a good time.

* A cruise is an admirable opportunity to thicken your teenager's learning. Before embarking on your cruise, get some books on the ports of call you're departure to holiday and read them together.

* promote your teenagers to have the citizen tastes, sites and sounds by annoying different foods, presence legends presentations or option up citizen song CDs.

* test on age divisions before transport your teenager to each activity; your teenager may not be joyful snorkeling with a bunch of pre-teenagers.

Choosing a Cruise Line

* Look for newer cruise outline; they lean to have larger, more elaborate centers for kids of all ages (even big kids, like you).

* Look for boats that present family stateroom options, like a family suite or linked cottages.

* Keep in wits that some cruise outline has programs year-curved while others are only regular. Before booking a cruise, make constant counselors will be on timber and children's programs will be in place.

* If you're forecast to store during your cruise, look for ports that have kid-connected activities and score them out together.

* think estimate breaks. Some cruises let children move limitless or at a condensed estimate if two adults are staying in the cottage.

* Find out which youth activities are comprised in the cruise envelope estimate or if they charge mega, so there are no surprises.

* Some cruises only present stiff dining at tables for two-this doesn't suit children. Decide a boat with some casual drinking options.

•Tips For Flying Standby?

2008-10-21T10:49:00.000+07:00

If you travel a lot or you haven't traveled before, you may still be familiar with the term "flying standby"...

Flying standby is a term the airline industry uses when a traveler wants to fly on a flight with an open seat. Travelers that usually purchase a ticket the day of will usually have to fly standby if there a limit number of tickets available.

If you find yourself flying standby in the future, there are a few tips you can follow in order to make the trip at the airport a lot easier.

Don't check your luggage

If you're flying standby, don't check in your luggage. A lot of the times an airline will look for people that have carry on only. If you have checked in luggage, it's just going to be a bigger hassle for the airliner to find your luggage and throw it on the plane. If you just bring carry on luggage, you're going to increase your chances of getting on the flight.

Early flights work

If you can get to the airport early, you'll find that earlier flights are usually easier to get on since many people technically don't travel early in the morning. If you find yourself traveling in the afternoon, this is peak traveling time and you may find that the flights are going to busier compared to the mornings.

Try calling the airline's customer service department

Before you make the trip to the airport, check with the airline before hand and see if there are flights available that you can possibly standby for. Most of the times, the airline will be friendly and give you some flights that you can possibly fly standby on. If you do find that airline you call doesn't have a standby flight available, try and call other airlines to see if they have possible solutions.

Stay at the gate

It's important that you stay near the gate when you're on the standby list. If you tend to walk away during the time when the flight is about to be boarded, you may find that the employee tried to call your name. Sometimes, you're not the only one on the list. This is why it's important that you stay nearby so that if your name is called, you can be there to get on the flight as soon as possible.

You may find that most of these tips will help you in your standby success. If you find that the situation is too stressful, always remember that it's best to be patient. When flights generally board, you will find that most employees are pretty stressful during this time. Always remember to treat others as you want to be treated. Trust me, the employees will keep note of this and will treat you a little nicer than the other customer is furious with the staff. If you keep your head on your shoulders and have a lot of patience, flying standby should be a piece of pie.

•Forest Expedition

2008-10-21T10:48:00.000+07:00

The forest expedition is arranged for the travellers to thoroughly experience the hidden natural wonders of what you can discover in the wildness...

The quiet streams and picture skew lakes will be mind blowing. All the forest is bursting with biology. A forest is a thriving planet of dense greens and a home to hundreds of species of birds and animals.

The active itinerary features, forest hikes, fishing and bird sighting excursions weave everyone through out the tropical paradise of the forest.

While a jungle expedition you have the opportunity to visit native families to learn about forest life and survival. The forest expedition is a dynamic and often life changing experience for healthy active adults who embrace adventure.

Forest Expedition in Kerala

Kerala, the land which is known the world over for its rich and diverse flora and fauna, is also home to a myriad species of rare wildlife found nowhere else on the globe. The reasons for the same are simple yet exciting, Kerala currently has national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves.

These national parks and sanctuaries house the largest population of tigers in the world, a large number of mighty one horned Rhino, the highly endangered and almost extinct Asiatic Lion and a huge tusker population. These are just a few of the thousands of animal and bird species who have made the forests of Kerala their home. In India adventurous forest expedition training is available at Kerala. Kerala adventurous forest expedition training and Kerala adventurous forest expedition is popular all over the country. India forest expedition has the route in Kerala.

Kerala wildlife expedition is a compelling and pleasurable thought in itself. The choices are immense and unending. Imagine moving through a thick forest in search of a striped predator on the back of a huge tusker is a wonderful experience that knows no parallels. Most of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala provide various facilities for jungle watching that include bird watching on jeeps, elephants, cycle or just trekking through the uneven pathways.

The forests of Kerala are a heritage of the country which must be taken care of and preserved with utmost care and attention. There is great diversity to be seen which is equally or even more than the cultural and traditional diversity this country possesses. A holiday in the Kerala forests is one of the most favoured and sought after options. The fresh air, salubrious climate and serene environs will leave you spellbound and your appetite whetting for more.

The climatic and geographical variations coupled with the factor of low costs are just some of the reasons which make Kerala feature at the top in the list of wildlife hotspots of the world. Spread across the length and breadth of the country, these parks and sanctuaries also offer the visitors a chance to explore the region and get acquaint with the culture and traditions that prevail over there.

Visit a high altitude national park in Kerala or chase a huge tusker in the wildlife sanctuaries of south India, Kerala. One thing is guaranteed, the experience will be different and even more exciting each time.

•St Lucia Vacation

2008-10-21T10:46:00.001+07:00

St Lucia is one of the Windward Islands in the middle of the Eastern Caribbean, south of Martinique and northwest of Barbados...

The capital is Castries in the north west of St Lucia, which is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide with a central mountain range the whole length of the island with peaks as high as 3000feet plus.

It is the combination of mountains, forests, low lying land, small coastal fishing villages, and beaches that makes a lot of people choose a St Lucia Vacation. The mountains are forested and the lush lower slopes have splashes of colour thanks to the jasmine, scarlet chenille, and wild orchids.

Probably the most famous landmarks in St Lucia are the two towering volcano cones on the south west coast called the Twin Pitons which are the most incredible sight especially at dusk.

St Lucia’s climate is obviously tropical with temperatures varying between 70 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with rain from June to November and fairly dry between December in May.

St Lucia has a lot of accommodation choices to suit most pockets and tastes. There is everything from all-inclusive resorts, and large deluxe hotels to luxury villas. You will also be able to find lovely small hotels, traditional inns, and apartments and guesthouses. You will find accommodation on the beach or inland, in the north which is completely different in characteristics to the south.

A St Lucia Vacation is for pleasure seeking people, for people who like unspoiled undiscovered places. It is for people who want to celebrate their wedding on a Caribbean Island and for honeymooners who are looking for a tropical island paradise, because St Lucia is all of these things.

St Lucia is a great place for a family vacation which can include any number of land and water sports, including but not restricted to golf, tennis, cricket, table tennis, biking, horse riding, and deep sea fishing, windsurfing, sailing, para sailing, and waterskiing. Water sports are definitely a large part of any St Lucia Vacation, especially when you think about the white sand beaches, and beautiful inviting turquoise blue sea.

In addition to all of that there are places to visit like the beautiful Marigot Bay, Maria Islands Nature reserve, Whale and turtle watching, to name a few.

Dining out in St Lucia is a treat because St Lucians enjoy their food, so this logically means there are a large number of restaurants on the island. The cuisine is best described as a combination of International and Creole, where fresh local produce plays a huge part.

Now you can sea what a great place St Lucia is for a vacation, the only question left to answer is how to get there. You can reach St Lucia by air or by sea. You can arrive at airports in the north or the south with many popular airlines, and you can travel on to your final destination by helicopter or ferry. You can fly into a neighbouring island like Martinique and then catch a ferry to St Lucia. You may also arrive on a cruise ship or a yacht.

It really doesn’t matter which way you choose to arrive in St Lucia, because you will find a Caribbean Island paradise unlike any other and you won’t want to leave.

•Holidays In Orlando Florida

2008-10-21T10:44:00.000+07:00

A little known citrus farming center called Orlando was paid a visit the 1960s by a gentleman called Walt Disney who started buying land on the outskirts of the town...

The remainder of that story is now history and by 1971, that land had become Walt Disney World. Today, Orlando has a resident population of approximately 200,000 people and visitor numbers swell that figure into the many millions.

The words "Orlando, Florida" immediately conjure up images of fairy tale palaces, thrill rides, theme parks and Disney characters loved the world over. The combination of the "big 3" Orlando entertainment parks of Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios have no equal anywhere else in the world.

Located on the the outskirts of Orlando, the towns of Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee are home to most of the major entertainment park attractions. It's no surprise that the accommodation industry generates a major portion of the Orlando economy and that it employs a high percentage of the local population.

The nearby towns of Winter Haven and Altamonte Springs offer a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Orlando and the parks. Their quiet rural charm and sedate pace provides a glimpse back to the time before the area became the home of the world's best known entertainment parks.

** Orlando Hotels And Resorts

Orlando has more beds to service the tourist industry than any other USA city except for Las Vegas. Orlando is the fifth most popular USA city for travelers visiting from overseas. It is not surprising that the accommodation industry represents a major portion of the Orlando economy and employs a high percentage of the local population.

Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to Orlando accommodation and every taste is catered for in every price range. From themed luxury hotels, fantasy resorts, exclusive golf resorts, condominiums, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, backpacker hostels to luxury villas, it's all available in and around Orlando.

The parks have several entrances which can be separated from each other by quite a distance, so selecting accommodation near the best gate for you can be an important consideration. Orlando accommodation is often named for proximity to a particular theme park (Universal) or a particular gate (main gate east etc)

** Orlando Transport

At least 35 airlines and just as many charter operators fly into Orlando International Airport with the bulk of these flights being Delta which accounts for around 25% of the flights that originate in approximately 160 different cities.

Other airlines serving Orlando are America West, American, Air Canada, British Airways, Continental, Northwest and US Airways. The Orlando Airport website provides and excellent page about airport shuttle services and city transport.

Amtrak is the USA rail service and it operates to and from Orlando with connections to many of the surrounding towns such as Kissimmee, Sebring, Winter Haven, Sanford and Ocala.

The I Ride trolley service is an excellent way to get around the International Drive Resort precinct. The LYNX bus service covers the downtown Orlando metropolitan area and surrounding cities.

The main highway through Orlando is I4, running directly from downtown Orlando to the Disney area. If you plan on driving in Orlando, be prepared for traffic, especially at rush hour.

•Welcome To Miami

2008-10-21T10:40:00.000+07:00

Miami is a sub-tropical city, climatically very different from most places in the USA. The city is a cosmopolitan playground that attracts more visitors than any other US destination...

Miami appeals to holiday makers wanting warm sun, clean sandy beaches, a laid back lifestyle, sophisticated entertainment in clubs and bars and a mix of art, music and international cuisines.

Travelers visiting Miami may actually spend their time in Miami Beach, a separate municipality situated 4 miles (6 km) across Biscayne Bay from downtown Miami. The combined greater Miami area includes several ethnic neighborhoods such as Little Havana and Little Haiti.

The population of the Greater Miami Area is a 50% mix of assorted Hispanic and the diverse cultural mix is evident in Latin American languages, cuisine and music throughout the city and. Dining in Miami offers the opportunity to visit a different ethnic restaurant every night and enjoy diverse international cuisines.

Once upon a time, Miami attracted mostly retirees turning their backs on snowy, colder climates but nowadays it attracts the ultra-chic glitterati, cashed up yuppies, the boating and yachting fraternity and Cuban immigrants.

** Miami Vacation Attractions

Greater Miami is a great base for access to several major Florida holiday attractions. The northern tip of the Florida Keys is just off shore, the Everglades are just a short distance inland and the affluent enclaves of Palm Beach and Boca Roton are just a short distance along the coast.

The Miami Beach Promenade, aka South Beach, is a favorite spot for cyclists, skaters, joggers and skateboarders. This is the most instantly recognized beach front location in existence and the place to be seen if appearances are important.

Many of the early Miami buildings from the early 1900's have been restored. A walking tour around the South Beach precinct is recommended to see the spectacular rejuvenation of the 1920's buildings in the Art Deco Historic District.

Miami boasts fine museums, galleries, historic gardens, zoos, sports stadiums, spring fed natural pools and of course, the ever present golf courses. Greater Miami has lots to brag about when it comes to world class golf courses and is home to some of the most testing courses in the world.

** Miami Vacation Cruises

The busiest cruise ship center of any city in the USA is the Port of Miami with holiday cruises to the Caribbean and Latin America making up the bulk of these cruises, but there are also cruises to all parts of the world.

Cruises are usually well equipped for gambling and casinos open as soon as the ship passes into international waters. Non stop food, games, movies and onboard activities ensure guests are always entertained and well fed.

** Miami Hotels & Resorts

Miami visitors are offered a range of hotels, resorts and vacation rentals to satisfy all tastes and budgets. There's accommodation and prices to suit everyone, ranging from the restored boutique hotels in the Art Deco and South Beach district, modern glass and chrome high rise hotels, budget hostels, beach front condos and villas, serviced apartments, inns and guesthouses... it's your choice.

** Miami Vacation Transport

Miami International Airport is one of the major airports in the USA, and a major hub city for American Airlines. Major domestic airlines such as Delta, Northwest/KLM, United and US Airways and Continental all servive Miami as well as several economy carriers.

There are two Amtrak trains that run daily from New York down to Miami and the travel time is approximately 27 hours.

The Metro-Dade Transit Agency runs two Miami rail systems, one being Metrorail which is a modern elevated commuter train that connects downtown Miami and the southern suburbs. Metromover is an elevated line looping the downtown precinct and connecting with many of the important attractions, shopping and business districts.

Tri Rail is the south Florida commuter train service that connects Miami with North Palm Beach and all centers in between.

•Addicted to House

2008-10-21T10:36:00.001+07:00

I resisted the series House for just about the entire season. The whole "we're so hip and edgy and sophisticated" hype about the series was a turn-off, as was the positive press it was getting...

(I have become very suspicious about opinions expressed by the mainstream media.) Then I saw the actor Hugh Laurie, who plays the title character, on a talk show, and discovered he's actually a Brit who does a very creditable American accent. That impressed me; usually foreign actors overdo American accents, but this guy nailed it. Okay, I'll watch, I thought.

It took me a couple of episodes. At first I thought, "Yeah, I get it; you're an irascible but brilliant doctor with a lousy attitude and a secretly compassionate nature, yada yada, I've heard it all before….", a stereotype I've seen on every doctor show for the past four decades, with the possible exception of Marcus Welby, M.D. (The James Brolin character was a little surly on that one…) But then I realized, this guy's playing it for real; he's a seriously screwed up guy, a drug-addicted, s.o.b. of a man with enough existential angst for ten Russian novels.

The whole premise of the show is that some patient comes in with a mysterious life-threatening illness that resists diagnosis, and the team of doctors spend the hour (in TV-drama time) misdiagnosing the illness and making the patient worse, until House pulls a diagnostic rabbit out of the hat at the last moment, thus saving the patient-most of the time. (Sometimes the patient ends up having a fatal illness, and is essentially toast.) In the process, the viewer is exposed to CATscans and MRIs and needles in the spine-Yikes-and all kinds of sophisticated diagnostic equipment and techniques, plus a seriously motley crew of medical personnel, all with their own blind spots, all with their own demons.

A thoroughly gripping medical drama, House. The producers and directors are obviously going for gritty realism; the question is, have they succeeded? They've got the gritty down perfectly, but the realism? Considering the fact that we all need to take a trip to the doctor every so often-God, I hope not!

•Urban Films

2008-10-21T10:34:00.000+07:00

Who is Sid Kali? I've written, directed, and produced two full-length urban features, CONSIGNMENT and IN WITH THIEVES, plus have a third feature in production titled STASH SPOT...

Some people feel that when you attach the word urban to an independent film the story will be based on slices of life that unfold in housing projects or the barrio. Which do provide rich and colorful backdrops that reflect a slice of americana.

On the flip side urban culture has moved beyond the housing projects and barrios. Taking those attitudes and feelings into new environments. This opens up new backdrops for you to shoot urban films. You no longer are forced to only shoot in the inner city to produce urban films.

A few other hits urban movies take is that the production quality will be less than an art house film made on a similar budget. That urban movies don't have well written scripts and they all look the same style wise.

Many innovated filmmakers that love the urban genre are changing the way people think about that. They are putting out high quality urban movies made on indie budgets that are freshly entertaining.

The diversity of the urban genre continues to grow because the storylines are connecting with a larger audience by going beyond what you would expect to see in an urban movie. The elements you can fold into an urban drama are becoming more complex earning these films more respect.

Through networking I've connected with Irish-American filmmaker Mike O'Dea founder of Shamrock Films. He is currently in production with TOWNIES. A film about the Charlestown mob. Looks like a great urban movie being delivered from the viewpoint of Irish-American gangster characters.

The word 'crime drama' is used to describe films like 'Training Day', 'The Departed' and 'Scarface', but to many urban movie buffs these aren't crime dramas. They are urban masterpieces done by highly talented and respected filmmakers at the top of their creative game.

Shooting urban movies has always been a goal of mine. When I began fleshing out the script for CONSIGNMENT my first feature film I wanted it to be authentic across the board. Nothing kills the vibe of an urban movie more than it being completely phony. Like in the older Westerns when the Native-Americans were played by blonde hair blue eyed actors. Imagine how different 'Dances With Wolves' would have played to viewers.

There are tremendous actors out there at every level that can deliver powerful performances. On a larger budget feature actors are able to get into character, research the role, or work with a dialect coach if needed. On a truly independent film budget you will be lucky to get in a decent amount of rehearsals before shooting.

It is sometimes a benefit to work with real people for what I see as tailored roles. In CONSIGNMENT we had a character named Smiles that was from the streets and had survived a nearly fatal shooting. My friend Ruben Navarro was cast. Unfortunately, he did survive a near fatal shooting in his life. It made sense to me as a director to work with him as a first time actor since he understood the character from personal experience. It wasn't like he was being cast as for a role he had zero knowledge of.

As the writer I felt that this particular script was best served highlighting a Black and Latino perspective playing out through the film. The plot centers around a Virginia Beach drug dealer that runs into trouble and has to lay low in Southern California. This being the movies all the problems that come with power, drug money, fast women, and jealous rivals has to come out. It was nice to be able to mix in the subtle cultural differences between the two places.

This came from being able to work with Co-Producer/Editor Tim Beachum that had lived in Ohio, Detroit , and Virginia Beach. I've only lived in Southern California. When the film was done shooting we were able to mix in some outlaw bikers and corrupt police. The personal bonus was being able to add people I grew up with to the cast to give it a real edge.

I felt comfortable adding elements from the East Coast because I could consult Tim Beachum. If that option had no been there I would have focused on writing what I knew. That would have been a film that was completely slanted to the West Coast lifestyle. If you're able to ever expand your film take advantage of that. If not and you have a limited budget write a film you can shoot within your resources using what you know.

Through collaboration with the website Jackin4Beats.Com we were able to add a quality soundtrack featuring East Coast & West Coast artists including Custom Made Recordings, Ayreon The Don™, and Malice & Da Commission. You're going to hear "NO" a lot when tracking down music for your soundtrack. A nice music budget makes it easier, but most independent films have very little money for music. Don't give up or settle on music that doesn't fit your film. There are music artists that will appreciate the exposure of being on a movie soundtrack. CONSIGNMENT lent itself to a hip hop soundtrack, so we focused on rising hip hop artists. In our case it happened to work.

CONSIGNMENT has recently been acquired by Maverick Entertainment Group, Inc. It will be a direct to video title. It will be released November 2007.

After the experience of CONSIGNMENT. We decided expand our take on the urban genre with our second feature film IN WITH THIEVES. This urban film blends together a Cuban cartel deep into their darker version of Santeria, blood diamonds being pushed by an African based crime group, ruthless Albanian gangsters, and an American burglary crew.

This unique blend of creative and visual elements we felt would make for a provocative urban film. The inspiration was to show that urban stories can have global influences.

The production of IN WITH THIEVES was difficult because casting was calling for extremely diverse and capable actors that could play real in front of the camera. Good fortune smiled on us bringing some tremendous talent that we had not worked with before and some faces from CONSIGNMENT we respected.

The goal was to fold in the Albanian Mob, American crooks from the streets, an African based crime syndicate and a Cuban cartel that practiced a wild version of Santeria. I asked a family friend that ran a botanica to show me items that would be authentic. She set me up down to Jesus Malverde giving us realism at the voodoo altar scenes.

Sharing real experiences and honest practical advice with others interested in shooting urban movies is what this article will hopefully do. The biggest lesson I learned was that if you have a certain amount of time and money to produce your film do not overwrite your script and over schedule each shooting day to fit your over all schedule. I'm not a film professor so the easy way for me to put it is like this. If you're 1st Ad or UPM breakdown the script and say it will take 14 days to shoot your film, don't expect to shoot in a 7 days and get everything you want.

Think about trimming the script if you can't extend the shooting days. On IN WITH THIEVES this became a reality for me as a director as the shooting days I had available began to shorten quickly in comparison to what we were getting into the can. By the third day rock and roll UPM Cameron Penn already let me know at the pace we were shooting we wouldn't nail all the pages we needed to finish the movie.

I knew the script was ambitious and my own writing ego wasn't open to deleted some scenes that really weren't crucial to the film. Ego is a terrible thing, not just in film, but in life. At least for me anyway. Before the fourth day of shooting an actress who had a supporting role let us know she couldn't show up for her first day of shooting because her agent got her an audition for a well known television pilot. I never begrudge anyone that has a chance for a shot at what they feel is a bigger opportunity than what they committed to.

We wished her well and knew the production could not shoot around her or reschedule her. The practical choice was to release her from the film. It was a blessing in disguise. I had to do some re-writes to remove her character from the script. This allowed me not to fall in love with any scene or dialogue that wasn't important to the film. It has been said that screenwriters should not fall in love with their own words. I agree!

I was able to write her out and the story was tighter. We finished the movie. It's currently in the final stages of post-production . We will begin shopping it to interested distributors shortly. If you are interested in seeing the trailer for this film please Google IN WITH THIEVES.

With the love for urban movies still strong we're starting production on our third feature STASH SPOT. Rival criminals fight to find a fortune in cash ripped-off during a drug deal gone bad. When the stick-up artists responsible turn up dead, a bloodbath erupts as each vicious criminal makes their ruthless play to locate the money.

You always learn things with each film you produce. Hopefully filmmakers will continue to push the urban genre beyond what it is now.

* Quick and dirty tips if you're going to produce your own urban movie:
(* does not apply to filmmakers that have Hollywood connections or access to big money)

Avoid writing an amazing scene like the shoot-out in 'Heat' if you can't pull it off.

Write realistic locations into your script that you have shooting access to.

Action scenes are always going to take longer to light and shoot than talking head scenes.

Make sure your dialogue is authentic to the culture of the street. If you're writing your own script your words cost nothing.

Wardrobe can't make Corey Feldman (nothing against The Corey) a Latino gangster by putting him in a bandana and a flannel buttoned only at the top. You see that type of phony wardrobe in some really bad urban movies.

Whatever happens keep the show rolling.

•History of 60s Music

2008-10-21T10:32:00.000+07:00

The decade of the 1960's presented social and political changes that had never been seen before...

In addition to this, 60s music changed the direction of popular music and Americana as a whole. This decade forever changed America, and it was the young generation, or Baby Boomers that made it happen. After World War II, there was a dramatic increase in the population. An entire generation of young men had returned to the United States and found that the entire country had been transformed from the economically depressed area they once had left, to an economic goliath. Many of them used their G.I Bills to get an education and the country was flush with new jobs. Couples were able to settle down and start a family and they did so in astonishing numbers.

It was, supposedly, the perfect existence. The nuclear family lived in comfort. The patriarch had a good job to provide for his family and the loving wife stayed at home to raise the children. The children grew up in a world that was quickly shrinking. Radio and television were becoming permanent fixtures in every home. This technology introduced the Baby Boomers to the music of the 60s. Some of the big names in early 60s music all came out of one recording studio, the Sun Record Company, based out of Memphis, Tennessee. Artists like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison all got their start at the Sun Record Company. Many of them followed the method introduced by Presley. His music was a mixture of gospel, blues and hillbilly music. B.B. King, who is perhaps the greatest blues musician of all time, knew of Presley long before he became famous. Presley combined blues, gospel, and hillbilly music to help create a new form of music ... Rock and Roll.

His first recordings were in 1953, and he made one of his first big breakthroughs in 1956 with his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. His style was so unique and attractive to the Baby Boomer generation that it helped to influence and direct cataclysmic changes in music genre. The Baby Boomers were the primary fans of 60s music, and their support was what drove other artists, like the Beatles, to develop a new style that would mark their generation as unique. Music is a cultural and social expression of the people, and that was never truer than in the case of 60s music. Baby Boomers' musical choices reflected the postmodern political and social upheavals of the time, including the assassination of a president, an unpopular war, the civil and women rights movements, and the Cold War. It was the music that remains as a lasting representation of their legacy.

•What Is Soca Music

2008-10-21T10:25:00.001+07:00

What is soca music?
This material is geared primarily towards folks who are new to this genre of music called soca...

As an artist who has been recording soca songs for the last eight years, and who has won Caribbean wide soca competitions, I shall humbly attempt to present a comprehensive introduction to soca music.

Soca music originated in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. It is widely accepted to have been created by Lord Shorty (born Garfield Blackman). He noticed that Calypso music was threatened by the more popular reggae music and dying out and attempted to create a new hybrid that was more appealing to the masses. He fused Indian music with calypso music and this resulted in a more energetic hybrid called solka, which later became known as soca. Lord Shorty introduced soca to the world in 1973 with his hit song, Indrani.

Naturally, soca music of the seventies is very different to what exists today. Today, there are two main types, namely Power Soca and Groovy Soca. What is the major difference between the two?

Power soca music is very fast, with tempos of around 160 beats per minute. The music is largely instructional in nature. Soca artists thrive on motivating audiences to respond to their dancing instructions. Power soca music is largely music to jump, wave and "wine" to. ("Wine" is derived from the word "wind" and is a type of dance that consists of hip movements). Crowd reaction is key.

Trinidadian soca artist, Superblue has been credited with starting the "jump and wave" craze. His success with this style of soca was so incredible that since then most soca songs are written with crowd response in mind.

Today, the challenge for power soca songwriters is to write songs that can move audiences but not be a regurgitation of the jump and wave theme. This is not the easiest of tasks because of the very nature of the festival that soca music is centered around. Soca music is largely carnival music. Since carnival is all about jumping and waving, the music that drives it must be able to engender such activity. Increasingly, artists are succeeding at writing songs which are not necessarily based on "jump and wave" or waving rags and flags. In an attempt to stay clear of monotony, themes like love, peace and togetherness have been very common.

Groovy soca music is arguably, a better means of propelling soca music forward internationally. It is much slower, around 115 beats per minute. This newer kind of soca allows for a wider range of topics to be addressed. Unlike the total frenzy that power soca gives rise to, groovy soca is music to sway and dance slowly to. Artists like Kevin Lyttle and Rupee have demonstrated that this type of music is very palatable to mainstream music markets, with international hits like "Turn Me On" and "Tempted To Touch" respectively. Another artist who has gain international recognition with groovy/crossover soca is Barbadian based artist, Alison Hinds.

I believe that fast and groovy soca music should continue to co-exist. I readily accept all variations of soca and put none against the other. Music is dynamic. Throughout history no genre has ever stayed the same and hybrids are constantly created.

In addition to power and groovy soca, other types of soca music include ragga soca and chutney soca.

Ragga soca is a fusion of dancehall and soca music. Ragga soca performers include Trinidians, Bunji Garlin and Maximus Dan.

Chutney soca is a blend of East Indian chutney music and soca. Chutney Soca is an up-tempo, rhythmic type of song, accompanied by traditional Indian musical instruments such as the dholak, tassa, the harmonium and the dhantal.

The line between different kinds of soca music is becoming less and less clearly defined. It can sometimes be very difficult and controversial to pin-point what is groovy, power, or ragga soca. There is so much fusion taking place that it is often difficult to tell whether a song is really a soca song. For instance some have argued that Alison Hinds' hit song, "Roll It Gal" is not really a soca song but an R&B song with a West Indian influence. While I do not hold that view, it goes to show that there are no clear distinctions and definitions. Soca music, like other forms of music is an art and cannot be restricted to a specific or exclusive mold.

Soca music is largely competitive. Every year artists try to outdo each other at carnival competitions such as Soca Monarch and Road March. At a soca monarch competition soca artists perform before large audiences and are ranked by a panel of judges. A road march song is the song which is played the most during a carnival street parade. Each Caribbean island holds its own competitions. Prizes can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for each winner, particlurly in Trinidad and Tobago.

Some of the biggest soca artists in the industry have bowed out of competition. These include big names such as Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and KMC. The commonly held view is that "music is a mission, not a competition". Personally, I have found such competitions to be a very negative force, causing undesirable friction between artists. As an artist, I have had my own battles. However, winning is so much fun that it can be hard to quit. The fans can be relentless in urging an artist to compete against their own will. The way these competitions are set up, it is easy to go unnoticed if one is not taking part, except if you are already strongly established in the market.

Popular soca performers include Machel Montano, Destra, Alison Hinds, Atlantik, KMC, Shurwayne Winchester, Denise Belfon, Bomani, Bunji Garlin, Iwer George, Bomani, Kevin Lyttle, Tizzy, Maximus Dan, Mr Killa, Mantius, Fireman Hooper, Jamesy P, Tallpree, Claudette Peters, Burning Flames, Nicole David, Ricky T, Qpid and Krosfyah.

Some of soca's biggest worldwide hits include "Turn Me On" by Kevin Lyttle, "Tempted to Touch" by Rupee, "Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men (originally sang by Anslem Douglas), "Sweet Soca Music" by Sugar Daddy, "Nookie" by Jamesy P, "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter (originally sang by Arrow), and "Follow the leader" by Soca Boys (originally sang by Nigel and Marvin Lewis).

Brass instruments such as trumpets and trombones have been very typical of soca music. Sometimes, the saxophone forms part of brass sections. While these instruments are still used in live performances, synthesizers and samplers are increasingly replacing them, particularly in studio recordings and at smaller concerts. Soca is very percussion and drum driven and these are often very loud in a soca mix. The bass is also very important. Other instruments used include guitars, and keyboards.

Leading soca-producing Caribbean islands include Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.

•The Guns of Navarone

2008-10-21T10:22:00.000+07:00

The guns of Navarone was a 1961 movie about a British commando team that is sent on an almost impossible mission of destroying a massive German gun emplacement after crossing occupied Greek territory...

This film was directed by J. Lee Thompson and had some of the biggest stares of the day in it. This movie was based on a well known 1957 novel about World War Two by Scottish writer Ail-stair MacLean.The sweeping landscape photography and several cultural touches truly captured the beauty and flavor of Greece and its proud people. Even today, the people of Greece, hold this film in high praise.

It starred Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn. The plot tells of an Allied commando team sent to destroy a seemingly impregnable German fortress that threatens Allied naval ships in the Aegean Sea, and prevents 2,000 isolated British troops from being rescued.

The film opens with an aerial view of the Greek Islands, and a narrator setting the scene The year is 1943, and 2000 British soldiers are holed up on the island of Kheros in the Aegean near Turkey. Rescue by the Royal Navy is impossible because of massive guns on the nearby island of Navarone. Time is short, because the Germans are expected to launch an assault on the British forces, to draw Turkey into the war on the Axis' side. Using air strikes in trying to dislodge these guns prove fruitless, so a team of commandos has been assembled to try and go in and destroy these monster emplacements. Lead by Major Roy Franklin (Anthony Quayle), they are Capt. Keith Mallory (Gregory Peck), Andrea Stavros (Anthony Quinn), a Colonel in the defeated Greek army, Corporal Miller (David Niven), an explosives expert, Greek-American street tough Spyros Pappadimos (James Darren) and "Butcher" Brown (Stanley Baker), an engineer and expert knife fighter.

They sail across the Aegean Sea disguised as Greek fisherman. After blowing up a German patrol boat Malloy confides in Miller that Stavros blames Miller for the death of his wife and children and intends to kill him after the war. After the ship that they are on capsizes during a violent storm Franklin is badly injured and later the injuries lead to gangrene after they had to climb a steep cliff. One of the central points of this film is to carry Franklin to safety despite the apparent problem that Franklin's injuries will slow them down. Malloy lies to Franklin about the mission. Soon afterwords they are attacked by German soldiers and Andrea is left behind with his snippier rifleto help in their escape. They then end up meeting with the local resistance fighters, Spyros's sister Mania [Irene Papas] and her friend Anna [Gia Scala].

But throughout the next couple of days their mission is always delayed by the onslaught of German soldiers who always seem to know where they are at. They are finally captured and escape, but it was necessary to leave Franklin behind so that he could get medical attention. They then discover that their explosives, that they had saved from the ship wreak, had been sabotaged. Miller figures out that Anna is the saboteur and Marie shoots her as a price that she has to pay for being disloyal. It's a touching scene that almost leaves you feeling sorry for Anna because of the reason that she betrayed them.

The final scenes have the team spilitting up to achieve their objective. All of them escape to a waiting boat except for Pappadimos and Brown who had given their lives creating a distraction.The guns and fortifications are destroyed in a spectacular explosion.Stavros, who has fallen in love with Maria, decides to return to Navarone with her and shakes hands with Mallory, seemingly having given up his plan to kill him.

The fans of Gregory Peck were not disappointed when this film was released. There is plenty of action and the ways that the characters, as diverse as they were, seemed to fit together made this one of the most enjoyable war films that were ever produced. Even most of the Germans portrayed were more realistic of everyday human being instead of the usual sub human beast that are often seen in other movies.

•Starting A Musical Career

2008-10-21T10:12:00.000+07:00

Beginning a musical career can be difficult if you do not know how to break into the mainstream industry...

Everyone has dreams and yours are no less important, but unless you know the right people to contact or the best businesses to approach, you could be left floundering in one spot, unable to move forward and unable to go back. If you are looking to carry your singing, acting, performing, or unique career forward to the next level, you will need to know what kind of people to consult and where to go.

Depending on what exactly you are searching for you should find an excellent music consultant. There are companies locally that are available to assist you in determining what music would best suit you, or how to best go about presenting your music you have either written or had written for you. Your performance is directly related to your ability and your presentation and if you have someone that is qualified in that aspect, it will help to move your career further ahead in the right direction that much faster.

The ins and outs of the music industry can be extremely overwhelming to the layman and offers no respite to singers and performers alike, regardless of your talent. You need a music industry consultant to help you understand everything you will be involved in and help you keep a fresh perspective on what will be involved in your journey to the top. With their help and assistance you will be able to better understand everything surrounding your endeavors. Although they can only show you the way to a certain limit, their input will be helpful toward setting your goals and accomplishing them.

Looking at things from the other end of the business spectrum, engaging the assistance of a music business consultant is another excellent way of getting a handle on the music industry from a business perspective to better fulfill any goals you are trying to achieve. There are various fronts to the business aspect of music, and knowing the right people can raise your chances of succeeding. The business end of show business can be confusing, but hiring the right consultant can put you in a better place to understand and use the benefits to move up and forward toward the career you desire.

Keep these in mind when you are beginning your music, singing, or acting career. There will be many ups and downs during your journey, why make them any more difficult than necessary?

•Tuxedos & Prom Dresses

2008-07-21T10:23:00.002+07:00

Getting ready for the Prom can be quite expensive but the biggest cost is generally in relation to tuxedos and prom dresses...

Most of the tuxedos are only rented for the evening but the cost of a good quality one still isn’t very cheap. It is important to get fitted for a tuxedo early to ensure the best fit. You also want to make sure you get to order exactly what you want, not what is left over. You will be fitted at the rental shop to make sure the pant length and the jacket fit well. Once your tuxedo comes in you need to go in and try it on. This way any necessary alternations can be done before the Prom.

You can select traditional black or be unique and choose white. In most cases shoe rental is included with the cost. It is important to know the color of the dress the date will be wearing so the correct color of tie and cummerbund can be ordered as well. If you don’t have this information you should still order your tuxedo early and then provide that information at a later date.

Prom dresses are expensive, but what girl doesn’t want to feel like a princess on the night of her Prom? They are available in a variety of colors, styles, and made from different materials. Prom dresses seem to go in trends so it is hard to purchase one the year before on sale for the next year in an effort to save money. Some years the trend is for short prom dresses that sparkle. Other types the style is a long flowing dress.

It is important to find the right prom dress to fit your particular body shape. Even if you absolutely love the style of a dress you want to pass it up if it isn’t a correct fit. You don’t want to feel self conscious when you wear it. Make sure the prom dress you pick accents your features and minimize those you aren’t comfortable with. For example if you don’t find your arms attractive stay away from sleeveless dresses. If you think you legs are too short look at the selection of long prom dresses.

It's important to shop early for prom dresses, so you can take advantage of the best selection. Look at many different stores so you can compare styles and prices. If you find the perfect Prom dress early on ask the sales clerk to hold it for you. This way you can continue looking and come back if it is your final selection. After a day of trying on several Prom dresses, it can be hard to remember how all of them looked. A great solution is to have a friend or parent go with you and take a picture of you in each of them you really like. You can have the film developed at a one hour center or use a digital camera.

Getting ready for Prom can be a very exciting time but also expensive. Plan ahead and know the budget you have to cover all of your Prom items. Make sure you shop early for tuxedos and Prom dresses so you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for as well as fits your budget.

Josie Lee specializes in custom formal wear. A perfect tuxedo is a neccessity to match the perfect formal dresses.

•Which Craft is Right for Me?

2008-07-21T10:22:00.000+07:00

Diana discovered the joy of pottery after suffering a terrible divorce...

Taking a seat at the wheel with a lump of clay, she felt an immediate release. Her mind cleared and her heart rate slowed down. She was able to relax in a way she hadn’t for weeks. “Better than therapy—and medication!” she happily reported to her doctor after her first day at a community education class, where she went on to make friends with fellow potters, further enriching her life.

For Kris it was counted cross-stitch. The repetitive motion of the needle passing up and down through crisp cloth put her in a near-meditative state, the way yoga does for some. In this state Kris was able to work out solutions to her daily challenges. “It was like the ideas dropped into my mind out of the sky,” she told a close friend.

Shawn found furniture restoration to be wonderfully soothing after a stressful day at the office. The raw scent of wood loosened him up, and he was surprised how satisfying it was to sit down at a table he had restored himself.

Such is the world of DIY. Discovering the right craft for your personality and temperament can be a reward that transforms your life.

The crafting world is as wide and diverse as a tropical rainforest. Each crafting activity has unique benefits and challenges. You could spend your entire life just trying out different crafts. While this may be fun, it can be expensive and frustrating. Should you desire to narrow your search down, this article will act as your guide by investigating the world of crafts as they fit into five spectrums. If one activity doesn’t suit you, take heart. Crafting is for everyone—you are bound to find that perfect match.

1. Short-term projects vs. long-term projects.

Do you have a need for immediate gratification? If you do, you might prefer cake decorating, ceramics, candle-making, lotions-n-potions, or cut-n-paste projects (scrapbooking, collage, and decoupage), which deliver results relatively quickly. Conversely, if you are known to possess the patience of Job, needlecrafts and quilting may be your thing. (Although quilting by machine cuts down the time dramatically). If you like long-term projects, pottery and gardening are also excellent choices, since they involve several steps.

2. Fastidiousness vs. playfulness/ looseness

Needlecrafts, baking, and jewelry-making require a meticulous and careful eye, whereas cooking, gardening and cut-n-paste projects are more appropriate for the playful type. Keep in mind that many activities can go either way or are best for those who can balance a bit of each quality.

3. Planner by nature vs. spontaneous to the core

If you don’t mind doing a little math, counted cross-stitch, knitting, and crochet are great activities. Needlecrafts, quilting and sewing also require planning and pattern-reading. If all this sounds too boring or frustrating and you prefer to jump headlong into projects as soon as you feel an urge, cut-n-paste, candle-making, ceramics, or pottery may be a better fit.

4. Space available

Do you affectionately call your apartment a cupboard? If you need an activity that takes up little space or can be cleaned up in a jiffy, yarn and needlecrafts can be tucked away in a basket or a drawer. Baking and cake decorating use what you probably already have in your kitchen, and jewelry only needs a modest tackle-box with little compartments for beads and tools. But perhaps you have a room or a whole basement where a hobby could take up a permanent residence? Pottery is such a hobby. If you quilt by hand you will need a room where a fairly large frame can be set up (unless you only want to do baby quilts). A table for laying out and cutting patterns is required for sewing, and most people don’t appreciate having to lug out the machine every time you want to work on a project. (However, it can be done.) Lotions-n-potions, and candle and soap making can be done in the kitchen as long as precautions are taken, but ideally they need a separate space, since you are using dangerous chemicals that you don’t want to accidentally mix with food. Gardening is ideal if you have a nice-sized yard, but many green-thumbed apartment dwellers find cultivating the space around their windows, on their patio, or even potted indoor plants a satisfying diversion. Don’t lose heart if you don’t have space for an activity that interests you—just sign up for a community class!

5. Available funds for expenses

Each craft has a range of what you could pay for the activity, depending on your taste and willingness. If you are picky about using only hand-dyed, organically grown 100% wool yarn, you are going to pay a lot more than someone who works with an acrylic yarn available at the closest Woolworth’s. It is a good idea when just starting out to borrow someone else’s equipment, or use inexpensive supplies until you know it is an activity you are going to stick with. Then you can slowly replace your supplies with quality items that you appreciate. On average, pottery and sewing require more expensive equipment to begin, while you can garden, cross-stitch, or cut-n-paste on a shoestring budget. Yarn crafts are the cheapest activities to try, since they don’t require a lot of expensive equipment to start. Again, a class might be the best investment for the more expensive hobbies.

If you still aren't sure which craft is right for you, talk to other crafters about why they enjoy their craft. Ask if you can join them one day to see if it is something that appeals to you. Be patient with yourself as you begin each new activity--nothing kills the excitement of trying something new more than impossibly high expectations. Don't worry--as you continue, your skills will improve. You will also know better which activities suit you best.

•Scrapbookers Beware

2008-07-21T10:20:00.000+07:00

To discover how effective the PaperSaver formula is on acid paper,..

we did a series of experiments using methods that the Library of Congress pioneered to protect their archives and standards long used in the paper industry.

This involved taking papers that were first tested for their acidity and then treating some with the PaperSaver formula, leaving some untreated for comparison. Then, their fold strength—a measure of paper performance—was used to see how effective the PaperSaver treatment was. Fold strength is how many times a paper can be bent back and forth without breaking. A variety of papers were used in these tests to evaluate the treatments, including different acid paper samples from two commercial sources and one from a local newspaper. To simulate the effects of aging on the paper, paper samples were exposed in ovens at temperatures that would boil water. Throughout the weeks of testing, individual samples were taken out and tested to see how their fold strength decreased as time went by. Some of this testing showed us that PaperSaver could be effective when applied to only one side of acidcontaining paper sheets. Since that could result in a major savings in time and materials, we also included paper samples treated with PaperSaver – but only on one side - in this study.

MIT Fold Testing Equipment used to test PaperSaver’s effectiveness.

What kinds of paper did we use?

The three paper samples in the study were:

• 25% cotton, 20-lb “fine business paper” produced by Southworth.

• 90 GSM, 24-lb basis, white woven paper produced by Crane’s Crest.

• Printed paper from the San Francisco Chronicle dated June 19, 2004.

How we tested

After treatment, paper samples were cut into individual matched strips and placed in a temperature and humidity controlled room at the University of California, Berkeley, in the Forest Products Laboratory for 30 days.

This allowed us to test under uniform conditions and chemistry for the deacidifying agents that we used. The next accelerated aging was conducted using dry heat (100° C and <>

•Basics of Guitaring

2008-07-21T10:16:00.000+07:00

Has the guitar ever fascinated you? If you dream of playing it, your first step should be to learn the basics of guitaring...

The guitar is used in a range of musical styles. A guitar normally has six strings, but there are those that have two, four, eight, or even twelve strings.

In forms of pop-like blues, flamenco, country, and rock music, one can play the guitar acoustically. Here, the tone is produced when you vibrate the strings with the help of the plectrum or with your fingers. The vibration of the strings is modulated by the hollow body. For better sound quality, you can also go for an amplifier that will manipulate the tone electronically.

Luthiers are those who repair as well as make guitars. Various kinds of wood are used for the making of a guitar.

You need to tune the guitar before you start trying to play it. There are a number of ways to do this. You could have a guitar tuner, such as a pitch pipe, harmonica, or a tuning fork. Simply play the tuner and try to match it with the note of the guitar strings. Start tuning at the sixth string of the guitar. This is the thickest string among all the strings, and the note played open here is an E note.

Continue tuning with the five other strings in the same manner. Once you do all of this, you have a tuned guitar that invites you to hold it in style and play well. This process of tuning is actually the standard tuning that (EADGBE) you will find the majority of the guitarists use.

The most versatile instrument in modern music, the guitar is a great item that all of you who have a passion for music should learn. If playing the guitar seems difficult, then the reason may be that you are not practicing enough. The truth is, it becomes easy to play if you give it the time and dedication it requires.

When learning to play this fabulous instrument, it is advisable that you start with an acoustic guitar. You also develop good guitar habits when you play the acoustic guitar. The strings of this guitar have more tension and are bigger, enabling your fingers to gather more strength and develop calluses.

Remember, the six strings, EADGBE, by remembering the phrase, "Eat All Day Get Big Easy." Once you can play the acoustic guitar well, you can shift onto playing the electronic guitar.

Also try learning to play some chords. This is an essential part of the basics of guitaring. Start playing the C, D, G, E and A chords first. When you can play these chords really well, try playing the barre chords. Playing a barre chord requires a bit of expertise. It is played by laying your index finger across all the six strings and making up the rest of the chord with your remaining three fingers.

There are other basics of guitaring that you need to acquire if you want to master playing the guitar. Nothing comes easy, so if you dream to play the guitar well, you need to practice. There is no alternative.

•Baking VS Cooking

2008-07-21T10:14:00.000+07:00

We're all different. No two individuals are exactly alike; however, there are some general categories that seem to hold true...

For instance, there are the Morning People and the Night People. I am definitely of the latter variety. About 9:00 p.m. something kicks into gear—a burst of energy, creativity, and feeling totally alive—and I could work until daylight, and have done so many times. Mornings are an entirely different story—for the first 30 minutes of the day I hardly know which planet I'm on. There are some Morning People in my family. They awake with the birds, happy, cheerful, and ready to meet the day with a smile—it's disgusting! Suffice it to say, we just don't understand each other.

In the culinary category there are also two basic classes of people as I see it: the Bakers and the Cooks. Baking is a very precise science. Flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, soda, milk, buttermilk, flavorings, shortening, oil, butter or other ingredients are used in a variety of ways in baked goods recipes, but they interact with each other in very specific ways. Measurements have to be precise or it's disasterville in the kitchen. Commercial bakers even weigh their ingredients to assure they're using just the right amount. Cookbooks have recipes that are tested and re-tested until the directions shown, if followed, will result in a tasty dish. There is very little room for personal variations unless the baker has a great deal of experience. When we see a famous chef on TV appearing to simply mix in this and that in a somewhat carefree manner, it's just because he or she has put in a great deal of time learning basic measurements and techniques that yield that mouth-watering masterpiece.

Although I can turn out a good cake or pie when I have to, it's not what I enjoy most. A few of my baking experiments have yielded some "interesting" results, like the time I thought I'd vary a mini-chocolate cupcake recipe. I added some extra chocolate, filled the cupcakes with raspberry jam to which I had added raspberry liqueur, and just knew I had created little masterpieces. What I took out of the oven was a pan full of mini-disasters that resembled lumps of coal! So much for baking innovation.

Apart from my creative baking experiments, there's the whole other category of baking blunders. Recently, I prepared a batch of cranberry-orange muffins to thank a friend for his help with a computer problem. When he took the first bite, I knew something was definitely amiss by the scrunched up look on this face. He ran for the kitchen garbage can, spit out the offending mouthful and said, "Sorry, but that tasted terrible!" As I looked at the recipe again it dawned on me that in my haste to get the muffins in the oven before he arrived I had forgotten one very vital ingredient—sugar! This was another reminder to me that baking is a precise science that requires careful attention. If one ingredient isn't measured correctly or, in this case ignored, the result can be completely inedible.

On the other hand, there's COOKING, which I love! I'm fascinated with creating new recipes, varying others to make them look and taste just a bit different, or using ingredients in new ways.

For instance, take that good old American standby, potato salad. Most of us have our favorite recipe, but have you ever thought of some ways to vary your version? Take potatoes, the main ingredient. Do you go with Russet, Yukon Gold, White Rose, Baby Reds, or some of the more than 40 other less known varieties that are grown? And what about the onion family? We have lots of choices there too: white, sweet, and red onions, scallions, chives, or shallots, to name a few. Dressings are another story. Some people prefer mayonnaise; others, salad dressing, a creamy sour cream mixture, French dressing or a light vinaigrette. Then there are the add-ins, which can vary greatly. Some people don't consider it a real potato salad without the addition of chopped, hard-cooked eggs. Others prefer crumbled bacon bits, chopped pickles, sweet relish, or a variety of crisp vegetables. You get the idea—with cooking, there's room for innovation, and that sparks the creative side of me.

I am definitely a Cook as opposed to the esteemed title of Baker. My motto is, "a pinch of this, a smidge of that, a little bit of that spice to kick up the flavor, and don't forget the lemon zest."

Which kind of culinary aficionado are you—a Baker or a Cook?

•Host A Wine Tasting Party

2008-07-21T10:13:00.001+07:00

A Wine Tasting Party is an ideal way to get friends and family together to learn about wine and experiment with new or unusual varietals...

It can help to break the ice and give your partygoers some great conversation down the line. I myself had a wine tasting bridal shower. Rather than the usual shower games we tried different wine and paired yummy food with it. It was a great icebreaker and gave guest that didn't know each other something to chat about.

There are different styles of wine tasting parties that you can throw. Two general tasting terms you may want to know are, Vertical Tasting and Horizontal tasting. These are tasting terms used regularly in the wine world. A Vertical Tasting consists of tasting wines from several different vintages or years, that were produced by one winery. A nice example of this would be tasting Cabernet Sauvignon from Clos Du Bois spanning the "90", "91", "92", and "93" vintages. This would let the tasters see how each vintage compared to the next and also judge the aging process.

A Horizontal Tasting consists of tasting wines from the same vintage or year, represented by several different wineries. A nice example of this would be tasting Cabernet Sauvignon from Joseph Phelps, St. Francis, Chateau Souverain, and Robert Mondavi all from the "1990" vintage.

To make your event a bit more challenging, you can also offer a "blind tasting" experience. In this case, you pour each wine without identifying the label, allowing guest to incorporate all of their senses to identify different aspects of the wine. For example you can give the labels' descriptions and see who can match the descriptions with the wine. Or score who is able to recognize the most about each wine giving a point value to characteristics such as varietal, country of origin, vintage, price range or whatever you think would be fun. The guest that is able to identify the most wines or characteristics correctly wins a prized bottle of wine or perhaps a book on the art of wine tasting.

Yet another option is to do a food focused wine tasting party. For this style of party I would suggest choosing 3 reds and 3 whites. You can pair wine with food and/or cheese and the guests can decide which goes best with which type of food. Or you can make cards up to point out why each wine goes with each food, leaving out any competition and just highlighting the wine and food.

I would suggest keeping decorations simple. It is best to use white table clothes or place mats when doing a wine tasting so that when you hold your glass against it you see the true color of the wine. If you are using candles it's best to use unscented so that it doesn't interfere with the aroma of the wine.

Design a tasting card that specifies the type of wine, the producing vineyard, the year and a brief description of the wine (usually found on the wine's label). Make sure that each guest has their own tasting card to record the wine's distinct appearance, aroma, flavor, and cheese pairing nuances.

It is also nice to have a place mat designating where each wine will go. This helps to keep everyone on track and from getting the glasses mixed up.

Have enough wine for approximately 1 ½ ounces per tasting sample (1 bottle usually serves 10 tasting samples) and a few extra bottles for drinking after the tasting is finished. People usually like to further enjoy the wines they just tasted.

Provide simple hors d'oeuvres for the guests between wines, allows for guests to cleanse their pallets and sets them up to fully experience the next wine. You also want to limit the chances of your guests over-indulging and driving home intoxicated. Some good choices are mild cheese and crackers, bread, oyster crackers, popcorn (very nice with champagne), and nuts. If you are feeling a little fancier you can also try some smoked meats, mild chocolate, or fondue.

Typically, when tasting wines, you will want to work from dry to sweet with white wines and progress from light to full-bodied with red wines. Have your guests sample each wine by itself, assessing the wine's unique color, smells, flavors and then introduce the appropriate cheese pairing and have them reassess the wine's qualities in light of the subtle flavor changes.

I like to pour all of the wine ahead of time and then let my guest sample the wine at leisure adding their own notes to the "scorecards" and sampling the different munchies. You can also have a designated leader to talk about each wine as you go through the wines to have a more structured tasting.

After the tasting is over collect all the scorecards, core the wines, tally each taster's score and then rank all the wines. Have a quick announcement to go over the favorite wines and/or the winners. Give out any prizes you may have and then encourage everyone to enjoy some more food.

Some tips and things to have on-hand at your wine tasting party are:

Bottled Water or Pitchers of Water -Room temperature bottled water is best. If it is too cold it can numb you tongue a bit and that may effect you wine tasting. Guests may also use it to rinse their glasses between wines if a new wineglass is not provided for each wine.

Wine Opener and possible a spare so that you can have a friend help you open all these bottles of wine.

Spit Buckets-Some guests will spit a bit since they are tasting so much wine. These buckets may also be used to pour water into, if folks are rinsing their glasses. I've seen small fish bowls used, metal Champagne buckets, cardboard cups, and Tupperware bowls. I like to let everyone know ahead of time that it is very okay to spit! Some people may not know that it is proper and ok to spit.

Pens and Tasting Note Sheets or Scorecards - Lots of people will want to take these home with them so that they can remember the great wines they tried.

A Wine Place Mat for each taster (contains a pattern for placement of wineglasses).

Wine Glasses-A 12oz. (or bigger) glass for everyone. Try to have the same style for each taster. Some hosts rent glassware and actually provide a new glass for every person, for every wine. It is a nice touch but can be a bit of a hassle to rent a bunch of glasses. If you are going to insist that each guest reuses the same wine glass through out the evening then provide enough bottled water.

Food - Prepared in advance.

Prize - (optional) for a blind tasting winner

Humor - encourage your guests to share their thoughts and humor on each wine

Music - It's always nice to have a good selection.

•All About Pizza

2008-07-21T10:05:00.004+07:00

The term pizza covers a lot of territory. If you want to learn all about pizzas, then you should have a bit of a background on pizzas:...

specifically the history of pizza, pizza origin, pizza facts, and even pizza trivia such as who invented pizza. The subject also delves into the different types and styles of pizzas. The varieties currently existing defy any attempts at enumeration. Thus, most people who attempt such a task stop at a broad categorization of pizza types according to certain attributes such as crust thickness, crust elasticity, crust baking and cooking procedures, toppings, etc. Aside from general, historical or trivial information, other things are of interest to the pizza lovers. For instance, homemade pizza enthusiasts would like to know certain tips and tricks for making pizza. This includes pizza making techniques, the best pizza crust recipes, pizza toppings, homemade pizza sauce, etc. Some other interesting topics will be frozen pizza dough and where best to attain them, what are the criteria for choosing the, what are the methods for preparing them, etc.

It must be obvious that this article is a mite ambitious for wishing to tackle something entitled "all about pizza." However, an attempt is definitely warranted, so here goes.

Some pizza facts and trivia

Accounts of pizza history always begin with the origin of pizza. This one might as well follow the same tack. We have to thank any civilization or race that baked flat bread on hot stones or stone ovens for pizza, for almost certainly, bread like the focaccia was the "mother of the pizza crust." However, the invention of the pizza is more properly attributed to the Neapolitans - the people of Naples, Italy who were baking and making pizza crust topped with tomatoes, oil, and Italian herbs, and spices. This rudimentary and traditional Italian pizza was common peasant fare in Naples. If you want an individual originator and inventor of pizzas, however, then you won't be wrong if you cite Rafaelle Esposito - a native of Naples; he modified the basic Neapolitan pizza recipe and came up with three variants that added mozzarella cheese to the rudimentary Italian pizza toppings.

Now, if you are looking for some topics for small conversation, then you must remember the following trivia. One note of caution, though; you shouldn't blurt these out just to anybody or you'll sound decidedly corny and geeky. Make sure you're talking to someone interested in pizzas before you use the following trivia as conversational gambits.

" Most people in the United States love pepperoni; the least liked toppings are anchovies.

" Pizza was called (and is still called) tomato pie and pizza pie in certain parts of the States.

" The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York.

" The pizza industry is worth more than 30 billion dollars in the United States alone and Americans consume around three billion units of pizza every year.

" New York pizza is traditionally plain. Supposedly, New York pizza is unique because of the acidity and hardness of the water in New York. New Yorkers therefore claim that only in New York can you make real New York Pizza.

(New Yorkers must admit, however, that if water is the unique characteristic of New York pizzas, one who uses water adjusted for hardness and acidity to reflect New York water conditions, adds all the usual New York pizza ingredients and toppings, follows all the procedures strictly but makes the pizza in New Jersey can conceivably make an authentic, New York style pizza. But such an assertion, some would say, is just plain cheek.)

Pizza types and pizza styles

The first step to a great homemade pizza is determining what type of pizza you wish to make. After all, different types of pizza have different attributes and thus call for different types of pizza base, pizza toppings and cooking techniques. Would you like to make an authentic Italian pizza, a New York style pizza, a California style pizza, or a Chicago style pizza?

Italian pizza is generally lean, although when you add cheese, its fat level generally rises in proportion. There are various kinds of Italian pizza, too. There are Neapolitan pizzas, of which there are two general types: the marinara and the Margherita. There are various combinations of these as well. Authentic Italian pizza, moreover, is supposedly baked on wood-fired or even coal-fired, stone ovens.

New York pizza, as abovementioned, is generally plain. The mainstay of New York pizza is mozzarella cheese - fresh mozzarella cheese to be precise. One can add garlic, different types of cheeses, anchovies, shrimp, etc but these are usually optional. The pizza dough recipe for traditional New York pizza, on the other hand, calls for high-gluten flour. The result is firm, usually thin, chewy pizza.

The California style pizza is generally known for gourmet flavors. You can say the California pizza has countless variations. The pizza crust, in this case, is light, crisp and generally well risen. The toppings can be out of this world - generally California pizza makers experiment a lot with all kinds of meat, sea food, breakfast dishes, and vegetable for the toppings.

The Chicago style pizza, on the other hand, is generally crusty and very filling. They are characterized by their raised edges; imagine a pre-baked apple pie crust where you can place the fillings on top. Chicago pizza is usually meaty (some variants come stuffed with cheeses and meat layers) and it is eaten with a knife and fork.

You can also start by deciding on the flavor you want. Do you want to make a cheese pizza, a vegetarian pizza or a fruit pizza? Perhaps you want to make a low fat pizza, a low carb pizza, a healthy pizza? Sourdough pizza is also another variant.

Take your pick among your many options. Once you have decided, choosing the recipe would be much easier. If you have decided on an Italian pizza, for instance, then find your Italian pizza crust recipe, your Italian pizza sauce recipe and the overall Italian pizza recipe that will give you a list of toppings and pizza preparation procedures for making an authentic Italian pizza. For an easier time of it, you can opt to use Italian-style frozen pizza dough then just follow the Italian pizza recipe that you've found.

Some pizza making tips and techniques

Hand tossing will help you minimize the lumps in your pizza dough. However, this should be done only after sufficient pizza dough kneading. This process lets your pizza dough develop into the right kind of consistency - that which is suitable for stretching and hand tossing. Hand tossing, however, is not advisable for thick pizza crust varieties.

If you want a crisp and firm pizza that retains its structure even when the moist toppings are added, you can bake the pizza crust before you add the toppings and the pizza sauce. However, for thin pizza crusts, baking the crust after the toppings and sauce have been added is sufficient. For uniform baking and crisping of the crust, use a pizza stone or a pizza screen.

Finally, remember that the protein content of your flour will influence the end product. High-gluten flour will lead to a crisp but chewy crust. Gluten-free flour, however, may lead to very soft dough; additives may have to be used to give the pizza dough strength.

Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation.

•Dental Health Care

2008-05-13T22:25:00.001+07:00

Dental Health Care is one of the best prevention programs to ensure fresh breath, healthy mouth and teeth for life..

Dental diseases are not considered to be fatal .Hence very often people neglect the importance of oral hygiene. Nevertheless, the cost of dental disease in pain, suffering, treatment and loss of work is huge. Teeth are meant to last a lifetime. By taking good care of your teeth and gums, you can protect them for many years to come.

Tooth decay is not restricted to children's disease. It can occur to anyone as long as natural teeth are in the mouth. It is caused by bacteria that usually exist in the mouth. The bacteria stick to teeth and form a colorless and sticky film called dental plaque.

An important part of dental health care is to know how to brush and floss perfectly. Careful brushing each day removes plaque. In addition to brushing, using dental floss is required to keep the gums healthy. Proper flossing is imperative because it removes plaque and leftover food that a toothbrush cannot reach.

The following are the brushing Tips.Worn out toothbrushes cannot properly clean your teeth and may injure your gums. So it is recommended to replace them every three or four months. Teeth should be brushed gently with very short strokes and enough pressure so that you feel the bristles against the gums. The tips of the bristles do the cleaning, so it should not be compressed. Never use a toothbrush with very hard bristles .It can damage the gums. Teeth should be thoroughly brushed at least once a day, preferably twice in a day. Children should clean their teeth after every meal and at bedtime.

The following are the flossing tips.Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and below the gum lines where the toothbrush can't reach. As tooth decay and periodontal disease often start in these areas, it's important to clean them thoroughly and daily. A commercial floss holder may seem helpful to use. Most children cannot floss their own teeth until age 10.

Gums may be sore and bleed for the first five or six days after you floss .It is a sign that plaque and bacteria are being removed. If bleeding does persist even after a few days it is better to consult your dentist. Exercise care while flossing as improper flossing injures your gums. Consult your dentist about how to floss properly, to avoid injuring your gums.

A healthy smile is a winner at any age. Eat a balanced diet and restrict munching snacks between meals. If you need a snack, choose nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit. Fluoride is important for both adults as well as children. Fluoride compounds are present in drinking water and some foods. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles are worn as it won't do a perfect job of cleaning your teeth.

Apart from following a good dental health care, it is essential to have regular check-ups by the dentist whether you possess natural teeth or depend on false dentures. It is also vital to abide by with any special treatments that are required to make sure of good oral health. For example, if you have sensitive teeth caused by receding gums, your dentist may advise using special toothpaste for sometime. If you have on false dentures, keep them clean and free from food that causes bad breath and gum irritation. Make sure that you brush all the surface of the dentures with a denture care product once a day. A common cause of tooth loss after one crosses 35years of age is gum disease which is also known as periodontal disease. This occurs due to infections of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in its place. Gum diseases are also caused by dental plaque.

Remember you can have just one set of natural permanent teeth in your lifetime. Take good care of it and the reward will smile back at you every time you look at your reflection. Keep away from activities that are harmful to the teeth such as smoking, addiction to caffeine etc. A healthy mouth is indeed an indication of a healthy body. By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting your dentist regularly, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile your entire life.

•Snoring Remedies

2008-05-13T22:24:00.001+07:00

Snoring causes and snoring home remedies. Ayurvedic home remedies for snoring..

Though people approach snoring as a funny menace, it is a condition that requires treatment. Over sixty percent of men above age 50 snores, which can be indication of several other problems including high blood pressure and blockages in the respiratory tract.

Snoring is not a disease, but sometimes can be indication of serious conditions like sleep apnea. Though in itself is not a disease, snoring can cause serious health problems. The person sharing the room will not be able to sleep well and suffer from symptoms associated with sleep deprivation. This is applicable to the person who snores too.

Being overweight is a reason for snoring. If you are overweight and snore, you had better lose those extra pounds slowly but steadily. Eat nutritious, fiber rich food, while also taking up regular exercise programs, including yoga. It is beneficial to your general health condition too.

Try sleeping on your left side. This will help reduce snoring. Sleeping on your right side can create problems inside stomach because of the peculiar shape of stomach and the action of digestive juices.

Avoid alcohol and smoking. Alcohol and smoking are not helpful to human body in any way. Taking hard drinks immediately before going to bed can cause loud snoring.

Nasal congestion can be reason for snoring. If it is the case you can put a few holy basil leaves in two-three glass of water, boil it and allow the steam to reach your nose.

Practicing yoga can also help, as several of the yoga asanas can help clear the disturbances in the respiratory tract.

•Diet and Exercise

2008-05-13T22:22:00.001+07:00

Diet and exercise are the perfect combination for consistent weight loss..

If you have ever tried to lose weight and couldn’t understand why it was so difficult, you may have been neglecting to combine diet with exercise. No matter how little you eat, there is no substitute for exercise. If you wish to achieve consistent weight loss, you have to understand how weight loss and exercise tie in together.

Losing Weight without Exercise

Some of the fad diets in existence today promise that you can lose weight without exercise, and though you may experience some small amount of loss, it will not be consistent nor have any great impact. Any weight you may lose will be short-lived if you are not exercising in order to build lean muscle mass and boost the rate at which your body burns calories.

The Impact of Exercise on Weight Loss

In spite of what some diet programs may tell you, there is a definite connection between weight loss and exercise. In order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. Although normal daily activities such as walking, cleaning house, and even sleeping burn some calories, these activities do not burn enough to make any impact on weight loss. It is necessary to perform aerobic exercise such as walking, bicycling, swimming, and skiing in order to boost the rate your metabolism burns calories in order to experience faster and more consistent weight loss. The addition of resistance exercises such as weight lifting will build lean muscle mass which burns calories at a faster rate. Thus, the perfect exercise routine for weight loss is a combination of both types of exercise.

Choosing the Right Foods

In addition to exercise, you must choose foods that will stimulate weight loss. In order to do this it’s necessary to consume low fat proteins and minimize the simple carbohydrates you eat. Simple carbohydrates include almost everything in the starchy category and not just sweets. That doesn’t mean you cannot eat carbohydrates at all because you need the energy. Contrary to what we were taught during instruction in food groups, there is no difference between eating a candy bar or a piece of white bread—both will turn to sugar when consumed. The difference lies in eating whole grains such as wheat bread, wheat flour, brown rice, and whole grain cereals such as oats, barley, and wheat.

Not only are whole grain starches in the low-glycemic index category, they provide the fibre that is necessary for a healthy colon. By consuming lean meats such as poultry, veal and fish instead of beef and pork, we limit the amount of fats that are entering our bodies. This not only helps with weight loss but also has a positive impact on the heart as well. By concentrating on eating healthy foods and snacks we give our body the opportunity to undo any damage we have done with our poor eating and lack of exercise.

Lifestyle Changes

Although diets are intended as a means to lose weight, the best diets incorporate weight loss into lifestyle changes. No matter how well you do on your weight loss program, if you don’t change the way you eat and live, your weight loss will not be permanent. You must learn how to eat healthy and exercise all the time and not just when you are attempting to lose weight. You also need to substitute soft drinks and sugary fruit juices for water and natural fruit juices containing no additional sugar. That doesn’t mean you cannot have some of those sweets, but you must learn how to limit them in order to prevent gaining all the weight back that you lost.

•Massage Tips

2008-05-13T22:19:00.002+07:00

You've always wondered how it feels to indulge in a massage session. Most of your family and friends have tried it and you hear nothing but positive feedbacks from them..

There's a part of you that wants to try it for yourself and another part of you that feels conscious about having another person touch your body.

The hot stone massage is probably the solution for a person like you. During most of the time of the session, it would be the stones which will be doing most of the work, relaxing your body and releasing tension from your muscles. Only minimal skin contact will be received from the therapist.

With the growing popularity of this hottest fad in massage, it is probably about time that you try it for yourself. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your first hot stone therapy.

Select a convenient location and arrangement. A local day spa is a good choice for first-timers since everything is already set up for you. Get recommendations from family and friends or research online to learn about the facilities and amenities of the day spas in your town.

1. Schedule your appointment on a day that is not very hectic. A weekend free from all work and plans is ideal since this will allow you more time to relax before and after a session.

2. Dress comfortably. Avoid wearing many layers of clothing when you go for a massage. A hot stone therapy session will require you to be naked but you will be appropriately covered with a blanket during the session, exposing only a part of the body being treated at a time. If you're feeling self-conscious about being naked, be sure to tell your therapist so she can make arrangements for you to feel comfortable and less anxious.

3. If you have a long hair, tie it up to a ponytail so your hair won't get in the way when the therapist works on your neck and shoulders. It's also a good idea not to wear any jewelry.

4. Arrive on time. You need time to relax and cool down before the session.

5. Communicate with your therapist for any preferences that you may have. If you like dimmer lighting, or the aroma of the room makes you dizzy, or you prefer another type of background music, never hesitate to speak up. Good communication is one of the keys to having an ultimate massage experience.

6. Drink plenty of water before the session to help flush out the toxins from your body. Do the same after to avoid getting dehydrated.

7. Don't eat a heavy meal at least one hour before your scheduled appointment.

8. Relax. This is probably the most important step in your preparation. Loosen up those tightened muscles and let your mind wander and take you to a peaceful place where there is nothing to worry about, where the words laundry, office work or stress do not exist.

Once you've experienced how blissful and relaxing a session of hot stone therapy is, you'll surely be looking forward to your next.

•Sciatica

2008-05-13T22:16:00.001+07:00

The pain known as sciatica (sometimes misspelled as "syatica" or "psyatica") is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve (one on each side)...

The symptoms of sciatica usually start in the buttock and may extend partially or all the way down the leg. The sciatic nerves are each formed by nerve roots from the lower lumbar and sacral parts of the spinal cord. The individual nerve roots come together in the lower pelvis to form the sciatic nerves. Each sciatic nerve then runs from the pelvis down the back of each leg. The sciatic nerve splits into two parts below the knee and the two halves run down the back of the lower leg to the foot.

While there are several possible causes of sciatica, by far the most common source of sciatic nerve irritation is a bulging or herniated disc in the lower lumbar spine. A damaged disc may bulge into the opening where one of the nerve roots exits the spine on it's way to join other nerve roots as part of the sciatic nerve. The bulging disc may create direct nerve pressure, and/or may trigger inflammation and swelling, which can also cause pressure on the nerve. When this occurs, pain and other symptoms may be felt part along the course of the sciatic nerve, starting in the buttock area and possibly running down the leg, sometimes all the way to the foot.

Besides disc bulges, spinal openings for nerves may be narrowed by bone spurs or other bone formations related to spinal degeneration. In some cases, sciatica may result from direct trauma to the nerve after it exits the pelvis, such as what can happen if there is a direct impact or hard pressure applied in the lower buttock region. Rare sources of sciatica can include spinal tumors, which can compress sciatic nerve roots as they exit the spine. Another rare cause of sciatica is a cyst or tumor that compresses the sciatic nerve in the hip or knee area.

Not every buttock or leg pain that people think is sciatica is acutually sciatica. True sciatica (sciatic nerve irritation) is usually felt mostly in the back of the leg (not the front or side of the leg). Symptoms of true sciatica are described by various people as stabbing, burning, tingling, numbness/heaviness, or like an electric shock. But even if symptoms seem like sciatica, they are not always due to actual irritation of the sciatic nerve.

One common condition that closely mimics sciatica is caused by knots of contraction called trigger points in a muscle called the piriformis. The piriformis muscles are located on either side of the lower buttock area, running from the upper thigh bone to the edge of the sacrum (the triangular pelvic bone that is at the base of the spine). In addition to causing symptoms that mimic sciatica, tightness in the piriformis muscle may also cause true sciatic irritation, because the sciatic nerve actually runs through the center of the piriformis muscle in some people, and can be compressed by excessive muscle contraction.

Trigger points in other muscles in the buttocks and upper thigh can cause referred pain in the side of the leg that may be mistaken for sciatica as well. It should be kept in mind that true sciatica and piriformis syndrome are associated with symptoms that are primarily felt in the back of the leg. If symptoms are in the front or side of the leg, there's a good chance that the problem is not sciatica.

Treatment of sciatica is usually associated with treating a bulging disc. The first line of treatment is usually an attempt to reduce inflammation to reduce pressure on the nerve bymeans of oral medications. If oral medications fail, steroids may be injected in the area of the disc bulge in order to provide more potent anti-inflammatory effects. A variety of other types of treatment may also be used, such as physical therapy, massage, chiropractic or osteopathic spinal manipulation, acupuncture, or one of the newest forms of treatment, spinal decompression. In some situations, surgery may be recommended as a last resort.

Most episodes of sciatica will resolve within a period of several weeks with or without treatment, but due to the severity of the pain typically involved, most people with sciatica will seek out treatment. Unfortunately, due to misconceptions by doctors and patients alike regarding the nature of sciatica, the necessary steps to prevent a return of sciatica are usually not taken. So, even though most people do recover from a bout of sciatica, nearly all will eventually have problems again at some point. Even sciatica sufferers initially treated successfully with surgery will often have future problems with sciatica.

The good news is that with awareness of how to manage sciatica and a little bit of effort dedicated to prevention, most people can avoid ongoing long-term sciatica problems. The challenge is simply to making people aware of the necessity of a "management" versus "cure" approach to sciatica and getting them to follow-through with preventive exercises and other self-care techniques.

•Music Web Sites

2008-04-25T13:00:00.000+07:00

Let us examine these requirements for a successful music download. You can also download music tracks of your choice and save on your phone...

Apple also brands iPod in conjunction with iTunes, its music web site where iPod users can purchase and download songs for less than $1 a piece.

But where do we stand in the eyes of the law, if we decide to download music. You could download your favorite videos and music tracks from the internet and play them on your phone. Most latest models have features beyond sending text messages and making voice calls—including Internet browsing, music (MP3) playback, personal organizers, e-mail, built-in cameras and camcorders, ringtones, games, radio, Push-to-Talk (PTT), infrared and Bluetooth connectivity, call registers, ability to watch streaming video or download video for later viewing, and serving as a wireless modem for a PC.

Any artist can have an online presence, promote their music to an audience of millions, and let consumers download their music to their hearts content. These music download sites include, believe it or not, Napster, with over 500,000 digital music downloads, eMusic, where you can get 50 free music downloads just for starters, Musicmatch, who has a great membership package, Realrhapsody, which offers a very nice two-week free trial, and one of my favorites and their “Always Low Prices” is the Wal-Mart music download. With microSD support of up to 2GB, users can download more music tracks, video clips and images.

You could listen to your favorite music tracks; you could also download the songs of your choice to your handset and drive away your blues. Download your favorite soundtracks and enjoy listening music tracks wherever you go. Moreover, you can download music, photos and Java games to make the maximum use of your leisure time.

Well here is a quick guide for beginners, on how to convert your current music files into PSP format audio files: Step One --- Download The Software First of all, you need to download software onto your PSP that allows you to convert MP3 files into PSP MP4 format.

•Bye Bye Baby

2008-04-25T12:56:00.000+07:00

Gave my heart and you took it to your best friend for a whirl
got it back all scarred with lies by your caring sisterhood whose so evil...

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
bye bye baby
baby bye bye

Take a trip down memory and make sure its a memory not fantasy lane
have the last word for haven't I answered every captured whisper again and again

its so easy to accuse
its so harder to proof
in your world of in-securities
kept alive by someone's jealousy
your just another manipulated fool

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
you wont see me cry babe
you won't see me cry
There again may be for once
I'm telling a lie

Have you ever wondered if she's ever had a touch of what you've had
was she around the corner when your heartbreak scenes came back from the past

it's my time to accuse
just look back for proof
in your world of in-securities
kept alive by someone's jealousy
your just another manipulated fool

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
you wont see me cry babe
you won't see me cry
There again may be for once
I'm telling a lie

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
love of my life it's too late

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
got to admit for once I've failed

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
from her painting everything as fate

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
from you seeing your her tail

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
you wont see me cry babe
you won't see me cry
There again may be for once
I'm telling a lie

bye bye baby
baby bye bye
you wont see me cry babe
you won't see me cry
There again may be for once
I'm telling a lie

you manipulated fool....

•Pop Music

2008-04-25T12:54:00.001+07:00

Pop music is a liberal and vague category of modern music not marked by artistic considerations but by its promising audience or future market...

Pop is music composed with calculated objective to influence the majority of its contemporaries.

In contrast to music that calls for education or arrangement to appreciate, a significant characteristic of pop music is that anyone is able to enjoy it. Artistic concepts such as complex musical form and aesthetics are not a matter in the writing of pop songs, the key aim being audience satisfaction and commercial triumph. Although the aim of pop music is to sell records and do really well in the charts, it does not require wide acclaim or commercial success. There are bad or unsuccessful pop songs.

Originally the term was an abbreviation of, and synonymous to, popular music, but developed around 1954 to express a particular musical category. The stylistic origins of pop music is folk,jazz,R&B,rock and roll,traditional pop music.The typical instruments are electric guitar,bass guitar,drum kit and keyboard.The cultural origins date back to 1950's in the United States.It is popular worldwide since 1960s.

The standard format of pop music is the song, usually less than five minutes in length. The instrumentation can range from an orchestra to a lone singer. In spite of this wide choice, a standard lineup in a pop band includes a lead guitarist, a bassist, a drummer (or an electronic drum machine), a keyboardist and one or more singers, generally not themselves instumentalists.

Pop songs are generally conspicuous by a heavy rhythmic element, a mainstream style and traditional structure. The most common modification is strophic in form and focuses on memorable melodies, catchy hooks and the appeal of the verse-chorus-verse arrangement, with the chorus sharply contrasting the verse melodically, rhythmically and harmonically.

Lyrics in pop compositions are usually simple and speak of universal experiences and feelings, moving away from incomprehensible or debatable issues.The international appeal of pop was evident in the new millennium, with artists from around the world influencing the genre and local variants merging with the mainstream. As of 2008, pop music is now currently the most popular style of music of youth culture, making competition with hip hop, dance and country.

•Baby Budgeting Tips

2008-03-18T12:38:00.000+07:00

Bringing a baby into the world brings many responsibilities, one of which is the management of your finances...

A baby and child will create many changes to your income and expenditures. By getting your finances in order early you can look forward to a bright future through parenthood where finances aren't a cause of stress or worry.

Consolidate & reduce existing debts - It's easy to accrue debts on credit cards, store cards and personal loans. Why not consolidate your existing debts into one place to reduce your monthly interest payments. You can consolidate debt from credit cards using a balance transfer offer such as 0% on balance transfers for 6 months. During these 6 months you should focus on reducing the debt as much as possible.

Make extra home loan repayments - If you have a home loan and are both currently employed you should use your dual incomes to make as many extra repayments on your home loan as you can manage before dropping to one income. Make sure your home loan has a free redraw facility so that you can pull any extra repayments back out at a later date should you need it. Even if you pull most of the money back out after you have the baby you will still of reduced your interest payments in the meantime and further reduced the principle balance.

Check your Health Insurance cover - Having a baby can rack up some big healthcare bills especially is there are any complications. If you don't have private health cover you should consider taking it out in advance of getting pregnant as many funds have a 12 month wait before they pay out for maternity expenses. If you already have health cover, check the policy and ensure maternity cover is included. If not, you may need to upgrade or shop around for another policy.

Protect your income - While an additional expense, it is seriously worth considering income and life insurance should the worse happen. The upbringing of a child create a large financial repsonsibility. You need to be confident that your home loan could be paid off and essential costs such as education and living costs covered in the event that an income is lost or something happens to one of you.

Save for your future - Think about saving for education and other future costs by starting a high interest savings account. Online only savings accounts often have higher interest rates and lower fees than tradtional banks. If you looking for bigger returns with a long term investment then you could look into managed funds or shares.

Think ahead - is your retirement plan working for you - Make sure you have your entire retirement plan in one place to avoid paying multiple account fees. Look for retirement plans with low fees and strong performance results. The thought of your children growing up may seem a long way ahead but you need to get your money working for you now to ensure a good financial position for yourself when they eventually flee the nest.

Try out living on just one income - It can be a shock moving from a dual income household to a single income household when you have a baby. To make things easier why not try and live off one income for a while before the baby is born. The other income can be put towards extra home loan repayments or reducing debt as suggested in the other tips.

Don't spend money when you don't have to - The great thing about having a baby is that friends and family are keen to help out. If you've have friends who have had babies before you why not see if they have toys, clothes or equipment that they don't need anymore. Ebay, online classifieds and your local newspaper are also excellent places to find baby goods second hand. To save money of expensive toys that your baby will soon grow bored of you can use local toy libraries for a small cost.

Babies can save you money as well! - While there may be no shortage of costs around bringing up a child, you'll probably notice you spend less money on entertainment such as going out to restaurants and bars, especially in the first years after having a child. They will provide you with plenty of 'entertainment' and keep you occupied day and night.

•Cruise Packing Tips

2008-03-18T12:36:00.000+07:00

Packing for a cruise can be quite a daunting task - when else are you expected to show up in everything from a bathing suit to an evening gown,..

yet are allotted such little closet space? Some things to consider when packing your bags:

At the cruise terminal - or even at the airport if you have an air/sea or a land/sea package - your luggage is taken by the porters to be brought to your room. The cruise line will tell you that it is possible that you won't have your bags until after dinner (it is generally quicker, but there are no guarantees), so you want to be sure to have bathing suits, dinner clothes and your toiletries in your carry-on just in case.

Another thing you want to think about when packing is what type of luggage will work out best. Some cruise lines offer to store your empty bags during the duration of the cruise (call ahead to check), but if they don't, you may want to consider soft-sided luggage - storage in your cabin is at a premium! - and if there are several people sharing the same cabin, it would be even more helpful if your luggage nested inside each other.

Now that we've discussed your actual luggage - and how long it might be before you see it again – perhaps the last item to consider is what you are putting in the bags. There are many things to consider - formal and semi-formal dinners, sporting events, shore excursions, casual days - and because of the whole space issue, you want to be sure to choose wisely. Consider clothing in complementary colors, so that every item matches other things you have brought, think wrinkle-free and low maintenance as much as possible, and cut out excess as much as possible (large shampoo bottles, etc.). If you are traveling with other people - in your cabin or otherwise - see if there is anything that can be shared, such as irons, steamers, hair dryers and similar supplies. Remember, it was no less a person that Sherlock Holmes (even though he’s fictional!) who pointed out that if the walls don’t distend, then only the absolute necessities belong with you, and you need to keep them accessible!

•One Perfect Morning

2008-03-18T12:30:00.001+07:00

As the breeze sifts through a single tree near by, my ensuing thoughts are soothing...

Almost still, the water ripples with poor attempts to pound the pier that comforts me. The moon stares down, though her glory wanes, overwhelmed by the new light of the climbing sun. Gazing back at the moon, for a time, I notice the surrounding frame grow blue, by the command of light. Dim clouds embrace and hold her hovered, as a feathered pillow would rest a head for a night.

As the light begins to crawl over the edge of the Earth, the sense of sound is still most influenced. The wind whispers soft sounds. They are majestic, muttered melodies of poetic lyric, without words. This tranquil language spoken by the wind is only interrupted by harmonies. The pier beneath me begs attention with creaks, as the small, gentle waves create a rhythm. Birds bid their â€˜good mornings,â€™ quietly, as not to disturb sleeping neighbors. The waking ducks murmur near me. I have gained their friendship with daily bribes of oats and bread crumbs. They crowd around, staring with eager eyes, as if for some great storyteller. Sometimes, they tease me with witty quacks, amused that I am bounded by a pier. I feed them.

I watch the clouds often. They are my favorite of greatest objects. I envy their simple freedom. They playfully form their images without restrictions, without concern. They display colors at times, so pretty, spring flowers would admire them.

The sun continues, gradually, to devour the remains of night. The clouds blush, with the hue of the childâ€™s cheek when pinched. They grow bold and red, and seem to burn. Though motionless, their magnificence displays character. The further the sun climbs the sky, less intense is the rage of the clouds, and soon their impressive qualities are pale, but no less beautiful. The trees and the lake borrow color from the sun. Distant birds offer greetings to their neighbors and are now loud and cheerful. Fish begin to play, and peak their heads from the water to witness the grandeur that is morning.

The sun and the august image it provides have woken the world. I squint for the brilliance, but can not close my eyes on this dawning view. The breeze caresses my hair like a mothersâ€™ caring hand, as the sun warms a smile to my face. The lake and trees have taken what color light can give. Seagulls fly overhead and stir new activity. Gliding clouds have matured into their white, soft selves and kiss the sky. It is day, painted by gentle stroke, and only seconds from perfect. I just need to lace up, start running, and become a part of the picture.

•Web Design Tips

2008-03-18T12:28:00.000+07:00

When someone sees a beautiful web design, he or she can’t help but fall in love with it and wonder how it was done...

However, designing a web would take more than just your knowledge in color, texts and images. It involves codes. But you can learn those in no time so there’s nothing to worry about. Moreover, there is a science behind web design and the following could help you be more scientific with your designs

Usability Testing

The secret here is to let someone who is not familiar with your site have a look at it. As much as possible, be in the room while they are testing your site. Take note of the things that they click on and the things that they ignore so you will know what to improve.

Browser Testing

Do not make the mistake of thinking that your web page will look good at any other browser because it looks good on your favorite one. Remember that the same browser could be used on another operating system and it may not look the same. What you need to do now is to check your page on every possible combination of OS and browser.

Use Log Files

Including log files can be very tiresome, however, it can also be very useful. It helps you know where viewers go from your homepage, what they mostly click on and what pages are least visited. Using log files can help you gather information that can help you modify your site and eventually lead your viewers to the page where you want them to go.

Don’t be afraid to recreate

One of the biggest advantages in web designing is the freedom to change web pages and layouts. Don’t be afraid to change designs that don’t work. Designing a web can be a lot of fun and involving science and structure into your designs will surely attract your viewers.

Use accurate titles for every section

Web browsers tend to scan pages and sections so make sure that your page or section titles are consistent and accurate. In this way, they can be sure that they are being led to the right section of the site.

Avoid ‘Click Here’

Links are very important in web pages. However, avoid using the text ‘click here’ when leading your viewers to another page. Instead use a descriptive and more appropriate text .

Improve Readability

Now is not the time to show off your collection of fonts. What’s important is for your customers to be able to read what is written on your site. Therefore, use attractive but readable texts to attract readers and customers of your site.

Proofread

Even the most excellent writer makes grammatical and spelling errors. You wouldn’t want your site viewers to think you’re an amateur, would you? What you have to do in order to increase trustworthiness is to proofread everything that is written in your site. Remember, less mistakes or lack of errors can add to your reliability points.

•Dog Training Tips

2008-03-18T12:25:00.000+07:00

One of the reasons for doing an obedience dog training is to establish a foundation between you and your dog...

Many dog owners believe that dog training is only for those who wish to compete in obedience trials, but they are wrong.

Dog training requires only a simple persistence to be successful and can be useful to help fulfill some of your dog's basic and social interaction needs. Here are some dog training tips to guide you along the way.

1. Firm and Friendly

When you give commands such as come, you want to use a happy and friendly voice. While on the other hand, you'll want a lower firmer voice for sit, down, and stay commands.

2. Praise & Reward

Always praise your dog or offer him when he learned new commands.

3. Be Patient

Patience is the key when you are training your dog. Focus on a single command a session and end it on a positive note. Dog's are incredibly smart and will pick up all your commands. After each session, spend some time playing. He will associate the time with you as positive and anticipate his training again.

4. Use the correct dog training equipments

If you have a well-behaved dog, a lead and a buckle will do on your obedience training. However, if your dog is uncontrollable with undesirable and distracting behaviors, you should use a training collar. You don't have to worry about the size as most electronic training collar now clearly indicate what size of dog the training collar is intended for.

5. No Distractions

Try to pick a quiet area when training your dog to do tricks or commands. A secluded back yard works best if you want to train your dog for basic obedience commands only.

6. Reprimand

Do not hit your dog! Any time your dog has undesirable behavior, be firm and friendly. Remember, dogs are man's best friend.

7. Be Positive

It is necessary to use positive reinforcement when training your dog by offering some dog treats and a lot of praise if he performs correctly and learn new commands.

8. Play with your dog

Dogs which are trained are a pleasure to take for a walk and a pleasure to own.

•Daily Health Tips

2008-03-18T12:19:00.000+07:00

There is an Arabian proverb which says, he who has health has hope and he who has hope has it all...

Contrary to the belief, living a healthy lifestyle is not complicated or time consuming.

Here are a few daily health tips to burn calories and stay fit while you work, play or even drive.

As you wake up sit up slowly. Do not use your hands. Straighten your legs and lean forward. You then feel a gentle stretch in your back and hamstrings. Hold; then using your abs, lower yourself flat. Rest and repeat a couple of times. This exercise strengthens the core.

This is a daily health tip which you can practice as you make your morning cup of coffee or tea. Stand sideways. Put one hand on your kitchen counter. Lift the outside leg straight out in front of you, keeping it extended. With your upper body straight, hold for a few seconds and move it to the side. Hold and extend it behind you. Repeat 5 to 10 times with each legs. This exercise tones up your outer thighs, hip flexors and quadriceps.

Use slim milk for your coffee and tea preparation. Opt for whole grain preparations and cereals rather than instant food. Have a protein heavy meal earlier in the day as you may eat less as the day progresses. Hard boiled egg is a good choice as it makes you feel full and you will not feel tempted to snack before lunch.

Every time you apply brake while driving, squeeze your derriere, holding it for 10 seconds. You will develop buns of steel.

Snack smart by grabbing an apple. It is packed with fiber and water. So the stomach will feel full and save you a few calories which you would otherwise gain by snacking on cookies.

Whenever you converse over the phone, stand up and pace around. Walk up to a colleague who is seated farthest from you and deliver the daily messages. Take the stairs whenever possible. Carry some weight when you go on grocery shopping or running errands.

Sit in your chair with your back straight and your feet on the floor, squeeze knees together and gently bring them toward your chest. Do it a couple of times. It will strengthen your abdominals.

Start with a clear soup for lunch or dinner. You fill feel fuller and subsequently eat less. After dinner, while still sitting at the table, extend your leg out; slowly bend it up and down. Squeeze and hold in the up position for at least 5 seconds. Repeat with the other leg. It sculpts the quadriceps.

Finally, before you tuck in, lie on your back on the floor with your legs up on the edge of the bed or chair. Slowly bend your knees, lifting your hips off the floor. Hold for five seconds, relax and repeat for a few times. It firms up hamstrings and core.

The above daily health tips will help you burn the calories throughout the day. You may not even realize it until you find yourself stronger, healthier, sharper, leaner, more energetic and feeling years younger in mind, body and spirit.

•The Magic of Love

2008-03-18T12:18:00.000+07:00

Would you like to receive the magic of love? Are you willing to give it?...

Try this: For one day, consciously make an effort to be loving or kind to everyone you see, with no expectations of receiving anything in return.

For example, compliment, acknowledge, or smile at people at work, home, on the street, and in the stores. Notice how you feel at the end of the day. Your heart will probably feel warmer and bigger. The loving action can make their day as well as yours. It is likely that the people you touch with the magic of love will pass it on to others. You will never know for sure how many people's lives you have touched with these simple, free, kind acts. Just trust that you are making a difference.

It worked for my client Jerry, a thirty-six-year-old computer engineer. He was surprised when I suggested that he try the experiment. The lonely, single man was complaining to me that people are so mean and nasty. Obviously, Jerry had low self-esteem and poor relationship skills.

I said, "Jerry, are you willing to go to work tomorrow with a smile, and acknowledge and compliment people? I do not mean to make up remarks. Just look for something true and positive to say to your boss and co-workers. Notice how you feel and how they respond."

The following week, Jerry walked into my office with a smile on his face. That was the first time I saw that happy expression since his first counseling session. As soon as he sat down, Jerry exclaimed, "It worked, Helene! It was amazing! I did what you suggested and everyone responded back in a positive way. The whole office felt different, and now I look forward to going to work. That is a miracle!"

I congratulated Jerry for offering the magic of love, and acknowledged his courage and progress. This seemed to be a turning point in his life. I continued to help him feel good about himself with the HART process (Holistic And Rapid Transformation), and improve his communication skills. Before long, he started to date and enjoy social activities.

I have also had great success with the magic of love. When I lived in the country, I used to take regular walks on the dirt road. I smiled and thought the words "Bless you" as I waved at every car that drove by. Almost everyone responded by sending me back a warm smile and wave. It felt so good to spread caring. What a wonderful world this would be if everyone realized the importance of and took the time to spread the magic of love.

•Copywriting Secrets

2008-03-18T12:15:00.000+07:00

Copywriting is promotional writing, finding triggers which prod people to buy, so thinking about why people buy what they do is vital if you want to write Web copy that sells...

A famous copywriter once said that behind every purchase there's pain, because even when we buy something for pleasure, it's to avoid pain.

Keeping this in mind, let's look at three hot tips:

1. Ask the magic word - WHY

Great sales people have the ability to read people - to instantly know why a car buyer will buy a particular model of car. Or how to sell a woman a wedding dress that's worth more than she earns in three months.

When you're writing copy, although there's no one standing in front of you, you must ask yourself WHY a buyer would buy the product or service for which you're writing copy.

The more reasons you can discover, the better your copy will be. So ask yourself WHY before you start writing.

2. A great offer leads to great copy and great sales

Copywriting for the Web is a challenge. A potential customer just needs to click once to leave the Web page you're writing: you have seconds to convince him to stay and read on.

Here's what convinces a Web surfer to stay: your offer. Make the reader an offer that's too good to refuse.

Your copywriting clients are often blind to the worth of their offer. If you feel that the offer you're making is not good enough, it's essential that you encourage your client to improve the offer.

No matter how well you write, if the offer is lacking sales will be lacking too.

3. Credibility sells - offer proof

You know why people will buy the product for which you're writing copy, and you've got a great offer. However, without credibility, sales will be slow.

Think about all the online scams you've heard of - your copy's readers are wary of committing to a purchase online. At the back of your reader's mind is the thought: "Can I trust you?"

There are many ways you can engender trust: you can present testimonials and a guarantee, for example.

So there you have three tips which will help you to write great copy which sells: the foundation of your copywriting career.

•Handkerstuff

2008-03-18T12:09:00.000+07:00

There are lots of things you can do with a real handkerchief which you can't do with tissue...

I remember that people used them to wave from trains when passing houses of people they knew. Actually you just stuck the handkerchief out of the window and it would wave itself. Of course, now you can't even open train windows at all. I also have recollections of people in hot weather tying knots in the corners, soaking the hankie in cold water and wearing it on their heads.

And surely to be handed a freshly ironed, neatly folded, soft handkerchief to wipe one's tears must be a consolation in itself. Thinking of that use, I believe that I have a whole class of new words to suggest. I do this with some apprehension, because though new words are amusing and sometimes mesmerising, they are a bit like unknown animals you bring back to your own house; some of them turn out to be bad guests and there are a few hundred words which in my opinion we desperately need to get rid of.

Despite this, in the single-volume dictionary I have to hand I am busy trying to push handiwork one way and handknit the other, so that I can make room to fit in a whole new pageful.

Let us suppose some bad news has blown in through the window or that something which never was supposed to happen has just walked into you. You are sad and distressed. What do you do to console yourself if no one hands you a handkerchief? A handkerwalk makes me feel better sometimes, my footsteps stretch my cares out in all directions around the town until they're too thin to notice any more. Or perhaps you prefer to pick up the phone and have a handkertalk about it all. If there is someone you always call when you need to do this then that is your handkerfriend.

At night or in times of stress you might of course be seen opening the fridge in search of handkerfood. But there may be something specific you may find more comforting (and I want to point out that none of the following examples apply to me), for example, a handkersausage, handkerchocs, or handkerchup (a thick layer of ketchup spread over what is pretty bad food to start with) There may be some people, though I find this difficult to believe, who turn to handkerporridge.

How about handkercraft ? A word which straight from its coinage rolls wobbling on its edge into ambiguity. Is this some hobby like woodwork or brick-laying which you turn to in dark times ? Or is it the motorcycle you tear down the road on while howling ? Or is it a boat or even a fleet you have at your orders ? Because people with a lot of power use really big things for handkerstuff. I'm sure that there has been a handkercoup [d'Etat] or two, perhaps only because no one offered a general a hankie or gave them a handkerhug when they needed it..

But, if you don't belong to the last few categories, these are all things it is good to do from time to time. In fact, there may be moments when you really want to do nothing else and just have a well-deserved handkerday.

•Writing A Eulogy

2008-03-18T12:07:00.000+07:00

Writing a eulogy can be very difficult. I have had to write two eulogies in the past few years...

The first was for my aunt who I thought the world of and loved being around very much. She lost a very long battle with cancer and that was just one of the many reasons I respected her so much. A few weeks ago I wrote my second eulogy and this time it was for my grandmother who was 98 and was in many ways like a second mother to me.

Both times I spent a day thinking about the person and what they meant to me and then the following day I wrote down any thoughts that stayed with me. Well, not thoughts, but memories, quotes, and stolen moments that only I recalled. I believe that is what makes the eulogy personal, your own perspective. Giving the mourners at the funeral your personal view of the the loved one lets them see the deceased in a new light. It gives them your memories and expands on their own when they see similarities in your stories about them.

I also believe you must mention what made them who they were, their strengths, their beliefs, what was important to them. Sharing you own views is important, but connecting the entire group of mourners is also important. When I wrote my grandmother's eulogy I wanted everyone there to know the incredible person she was. If they had forgotten or maybe didn't know her very well, I made sure they left knowing this was a lady who truly left the world a better place then when she found it.

While writing both eulogies I realize how hard it is but also it is very cathartic for the writer. I wrote both of them in a day and put it away until the next day and then added more and did some editing. The strange thing is you get lost in the writing and almost forget what you are doing: writing your final goodbye of a loved one.

I wrote the eulogy for my grandmother and didn't cry once. I thought to myself I am okay with this now. I then asked to read it to my wife to get her opinion. I couldn't make it to the fourth word before the tears came. I had to stop several more times to compose myself as I read it for the first time. A little shocked at my response, I had to read it again to see if I could make it through. I did a little better and then read it a dozen times after than so I could hopefully do better at the funeral service.

Well, I did do better and only stopped twice when the tears were too much to hold back. But in the midst of the tears there was also laughter and joy for her life and the zest with which she lived it. I'm sure other people will be caught off guard and be asked to speak as I was the first time for my aunt, but I hope these tips will help during such an emotionally difficult time.

Take Time to Remember
When writing a eulogy, ask yourself some questions if you aren't sure what memories to share. What is your favorite memory? How did this person change you? How did they make their mark on the world? Usually these have humor and sentiment and you'll find comfort as well as a "story". Get the facts about the person, even if you think you know them all. Take the time to ask other people close to the person you are eulogizing. Of course you want to know their age and all the biographical facts you can. It may seem impersonal but you may be surprised at what stories will come from simple questions like, what year was she married.

Come up with a Theme
I realize this may sound like you are writing a paper and may appear cold-hearted, but will help you focus. My aunt was a great cook and I talked about her cornflake potato casserole she always brought to holiday dinners. It was simple and perfect, much like my aunt. I used that to expand on my memories and love for her. The simple ideas are usually the best. My grandmother was a teacher and I used that to show how her love for sharing and teaching all her children enriched so many lives.

Write it Down
No one expects you to have a speech memorized so write down what you want to say. Forget about keeping eye contact and all the things you read about presenting well. You aren't here to entertain. You are saying goodbye and sharing the life of someone important to you. If you need to read word for word than do so. You will find that your emotions will carry you, rather than hinder you and your words will come from your heart more than from the paper they are written on.

Practice, Practice, Practice
After you have written your draft, practice it to yourself then someone else. Then edit and practice again. I found each time I read it I thought of something else to add or I could go into more detail. Practicing helped me be more comfortable and allowed me to be spontaneous when I remembered something at the last minute.

If you are used to speaking in public this is very helpful. I wrote a post on public speaking that can help, but remember, this is about sharing your memories so that should be first in your mind, not how well your presented.

Laugh and Share the Laughter
Life is made up of many moments and a lot of them are funny, whether intended or not. Be sure to include some of them that you shared with the deceased. Laughter always eases pain and helps us to remember that life goes on. Don't shy away from it, but embrace the moments that made him or her human. They are usually the best.

It is a Gift
Now I know some people may disagree with me and this is where it becomes very personal for me. But writing the eulogy for my aunt and grandmother was my gift to them and it some ways to those that loved them but even more it was a gift to myself.

It was a gift to my grandmother because I was able to tell her how she had made me the person I was proud to be today. It was a gift to many people there because I was able to share memories and remind them of what a special person they all had been privileged to know. Both of these are important, but really the best gift you can give yourself is the gift of sharing your love for the person you are writing about. During the time you create the words that become stories and the stories that become your gift you will have relived a lifetime with that person. And every time you read it again to yourself you will be able to capture that in a moment and feel the love and joy that person gave you.

So in the end the gift I gave myself is really a gift from my grandmother.

•Writing Stories

2008-03-18T12:02:00.001+07:00

There's nothing like writing a story. It is a truly satisfying creative process. In order to write a story that people will enjoy...

You need to understand the key elements that all good writers use in stories. In this article we will explore these elements.

1. Brainstorming

Ask yourself these questions:

What are you are going to write about? Who will be your audience? How much do you know about what you want to write about? What do I need to find out?

2. Write from a Specific Point of View

First person: "I"

Second person: "You" (rarely used)

Third person: "She/He" (Used the majority of time but in a "limited" way) Limited simply means that the story is told through the eyes of one particular character.

3. Starting Your Story

Your story should begin in such a way that it grabs the readers attention and never lets them go, some ways to begin are: Sound Effects, for example: Splash! Pop! Another way to begin is with dialogue, that is, two or more characters having a conversation. Using action is also another way to start. Whatever you choose, you must do it in a way that draws the reader in from the very beginning, if you fail to do this then no matter how good your story gets down the road it will be pointless as you have already lost your audience.

4. Setting

Place your characters in a setting. This is where you are to use descriptive words that let your readers see, hear and even smell the setting. The setting establishes the time and place in which the story takes place. Give your readers a snapshot view of the environment so that they can see it in their mind's eye and feel as if they are really there.

5. Characters

Characters are part of the life blood of fiction. Here are some of the types of characters you may want to create.

Main Character (Protagonist): All the action revolves around this person.

Villain (Antagonist): This person or persons oppose the main character at every turn. Villains can also become allies of the main character down the road. People change in real life as well as in stories.

Friends (Sidekicks): This person or persons helps the main character.

6. Conflict

Good conflict allows your readers to become even more involved in the plot. Conflict can arise within the characters, with other people or even with nature. The needs of characters are what drives them into action. Conflict is created when obstacles are put in the way of the characters. Here are some types of conflict that can arise in a story:

The main character vs. others

The main character vs. his /her own inner self

The main character vs. situations he/she faces in life

The main character vs. society

7. Dialogue

Finally lets take a look at the purpose and use of dialogue. Dialogue is used in conversation between your characters. The characters may also have dialogue with themselves. Good dialogue tells the reader something about the characters state of mind or personality. Dialogue should be surrounded by action and move the story along. So make every conversation count!

•Word Search

2008-02-27T11:58:00.000+07:00

Word searches (also known known as "word search puzzles") are puzzle games played with pen and paper where the player's task is to find words hidden within an array of letters. The challenge comes from three factors:..

1. Words can be hidden in the array in various directions - vertically (up or down), horizontally (left to right, or right to left), or diagonally (any of the four diagonal directions).

2. Not all the letters in the puzzle may actually be part of one of the words. Additionally, since words can intersect and overlaps, some letters may be used by more than one word. This, together with the first factor, can make it extremely difficult to spot the words in the puzzle.

3. In the majority word search puzzles, the player is given a list of words to look for, however this is not essential. The puzzle is obviously a lot of tougher if no such list is supplied - although usually puzzle designers do give players at least a hint as to word sort of words to look (e.g. words relating travel, golf, or whatever theme the designer had in mind).

While many people enjoy solving word search puzzles as a recreational activity, it also should be remembered that these puzzles can also have educational value, especially in teaching spelling: students need to pay attention to exact spelling (as well as learning to work methodically) in order to solve a word search.

Creating a word search puzzle by hand is not a job for the feinted hearted. It's a time consuming trial and error process, and quite frankly not nearly as much fun as solving these puzzles! An easier and quicker way to create these puzzles is to use your computer - just enter a list of words, and with the help of the right software, a puzzle appears at the click of a button. You can also easily experiment with varying the size, shape and word directions used in your puzzles.

•Background Checks

2008-02-27T11:48:00.001+07:00

Pre-employment screening in UK Pre-employment screening is used to verify the accuracy of an applicant's claims as well as to discover any possible criminal history, workers compensation claims, or employer sanctions..

The problem screening tries to counter A number of annual reports, including BDO Hayward's Fraudtrack and CIFAS's (the UK's fraud prevention service) 'The Enemy Within' have showed a rising level of major discrepancies and embellishments on CVs over previous years.Such business fraud cost UK businesses 1.4 bn in 2005,

Almost half (48%) of organizations with fewer than 100 staff experienced problems with vetted employees.

39% of UK organizations have experienced a situation where their vetting procedures have allowed an employee to be hired who was later found to have lied or misrepresented themselves in their application.

However, recent research by Powerchex shows a reverse in the trend. They found that in the 2006/7 period CV discrepancies had fallen by 31% to 13%

So why don't more employers vet staff more rigorously? David Chernick from Reed_(Company) suggests that there are conflicting interests between employers' recruitment and protection or security activities: "Whilst the recruitment department focuses on hiring the best staff quickly and effectively, many hiring managers regard background checking as the bottleneck in their recruitment processes." He goes on to recommend: "ring-fencing background and reference checking from the recruitment department can introduce objectivity and know-how and the possibility of using an expert, dedicated service from an outside specialist, screening firm."

The Market Larger companies are more likely to outsource than their smaller counterparts - the average staff size of the companies who outsource is 3,313 compared to 2,162 for those who carry out in-house checks.

Financial services firms had the highest proportion of respondents who outsource the service, with over a quarter (26%) doing so, compared to an overall average of 16% who outsource vetting to a third party provider.

The construction and property industry showed the lowest level of outsourcing, with 89% of such firms in the sample carrying out checks in-house.

Types of Checks Employment References Education Verification - School grades, degree and any professional qualifications obtained Character Reference Check Gaps in employment history Identity and Address Verification - whether the applicant is who he or she claims to be. Generally includes verification of the candidate's present and previous addresses. Can include a money laundering, identity and terrorist check and one to verify the validity of passports (UK and international). Whether an applicant holds a directorship Credit History (UK/International) - bankruptcies, CCJs and the like. Criminal History Report (UK/International)

Regulation The FSA states in their Training & Competence guidance that regulated firms should have:

Adequacy of procedures for taking into account knowledge and skills of potential recruits for the role Adequacy of procedures for obtaining sufficient information about previous activities and training Adequacy of procedures for ensuring that individuals have passed appropriate exams or have appropriate exemptions Adequacy of procedures for assessing competence of individuals for sales roles The FSA's statutory objectives:

Protecting consumers Maintaining market confidence Promoting public awareness Reducing financial crime

Usefulness Employment screening can be a practical, low-cost way to significantly reduce employee theft and dishonesty and notably increase productivity and safety. Certain industries require employment checks on all employees. Examples include the banking, financial, and security industries, transportation industries, childcare, healthcare, and teaching industries, police, law enforcement, and certain military positions. The level of background investigation may vary from industry to industry or position to position. Employers who actively screen their applicants before hiring also face less liability in the event of a workplace accident or crime. Pre-employment screening is a primary way of eliminating or minimizing negligent hiring liability.

There are many companies that provide pre-employment screening services. One such company that has been featured in USA Today and Boardwatch Magazine is interactiveinfo.net.

Integrity testing is a new approach to employment screening. Integrity or honesty surveys pose straightforward questions to applicants in clear language that elicit honest answers or admissions of counterproductive work-related behavior.

These pre-employment tests -- developed with the help of Insight Worldwide's industry advisory committee -- adhere to state and federal employment regulations. The tests are typically administered on PDAs loaded with the surveys and supplied by Insight. The Integrity Test flags applicants whose answers revealed a history of counterproductive work behaviors -- or cautions -- in five categories: violence, illegal drug use, workers comp. fraud, theft and dependability.

Pre-employment screening in the US

Laws Due to the sensitivity of the information contained in consumer reports and certain records, there are a variety of important laws regulating the dissemination and legal use of this information. Most notably, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates the use of consumer reports (which it defines as information collected and reported by third party agencies) as it pertains to adverse decisions, notification to the consumer, and destruction and safekeeping of records. If a consumer report is used as a factor in an adverse hiring decision, the consumer must be presented with a "Pre-adverse action disclosure," a copy of the FCRA summary of rights, and a "notification of adverse action letter." Consumers are entitled to know the source of any information used against them including a credit reporting company.

Types of Checks There are a variety of types of investigative searches that can be used by potential employers. Many commercial sites will offer specific searches to employers for a fee. Services like these will actually perform the checks, supply the company with adverse action letters, and ensure compliance throughout the process. It is important to be selective about which pre-employment screening agency you use. A legitimate company will be happy to explain the process to you.

Many employers choose to search the most common records such as criminal records, driving records, and education verification. Other searches such as sex offender registry, credential verification, reference checks, credit reports and Patriot Act searches are becoming increasingly common. Employers should consider the position in question when determining which types of searches to include, and should always use the same searches for every applicant being considered for one position.

Reasons They are frequently conducted to confirm information found on an employment application or résumé/curriculum vitae. They may also be conducted as a way to further differentiate potential employees and pick the one the employer feels is best suited for the position. In the United States, the Brady Bill requires criminal checks for those wishing to purchase handguns from licensed firearms dealers. Restricted firearms (like machine guns), suppressors, explosives or large quantities of precursor chemicals, and concealed weapons permits also require criminal checks. Checks are also required for those working in positions with special security concerns, such as trucking, ports of entry, and airline transportation. Other laws exist to prevent those who do not pass a criminal check from working in careers involving the elderly, disabled, or children.

Possible Information Included The amount of information included on a check depends to a large degree on the sensitivity of the reason for which it is conducted--e.g., somebody seeking employment at a minimum wage job would be subject to far fewer requirements than somebody applying to work for the FBI.

Criminal and incarceration records Birth certificate or legal status in the country Litigation records Employers may want to identify potential employees who routinely file discrimination lawsuits. It has also been alleged that in the U.S., employers that do work for the government do not like to hire whistleblowers who have a history of filing qui tam suits. Driving and vehicle records Employers in the transportation sector seek drivers with clean driving records--i.e., those without a history of accidents or traffic tickets. Drug tests are used for a variety of reasons--corporate ethics, measuring potential employee performance, and keeping workers' compensation premiums down. Education records These are used primarily to see if the potential employee had graduated from high school (or a GED) and in fact received a college degree, graduate degree, or some other accredited university degree. There are reports of SAT scores being requested by employers as well. Employment records These usually range from simple verbal confirmations of past employment and timeframe to deeper, such as discussions about performance, activities and accomplishments, and relations with others. Financial information Credit scores, liens, civil judgments, or bankruptcy may be included in the report. Licensing records A government authority that has some oversight over professional conduct of its licensees will also maintain records regarding the licensee, such as personal information, education, complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions. Military records Although not as common today as it was in the past fifty years, employers frequently requested the specifics of one's military discharge. Social Security Number (or equivalent outside the US). A fraudulent SSN may be indicative of identity theft, insufficient citizenship, or concealment of a "past life". Polygraph test Also known as a psychophysiological detection of deception (PDD) examination. Other interpersonal interviews Employers will usually wish to speak with potential employees' references to gauge employability. More intensive checks can involve interviews with anybody that knew or previously knew the applicant--such as teachers, friends, coworkers, and family members. There are many companies that provide pre-employment screening services. One such company that has been featured in USA Today and Boardwatch Magazine is interactiveinfo.net.

Controversies Drug tests and credit checks for employment are highly controversial practices. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a project of the Utility Consumers\' Action Network (UCAN): "While some people are not concerned about background investigations, others are uncomfortable with the idea of investigators poking around in their personal histories. In-depth checks could unearth information that is irrelevant, taken out of context, or just plain wrong. A further concern is that the report might include information that is illegal to use for hiring purposes or which comes from questionable sources."

In May 2002, allegedly improper post-hire checks conducted by Northwest Airlines were the subject of a civil lawsuit between Northwest and 10,000 of their mechanics.

In the case of an arrest that did not lead to a conviction, employment checks can continue including the arrest record for up to seven years, per § 605 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act:

Except as authorized under subsection (b) of this section, no consumer reporting agency may make any consumer report containing . . . Civil suits, civil judgments, and records of arrest that from date of entry, antedate the report by more than seven years or until the governing statute of limitations has expired, whichever is the longer period. Subsection (b) provides for an exception if the report is in connection with "the employment of any individual at an annual salary which equals, or which may reasonably be expected to equal $75,000, or more"[4].

Some proposals for decreasing potential harm to innocent applicants include:

Furnishing the applicant with a copy of the report before it is given to the employer, so that any inaccuracies can be addressed beforehand; and Allowing only conviction (not arrest) records to be reported. In New Zealand, criminal checks have been affected by the Clean Slate Act 2004, which allows individuals to legally conceal "less serious" convictions from their records provided they had been conviction-free for at least seven years.

In Michigan, the system of criminal checks has been criticized in a recent case where a shooting suspect was able to pass an FBI check to purchase a shotgun although he had failed the check for a state handgun permit. According to the spokesman of the local police department,

... you could have a clear criminal history but still have contacts with law enforcement that would not rise to the level of an arrest or conviction [that can be used] to deny a permit whether or not those involved arrests that might show up on a criminal history. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has criticized the federal policy, which denies constitutional rights based on a criminal check only if the subject has been accused of a crime.

Public Records Pay Sites Taking advantage of public records availability in the United States, a number of Web based companies began purchasing U.S. public records data and selling it online, primarily to assist the general public in locating people. Many of these sites advertise background research and provide employers and/or landlords with fee-based checks.

However, there has been a growing movement on the web to use advertising-based models to subsidize these checks. These companies display targeted ads next to the reports delivered to landlords or employers. Some of the reports provided by these pay sites are only expanded versions of a basic (people search) providing a 20 year history of addresses, phone numbers, marriages and divorces, businesses owned and property ownership. Usually, these sites will also provide a nationwide criminal report for an added charge.

•Blogging For Newbies

2008-02-23T21:24:00.002+07:00

A blog is an online journal which you can publish your thought, ideas, opinions, feeling, photos, special events, experiences, comments on current issues and anything you want people to read. You can insert link, video or audio into your blog page..

If you use video in your blog, it is called video blogging. If you use spoken voice, it is called audio blogging.

Blogging normally contains some of the important parts including a) Title ï¿½ï¿½" this is where you put down your headlines of your article

b) Body ï¿½ï¿½" this is where you write out the actual content of the article

c) Comments ï¿½ï¿½" this section is for your reader to post their comments about your articles on the blog, this can create a platform for you to share with the reader to discuss and talk about the topic. It helps to build a personal relationship for a long term. For business blog, this section can allows customer to provide feedback on companies activities. It also promote loyalty and trust.

d) Backlink ï¿½ï¿½"you can have other website to link to your blog especially if your blog is very popular. You can have thousands of link back to your blog on the online community.

e) Categories ï¿½ï¿½" each of the blog are categorize into specific subject matter such as business, real estate, travel and etc. This make the searching process easier. f) Tag ï¿½ï¿½" helps in classification especially using search engine Technorati. Prospects can locate blog of certain topics by just clicking the tag.

g) RSS feed ï¿½ï¿½" it is the feed from your blog that is sent out over the internet, and collected through the various newsreaders. But there is actually no specific rules about blogging, you can set your own themes and rules and write in whatever format that you like. You can publish any of your thoughts, feeling, photos, experiences and just about any topics that you can think of. Blog should not be very formal. It should be done in a very direct fashion. The tone you should use is like you are talking to a close friend in a letter. Always use â€œ first personâ€ tone.

In short, Blogging allows you to :

Networking

Advertise products or services

Search engine optimization

Gauging public opinion on products and services

Useful tools for internal communication.

•Lettings Software

2008-02-23T21:22:00.000+07:00

There are Thousands of Lettings and Management companies competing in a very competitive market. Having property software with poor functionality that keep crashing can have a detrimental affect on your business..

Upgrading to a system that can fulfill as many of your administration tasks can help release up experienced staff from mundane administrational task allowing them to get on with the job of providing good customer service and business development.

There are many considerations that need to be taken into account when choosing your Lettings Software. With many products on the market the specification can vary greatly with many packages purporting to have functionality in depth when this is not always true. Bellow are a few examples of things that need to be taken into consideration:

* If you had not received a valid gas check certificate, would your Lettings Software send a letter to the tenants advising them not to use their gas appliances, without human interaction and so saving your business from ruin? * Does your Lettings Software already include and police all the requirements for anti-money laundering, has it already taken into account the new deposit holder scheme requirements and HMO licencing? * Can your Letting Software give you immediate breakdowns of branch by branch performance and even negotiator performance to highlight staff training requirements? * Can your mail merge to groups such as managed property landlords and produce letters and letter suites without having to click in and out of four screens? * Does it control where your keys are and ensure you have control over them at all times?

The right Lettings Software will take care of your daily business by checking and cross checking information in the database reducing the amount of administrational errors. Most importantly your staff and managers roles can be enhanced as they will have more time to concentrate their skills in different areas increasing business opportunities and ensuring legal requirements are not missed and that you are not falling short of the OFT or Governing Guidelines. This can make the difference between and average agency and a highly successful agency giving you the market edge in a highly competitive market.

When searching for suitable Lettings Software you should thoroughly research your existing administrational systems and analyse where your current Lettings Software is not performing ensuring you have clear your requirements when searching for suitable Lettings Software. There are many products on the market from off the shelf packages to bespoke systems that can integrate with other operational systems. Choosing the right software will give your staff more time to look after your customers improving customer service increasing the opportunity for new business.

•Newbie Marketing Tips

2008-02-23T17:14:00.000+07:00

The following paragraphs summarize the work of marketing tips experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of marketing tips. Heed their advice to avoid any marketing tips surprises..

The information about marketing tips presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about marketing tips or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Marketing Myths Your online marketing battle will include a number of different methods in different areas of the Internet. You may have a web site, use an auto responder, post classified ads, post articles, place banner advertisements, sponsor lists and newsletters, distribute press releases, and much more. Keep in mind, though, that when you are first starting out, it is critical that you focus on one aspect of your marketing campaign at a time and promote it to its fullest extent before moving on to the next.

It is better to slowly become profitable by focusing on one issue at a time, than to barely be profitable because you are attacking all of the issues half-heartedly. Diversify and spend small amounts on advertising at first. If you use a cautious approach, you will not be wiped out financially if an ad doesn't generate the sales you were hoping for. Just keep testing ads as your budget allows until you find the one that works best; then you can roll it out and be confident that you are going to make money rather than lose it!

If you have a lot of competition, state that you will honor all of your competitors' coupons and/or discounts; use "their" advertising to your advantage. An age-old problem in business is collecting final payment for services rendered. As a business owner, you need to be prepared for "difficult" clients and "mooches" by doing such things as...

1. In your contract or sales agreements, state the interest rates and late fees that will be assessed if payment is not received within 30 days of completion.

2. Write form letters to be used for collecting the balance. There should be three letters in total -- one after the payment is ten days late, another after twenty days, and a third that lets the client know that you'll be turning their account over to a collection agency (or taking them to small claims court). The third letter should not be sent until 45 days after the payment is late. And of course, never bluff. If you say you will turn it over to a collection agency, do so.

3. The best way to protect yourself is to take payment via credit card. State to your client that you will bill their credit card one third of the total price as an initial down payment, another third just after you have passed the 50% completion point, and the final third on delivery. Or use the two-payment system -- half at the initiation of the job and the remainder upon completion.

That's how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

•Bridal Flowers Arrangements

2008-01-22T12:47:00.000+07:00

A wedding is a formal occasion, which is replete with several customs and traditions.These customs and traditions have been practiced for generations together and people still follow them with great reverence..

One of the most discussed features of the wedding is the bridal costume that has several finer details associated with it. Every aspect of the bridal costume reflects grace, beauty and classic touch. The white wedding gown, the white netted veil and the wedding flowers are all the integral features of a bridal costume. Yet another component that completes the image of a bride is the bridal bouquet that is carried by the bride while approaching the altar. The bridal bouquet has a special significance and selected by the bride herself.

Bridal Bouquet

Flowers have always been associated with human emotions and hence it is not surprising that they are an integral part of a wedding ceremony. Every silk flower or artificial flower stands for a specific attribute like roses stand for love, freesia represent trust while ferns stand for sincerity.
The task of creating a bridal bouquet is eagerly awaited by every bride and a great thought is put into selecting the right flowers for the bouquet. The bridal bouquet also carries a special significance and represents the blossoming of a young maiden. Also after the wedding is solemnized, while leaving the venue the bride throws the bouquet over her back among a group of unmarried girls and whoever catches it is the next to be married. Brides usually select their favorite flowers to incorporate in the bridal bouquet. The most commonly used flowers are roses, orchids, dried lavenders, lilies, geraniums and poinsettias.

Once the flowers have been selected they are clubbed together by adding fresh grapevines, ferns and leaves. These are the most natural elements that complement the flowers in the bouquets. Apart from these, the bouquets are also decorated with silk Flowers, laces, ribbons and silk materials that lend a royal touch to the bouquet. To enhance the bouquet it must be accessorized with these embellishments so that beauty of the flowers is accentuated.

Making the Right Bouquet

It is important that the bride follows a few tips while designing her bouquet in order to get it perfect. She can select the conventional, seasonal flowers or even artificial flowers, which would make her bouquet, look different. Sometimes brides also prefer wild flowers to give an exclusive look to their bouquets. It is also important to ensure that the bouquet matches the gown of the bride and also easy to carry. The bouquet must be compact and well covered so that it does not get damaged during the wedding. The modern trend is dominated by bright colors and exotic flowers like orchids and tropical flowers. The classic bridal bouquets comprise of flowers like roses and carnations usually in light pastel shades like pink, yellow or peach.

There are various types of bouquets available for brides like entire-rose bouquet, multi-colored bouquets and even white bouquets. When brides customize their bouquets, they must keep in mind the color and size of every flower. Brides can also consult a florist to make her bouquet the most beautiful and charming assortment.

•How To Find Fish

2008-01-22T12:41:00.000+07:00

Fishing Tip (Ice Fishing Tips) – Ice Fishing Depth Sounder

If you ever need a quick depth sounder when ice-fishing, you can make one with a small bobber and bell sinker..

Just attach the sinker to the bottom line retainer of the bobber and the hook or lure to the top retainer. This makes it easy to find the water’s depth.

Fishing Tip (Ice Fishing Tips) – Falling through the ice

If you are out with a buddy ice fishing – and there is a possibility of breaking ice, make sure to stay at least 10 feet apart to spread out your weight. You should also each carry long poles; they can be used to straddle the hole to help you climb out. Make sure to have a poncho, waterproof matches, safety pins, bandages, knife, candles, bouillon cubes, and cocoa or soup. Put all of them in a watertight metal can which can be used to heat water over a candle in an emergency.

Fishing Tip (Ice Fishing Tips) – Freezing

If you are an ice fisherman and consistently have problems with your hole freezing up – instead of pouring anti-freeze into the hole (which shuts down fishing action), use denatured alcohol. It is less expensive, has no odor or taste, and is available at any pharmacy.

Fishing Tip (Ice Fishing Tips) – Bait

If you are an ice fisherman (which 2 million people are in the U.S.), the following bait will bring you even more success.

For Bluegills use tiny ice spoons (1/32 to 1/80 of an ounce), ice flies or No. 10 or 12 gold hooks. Tip them with gall worms, crane fly larvae, mousies, mealworms, wax worms, or maggots. Fish the offering with a light tremble or quivering movement. Try levels from one to three feet off bottom, over depths o f10 to 20 feet. A murky or weedy bottom is best for them.

For crappies, use a Swedish Pimple jiggling spoon, Rapala ice fishing plug or live minnows fished on No. 2 to 6 hooks. Crappies can suspend at just about any depth, from a few feet below the ice to just off bottom, in water from five to 20 feet deep. Move often.

Yellow perch – use the same baits as for crappies and bluegills. Also try jigging spoons sweetened with the eye from a freshly caught perch or a tiny strip of meat sliced from a perch or bluegill.

Trout – shoal areas, the mouths of inlets, and points have produced the most rainbows, browns and brookies through the ice. You can catch them on about every kind of bait or lure you can think of. Wet flies and nymphs with a sp lit-shot crimped a foot above for weight are good, as are minnows, spinners, jigging spoons and ice rapalas.

Pickerel, Pike, Muskies – live minnows or dead ones rigged to hang horizontally in the water are the best producers. Tip-ups allow you to spread your baits over a wide area in weedy coves and on points where these predators rove under the frozen lake’s surface searching for prey.

Walleyes – reefs, points, inlets and outlets are good spots for ice walleyes. Live minnows, jigging Rapalas, Swedish Pimples, Hopkins and Gay Blades are consistent producers.

•What Is An Open Mind?

2008-01-10T23:34:00.000+07:00

An open mind is like an open well. It is easily contaminated by anything blowing in the wind. At least that is the problem with what many call an open mind..

For example, you may have heard someone called open minded because he believes in visitors from space, bending spoons with mind power, and "remote viewing." But isn't this more a sign of a gullible mind? Let's look at a healthier definition.

Open Mind - A Definition

We all like to think that we are open minded. Here is what that means according to a couple different dictionaries: 1. Receptive to new and different ideas or the opinions of others; 2. Not narrow or conservative in thought, expression, or conduct.

That sounds reasonable, and we might want to fit those definitions. The problem comes when we take this to mean that we must entertain any idea regardless of merit, or that believing in unlikely things is a sign of open-mindedness. Then we begin to give too much credit to faulty ideas and unsupportable beliefs in the name of having an open mind.

For example, I watched a program on crop circles the other day. These are circles and other geometric shapes of flattened crops that appear in fields around the world. For years many speculated that spaceships from other planets, "energy vortexes" and other outrageous things caused them. "Experts" claimed that they could not have been caused by humans. Much of the public bought into this hype in the name of having an open mind.

Of course when several individuals and groups finally claimed responsibility, and even showed exactly how they made the designs, they were ignored by many. Some people didn't have an open mind after all -at least not open to the most likely scenario. They wanted a particular answer (space aliens) or wanted the mystery to be maintained. To this day the tricksters make their designs only to have paranormal "experts" tromp into the fields the following day and proclaim that no human could have done it.

Note that being curious about the mystery, and speculating about possible causes is not the problem. Being "receptive to new and different ideas" is a good thing. Adopting beliefs without supporting evidence may not be, however. Being receptive to the idea that previously unknown forces can cause things to happen is open minded, but it would also be very closed-minded to exclude the possibility that there are more normal explanations - especially when the bulk of the evidence points to this.

So what does it mean to have an open mind? To be receptive to new ideas and to avoid narrowness of thought, certainly. But being open minded doesn't mean we have to accept ideas that make no sense, or adopt beliefs without any evidence or reason. And it has to mean at least that we are open to the possibility that the explanations we would like or which are more interesting may be wrong.

You have a brain that can analyze various possible explanations for things. An open mind may assure you that you consider all those possibilities, but it shouldn't prevent you from discarding those explanations without evidence in favor of those with evidence. In other words, it should never be an excuse to believe anything in the absence of good thinking.

•How To Find A Lost Diamond

2008-01-10T23:30:00.001+07:00

How my Grandpa saved Christmas after my aunt lost the diamond centerpiece from her engagement ring..

On Christmas Day, our entire family gathered in the living room of my grandpa's house to exchange gifts and stories. The children were laughing and climbing all over the furniture and the adults were eating sweets and gossiping when it happened.

My aunt Mary screamed at the top of her lungs!

Without saying any actual words, she held up her right hand to show everyone the tragedy - she had lost the diamond centerpiece from her engagement ring!

Of course the entire family came to her emotional rescue and got down on their hands and knees to search for the valuable gemstone. Although everyone was very eager to find the diamond, we rummaged around the entire room for over twenty minutes and came up short. Then Grandpa got to thinking... he used his best Dumpdiggers brand tactics to determine the solution to the problem.

Grandpa went upstairs and retrieved one of grandmother's nylon stockings. Next he opened the closet in the hall and fetched out the vacuum cleaner. He fastened the stocking on the end of the vacuum cleaner's nozzle. When Grandpa turned on the vacuum, about three inches of stocking was sucked up inside the nozzle, and out of sight. But Grandpa didn't care - he applied suction to the entire carpet, and the chair in which Mary had been sitting...

After six minutes, when Grandpa finally turned off the blessed machine, the diamond presented itself inside a lint ball of dust and cat hair, in the nozzle, sparkling brighter than ever on the surface of Grandma's nylon stocking!

•Writing Naturally

2008-01-10T23:15:00.000+07:00

Have you ever found yourself stuck in your writing like a child on a rocking horse?..

Rocking back and forth, writing and editing, and wondering why your story doesn't take you anywhere?

As a writer for a local weekly newspaper, I couldn't afford the luxury of writing and editing. I just had to write and worry about editing later; there's something about a deadline that moves you along.

So how do you learn to move beyond the wooden horse, to the real horse, that story or article that will take you across vistas where the sun sets in marmalade skies and where the grass ripples like a green sea?

As a painter, I've learned the value of painting from the right side of your brain. The right brain paints what it sees, whereas the left paints what it thinks it should be. I wondered to myself if there were something for writers along these same lines. I discovered there was.

Our brains are divided into two hemispheres right and left and are joined by a strange piece of gray matter called the corpus collusum. The corpus collusum acts like a switching station. In right-brain driven individuals it tends to be larger. The right brain could be referred to as the feminine or creative side (the writer) whereas the left-brain (the editor) could be referred to as the male or logical side.

The left brain provides us with language, syntax, denotation, analytical thought, logic, math, etc. In the right brain, we discover creativity, patterns of sound, metaphor, ambiguities, and paradox.

In right-brain painting classes the teacher gets you to let go of the image of what you think you see, to seeing only what is there and consequently drawing it. This is done by taking a picture, placing it upside down, and covering up all but a little portion of the picture. You begin to draw only what you see on the page. As you move along, you uncover a little more of the picture as you draw. Practice this sometime to learn to free up your right brain.

You may be wondering - do you write upside down? No - you don't. According to Gabrielle Lusser Rico, author of the book Writing The Natural Way, "if you can speak, form letters on the page, know the rudiments of sentence structure, take a telephone message, or write a thank-you note, you have sufficient language skills to learn to write the natural way."

In her first chapter, "Releasing Your Inner Writer," Rico describes the two different hemispheres of the brain as "Sign and Design" Mind. She describes the interplay between the two hemispheres and lets us know that any good solid writing is collaboration between these two talents of the two hemispheres.

In her second chapter lay the real gems. Here's where we learn to "cluster" or "map" our creative thinking process. She calls clustering the "doorway to your design mind." The method she utilizes begins with a "nucleus word" or short phrase that "acts as the stimulus for recording all the associations that spring to mind in a very brief period of time."

You take your nucleus word or phrase and write it in the middle of a page, drawing a circle around it. Then you let yourself free associate. Every thought, feeling, or idea that comes from that word you write down in little bubbles away from that "nucleus word" but attached by a line. You keep going until you feel the shift in your mind to quit. You may have to do this several times before you recognize the feeling. It's ok - tell yourself it's just play.

She tells us that this methodology is not "merely the spilling of words and phrases at random, but something much more complex: for the Design mind, each association leads inexorably to the next with a logic of its own even though the Sign mind does not perceive the connection." This is learning to write from the creative side of your brain.

This methodology of clustering is like throwing a rock into a pond, it unfolds from the center, each ripple, or thought moving outward. After the completion of the clustering, (and you will learn to know when this occurs), you write a vignette, a poem, whatever strikes you, using the words from your clustering spider web and whatever else comes out of you.

What you'll find is an interesting piece, almost like poetry, with an undiscovered beauty emanating from within you. It's a very rewarding experience.

With enough practice, you won't even need to do the "clustering" approach, as you'll be able to feel the shift internally into that hemisphere of the brain, not unlike shifting into high gear.

Peter Elbow, the author of "Writing with Power" says, "When we were little we had no difficulty sounding the way we felt; thus most little children speak and write with real voice."

Read your writing aloud. Words are meant to be spoken aloud. When you hear it, you'll hear those places where it doesn't flow and you'll feel it. They'll stick out of your sentences and paragraphs like stickers in your socks.

As a writer - it's also important that you allow yourself time. Time to practice, time to play, time to perfect. With time, you'll discover yourself as a writer. You'll find your voice. You'll lift it to sing.

Try different things. Write poetry. Write a movie critique. Write a story. Try writing a newspaper article, a how-to. Try describing the indescribable. Challenge yourself. There's nothing that says you have to show it to anybody. Most professional writers (and best-selling authors) have scads of journals they wouldn't even show their best friends.

Writing doesn't necessarily mean sculpting every word from your mind with a chisel. Your head is not a rock. Be gentle with yourself. Enjoy, kick back, let loose, try this clustering method, learn to relax that muscle between your ears, and who knows, one day, all of sudden, you just might find yourself writing.

Naturally.

•Planning Your Publicity

2008-01-10T23:12:00.000+07:00

Now that we're at the end of the year, it's a great time to plan your publicity for 2008..

With all the talk about the immediacy of a story, and the unbelievable speed that news pieces make it onto TV and radio, we often forget that for most media, lead times are crucial. Lead times can vary from a day to six months depending on the media you're pitching. Generally women's magazines have the longest lead times, sometimes as much as four to six months.

If you want to find out what magazine lead times are, call their advertising department and get a copy of their media kit. This will not only tell you when advertising deadlines are (signaling your submission cut-off) but it will also show you what stories to pitch when. Generally magazines will try and coordinate advertising to coincide with their themes, so if you have a story about the benefits of yoga, you might want to dig through the advertising calendar and see if they're planning to address it in a future issue.

Once you define your publicity targets and get an idea of what to pitch when, you'll want to open up a calendar and start circling dates that will matter to your story. Get creative with this! Often dates are overlooked because they may seem too small (like peanut butter and jelly day) but everyone's competing for the biggies: Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc. so why not add some off-beat holidays to your pitching calendar and see what happens? If you're looking for every holiday under the sun (including international ones) try downloading the Calgoo calendar - this is a free program used to sync Outlook with your Google calendar - but an additional benefit of it is that it comes loaded with every imaginable holiday. A great tool to start your planning session!

Once you define holidays/seasons/events you want to pitch your story to, you'll also want to be cognizant of the appropriate seasons and what the media is looking for. Here's a brief outline of all four seasons as well as suggested targets/pitches. Keep in mind that breaking news stories and global events may slant these times considerably, but barring that, the seasonal angles tend to remain fairly consistent.

January – March

The first season of the year is pretty quiet. The holidays are over and much of the media is looking ahead and looking to summer with getting fit and weight loss stories, as well as New Year's resolutions, getting organized and of course – the looming tax season. This is a very "anything goes" time of year, so if you weren't able to sell fluff pieces during the holidays, you might want to try and repitch them now.

April – June

With major companies releasing their first quarter earnings (and hogging all the news space) this could be a tough time to get in. As April 15th looms out there you'll see a lot of stories addressing taxes, saving on taxes, and everything financial, but once that date comes and goes the media will start looking ahead to summer stories and "spring fever" pieces.

July – September

With summer in full swing we'll see a lot of lighter business stories, celebrity stories, trend pieces, and back to school. This is a fantastic time to pitch since many pr firms and media folk are on vacation. They still need stories but have less people pitching and less folks to field those pitches so if you can get your story in and it needs very little work you could be a shoe-in to get some coverage.

October – December

Many pr people think that this is the heaviest time of the year, but I tend to disagree. I think that the media is hungry for anything related to the holidays, end of year perspective, getting your life in order, New Year's resolutions (yet again) as well as the next year's prediction stories, etc. You'll also see a lot of best and worst of for the prior year. Relationship experts - now is your time to shine! With all the family gatherings there’s a big call for getting along, making family relationships better/stronger as well as navigating the busy holiday season and still keeping your sanity.

Keep in mind that while we've only addressed media, these rules apply to online media as well as events you might do. It's much easier to get someone interested in something they're already interested in, and by coordinating your efforts, you'll have a much stronger and focused campaign. Planning your media for the upcoming year is one of the best things you can do before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st. It'll not only keep your campaign fresh but also tightly focused. With a plan in place, you'll be ready to hit the ground running after January 1!

Wishing you a super-successful New Year!

•The Truth of Divorce

2008-01-10T23:08:00.000+07:00

Baseless Myths

Women Suffer More Emotionally than Men: Since ancient times, women have been described as being emotionally sensitive..

Sociologists argue that this reason attributed to the subordination of women in ancient society. Women were supposed to be immature and ill-equipped to handle responsibilities. This feature was prominent in patriarchal societies.

The woman was touted as being weak cognitively, emotionally and physically. She was always supposed to be protected by the male. In the beginning, it was her father, then her husband and in later years her son. She could not live and shoulder duties herself. But this view is baseless. Modern sociologists shatter this myth. They argue that both the genders have equal proportions of emotionality.

Women are not the weaker gender in an emotional capacity. In fact, they are resilient. They have the emotional reserves to withstand betrayal and shock. Men are not as resilient as women. They also tend to suffer an emotional setback. They find it harder to accept that the spouse has left them.

Sociologists state that men have to nurture and build their emotional strength. Women are born with this emotional strength. Studies show that men and women suffer mentally and emotionally from divorce. Their behavioural methods of reaction may be different.

Men may become more withdrawn. They tend to become loners undergoing traumatic phases of depression. Women, in contrast, tend to reach out. Emotional battering makes them extrovert in nature. They tend to develop and widen their social circle. They draw their emotional strength from this support group.

Both genders are likely to fall prey to alcohol and substance abuse. A major difference is that women are able to accept their deep emotional scarring. They usually seek professional intervention. Men do not. Men live in denial. They pretend that the divorce has had no effect on them.

Family forces men into therapy usually. Marriage counsellors state that an average of 54% of women and men divorcers suffer from the same emotional setbacks. There is no concrete evidence to prove this myth true.

Ex-spouses are Always Hostile towards Each Other: Social psychologists argue that divorce cannot be pleasant. Usually, 89% of divorces are settled at an acrimonious level. The ex-spouses begin post-divorce life wrought with bitterness. They cannot stand each other. They tend to harm each other in a direct or indirect manner.

Sociologists insist that the type of divorce determines the level of hostility. Hostility does not exist in cases of uncontested divorces. Here, both spouses want the divorce and agree mutually to every marital issue. The divorce is uncontested and amicable.

On the other hand, contested divorces are bitter. The respondent is drawn into the divorce. Usually, contested divorces involve a bitter and hostile trial hearing. The Family Solicitors of London state that this happens as spouses disagree on the level of importance accorded to the marriage. But this acrimony is short-lived.

It usually lasts for a period of eight months to a year. It is situation and location-specific. The presence of children forces ex-spouses to maintain cordial relations with each other. But the image of ex-spouses flying at each other's throats does not hold up. Ex-spouses just cannot stand each other. They are not bosom buddies.

Usually, exes become calm and serene when their own life post-divorce settles down. They tend to become forgiving when they have a good job, a new comfortable residence and a secure future. They are altruistic and do not hate the ex. They simply do not acknowledge his or her existence if not forced to.

This does not mean that they are hostile towards one another. They do not accord any importance to their ex in their life. The ex-spouse is just another acquaintance who has no influence on them.

Men Tend to Remarry More than Women: This myth is untrue. It exists only in general perception. Studies reveal that 19% of both men and women divorcers tend to remarry. The duration after which they remarry differs. Men tend to jump back into the dating arena soon after divorce. A longitudinal study to this effect shows that men tend to engage in physical encounters frequently post-divorce. Men tend to marry women similar in nature to their ex-spouse. They unconsciously seek younger versions of exes.

They tend to remarry after six months of divorce. In comparison, women divorcers are cautious. They also remarry. They tend to go back to dating after a year. They end up marrying socially and financially mature men after two years of divorce. They are content to date and wait. They are not eager to get married again soon after the divorce.

•Success Is Simple!

2008-01-10T23:04:00.000+07:00

Are you determined to become a mega success story?..

Then this article will show you the simplest formula for reaching heights of success you've only dreamed about.

Remember that simplicity is not the same thing as ineffectiveness, for true power lies in simplicity. As the saying goes, "Common sense is not always common practice."

Let's begin.

Psychologist Arnold H. Glasgow has said, "Success is simple: do what's right, the right way, at the right time."

That's a simple concept, yet very profound.

The quote lays out three easy steps to simplify success, but those steps must be integrated to work effectively ' you can't afford to skip even one of them.

The first step is to do what is right. If you skip the FIRST and most important step, you're eliminating your chances to succeed.

But how do you know what is right for you?

Simply put, the decisions you make every day must match with your true purpose in life. Every action you take must enhance and solidify who you are and what you were meant to accomplish in this life.

When you have a purpose, your actions naturally become more powerful because they are focused and united to fulfill a sole objective. Consequently, you achieve faster and better results.

The second step is to do it the right way. If you skip this step, you'll find yourself in a never-ending loop of trial and error where you'll just keep re-inventing the wheel, instead of re-inventing yourself.

It has often been said that the easiest way to become successful is to find someone who is already successful and follow in his footsteps.

Take that advice and learn from the best. Look for successful people who have reached the same level of success you want to reach, and learn from both their mistakes and their accomplishments. Imitate their lives, learn their methods, and discover their secrets.

The third and last simple step to success is to choose the right time. Take small actions every single day that lead you toward fulfilling your purpose. Prepare yourself so that when the right opportunity presents itself, you'll be ready to seize it and ride it to unimaginable levels of success. The right time to start taking action is NOW. Even the smallest action can make a big difference. Don't worry about the magnitude of your every move; focus instead on the collective power of all your small actions combined.

"Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time."

Do what is right by discovering your true purpose in life.

Do it the right way by learning from the best.

Do it at the right time by taking small actions and preparing yourself to seize opportunity when it presents itself.

Can success be that simple?

It can be if you start NOW!

•Famous Love Quotes

2008-01-03T17:26:00.000+07:00

Love is like flower which blooms at least once in everybody's life, this is the time when one feels on the seventh heaven and ninth cloud..

When you fall in love it is very obvious you would like to express or pour your heart out for the one who rules your heart. The famous love quotes express the deepest feeling which mere words cannot do it. These can be added in your love letters, can be send as text message through your cell phone and will strike the arrow of cupid to the one whom you are madly in love with. Love is such an expression which has no restriction of age. Anybody can express their love either a teenager to his girlfriend or an eighty year old man to his wife. One person in love can understand another person's feeling and the emotions he is going through and these emotions give birth to love quotes and speak volume of about those who are enjoying this bliss. A lot is written about different subject like life, happiness, sorrows, death, vices and virtues but what remains favorite is the subject love. "At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet "is a famous love quote by Plato it is very true as and when the person falls in love all his feelings come out in the form of poem. Love quotes can be in any language but the feeling remains the same. It is not easy to define love but these quotes describe every mood of it. It is very true when Henry Ward Beecher says, "I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love". Like the image of god you worship your love, Some quotes are elaborate and have the complete essence of the expression of love. Like Houssaye says "tell me whom you love and I will tell you who are you" the person to whom you love show the kind of person you are. "Love is like a mustard seed; planted by God and watered by men." This quote depicts the intense feeling and his involvement in love and maturity to understand this feeling. While some quotes are very zesty and striking. "I was nauseous and tingly all over. I was either in love or I had smallpox." - Woody Allen It doesn't matter if you are newly fallen in love or bask in the glory and passion of love you can include such quotes either in your e-card or valentine cards and cherish your love. There are some quotes with the tinge of humors, which gives an opportunity for both the lover and the beloved to smile and brings joy and fun in your relationship. "I married the first man I ever kissed. "When I tell this to my children, they just about throw up." - Barbara Bush. "We don't believe in rheumatism and true love until after the first attack." - Marie E. Eschenbach, the humor in the quote will the romantic and humor side like the one in "Gravitation can not be held responsible for people falling in love." - Albert Einstein You can send these quotes along with beautiful red rosés to express the most beautiful expression , that is "LOVE" Looking for more information on Famous Love Quotes check out www.FAMOUS-LOVE-QUOTES.NET your guide to Famous Love Quotes.

•Marketing Strategies

2008-01-03T17:23:00.000+07:00

Business owners need to use a variety of marketing strategies in order to build a successful business. Many business owners do not use multiple marketing strategies when building a business. This is a key reason most businesses end up failing..

Marketing strategies are essential when building a business. Having one marketing strategy is great but in order to make the most out of your business you should employ lots of different marketing strategies. Your marketing strategies do not have to be complicated, in fact the simpler the better. Having a complex marketing strategy does not necessarily mean it will achieve better results. In most cases the most basic marketing strategies have achieved high levels of success for me. There are many ways to market both offline and online. You should use a combination of both to reach the most consumers. Your marketing strategies should also be tailored towards your targeted consumer base.

Your offline marketing strategies should include flyers, letters, business cards, and drop cards.Flyers are great to pass out at large events, depending on what you are selling. For instance conventions are perfect for flyers. Passing out flyers at ball games, malls, and church events is not really effective unless your product is in line with one of those themes. Finding a convention inline with what you are selling is priceless. For instance if you sell computers, passing out flyers at a convention centered around computers would help you increase sales. Setting up a booth would also help. Sending actual letters to your current customers and local community is also a great way to find new and repeat business. Lastly sponsoring events for your local sports teams, youth organizations and churches is a great way to build a relationship with your local community. Free promotional give always are a great way to gain new customers. Take a look at Mc Donald's they do an excellent job of this with the free toy which comes with every happy meal. And their monopoly game brings in huge amounts of business. The key is to offer people something they want, like a free appliance or something. Promotional giveaways can really help bring new business to you.

Some online marketing strategies are writing press releases. Press releases are a great way to get your business out in the open. Another way to get free publicity although it is not online marketing is to build relationships with your local papers. Having a paper write a story about your business will give you instant creditability and lots of exposure. Using Pay Per Click is also a great way to build your business online. With pay per click you must know what you are doing or have someone who knows what they are doing in order to be effective. You will also need at least a budget of 1,000 dollars a month depending on what keywords you are going after.

These are some very basic marketing strategies but they can be very effective if used properly.

•Interview Thank-You Letters

2008-01-03T11:07:00.000+07:00

The number one etiquette tip for interviews is writing a thank-you letter. This is not a tool commonly used by job seekers right now. If you are looking for an advantage and a way to stick out above the other job applicants then follow up your interview by showing appreciation and courtesy..

The letter should be written and sent within 24 hours of your interview and sent to all people who either interviewed you or helped you out in the process. If it is not appropriate to send a letter to everyone who was involved with your interview, then just send one to the highest-ranking interviewer.

Writing to the employer is another way to showcase skills and competency in communication and your career. Make sure your letter is understandable, easy to read and professional yet personal. Now that you have met the person or people you are writing to it is okay to include some personalization. The letter format should include the following:

* First, express your sincere appreciation for the interview.

* Second, reemphasize your best qualifications for the position requirements.

* Third, reiterate your enthusiasm and interest in the job. At this time you may want to offer additional information not previously given.

* Fourth, once again mention your appreciation.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Address

Date

Interviewer’s Name
Title
Business
Address

Dear Mr. Henley,

I want to thank you for the chance to be interviewed for the assistant project manager position yesterday. It was a pleasure to meet you and become more familiar with your business and its services.

My interest in working for you and meeting all your needs and requirements for the position increased after the interview. I think my past experience and education has prepared me well to fill the position and I would work hard to make a significant contribution to your business.

I want to restate my interest in the position and become a part of your team. The position holds many opportunities that I am seeking. If you need, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 511-555-1151 or fclancy@e-mail.com for any additional information.

Thanks again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

(Signature)
Fred Clancy

•The Basics Of Good Writing

2008-01-03T10:54:00.000+07:00

I regularly have people asking me how to write well. To be honest, I also don't have the standard answer. But I do have some tips that I can share, and maybe that can shed some light on the basics of good writing..

Preparation phase 1. Who is your target audience? 2. Why are you writing for this audience? 3. What is the nature of the writing? (narrative, argumentative, expository etc.) 4. What are the key points in your writing? 5. Which are your supporting documents?

You must have all the answers to these questions before you begin your first draft. By this way, at least you will feel more confident to start and respond to any challenges later in the writing (i.e. writer's block).

Plotting & Writing phase

Write it such that when you read it aloud, people want to read it. Good marketers will tell you that there is the secret to basic advertising. The greatest difference between essays wrote in school, and essays wrote for business is that while teachers are often forced to be the audience for the former, the later does not have a fixed audience; the corporate writer must instead make people feel interested to read his article. If there is no audience, then any piece of writing, no matter how brilliant was the analysis or style, it has lost its purpose. You can do this by knowing your target audience well, and then think in their shoes; what would attract them the most? Finally, fine spray your articles with the keywords and ideas specially crafted for your audience. Always put your audience in the first place when you write.

Always eliminate unnecessary words. This is to prevent repetition and refrain from making the reader think that he is wasting his time to read this essay. An ideal article would be such that the original meaning was conveyed to the reader, not one more word could be added nor taken off from the article.

Never stop. If you ever experience writer's block, always carry on writing and not think about it. If the problem gets worse instead, try this method I always use: Forget about the opening, write down all your main points first. Then visualise clearly in your mind the human body with all its bones, blood and flesh. Now imagine the key points are your bones; all you have to do now is to flesh out the bones, that is to further develop and elaborate on the key points. Keep on writing until all the points have been fully explained. Now you should be very sure of your opening and ending, and then add these sections in. Bingo! Your essay is done. Writing, is as simple as putting Lego bricks together.

Lastly, always edit and proof read your drafts. No masterpiece was finished by the first try. Even professionals must do several drafts, before they settled on one. Editing is extremely useful because not only can you experiment different styles of writing, but also you get to correct all your errors more effectively.

Hopefully, with these tips you can write even better. If you have better suggestions, send me a mail too. Thanks and happy writing!

•Sample Model 3

2008-01-02T13:35:00.000+07:00

Possitive answer for requesting proposal.
- Jawaban positif untuk permintaan usulan..

PT NUGATIGA
Jl. Ambarawa Timur 8
Jakarta Utara, Indonesia
_____________________________________________________________________

June 25, 2003

Mr. Jack Sorrow
PT Yellow Jackets
Jl. Depok Raya 1
Depok

Dear Mr. Sorrow:

Thank you for requesting our proposal to set up your monitoring system. We appreciate the opportunity to describe our service program an will submit a proposal on June 29, 2003.

Sincerely,

Imron Jatayu M
Marketing Manager

•Sample Model 2

2008-01-02T13:17:00.000+07:00

To Thank for payment and inform an overpayment.
- Ucapan Terima kasih atas pembayaran yang telah dilakukan dan pemberitahuan kelebihan pembayaran..

PT NUGATIGA
Jl. Tebet Barat 123
Jakarta, Indonesia
_____________________________________________________________________

August 13, 2001

Mr. John Doe
AAA, Inc.
793 Main Street
New York, NY. 6565

Dear Mr. Doe:

Thank you for your payment of our July 3, 2001, invoice number DD-2567. We note, however, an overpayment. The amount due is $880.00, whereas your bank draft total is $980.00,. Therefore, our bank draft refunding the overpayment of $100.00 is enclosed.

We appreciated the opportunity to handle your order and hope that you'll call us again when we can be of further service.

Sincerely,

Prabu Siliwangi
General Manager

•Sample Model 1

2008-01-02T12:55:00.000+07:00

To give thank's for sending price list and distribution schedule.
- Ucapan terima kasih atas kiriman daftar harga dan jadwal distribusi yang sudah diterima..

Sample :

PT NUGATIGA
Jl. Jend. Sudirman 333
Jakarta, Indonesia
____________________________________________________________________

November 18, 2001

Mr. Andrew White
Supervision, Inc.
432 main Street
New York, NY. 2222

Dear Mr. White

Thanks very much for sending the price list and distribution schedule that I requested. They'll both be a big help when I'm working on our budget.

I realy appreciate your quick response, Mr. White. The information is just what I needed.

Regards,

Suratman Setiawan
General Manager

•Business Memo Format

2008-01-02T12:22:00.000+07:00

The business memorandum is essentially an "internal" business letter. The "memo" as it is usually called, is the key internal communication tool in most businesses and institutions. In fact, the business memo is arguably the most important communications instrument in an organization..

Memoranda are used to: announce, inform, advise, quantify, delegate, direct, discipline, instruct, request and transmit. In short, if something needs to be communicated and/or recorded formally in an organization, it is done with a memo.

In many large organizations the corporate memorandum is the key "power instrument" when it comes to internal politics. Entire careers, and multi-million dollar programs, often hinge on the wording of a single memorandum.

Most large organizations have their own corporate format for their memos. The following is a recommended format for a generic internal business memorandum.

When reviewing this sample memo, please note that I have included a signature line at the bottom. Many organizations don't require this signature line on a memo. I personally believe that a memo should have a signature on the bottom if it is to have maximum impact and credibility.

The above business memo format sample was copied directly from my business writing style guide Instant Business Letter Kit. That Kit contains almost 200 pages of business letter writing tips, techniques and information, including more than 100 real-life fully-formatted business letter templates that you can instantly download into your word processing program and work with as you please.

•Tips,Writing a Letter Reference

2008-01-02T11:59:00.000+07:00

In today's competitive job market, job applicants are forced to use every available tool to be successful. A letter of recommendation must be taken seriously. It could mean the difference between being hired or being rejected. Print a copy of these tips for anyone you ask to serve as a reference..

1. The appearance of a letter is a reflection on both you and the candidate and it can also determine whether it will be read or not. Please type your recommendation.

2. Include your affiliation/relationship with the person. Were you a supervisor? President of the company? Adviser? Professor? It is important to indicate this because a professor may see the academic skills while a supervisor may be able to identify work habits.

3. Give honest and factual information. When approached to write a recommendation, ask yourself if you honestly know the person's qualities. If you have not had much contact with the person you cannot give an accurate description. It would be better to decline to write a recommendation than to write a vague or irrelevant one.

4. Have the person give you a list of accomplishments, organizations that he/she belongs to, or any other relevant information. It might surprise you to see how much that person has done outside of your contact with them. This can also help you get a more accurate picture of the individual. Having the person give you a copy of his/her resume is an easy way to have this information at hand.

5. Concentrate on several different aspects of the person. Specifically identify his/her skills, attitudes, personal attributes, and growth, as well as his/her contributions to and performance within your organization. Also, if you do make negative comments, back them up with facts.

6. Don't reference characteristics that can be the basis of discrimination, such as race, color, nationality, gender, religion, age, appearance, any handicapping condition, marital or parental status, or political point of view.

7. Beware of the power of words! Some words seem harmless in every day conversation, but carry positive or negative connotations to a prospective employer.

Avoid bland words such as:
nice, good, fairly, reasonable, decent, satisfactory

Use powerful words such as:
articulate, effective, sophisticated, intelligent, observant, significant, expressive, creative, efficient, cooperative, imaginative, assertive, dependable, mature, innovative

8. The following list of attributes (compiled by the National Association of Colleges and Employers) is often listed by employers as tools on which to base eventual selection. So, these are excellent points to address:
* ability to communicate
* intelligence
* self-confidence
* willingness to accept responsibility
* initiative
* leadership
* energy level
* imagination
* flexibility
* interpersonal skills
* self-knowledge
* ability to handle conflict
* goal achievement
* competitiveness
* appropriate vocational skills
* direction.

9. A recent national publication (1991 ASCUS Annual) listed the following eight intangibles as important when evaluating teaching candidates:
* empathy,
* native intelligence,
* a divergent, abstract thinking style,
* a high level of commitment,
* the ability to be a "self-starter,"
* a high energy level,
* the recognition that excellence is a journey, not a destination, and
* the potential ability to lead.

10. Return the recommendation promptly, because a job may depend on the punctuality of the recommendation.

Sample Reference Letter

[Roger Jansen]

[Disabled American Veterans, 1185 Matt Urban Drive, Holland, Michigan 49423]

[(616) 396-2714]

To whom it may Concern,

I have known [Deborah Hamlin] for [ten years]. [Deborah Hamlin] is very prompt and dependable, and is a perfect candidate for the [Clerical Assistant position]. [Deborah] has a unique ability to connect and understand with any group of people. [Deborah] is very patient and positive at all times. [Deborah] has an exceptional ability to learn any task and come up to speed with any situation quickly. [Deborah's] special ability to lead in difficult circumstances further helps to differentiate [her] from other colleagues. I strongly recommend [Deborah Hamlin] as a highly qualified candidate.

Thank You,

[Referrer’s Signature]

[Roger Jansen]

[12/4/2007]

•Sample Application Letter

2007-12-30T23:33:00.000+07:00

An application letter should be written as a standard business letter or personal letter and should not normally exceed one page.In a typical job application situation, the application letter can include attachments that relate directly to the contents of the letter such as: resume, CV, career brief, biography, etc. Application letters are sometimes referred to as cover letters or introduction letters when they are used to apply for a job..

1450 Vanguard Rd.
Apt. 2550
Bulverde TX 78163

November 20, 2006

Mr. Frank Hopkins
Director, Sales and Marketing
Mountain Electronics Inc.
Denver, CO 80222

Dear Frank Hopkins:

Please regard this as an application for the position of District Sales Manager that was recently advertised on Monster.com.

Based on the requirements stated in the ad, I believe that I possess a unique mix of experience, knowledge, and skills that can definitely help your company in the critical customer service area.

Experience, skills, and abilities that I can offer your company include:

20 years of experience in the sales and marketing, 6 of those in sales management;

Selling services to commercial, institutional, and consumer markets;

A record of consistently meeting or exceeding sales quotas;

Extensive team management and team building experience;

Excellent grasp of "one to one" customer relationship management concepts and techniques;

Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, multi-tasking environment.

The enclosed resume provides more details on the above, as well as on other experience, skills, and abilities that I possess.

I am confident that my ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with customers will benefit Mountain Electronics Inc. as it has my previous employers. I believe that my excellent record of success in closing sales, winning back customers from competitors, and increasing market share, clearly demonstrates my proven ability to meet and resolve customer challenges and add to a company's bottom-line.

After you've reviewed my resume, I would welcome an opportunity to discuss your company's goals and talk to you about the value that I can bring to MEI. Let's talk soon!

If I haven't heard from you by early December I will contact your office to see if we can set up an appointment at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Alan Gustafson

Encl.

•Follow-Up Letters

2007-12-30T22:50:00.000+07:00

Win Job Offers

A surefire way to separate yourself from a sea of other qualified candidates is to write a follow-up letter after an interview. Most job seekers neglect to write a letter, assuming that once they leave the interviewer’s office the interview is over. Well, it isn’t..

The interview process extends beyond the one-on-one meeting and it is up to you to keep your candidacy in the forefront of the decision-maker’s mind. An effective follow-up letter serves two purposes:

(1) It reminds the interviewer of your skills, knowledge and abilities; with the number of candidates they are interviewing, it can be easy to get lost in the crowd.

(2) It demonstrates that you remain interested in working for the company and that you were impressed by the organizational culture.

There are several slants the follow-up letter can take, including the following:

• Thank the interviewer(s) for the time they took to meet with you and for giving you the opportunity to learn more about the organization and the open position.

• Reiterate your interest in the position and draw parallels between what you have to offer and the organization’s immediate needs.

• Address a concern that came up during the interview or offer new information to a question that was asked during the interview.

Most job seekers don’t follow up because they don’t want to do the wrong thing. So instead of risking making a bad impression, they choose not to follow up at all.

Common questions most job seekers have about following up include:

1) Should I e-mail, hand-write, or type, print, and mail my follow-up letter? The answer is, it depends. With so many ways of sending communications, you may feel confused as to how to send a follow-up letter. Send an e-mail when a hiring decision is going to be made within the week. This will ensure that your letter gets read before it’s too late. A handwritten note works well if you have nice handwriting and if you’re sending a card with a quick note; I wouldn’t recommend handwriting a note on loose-leaf paper. My favorite, if time allows, is a typed letter that you send through regular mail. The reason why I prefer this method is that it is easy to for a decision-maker to delete an e-mail but most likely, a snail-mailed letter will end up in your file. Again, a snail-mailed letter is not always possible, so do the next best thing and e-mail the letter instead.

2) After interviewing at a company, should I send a letter to all interviewers? Yes. You should send a letter to each interviewer because each one has his/her own concerns and reasons for participating in the selection process. For example, a direct supervisor may be looking for a new hire that will make her look good to the powers that be. On the other hand, a peer will be looking for a coworker he can get along with when participating in work activities or when grabbing a beer during Friday night happy hour. Having two different audiences means that you can—and should—create two different follow-up letters.

Sample Follow-Up Letter

Ms. Barbara Cortes
ABC Corporation
876 Lakeland Street
Hauppauge, NY 11787

Dear Ms. Cortes:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me regarding the paralegal position at Collado, Collado, & Fiore, LLC. After meeting with you and discussing the set requirements, I noted several similarities between your requirements and my past experience.

From our discussion, it seems you are seeking a paralegal that has experience in supporting trial proceedings by organizing evidence for case review; preparing exhibits; maintaining relationships with experts; and scheduling witnesses and ensuring they are present and ready when needed. In my current position with Allen & Associates, I am required to perform all those responsibilities in addition to juggling and managing numerous legal tasks.

Be assured that I can be counted on to get the job done under demanding schedules, and I would enjoy the opportunity to do the same for your organization. What you will expect and get from me as a member of your team is dedication, enthusiasm, and professionalism.

Again, thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I remain interested in participating in the next round of interviews. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Michele Martinez

Final thought Don’t underestimate the power of an effective follow-up letter. They have been known to win job offers.

•Sales Letters And Fonts

2007-12-30T22:44:00.000+07:00

One of my customers asked me a question about font choice for her sales letter the other day and this got me to thinking about the purpose of a sales letter..

No matter what you are selling your sales letter has a job to do, and it needs to do that job in the most efficient manner possible ¡V this means that it has to get read. For your visitor to want to read your sales letter (or web page) you not only need to have a good headline and high quality content but that content must be presented in a way that is easy to read on the computer screen.

This means you need to use fonts that are easy to read and relaxing on the eyes...

Don't use fonts that are too small - I've got good eyes but I don't want to sit with my nose pressed against the screen just to read your message. By the same token I don't want to sit, so far away from my computer that I can't reach the keyboard because you've used too large a font either!

Generally speaking anything written in a size 12 to 14 will be easy to read, but you do need to be aware that a size 12 'Times New Roman' font has a lower readability factor on the computer screen than say a size 12 'Verdana'.

This is partly because one is a serif and the other is a sans serif font, but also due to the fact that, letter for letter, the size 12 'Verdana' font is physically bigger than the size 12 'Times New Roman' font.

Sans Serif Versus Serif Fonts.

Many people, myself included, are confused when people talk about serif and sans serif fonts - just what are they?

In a nutshell, a serif font is a font that has extended lines at the end of characters.

For instance if you look at the letter 'E' in a Serif font such as 'Times New Roman' you will see that the middle horizontal line of the 'E' has little vertical lines added to the end of it.

If you now look at the same letter 'E' typed in a Sans Serif font such as 'Verdana' you will not see the small vertical lines added to the middle horizontal line of the letter.

Most studies show that 'Serif' fonts are easier to read than 'Sans Serif' fonts, therefore they are more often used for longer bodies of text.

However, Dr. Ralph F. Wilson did some research in 2001 on the readability of different fonts on computer screens and the results were a little different than expected.

He found that comparing a size 12 'Times Roman' (Serif) to a size 12 'Arial' (Sans Serif) there was a 2 to 1 factor of readability in favour of the 'Arial' font.

Now this flies in the face of conventional wisdom until you consider, as mentioned earlier, that size for size the 'Times Roman' font is physically smaller than other fonts.

Unfortunately no comparisons are listed for a size 14 'Times New Roman' font compared to a size 12 'Arial' font which can make the results seem a little skewed.

Not All Computers Are 'Loaded' With Obscure Font Faces.

When selecting the choice of font for your sales letter or web page you should keep in mind that the majority of computers do not have hundreds of different fonts loaded. Because of this, if you choose to use an obscure font in your copy you run the risk of not having your sales letter appear on your prospects computer screen.

Alternatively it may appear with a substituted font in place of your chosen one which can make the layout and legibility very suspect to say the least.

For these reasons it is wise to stick to the most common fonts so that you can ensure most people will be able to read a pleasant looking sales letter or web page.

Some of the easiest to read fonts on computers are:

Arial (Sans Serif)

Verdana (Sans Serif)

Tahoma (Sans Serif)

Courier New (Serif)

Georgia (Serif)

Times New Roman (Serif)

I myself prefer to use 'Tahoma' for headlines and sub-headlines with the main body being typed in 'Times New Roman'.

This ensures that there is a major contrast between the body text and the headlines which is important, not only because you want to catch peoples eye with your headlines, but also because many people skim through your sales letter looking only at the headlines and sub-headlines.

They are looking for items of interest and if they don't see any they will simply click away.

To further emphasise your sub-headlines and help your readers skim through your sales copy you need to also choose a different colour for them, a personal favourite of mine is a darker red colour (hex code #BA0003) which doesn't shout 'Danger' at the reader.

Another tip is to highlight or otherwise decorate words and phrases that you want your readers to sit up and take notice of as they read your words.

Words that are "hot buttons" should be decorated to grab your prospect's attention by using font characters such as bold, italic, underline, different colour, different size, or highlight.

Don't go overboard with this though and do be sure to test any changes you make against a 'standard'' version of your letter to see which one gets the best results.

•Letters of Reference

2007-12-30T22:26:00.001+07:00

Writing Power Phrases.

As a result of writing literally hundreds of letters of reference over the years, I am aware that there are certain common elements and approaches that are applicable to almost all such letters..

If you look closely at most reference and recommendation letters you will notice that there are certain "types" of phrases that recur over and over again, throughout the various letters.

These statement types can be grouped into three major categories: opening statements, assessment statements, and closing statements. These statements are the three key components of any letter of reference. If you formulate these phrases well you are guaranteed to have an excellent letter.

OPENING STATEMENTS

The opening statement in a letter of reference should state the name of the person being recommended. It can also explain why you are the person writing the letter. The opening statement should normally be one short sentence and should never exceed two sentences.

Following are three generic typical opening statements for inclusion in reference letters:

• “I am writing this letter at the request of [name of requestor].”

• “This is in response to your recent request for a letter of reference for [name].”

• “I am pleased to be able to write this letter of reference for [name].”

ASSESSMENT STATEMENTS

Assessment statements in a letter of reference are those sentences and phrases that contain the recommender's specific assessment of the performance, characteristics, and attributes of the person being recommended.

Normally an assessment statement will be followed up by one or two specific performance-related examples backing up the statement just made.

Following are three generic typical assessment statements for inclusion in letters of reference:

• “In my opinion, [name] is a hard-working self-starter who invariably understands exactly what a project is all about.”

• “[name] consistently produces high quality work in a timely fashion.”

• “The only area of weakness that I ever noted in [name]'s performance was...”

A typical letter of reference will normally include three to four assessment statements.

CLOSING STATEMENTS

The closing statement in a letter of reference should be one or two sentences at most, and it should make a clear statement of recommendation that flows logically from the points made in the assessment part of the letter. They will often begin with transition phrases such as: "In summary...", "In Closing,...", "Based on the foregoing,...", "Accordingly,...", etc.

Closing statements in reference letters are generally positive, but in some circumstances they may be qualified, or sometimes, even completely negative.

Following are three generic typical closing statements for inclusion in reference letters:

• “I am therefore very pleased to be able to recommend [name] for...”

• “Based on my time working with [name], I recommend her very highly for...”

• “I respect [name] as a colleague, but I must say that in all honesty, I cannot recommend him for ...”

In summary, mastering these three types of "reference letter power phrases" is one of the keys to writing all types of letters of reference. As such, knowledge of how to write typical opening, assessment, and closing statements, as illustrated above, is essential to writing effective letters of reference.

That's why I have included more than 150 generic "Reference Letter Power Phrases" in the latest Revised Edition of Instant Recommendation Letter Kit - How To Write Winning Letters of Recommendation.

•Business Writing Tips

2007-12-30T22:11:00.000+07:00

For Professionals.

Effective business writing skills can help you win that million dollar contract, earn a promotion, resolve a dispute, or generate a significant increase in new business leads..

Poor business writing, on the other hand, can never be undone; it can cause you to lose business to your competition and even cost you your job. Here are 11 easy ways you can improve your business writing skills:

1. Before you write a word of copy, make sure you know who your target audience is and what specific result you’d like to achieve. If it’s an important business communication, take five minutes to visualize yourself in the shoes of the recipient and imagine what this person’s world is like.

What does their typical day look like? What are their unique needs, goals, and challenges? What problem is keeping them up at night? The more thought and research you invest in understanding your target audience and how you can help them, the more powerful and effective your business writing communications will become.

2. Avoid using your company acronyms and buzzwords. While they might seem cute and clever to you, it’s very annoying to a busy executive who has a pile of documents and proposals to read. Avoid using academic language like ‘ergo,’ ‘henceforth,’ or ‘so to speak,’ and as a general rule of thumb avoid use of technical jargon. Simplify big words: write use instead of utilize, send out instead of disseminate, fair instead of equitable, etc.

3. Use a strong, active voice instead of the impersonal, passive voice. “The meeting agenda could be discussed further” is passive. “Let’s discuss the meeting agenda” is active. Express confidence and decisiveness in your business communications. Instead of writing, “I intend to write a report on sales performance measures,” which comes across as weak and indecisive, write: “I’m currently writing a report on sales performance measures for completion on or before end of the second quarter.”

4. Write in a conversational tone instead of alienating your readers by being too formal and bureaucratic – unless you’re writing to a bureaucrat or someone who prefers formality. Know your audience!

Even if you are writing a marketing communications piece that will be read by several thousand potential readers, make your writing as inviting and personal as possible. You can accomplish this feat by writing to one specific person who you can visualize as an ideal customer. Pretend you are sitting down with this person in a bar and having a casual conversation. Write your piece with this one person in mind and you will positively engage thousands of readers who will feel that you are writing directly to them!

5. Replace hyperbole with solid facts and reputable testimonials. Phrases like, “We’re #1,” “We’re the leader in our field,” or “We provide the best service,” aren’t going to get you anywhere. Instead, use a fact such as stating that the President of a leading association ranked your company with the highest quality score out of 500 certified companies.

6. Convert product features into benefits. Mentioning that you provide automated billing or an automatic domain name renewal service does not engage your customer emotionally. Here’s an example of benefit oriented copy: “Our automatic domain name renewal service will provide you with the added security and comfort of knowing that your domain names will never be hijacked by your competitors while freeing up your administrative time to focus on growing your business.”

7. Don’t rely on editing all your important business documents from your computer desktop. Print out your document and read it out loud. If you encounter any awkwardness in speech it means you need to re-write your piece to make it more conversational and flow better.

By reading your document out loud, you will also be able to spot typos and errors that your computer spelling and grammar check program might not have detected. As an example, you might have written ‘echo friendly’ when you really meant ‘eco friendly.’

8. In writing a business letter or business proposal, it is vitally important to write from your customer’s perspective and what will interest them. Start off by writing about how great your customer’s company is and what specific attributes you like about the company instead of bragging about how great your company is. Too much use of “I,” “me,” or “our company” is a sure sign of ego getting in the way of business. Make sure to generously use “You” and “Your” in your business copy if you want to make more sales.

9. Business writing is very different from writing poetry or literature. Don’t meander or get carried away with flowery language. Write the most important point you want to make in the first sentence. If you are writing a sales letter, you can significantly increase sales by simply including a powerful P.S. at the end of the letter that summarizes the main point in a fresh way, creates a sense of urgency, or adds further credibility. Here’s a powerful example: “P.S. I’ve been invited to speak at your association’s annual conference this coming Friday and hope to see you there.”

10. Be clear, concise, and to the point. Don’t assume readers will know what to do. Guide them by including a specific call to action: “click on the link to get your special report” or “call me to set up a no-cost 15 minute consultation.”

11. Use word pictures to get your point across. Can you imagine the thrill and excitement of driving a rocket-fast, cobalt blue Porsche 911 Turbo as it whisks you to your desired destination? A well-written article or report can be like that Porsche and generate a ton of new business in half the time with more fun! After all, what’s more exciting, cold-calling prospects or having them call you? (If writing is a challenge, consider hiring a professional).

•Love Letters after Holidays

2007-12-30T22:00:00.000+07:00

Christmas and New Year have just passed. You had a wonderful time with all the celebrations, food and parties. What do you think made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?..

It could be the relationships that you fostered and built during this season of goodwill. Some of these relationships made you feel very happy. It could have been that you renewed a friendship with someone whom you had lost touch with for a long time. Or it could be that you repaired a relationship with that someone who had been very close to your heart at one time. Or perhaps you met someone special and would like to have a further relationship with.

You have experienced something special this Christmas and New Year. It important that you capture this moment and cement the relationship you have repaired or built with that someone special. The gift-giving time is past but a love letter is something you can write and deliver as an after-celebration gift, without being too awkward.

Love letters are rather interesting. It is the only medium by which you can focus on . How being with the other person made you feel by being with them, in their presence or even just a thought of them. And in return, the love letter solicits a reciprocal reaction.

Well, in this period of celebration Christmas and New Year, there are bound to be many events which you can pick up on and use in your love letter. Be very focused on the event and describe how the event made you feel. The event can be an encounter, an introduction, a unique gesture and even an achievement which made you feel loved, proud, glad, happy or perhaps helped you view that someone in a different light.

Write your love letter focusing on that specific event. Write about the event as though you were telling a story to someone else. Finally, write how the event made you feel. And then finally, write what you want to do. Perhaps you want to see the other person more often or just want to keep in touch and never to lose contact with other person.

So, make the Christmas and New Year past even more special, and send a love letter to that someone special. It does not have to be a long one and you can get more pointers from my other articles in writing a love letter. If you put in the right amount of effort, your relationship will continue to develop and who knows the relationship could blossom into something special forever.

Putting effort and mastering the art of writing a love letter and sharing wonderful moments often bring lots of joy to both the giver and the recipient.

Think of your love letter as a means of capturing moments shared between you and the recipient. Try it and be amazed by its effects. The best part is it does not have to be costly or difficult to do, just a little effort on your part.

•Sample Resume Cover Letter

2007-12-30T21:50:00.000+07:00

Whenever you send a resume to a company in the hopes of attaining a job, you should always include a cover letter. Many people have more of a difficult time writing the cover letter than the actual resume. A cover letter is not difficult to write and if you would like to see a sample resume cover letter, go online and take a look at some of the letters exhibited on some of the employment websites. They are pretty much form letters..

A sample of a resume cover letter should look something like this:

Dear,

My name is xxxxx and I am a file clerk. I am enclosing my resume in response to your ad in the Chicago Sun Times for a file clerk. I have been working as a file clerk for the previous three years at the XYZ Law Firm and feel I have all of the qualifications you seek.

I can be reached during the day at xxxxx or by e-mail at xxxxxx. I would very much like an opportunity to sit down with you and discuss the opportunity offered in the Chicago Sun Times.

Thank you for your time and attention. I hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Name

This is a typical sample resume cover letter. Short and to the point. The first thing you want to do is introduce yourself and your profession. After you do this, you should mention the fact that you have enclosed your resume in response to their ad. You should be certain to mention where you read their ad, whether it was online or in the newspaper. Make sure that you also reference the job that was advertised.

You will want to tell a little bit about yourself in your resume cover letter, but you do not have to elaborate too much. Remember that you are enclosing a resume that will tell your perspective employer all about you. The cover letter is a mere formality. A polite touch to the resume. Many employers do not even read them and they often get tossed away. There is no need to write the great American Novel in your cover letter. But the letter is still necessary.

As you may have noticed in the sample resume cover letter, there is information where the person applying for the job can be reached. And telling the employer that you want to discuss the opportunity is a nice touch in a cover letter. It indicates that you want to learn more about the company. It is just as important for an employee to want to work for the company as it is for the employer to want the employee. An employee should never sound desperate in a cover letter.

Another point in the sample resume cover letter is the prerequisite thank you for your time and a hope to hear from them. This is a very simple sample resume cover letter. It is very to the point and is ideal for someone seeking a mid level job.

If you are seeking a professional level job, such as an attorney, you may want to elaborate a bit more in your over cover letter. Short and sweet is nice for most jobs, but for a professional position, you may want to talk about some of your accomplishments and how you heard about the opening. You can also talk about what you wish to accomplish in your career goals.

One thing you should never put in a cover letter is anything about salary, although more and more employers, particularly those online, are asking for salary requirements to be mentioned in the cover letter. This is usually done to weed out the people who will want too much money as the employers who ask for this information up front normally do not offer high pay. If you are interested in applying for such a position, be sure to add this information as directed.

To find a good sample resume cover letter, you can seek some of the information online at the employment websites. There are also various books on this subject. However, it is not really a difficult task to write a cover letter to accompany a resume.

Prior to writing your cover letter, check out a sample resume cover letter online and study the wording. Be certain to follow the rules as indicated above and make sure you check your spelling and grammar prior to sending the letter to the employer along with your resume.

•The Power Of Words

2007-12-30T21:37:00.000+07:00

Words convey your thoughts, feelings, and your opinions across to other people in a way that represents you when you are not able to represent yourself. This means that as a tool of communication, you must be more particular with your words and your writing than you would be with some other forms of communication..

Words have a certain way about them that really affects the way that people think about you as a person, and the effects of a few misplaced or misused words can really be detrimental to your career and your livelihood. If a boss or a supervisor thinks poorly of you based on something you've written, then you're in major trouble, and even a written apology is not likely to make much of a difference.

First of all, learn how to assume what prior knowledge your reader will have when they come across your piece. If you write something too basic, then readers will feel offended or bored, but if you write something that may not be accessible to everyone, make sure that your readers are prepared for it. In the same way that you must find a middle ground for the content, you must also use the proper vocabulary for the skill level you are expecting your readers to have. Balancing the difficulty level may prove to be impossible in every piece, but making an effort to make the piece accessible to everyone is important.

As a writer, you also have to take into account the effects that certain words have on people. Sometimes, even though two words ma be synonyms, they carry different meanings. For instance, you would not expect someone to think negatively of an "aroma," but you might if they were to use the word "smell." Ensuring that you are using the right word means learning good vocabulary skills, and not relying solely on a thesaurus to choose the words you use. While it is certainly an excellent tool for suggesting and confirming the meaning of words, you cannot use it properly unless you have an idea of the context of the word. The improper use of a word makes you look like an amateur, and can give people a bad impression of you for years to come.

The best way to become a better writer is to practice, and then go through and edit your work by reading it out loud. If you're captivated by it, if it flows consistently and has a good rhythm, then you've written a good piece. If you find that your work is long, boring and repetitive, then you know what to edit, and if you find that you can't quite mouth a certain sentence, then you probably have a run-on sentence or some other grammatical issue. Using this simple tip, however, can help you figure out if you have truly voiced the sarcasm you intended, or if a piece will even be read cover-to-cover. The ultimate goal of any piece is to impress the reader and to educate them on something new, and this method allows the writer to see if their work carries the same power that they think it does.

•Tips For Writing Articles

2007-12-30T21:13:00.000+07:00

There are a lot of people who think that writing articles is a difficult process that requires a lot of time and effort. They also may not fully realise the benefits of having good content and great content both for their website and also for driving traffic to their site..

One of the benefits of articles is that provided they contain relevant keywords and keyword phrases they can drive traffic to your site. More traffic means more potential customers which means more potential profits for you. At the end of an article that you submit to one or more of the hundreds of article directories, you can include a resource box. This has the advantage of allowing you to write a bit about yourself and your site and include a link to your site. When your readers like the information in your article then they can click on your link and they are taken directly to your website.

Article writing is not as difficult as you think and gets easier the more you do. As with anything else in life 'practice makes perfect'. Provided you have a good understanding of grammar and a spell checker on your computer then writing articles becomes quite easy. Here are some useful tips to help you.

1. Keep it simple. Don't make it harder than it really is. If you already have a website then you already know something about your subject. Look through the article directories and read two or three articles on your subject. Jot down the main points but do not copy any articles. Now, just start writing. You are trying to tell other people about your subject and they may know very little about it. Keep it interesting for them and make them want to read it.

2. Do not get stressed about it. At this stage nobody else is seeing what you are writing about other than you, so it doesn't matter. OK, you know what it is you want to sell. Think of yourself as the customer and think of the information that you would want to see. Visit forums where your customers participate and read through the posts looking at the questions that they ask. Base your articles on those questions. You may want to write an entire article based on one question or you could do a '5 questions asked most about...

3. Keep an eye on the length of your article. On average an article should be between 300 and 750 words. Most computers these days have a facility for doing a word count. Learn how to use it - it will save you time. Check the rules of the article directories before submitting your article. Some suggest articles of over 500 words others suggest an average of 350-400 words.

4. Do not be too eager. As soon as you finish your article don't rush off to submit it to every search engine you can think of. When it is finished make sure you check it over for spelling and grammar mistakes. Do not always rely on the spell checker facility. Get a friend to proofread it and ensure that it flows smoothly. Does it convey what you want it to? Is it relevant to your sit? Do you keep to the point?

5. Remember - this is an article not a sales letter. The article should provide information and lead people to your website. Once they are at your website that's the time to sell to them. If people think you are just trying to sell them something in your article they will lose respect for you and this in turn can damage your credibility. This is NOT what you want. Give them information and make them want to know more.

6. Stay focused. Keep to the point. If you are passionate about your topic it is so easy to drift off in other directions so you have to avoid this. Ideally you should write an outline for your article and jot down some key points about what you want to say. Keep referring back to this in order to stay on track.

7. Write as if you are talking to a close friend. Use everyday words that are easily understood. Don't try to impress people with words that your reader would need a dictionary by their side in order to understand what you are saying.