All About The Mother City - Cape Town

All About The Mother City - Cape Town by Nicole T Martin

It’s been said so many times it’s almost a cliché – but like most clichés it’s perfectly true - Cape Town is ‘one of the most beautiful cities in the world’.

Most first-time visitors to South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ have little real idea what to expect beyond the post-card view of the iconic Table Mountain and some vague notions about possibly buying a wooden giraffe carving for the entry hall back home…

And for many the ‘obvious’ is all they will take back with them – the sites and experiences offered in every second tour guide’s brochure.

They’ll have a good time, but there is so much more to this place curved lovingly around the tip of Africa.

Cape Town is a city crammed full of life, interwoven with vibrant colours and cultures. The city centre and suburbs which surround and spread out from the lower slopes of Table Mountain are filled with the sounds of many languages as her children live and laugh and fight and co-exist together in this place they call home.

If you give her a chance, and are prepared to look beyond the numerous wonderful yet over-done tourist attractions and in-your-face geographical beauty, Cape Town will open her heart to you and show you her true self. There are so many fascinating contrasts to Cape Town that you will be continually surprised around every corner.

The playground of the rich and famous, Cape Town’s elite stretch of coastline from Camp’s Bay through to Llandudno offers the ultimate in luxury - an unexpected surprise for those visitors who enjoy their creature-comforts and are nervously anticipating Darkest Africa with a limited hot water supply.

Palm-lined beaches, trendy lifestyle centres and premium luxury accommodation are all delightfully sprinkled along this Utopian millionaire’s strip. Drive into the City centre and be prepared for a complete change of scenery.

Starting in the colourful ‘Bo-Kaap’ area at the top of the city, this Malay quarter is simply charming with its warm and friendly community and multi-coloured terraced homes interspersed with turreted mosques. At the heart of the city is the bustling Green Market Square, a popular spot for tourists looking for some African mementos or funky clothing. Less well known, a block away, is the impressive multi-story Pan African Market which is a treasure trove of carvings, art, clothing and musical instruments from all over Africa – at much more reasonable prices.

A stroll through the Company Gardens affords beautiful views of the mountain rising up through the fringe of green foliage. Museums and Art Galleries abound, and it is not uncommon to find artists working throughout this squirrel’s playground. Of course a drive around the awe-inspiring Cape Point is not to be missed – but don’t just stroll up to the top of the paved walkway – get adventurous and explore the sheer cliffs below (taking care, of course) – Getting wet from the spray of waves crashing far below while you cling to the tip of the African continent is a rush many miss out on! You only live once – and Cape Town offers many exciting adventures to make your visit one of the most exhilarating times of your time on earth! Shark cage diving, abseiling, kloofing, surfing – unlimited adrenalin pumping action is available throughout Cape Town.

From the verdant Wine Farms surrounding Stellenbosch to the sprawling townships of the Cape Flats and Khayelitsha; from the welcoming waves of the Indian Ocean to the icy embrace of the Atlantic; the Penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach to the Southern Right whales playing in the bays – Cape Town, the Mother City, is a multi-faceted wonder-woman – so much more than just a pretty face.

Don’t wait till the 2010 FIFA World Cup to discover her charms – Cape Town is waiting now with warm and wide-open arms.




Traveling to Cape Town, South Africa? Get the Best Deals on Cape Town Hotels by visiting Nicole Martin’s website.

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Some Simple Remedies For The Most Common Maternity Maladies

Some Simple Remedies For The Most Common Maternity Maladies by Gregg Hall

Mood swings, fatigue, nausea, backaches, sore breasts. If you are in your first trimester, it is entirely possible you can relate to all of these, and probably more. Although some (few) women get through pregnancy with very little symptoms, it is most likely you will experience at least a little pain along the way.

HCG is a hormone, which is secreted by the embryo and creates progesterone. The level of HCG and progesterone are generally parallel to the symptoms you experience. The worst symptoms seem to go away once the placenta takes over, at which point cholecystokinin increases, and digestion becomes more efficient as it makes better metabolic of your food. In turn, this can contribute to things such as low blood sugar, nausea, dizziness, and after-meal sleepiness.

To help alleviate morning sickness, avoid smells which are unsettling or uncomfortable to you, such as coffee or fish. Small things that didn't affect you before can now force one hand to your mouth and the other to your stomach, things such as left over food, garbage, or perfumes.

Try to pinpoint these scents and do your best to avoid producing or encountering them. Figure out what times of the day you feel worse, and spend it at home, then figure out what things make you feel both worse and better.

Starting the day off feeling sick is likely to result in spending the day sick. For this reason, try to eat before bed, and right when you get out of bed. If you get up in the middle of the night, try to eat then too. Nibble on foods throughout the day and you should feel at least better than you would, if not good.

As you are eating throughout the day, eat foods which are packed with nutrients (such as cheese, tofu, or brown rice). Try to avoid rich, spicy, acidic, fatty, fried foods when you are feeling nauseas, and avoid eating too much at once. Try to consume as much protein and as many high-energy foods as possible, and force yourself to continuously eat. The result of not eating will get you an acid-filled stomach and low blood sugar.

Drink as many liquids as possible! Anywhere from water, to sports drinks, to juicy fruits. If you have to leave the house to buy, get, or go something try driving instead of getting a ride, as many women feel waves of nausea if they are along for the ride, rather than driving themselves.

Wear loose, comfortable outfits. Make sure they are not pressing into your skin. Take the time to relax. If you're having troubles relaxing, try acupuncture. It is important to relax for yourself and your baby.

And, when all else fails, sleep it off. If you use these suggestions as a general guide throughout your pregnancy, you will be certain to expend comfort as much as possible.



Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Maternity Clothes and More at http://www.maternityandbabystore.com

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NFL 2006 Football Season

NFL 2006 Football Season by Scott White

Another exciting year of professional football is just ahead and the NFL has made some changes to make it a better one for fans. This is the 87th NFL football season which will culminate with SuperBowl XLI at Dolphins Stadium in Miami.

Attendance at NFL games has been at an all-time high and television broadcast agreements have been lucrative so these changes aren't solely for monetary gain for the league. The changes seem to appeal to all NFL fans, and the 2006 season will even be launched with a game featuring two perennial winning teams, the Miami Dolphins and last year's SuperBowl champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A new scheduling system is being used this year. During the last 7 weeks of league play, the NFL is using a flexible scheduling method. This was in response to a problem that's plagued the league for years. Often late in the season, games between teams not in contention for post season play would be televised during prime time timeslots. Needless to say that that didn't respond to fan interest or viewership, so the new scheduling will allow the league to feature the hottest teams, or most popular teams, and those that fans are interested in watching, particularly during the key Sunday and Monday night time slots. The start times of games will be affected and games may be moved from Sunday afternoon to Sunday nights.

2006 is the first year of new television broadcast deals between the NFL and CBS and Fox networks. CBS and Fox signed new 6 year agreements that will have them televise Sunday games. ESPN however, will take over broadcasting Monday Night football games. The league will broadcast eight specialty games between Thanksgiving and the end of the season.

A few rule changes have come about in response to injuries during the 2005 season. Players cannot hit a passer's knees or below their knees unless they are blocked into him. Groups of players cannot dance in the endzone after a touchdown, but players can spike the ball or dunk it through the goalposts. Player's are not allowed to tackle another player from behind using the "horse collar" tackle and defensive players cannot line up directly over the ball snapper during field goal and extra point attempts.

The 2006 season also features new uniforms for the officials and a new NFL game ball. On-field game officials will wear long pants during the cold winter months. The game ball will now be known as "The Duke" in honor of the late owner of the New York Giants, Wellington Mara. The game balls will continue to be made by Wilson Sports who have been providing footballs for the NFL for 65 years.

Evolution of the National Football League

The first professional football game in the United States took place in Latrobe Pennsylvania in 1895, yet the NFL was not formed until 1920 where it was known during its first two years as the American Professional Football Association. During the 1920's a player named Fred Grange of the Chicago Bears provided some exciting play and stimulated fan support for the league which until then was considered second rate compared to college football.

During the 1936 season, the NFL instituted a player draft and many talented players signed with NFL teams including the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and New York Giants.

After the second world war, the league instituted a new rule that allowed players to be substituted between plays. This is how teams were allowed to send separate 11 man defensive and offensive units onto the field. In 1946, the All American Football Conference was created to compete with the National Football League. The new league included the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Colts and the Los Angeles Dons. In 1950, the two leagues merged creating two divisions: the NFC and the AFC. This began a prosperous era for the NFL including television broadcast deals in the mid 1950's which brought the game to a national level. New stars such as Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns, and Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts became household names. This is the era where NFL merchandise began to appear.

In 1966, the era of the SuperBowl began. The playoff format was changed from a single championship game to a four team tournament. During the 1970 season, the league was composed of 6 divisions which created 6 first place teams. To create an 8-team championship tournament, two wild card spots were created. In 1978, the league expanded to 10 teams.

In 2002 with the addition of the Houston Texans, the NFL created and 8 division league. The playoffs were a 12 team tournament that began with a wild card round. The top two division winners receive a bye to the division championships.

Through the years, a number of teams have enjoyed particular success in winning the SuperBowl championship. The Green Bay Packers lead with 12 championships but only one SuperBowl win. The Chicago Bears similarly have 9 championships since 1920 and only one SuperBowl win. In the modern era since the introduction of the SuperBowl Championship game, the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins have dominated league championships. The New England Patriots have become a dominant team since 2000 with three championships.

Overall attendance at NFL games has grown from 4.6 million in 1965 to more than 17 million during the 2005 season. Attendance has grown every year to where an average 68,000 fans attend games, which is near 90 per cent of seating capacity. That is an amazing achievement for any sporting league.

So get involved in the coming 2006 season by showing your support for your local or favorite team. Plenty of NFL merchandise for your and your kids is available from a number of NFL shop retailers. Online NFL merchandise sellers can provide you with everything from fan faces, to fan wigs, to rally caps to oversized footballs. You can even buy your game tickets online. It's all in the name of fun and this year should be a great one to have a football party. Get into the fan spirit!



fanshopinc.com's selection of NFL merchandise and youth NFL uniform sets is outstanding. They are the place to buy Kids Halloween costumes.

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Chess Clock, How We Use One In A The Modern Game Of Chess

Chess Clock, How We Use One In A The Modern Game Of Chess by Clive Jenkins

An increasingly popular variation on the standard 'International' chess is known as speed chess. The game involves the use of a chess clock to measure a set period of time in which each player has to make their move, and if the chess clock runs out on a player, they automatically forfeit the match. Not for the feint hearted, speed chess is only recommended for advanced players with an in-depth knowledge of the game, etiquette and strategy of chess.

Speed Chess takes its origins in standard chess, and is a more convenient way of squeezing in a game in your coffee break, or whenever you have spare moment. All you need is a standard chess board and set, a chess clock (which will have two independent clocks and the ability to singularly stop each clock as they count down) and a willing opponent. All the normal rules of chess apply, except in a few specific instances when they are overridden by new rules to regulate such speedy play.

An interesting twist on the rules of speed chess as opposed to standard International Chess rules, is that it is the players obligation to watch both his and his opponents chess clock. If the either clock runs out, the player with the active clock automatically wins, although it is up to him to call his victory, and if he fails to take notice, the game may continue until he does take notice. Having said that, the status of the clocks outweighs any positioning on the board, so even if a player would have won a standard game, if his clock runs out he forfeits. Additionally, in speed chess, if a player makes an illegal move at any stage in the game, regardless of the chess clock, he again forfeits to his opponent.

In speed chess, the chess clock may be set to either 3 or 5 minutes, although rarely other timings can be used. It is a fast-paced, entertaining game, which is both riveting and inspiring to watch, and arguably would draw more attention than an ordinary standard match. Before learning or playing speed chess as a separate entity, it is vital to master the fundamentals of standard International chess, as many of the same foundational rules apply, as well as allowing you to get a grip on the various pieces and their uses. Speed chess is only really recommended for the more accomplished player, as it demands lightening fast reactions to avoid the chess clock, although for the beginner to intermediate, it is also great fun. It is also advisable to get a full run down on the rules which can easily be located online, to avoid the potential for any disputes which may arise from this great variation on the standard game of chess.

So if you have the time, why not give speed chess a go? There's a fair chance if you go to your local chess club, someone will be game for a match, or why not try teaching a friend how to play? The best idea for improving at speed chess is practice, and in no time at all, you'll realize a startling improvement to both your speed chess and your understanding of the game as a whole.



Clive Jenkins recommends the Chess Clock website which provides comprehensive information on all aspects of the game of Chess. To find articles,
tips and free information and advice check out the site here:

http://www.chessclocksite.com

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Small Business Start Up Help-The Art of Customer Service

Small Business Start Up Help-The Art of Customer Service by Bruce Hunter

Eighty five year old Gladys Goodspeed drove into the small car dealership with her 10 year old Galaxy 500 and confidently told the young salesman, "I need a new car; a red sports car! And if I can not find it here, I will go elsewhere."

After a pleasant but brief conversation, including inquiring why she needed to trade in her car with only 24,000 miles for a new one, the salesman presented her a solution. He had a Mustang sports car, a car she had always wanted, her preferred vehicle on his lot, but it was not red. He quickly made some calls and located a red Mustang at a neighboring dealership 50 miles away. He offered to trade one of his vehicles for the red Mustang and could have it back at his dealership and ready for Gladys to drive away in a shiny new car by 5 p.m. that same day. Gladys agreed to this solution, a fair price for both parties was negotiated, and the deal was struck.

Gladys and her husband purchased the Galaxy 500 ten years earlier and had gone on two 3,000 mile trips when he suddenly passed away. Since that time, Gladys had no desire to go on any long trips and mostly drove around town. The car worked perfectly, but as the years progressed, she found it more and more difficult to park it in her one-car garage. And a few dents started too appeared on the sides of the Galaxy.

The salesmen spent three hours making the dealer trade, arranging all the paperwork and getting car ready for delivery. When Gladys arrived back at the dealership, she saw a newly washed, shiny, candy apple-red Mustang waiting for her. "It is more beautiful than I imagined!" she exclaimed. Gladys was on her way in short order and zoomed out of the dealership parking lot, not to be seen for a week.

But the story does not end there. Gladys returned to town a week later and immediately came back to the dealership to see the salesman. Perhaps she did not like the car, after all it was pretty sporty for an 85 year old and she wanted to return it. What he found out was that she loved the car and decided to take a trip to show all her long time friends. "This car has brought new life to me," she said. "Thanks for getting what I needed. It fits better in the garage and I feel young again."

What the salesman did not realize was that Gladys was well connected in the community and began to recommend to all her friends and acquaintances that they had to visit with this salesman before making any vehicle purchase. He gained a reputation as a salesperson you could trust and his business began to grow. He was kind and listened to each prospect and customer. He understood their needs and wants, and always delivered service that was second to none. He felt that if you treated people right, business would come. And it did not cost the dealership any extra money because he negotiated a fair, win win deal each and every time.

One of the mistakes businesses make is forgetting the customer, the very reason for being in business in the first place. Often times we try to become too sophisticated and complex with our marketing. The focus shifts to creating innovative products, slogans and ad campaigns and in developing mission statements, positioning recommendations, brand messages and outside the box packaging. Yet, most businesses fail because they fail to listen to customers.

Listening, serving and learning from customers are the most important things anyone in the organization can do. It really is simple.

The very purpose of business is to create a customer and then he or she must become the most important focus and asset of the business.

Understand customer needs and create solutions to meet those needs. And do it with premier service. Loyal customers are developed and nurtured like any personal relationship and while not every interaction will immediately result in business, if that interaction is based on integrity and honesty, most often that prospect will eventually become a customer. The important aspect in achieving bottom-line success is to show prospects how you can serve them better than the competition.

Sometimes companies feel that they cannot afford to treat all customers alike. They feel they must differentiate the level of service they give a customer based upon what their sales revenue or profit margin is to the company. That fallacy assumes that customers will always stay at the same revenue levels as they currently are. In reality, competition is such that customers will either increase or decrease purchases. They will rarely keep the same levels. It is based in large part on the type of customer care they receive from everyone in the organization.

A customer will grow with a company if they feel that all their needs have been met and they have experienced excellent customer service. Sometimes a little hand-holding and TLC goes a long way. And you must perform at the highest levels of honesty and integrity. Customers can see through fakes and unethical behavior to win business. You really cannot afford not to treat all customers with the same high level of service quality and support. Gladys Goodspeed was just one car purchase that contributed a minimal level of profit margin, but her the purchases her friends made contributed to a thriving business. It all began with a simple transaction.

In a very competitive world, products seem to become commodities very quickly because there is a brief window of time before everyone has access to the same technology. The difference then is driven through price or customer care. If you compete on price, you will eventually lose to someone with a better price. But if you compete on delivering your the best customer care, you will win on customer care. Just ask yourself how you make purchase decisions? And which businesses do you patronize and why?

Finally, remember to be passionate about serving customers. They are your bread and butter. You do not have to be a rah rah person, but you must serve them quickly, sincerely and consistently. That was the difference in creating a customer out of a simple interaction with Gladys Goodspeed. That simple and sincere passion permeates any organization so that eventually everyone is listening, learning from, serving and creating customers.

NO MONEY MARKETING KEYS TO SUCCESS:
1. The purpose of any business is to create customers.
a. Listen to them
b. Learn from them
c. Serve them
2. Keep it simple;it all begins with a simple interaction
3. Deliver customer care with passion.



Bob Meldrum leads Time Warner Telecom's Corporate Communications Department. If you found this article to be helpful, visit CORE Magazine at Small Business Start Up Help

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How To Design A Life Of Success

How To Design A Life Of Success by Terence Young

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have it all while others seem to work hard and struggle through existence. If you were to ask those that are successful what was their secret, inevitably every one of them will tell you that their secret was the fact that they had definable and concrete goals of which they pursued with gusto. We've all heard this a million times as to how important goals are and yet many of us still fail to utilize this amazing tool at our disposal. Having goals written on paper will actually enable you to empower your life and to design the life you have always wanted.

A great story I heard once was of an 80 year old who in his early 20's wrote out his life goals. He sat down and wrote them in his notebook and had in all 101 life goals. While he added and removed some during the course of his lifetime he nonetheless always had his notebook of his life goals. As he journeyed through life he would always review his goals consistently and as he completed each goal he wrote a short journal entry of the date and a few notes of what happened.

When he was asked why he was so successful he always referred back to his book of goals and at the age of 80 he had now managed to complete much of his 101 goals that he had. The secret you ask? The secret was merely having definable dream goals written down and having the conviction to review them regularly. By reviewing his goals regularly he was imprinting in his mind what he wanted to focus on, what was most important to him and he would make choices throughout his day that was congruent to what he wanted.

If you want to live a full and successful life then you need to start your own book of goals. By a simple notebook or journal from your local bookstore. Set aside a block of time to sit down and write out every goal you ever want to achieve in this lifetime. You don't have to be realistic, in fact write your goals as if you were a kid and anything was possible.

You will find that coming up with 101 goals will be harder than you think but stick to it. This is not going to be set in concrete, as time goes by you will undoubtedly remove some goals and add some goals. But the idea of sitting down and writing 101 goals is to challenge yourself to be creative.

Once you have your goals start thinking about them and imprinting them at the forefront of your mind. You will be surprised at how often you come across situations and people that will be able to help you on your path to completing a goal. The universe has a mysterious way of giving you what you want when you actually know what it is.

So get excited and start ticking of each goal as you complete them.



For more personal growth articles visit: http://www.personalgrowthunlimited.com


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Daily Homework

Daily Homework by Dr Harry Henshaw
We learn much of what we learn initially through repetitious exposure. It is by becoming present to something repeatedly that space is created for us to learn anew. It is by taking that which we are exposed to and bringing it forth into our life, committing it to action, that we begin to change or transform our life in some way. This is especially true with respect to the possibilities made available through transformation. The DAILY HOMEWORK is about the creation of possibilities for transformation.

The DAILY HOMEWORK is not a replacement or alternative to a person’s work in recovery. The DAILY HOMEWORK is not a replacement or alternative for the 12 Step Program. What the DAILY HOMEWORK does is support a person’s integrity and commitment with respect to recovery. The principles of the DAILY HOMEWORK are designed to a person to stay present to every day and to practice bringing forth into his life. The promise of the DAILY HOMEWORK is that the space for recovery to happen will be created if the principles are learned lived.

PRINCIPLES of the DAILY HOMEWORK

1. To take complete ownership and responsibility for your life. Understand that you have created and chosen your life the way it is occurring. You are the cause of what you experience and your life.

2. Watch your word! Stay present to what you think and say. Choose to say positive things about yourself and others. What you think and say creates your experiences of how life will occur and be for you.

3. Practice your Self Affirmations and Possibilities everyday. Say your Self Affirmations and Possibilities in the morning, throughout the day and before bedtime.

4. What is your Intention? Plan your Intention each morning upon awakening and stay present to it throughout the day. What are you committed to today? What are you committed to now? What is it that you want to create in your life? What is it that you want to create now?

5. Develop your RECOVERY PLAN. Plan your work. Your RECOVERY PLAN is about your life. Your RECOVERY PLAN is about your Integrity. Integrity is the bottom line. Are you in integrity with your RECOVERY PLAN. Are you in Integrity with your life?

6. Develop your DAILY ACTION PLAN. Work your plan. Do it everyday! Your DAILY ACTION PLAN is about your commitment and integrity with respect to your RECOVERY PLAN. Your DAILY ACTION PLAN is about fulfilling on your intention and commitments. Your DAILY ACTION PLAN is about keeping your RECOVERY PLAN in existence!

7. Acknowledge yourself and others daily. Acknowledge the miracles in your life. Practice affirming that every moment of your life is a miracle.

8. Practice patience! Remember that you are doing the best you can. At the moment that we do we do the best we can. When you know more, you will do things differently. Do this in regards to others too.

9. Share with others what you are getting out of your recovery.

10. STAY HUNGRY FOR YOUR RECOVERY!

For transformation and recovery to take place, it is important for us to get it that we are responsible for our life, that such responsibility is generated from our thoughts and word, that life can be transformed through the creation of possibilities, that it is important for us to become intentional about our creating, that we can support such a creative action through structure and repetition, that it is important to acknowledge ourselves through the process while being patient with the journey, that it is vital to the very nature of our transformation for us to share our possibilities with others through enrollment and for us to remain hungry for transformation.

As a licensed psychotherapist at the Holistic Addiction Treatment Program in North Miami Beach, Florida, and in my private practice I am committed to generating the space to have a conversation about the principles of the DAILY HOMEWORK. It is in the space that is created for this conversation for transformation that possibilities can be created for a person’s recovery and life. The conversation is about enrolling one into creating a possibility for their life, a possibility that did not exist before the conversation. The DAILY HOMEWORK is given to clients everyday to support their transformation and recovery from drugs and alcohol. The conversations within group counseling sessions and individual psychotherapy are conducted from the principles of the DAILY HOMEWORK. Eventually these conversations are about becoming committed to a new way of life, a life of sobriety, and giving up an old and familiar way of being and the counter commitments to recovery. The commitment to transformation and recovery is about making a choice to live fully as opposed to one of dying.

Harry Henshaw, Ed.D., LMHC
ENHANCED HEALING THROUGH MUSIC
http://www.enhancedhealing.com



Dr Harry Henshaw is in private practice in North Miami Beach, Florida. Enhanced Healing Through Music, http://www.enhancedhealing.com

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How to Prepare for our Nations Large Elderly Population Shift

How to Prepare for our Nations Large Elderly Population Shift by Dale Adams

Everyday 10,000 Americans celebrate their 50th Birthday. By the year 2030 over 70 million Americans will be senior citizens. As this wave of seniors marches forward we need to prepare for this transition. By planning ahead we can ensure that we are capable of offering quality care to our thoroughbred Americans.

Do not expect our government to be prepared for this. Although they are making changes, this wave is so massive and affects so many different areas of our society that we will not be ready. All Americans will be affected by this situation. It will be up to each and every one of us to assist our nation during this transformation.

Businesses and individuals who start planning and make changes now will also benefit during this period. The cost to care for our seniors will be tremendous reaching in the billions. Some changes and different ways we can adapt to the future are below.

Hospitals will need to hire valet or parking attendants because of the large numbers of seniors needing assistance walking. Seniors and their caregivers will not be able to walk across long parking lots. An alternative would be to build high-rise parking garages attached to the hospital.

Nurses will be offered fast track career opportunities and larger responsibilities. To prepare now they should take American History classes as well as business courses. The history classes will enable them to communicate and understand the elders better. The business courses will assist them in offering congregate care to communities or starting their own business.

Contractors and homeowners need to start building or installing elevators in two-story homes. There are medical tax incentives that dramatically reduce the cost to install them in homes. When they design bathrooms they should allow space for dual sinks and plenty of room in the event of the need for wheel chair accessibility. They also need to get in the habit of installing wider doors or even sliding doors that are concealed within walls for this same reason. Using larger address numbers would assist emergency vehicles. Handicap accessible options could turn out to be good selling points in the future. Energy efficient and secure homes should be mandatory versus optional.

Currently there are fewer than 7000 geriatric doctors across our nation. With 70 million baby boomers headed our way it may be a good idea for doctors to start shifting to this area. Veterans of war do not appreciate going to the V.A. hospital and always being treated by a doctor from another country. Politically correct or not, they have their own mind and beliefs and we will have to adopt to it.

Website owners offering a selection of categories need to offer the section of elder or senior care to the family category. There will need to be products developed in this area comparable to the needs of our citizens. You may want to increase the size of your fonts so everybody has equal access to the content.

Businesses and community leaders need to start placing adult and childcare facilities in the same building and possibly let these generations mingle together periodically. The young children need the love and wisdom the seniors have to offer. This will also be convenient to the multi-generation families and allow them to proceed with their career.

This is just a few of the many changes that we can start right now to assist our great nation. By planning ahead and working together we can handle any situation. There is opportunity around every corner.



The Author and Self Publisher; Dale B. Adams of Majestic Publishers just released the new book, “Care Giving Made Easy - How to be an Awesome Caregiver,” to assist America during this transition. His many experiences include being a Security Consultant, General Contractor and Energy Conservation Specialist. To learn more valuable information visit: http://www.majesticpublishers.com

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Hitman: Blood Money Cheats for Xbox 360

Hitman: Blood Money Cheats for Xbox 360 by Charles Cater

One of the hottest games currently out for the Xbox 360 is the game Hitman: Blood Money. This is a gruesome first person shooter where you are tasked with taking out individuals. You earn money along the way and pick-up goods as you go forward. This game is quickly becoming a classic in the Genre.

Playing first person shooters is either your style or not. This shooter pits you as a Hitman roaming the city completing the task of taking out your marks. To play this game without cheats can be a total blast literally.

However adding a few cheats to your arsenal will make the speed with which you can complete this game extraordinary. You can wow your friends with the Hitman:Blood Money rate of completion or the leveling that you can achieve.

The first cheat that is extremely popular with this game is fairly straightforward. As with any game of this genre money is key to your game playing enjoyment. Gaining money is even more important. So follow the brief outline below to achieve this cheat:

First complete any level as poorly as you can collecting as little money along the way as possible. The goal is to complete the level but not achieve an effective high score.

Save the game at the completion of this level. Now go back and play the level a 2nd time. This time do all that you can to collect as much gold along the way as possible. Immediately before escaping the level create a save point.

Now the fun begins your new account balance will be shown. Which is your previous account balance plus the difference in your earnings for the second game play.

At the mission review screen press the B button and return to the first of the mission review shots. Next press the Y button. You will be prompted that your progress will be lost. This is the glitch in the game that you have been searching for in reality your money level will not be affected. So replay the level again collecting money as much as possible.

Play all the way through to the mission review screen and repeat the B to Y button presses until you are satisfied that your bank account is sufficient to carry on. This is effectively an infinite source of money for your account as you can continue to repeat the level and earn money.

Finally a cheat to get past that pesky limited saves. If you have ever become frustrated because the Hitman: Blood Money game doesn't have unlimited saves look no further.

The game actually does have an unlimited save feature, it just isn't listed as such to the normal user. When you are saving during a mission simply press the Start button prior to the save completing. This will not harm your save but your saves will not increment so that you now have the ability to complete the levels in normal and expert mode without the fear of running out of saves.

These are just a few of the cheats that I have used in playing Hitman: Blood Money. This is an absolutely fabulous game that can keep you entertained for hours. Enjoy the cheats and the game.



Charles Cater is an avid game player. He owns http://www.arcadecobra.com and http://www.arcadethunder.com. For questions see him at http://www.arcade1000.com/forum.

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Tips On How And Where To Send Your Manuscript

Tips On How And Where To Send Your Manuscript by Christine Harrell

Why not just send your manuscript directly to publishers? Very often, writers search for companies to help them find publishers for their book projects all the time. The business of finding a publisher is a multi-step process. After the manuscript has been completed, edited, and formatted according to industry standards, the next step is to launch it properly into the world. Here are a few helpful tips to enable you to find the contact you need to connect your work to a publisher.

Keep in mind that agents do not want to deal with short works such as poetry and short stories. Agents work on commission, and there is no way to support themselves from sales of poetry and short fiction. The majority of larger publishing houses no longer accept un-agented submissions. It may seem a waste of time to query a large number of agents before querying publishers.

However, this is a time-consuming, but very necessary, part of the submission process for book manuscripts. If you want to get a good read, you'll need an agent. Agents know what editors want. They spend much of their time cultivating relationships with acquisition editors. These are the folks who present books to their publishers for consideration. Networking with editors is an important part of an agent's job. Editors are happy to receive good manuscripts from agents. It saves them time.

Good agents will help negotiate a decent contract for you. This is their area of expertise. Publishers are interested in making money and taking care of their needs. An agent will function as your advocate and make certain you receive a fair deal. If you don't know about subsidiary rights and escalators, make sure an agent is on your side. Your agent will know which clauses are boilerplates and which may hurt your career. (Some people believe an attorney can replace an agent. Unless your attorney specializes in book contracts, find a good agent.)

Because agents work on commission, they are interested in getting you the best deal. Agents will monitor your royalty statements and help ensure that you receive prompt and proper payment. Most agents are paid 15% commission. A reputable agent should also provide you with copies of all rejection letters.

Do not begin querying agents until your book is complete. Unless you're famous, agents won't even read your query unless the book is ready to go. Nonfiction proposals are sometimes the exception to this rule. However, you'll need to prove you can write the book, not just pitch it.

There are many people who advertise themselves as agents. Generally, they are NOT. Legitimate agents do not drum up business. There are literally tens of thousands of writers approaching a limited number of agents. They've got more work than they can handle. Your query packet must be perfect and represent you as a professional. It's a difficult and time-consuming process, but there is no way around it. Get some professional help.

Finding an agent need not be a daunting task. If an agent requests money from you, run for the hills. Some expenses such as postage and copying costs are to be expected. However, over the years, unscrupulous people posing as literary agents have scammed would-be authors out of lots of money. Sometimes these scams are disguised as "editorial help." Stay away. An agent should not insist that you have your manuscript doctored before agreeing to represent you.

Remember, an agent should act in partnership with you throughout the publishing process. A good agent offering good advice is a wonderful asset. There is simply no better way to build your writing career.



Author is a writer for Writer's Relief who specialize in helping authors with
publishing short stories. For more information you can visit
http://www.WritersRelief.com.

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Job Interview Tips -- Why Preparation Pays Off

Job Interview Tips -- Why Preparation Pays Off by Nigel Patterson

If you've won an interview for a job, that's cause for celebration in itself. It shows that your prospective employer considers you to be a viable candidate for the position you want. Now it's time for you to brush up your interview skills and get ready to show your 'best self' to help you land the job you dream of.

Careful preparation is an essential component of a polished interview performance to help you outperform the competition. How much do you already know about the hiring company? Do you know who will be interviewing you? What sort of tough questions could come up -- and how would you deal with them?

Feeling nervous already? Don't worry, that's energy you can turn to your advantage. Doing thorough homework helps to get you ready emotionally as well as intellectually to make your best impression. Here are four ways to get ready for the challenge of an interview and market yourself effectively.

1. Find out as much as you can about the company you want to work for. Don't be caught out by topics that expose gaps in your understanding of the business or industry. Good background knowledge can help you deal with those tricky interview questions that require you to 'think on your feet'. You may also discover relevant topics and pressing concerns that you can research in advance.

* Visit the company website and find out the names and roles of key personnel
* Research the main departments and the products or services that the company offers
* Do an online search for news items, press releases and other useful information

2. Learn about your interviewer. If you'll be meeting more than one person, try to find out in advance what each of them does for the company and see if there's information about their recent achievements and activities; there may be an opportunity to refer to some of these details in your interview. Show your interest and enthusiasm for the job by being well-briefed on important issues.

3. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. A practice interview can help you to anticipate major discussion points and get experience in dealing with tough questions. And don't just focus on the content of your answers: interviewers gain a lot of information from non-verbal cues and body language. If you're practicing with a friend, ask for feedback on the impact of your delivery and gestures.

4. Be organized. Keep a checklist in the days leading up to the interview date. Savvy interviewees know the value of preparing for the unexpected -- so make sure that you have essential items at the ready, such as a pen (that works!) and paper for notes, a spare copy of your resume, and a supply of business cards, if you use them. It's also useful to have a mental list of questions that you might want to ask the interviewer.

The knowledge that you've prepared thoroughly for an interview contributes to a calm and positive attitude -- and don't forget the importance of a good night's sleep beforehand to help you stay confident and alert!



Nigel Patterson is a business writer and publisher of http://1stClassResume.com

Visit his website for more job interview tips, resume help and samples of resumes and cover letters.

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Sell Anybody Anything Every Time: Increase Sales While Retaining Customers

Sell Anybody Anything Every Time: Increase Sales While Retaining Customers by Collier Harper

As a young boy my father used to tell me stories about selling cars for the Ford Motor company. He taught me most of the things I know about sales, including a word of advice from a man of iconic stature in the business world. One of the biggest things my father learned at Ford was from one of the greatest industrialist of the 20th century, Lee Iacocca. My father recounted Lee Iacocca explaining to him, during a salesman's training session, to sell your self, the house, and the product. What does it mean, sell your self, the house, and the product? At the conclusion of this article you will know exactly what it means and you will never miss another sale again.

There is a key to every sale. Sometimes it's price. At other times it's irrefutable value. But most of the time sales are made because of a persons comfort level with the salesperson as they walk away knowing they were treated right. When sales are blown it is often because a person was too pushy. They didn't offer the person anything they were looking for much less take them into consideration. The person was just a piece of meat in the salespersons eyes, another fast buck. At least, that's the way the customer felt. In order to succeed in sales, a person must learn to hurdle other people's built in defense mechanism against being sold something.

People have natural defense mechanisms built in to resist being sold things. We all get spam emails trying to sell us one thing or another. You are almost always solicited for credit cards, perfume, cell phones and a host of other items you don't need every time you step outside the confines of your home. You've probably been approached by the child trying to sell candy for their fund raiser or the beggar in the street asking for change. More often than not your natural inclination is to resist giving into these sales pitches and refuse to part with your hard earned cash. Why should you part with your money? Yes, why should you part with your money? If a person bought everything that they were offered then they would be poor in short order. So how do you sell your product when people are always resisting you? Therein lies the rub.

Everyone has an Achilles heel. At some point anyone will say yes to anything. As a salesperson it is your job to hunt down that Achilles heel and attack it with all your might. Don't go attacking your customers just yet. Only fools rush in. You have to know your buyer just as a hunter knows their prey. This brings us to the first point, "SELL YOURSELF."

How do I sell myself? You do it quite easily. You sell yourself the same way you would be a parent, friend, lover, pen-pal or anything else that requires social interaction. Engage the customer in a conversation. Ask them how their day went. What kind of job does your customer have? Where is your customer from? What made them interested in a new (fill in the blank)? Does your customer watch sports? Do they read? What's their favorite website? If you prime a person with good questions they will start to talk.

A good salesperson is an excellent conversationalist. An excellent conversationalist is a great listener. When your customer begins talking, you shut up and listen. Pay attention to every word they are saying. As the customer talks chime in from time to time and relate to what the person is saying. If the person has gone beyond casual conversation and into relating some type of story then that is a bonus point for you. Let them tell their story. The more time they spend talking with you, the more likely that they are to buy something. When you talk with someone, you feel that you are getting to know them. Why wouldn't we want buy something from our friend, especially something we want? Everybody wants to support their friend. So become your customer's friend by talking with them and getting to know them. Thus, you will be well on your way to making many more sales and expanding your network of clients.

You can talk till the sun burns out, but if people don't feel comfortable with everything involved in a deal then they won't bite. So it's up to you to let them know everything is on the up and up. You can do that by "selling the house." What is selling the house? Selling the house is telling people about the company or establishment that you work for. Let people know who owns the place. Tell them how long the place has been operating. Tell them famous people who have bought from the company before. Tell them of the exploits of other workers. Explain to them about how it feels like a big family (you may have to embellish a little here.) and how long you've been working there. Tell them about all the great attributes that brought you to work for (fill in the blank company). When you let someone know everything about who they are buying from it levels the playing field in their eyes. They aren't buying from BIG GIANT COMPANY anymore. They are buying from you, their friend, at the store/firm they like to go to because they know a lot about it.

Lastly you must sell the product. Why do you sell the product last? You sell the product last because it is understood. Often times a person knows all the great features of a product. Usually a product doesn't need to be sold. It's your personality that is for sale. People are buying into what you have to offer. So now it's your turn. Serve up all the information that you know about a product and then some. Selling a product is not just about knowing your own product, but it is also about knowing the competitions product and how the person will benefit from buying your product instead of theirs. Now you don't have to slander another company or salesperson to do this. Often times, when you slander someone it becomes more damaging to yourself than helpful because it is interpreted by the listener as jealousy. When you display how knowledgeable you are about a subject as why a person is getting something that will impact their lives positively they will always chose you over the next person because of how honest and helpful your insight was to them. They may even go so far as to recommend other people because of your great wisdom and insight. Display your knowledge. That is always one of the best ways to sell a product.

When all else fails, let the customer win. Letting the customer win means giving a person the perception that they got more out of the deal than you did. Let's take an example. Someone works at a computer store. They get paid commission for every item they sell. Let's say a person walks in and they are very interested in a new Apple Laptop but they want a discount. The salesperson can't give them a discount. The manager won't either. So what do they do? Most times a poor sales person will just let the person walk out the door. Don't be that salesperson. Figure up your commission on the sale. Let's say you'll make $200 from the sale. Tell them that if they buy you'll throw in a $20 gift card and a pack of blank CD's on you. Who can resist free? The total cost of that would be around $30. Can you space $30 to make $170? Make it a point to tell the customer you're giving them these things out of your pocket. They'll appreciate the extra mile and they'll feel like they have you under their control. The customer will feel like they got more than what they paid for. Everybody wins. You'll make a real $170 when the customer purchases instead of nothing at all if the customer walks out. People love good will and good faith efforts. If you sell yourself, the house, and the product you'll never have to take it that far.



Collier Harper is the creator of Techcom Global. It is one of the most popular websites for, Air Jordan Shoes, and Wholesale Jordans in the major search engines. Call him M-F 10 - 8 at (562) 234-1814.

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Homeschooling Resources - Using Textbooks And Other Educational Materials

Homeschooling Resources - Using Textbooks And Other Educational Materials by Joshua Poyoh

Conventional learning materials such as textbooks are usually easy to find. If you're interested in the type of texts used in the schools, you can check with your local school district or county office of education to see if they have a curriculum library. Sometimes access to such libraries is limited to public school teachers, but often the public is also allowed to peruse school materials there. Media and technology centers, from which laboratory equipment, films, video and audio equipment and tapes, or computer hardware and software can be borrowed. Availability to homeschoolers will depend on state and district regulations.

Your area may also have a used book depository, where textbooks, library books, and equipment no longer used by area schools can be purchased for thrift-store prices or are free for the taking. Old encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference books are fairly common but are far outnumbered by the literature: historical novels, literary classics, just plain good reading. Some educational publishers will ask for a school purchase order or for an order on your school letter head. Others are happy to sell textbooks to home-schoolers but draw the line at teachers' guides and answer keys. Some refuse to deal with homeschoolers at all, but a few educational publishers, such as Follett, have set up divisions specifically to serve the homeschool market.

Also worth checking out are local teacher supply stores. Most homeschoolers will not be interested in the endless racks of seasonal bulletin board decorations and "Great Job!" stickers, but many such stores also carry lots of supplementary materials for science, math, and literature. Usually, you'll also find an assortment of paper and other consumables: colored construction paper, newsprint both blank and ruled for various grade levels, poster and finger paints, pens, and pencils. Dozens of catalog businesses are aimed at the home schooling market - with more popping up every day. Some mainly carry books about homeschooling; others carry mainly curricular materials.

Recently, as homeschooling has become more popular and well-known, larger companies have entered the market, some carrying materials previously unavailable directly to homeschoolers and others carrying the more popular products of smaller companies but undercutting their prices. If you tend to enjoy the more obscure resources, you might want to make a point of patronizing the smaller companies, even for those items available elsewhere, just to help keep those interesting but obscure items available.

A relatively new dement in the homeschooling market in recent years are the independent dealers. Dorling Kindersley and Usborne Books are especially active in the homeschooling market, fueled largely by homeschooling parents who sell the books to afford to buy all the volumes they want for themselves.



Joshua Poyoh is the creator of http://homeschoolingreport.com . He writes and researches into the area of the home schooling requirements

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Children with Autism. The Importance of Clear Boundaries and High Expectations

Children with Autism. The Importance of Clear Boundaries and High Expectations by Alan Yau

Children will test boundaries, children with autism are not necessarily going to be any different. Be very clear about which behaviors are acceptable to you and then create clear boundaries, ensure that the rest of the family is also clear and that you all act with consistency. However, be realistic. A child with autism, by definition, has difficulties in social interaction, you will have to make some allowances.

Be realistic also about what lengths you are prepared to go to, do not create a boundary and then not enforce it, if you do you may find that your child will keep trying to test it. Boundaries should be clear-cut. If you regularly engage in intensive play with your child, and they are enjoying playing with you, a natural way to minimize your child's tendency to push boundaries is to simply stop the interaction whenever an inappropriate behavior occurs and calmly wait for more appropriate behavior before continuing.

A child with autism may not necessarily care to act in a way that pleases you just for the sake of it. However, they may well be very interested in your reactions, and a purple screaming face can be just as interesting as a beaming smile, perhaps more so. So, put all your energies into making extreme whoops of delight when you are pleased with your child, and make the minimum of fuss when they engage in behaviors that are unacceptable to you.

Sometimes children work out which of your buttons to press to get an interesting response and then persist in trying to get those responses.

For example:

Johnny, aged 5, was adorable and very active. He often engaged in activities that seemed designed to get a response from adults, these included: shouting loudly, ripping books and posters, and urinating on the floor.

Typically adults addressed Johnny's behavior by telling him "no shouting", "no ripping", etc. However, this did not appear to have much impact on the behavior, if anything it sometimes made Johnny even more excitable, and he would repeat "no shouting", over and over again loudly, laughing.

What made a difference with Johnny was having clear boundaries and enforcing them with the minimum of fuss. Rather than telling him "no" whenever he did something he should not do, I gave him clear positive directions he could follow, e.g. "Johnny, come here", "sit down". I kept my voice and face as neutral as possible.

When Johnny was calm I would then address the behavior, I found that this resulted in much less excitable responses from Johnny. Most of his inappropriate behaviors disappeared in class in the course of a few weeks because he was no longer getting the interesting adult reactions he had been used to.

Sometimes they find a way of playing a game at our expense, and then persist in playing it:

Steven, aged 7, enjoyed playing chasing games. He would often run off and giggle when adults ran after him to bring him back. A number of strategies were tried, including giving Steven lots of attention when he was not running away, and very little attention after he had run off. However, Steven's running off behavior persisted.

What eventually worked was to ignore the running away behavior, monitoring his safety from a distance and waiting for him to return, even if it took ten minutes. When it became clear to Steven that we really were not going to chase after him, the behavior lessened. After that whenever Steven started to run off, I would cheerfully shout out "Bye Steven" and wave. As soon as he heard this he would turn and come back. Not much fun running off unless someone is chasing you!

And of course, you will want to reward your child for when they are behaving appropriately. Remember though that your child may not be as motivated by pleasing you as they are by getting access to a favorite toy.

If you have been engaging in intensive play with your child, perhaps a suitable reward may be a favorite game that you play together. This would be ideal as you would be rewarding appropriate behavior in a way that also teaches that social interaction is fun. Whatever the reward, for it to be meaningful, it has to be something that your child likes and not what you think they should have.

Having high expectations of your child's behavior can make a difference too. For example, I have spoken to a number of parents who have found it difficult to get their children to eat with a fork.

However, I have not really ever found it to be an issue with the children I have worked with, as my expectation is that everyone will use a fork. At the end of one summer at camp, we had a message from Cameron's mum asking us how we had managed to get her son to eat with a fork. We were a little surprised by the question as we had not done anything really other than ask him to use it, as we did with every other child.



Alan Yau heads up the Autistic unit at a primary school in North London in
the UK where he is responsible for teaching 18 children across the whole Autistic
spectrum. See http://www.teaching-children-with-autism.com

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Getting Back to Business When You Feel Like Giving Up

Getting Back to Business When You Feel Like Giving Up by Liane Bate

Today I went for a walk by the river and decided to park myself on a bench to do some inner reflection as I often do. A woman in her 80s walked by, smiled, and decided to join me on the bench for a chat about life while we baked in the sunshine we both love so much. I listened to her story, knowing that when a stranger makes contact with you in such a way, there is probably a lesson to be learned. I thought about it for much of the afternoon wondering what that lesson might be, and then it became apparent that a dominant thought was running through my head from our conversation. She said to me, "There, I've told you my life story, now you tell me yours". I didn't give her much of a story, I only smiled kindly, and have since been thinking about what it is I want to achieve in life and in my business, and what kind of story I would like to tell.

I must say the sunny summer months have been a distraction from my business, but perhaps this is an excuse for not seeing as many positive results lately than I had seen initially when I was working a little harder at it. There is not one of us who hasn't reached a point in our lives when we question what we are doing in life, work, love, or business, and wonder if it's worth carrying on, or time to give up. How do we get back to business when we reach this point of questioning and doubt?

I think it's important that we first understand ourselves, and our desires and dreams. When we stay centered and focused on what it is we really want out of life and in business - that dream vacation, the fancy car, the love of our lives, lots of babies - then all we have to do is decide what actions we are going to take to makes those dreams a reality for us. The mistake that most people make is that they have a dream in mind, and they stop there, so that they are left with a life that is nothing but a dream. To propel and push us towards what we want, we must take action by taking positive steps in that direction every day.

Once we know what we want, and are taking steps to get there, it can be very frustrating and discouraging to find out that our results are not happening as quickly as we anticipated, or maybe we are not seeing results at all. When you get into a business, a relationship, or when you plant a garden, you must know from the outset that these things take time to grow, that there is maintenance involved, and you have to nurture what you build. You must realize the possibility that things may not work out as planned, that there will be good times and bad, periods of healthy growth, and periods of draught.

Many of us try to stay positive when things aren't working out as we had hoped, but the lack of results can be draining especially when we have worked so hard at it already. When we are drained, we start to lose energy and focus, eventually losing hope and desire. We come up with excuses as to why things are not working out and we revert to doing what is comfortable for us, rather than what propels us forward. Most of us will acknowledge from the start that yes, there will be ups and downs in this business, but then when things aren't happening for us, we get into a negative downward spiral of thoughts and emotions that discourage us from getting where we want to go.

We want to put a stop to this feeling of "I give up", but how when we have lost all of our creative juices and our distractions have us frozen in time? It is times like these that we have to stop and listen to our inner selves. We must ask ourselves if what we are doing is truly what we want. If it is, then bravo! All you need to do is what you know it will take to get there, or face the consequences of being stuck in a negative rut that will lead to giving up, and will lead to the ensuing misery that goes along with failing to realize your dreams.

If it's not what you truly want, then discover what is, and take action to get there. Many of us go through life not really knowing what we want, or thinking we know what we want, when really it is something completely different. That's why it's so crucial to take the time to know ourselves and re-evaluate things when they're not going our way. If we don't, we will find ourselves repeating the same negative experiences that we never found our way out of because we didn't take the time to find out who we really are. If we stay positive, focused, and commit to working towards what we want, there will be no quitting!

Thinking back to the lady on the bench today, I have to say she's brought back a little of my spark that first got me excited about this business. I want my business to be part of my success story someday, so it's time for me to get going and take action. There, I've told you a wee bit of my story, now tell me yours...



Get motivated to stick with business at: http://www.HonestMoneyMaking.com and Plugin Profit Site

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Do Not Get Into A Relationship To Avoid Being Alone

Do Not Get Into A Relationship To Avoid Being Alone by Stanley Popovich

Some people get into a relationship for the sake of not being alone. This can be a mistake. Getting into a relationship with someone just for the sake of not being alone is not very smart. Here are some ways on how to deal with this fear of loneliness.

Getting into a relationship with someone for the sake of not being by yourself can cause problems down the road. What happens if you pick the wrong person? You choose someone and you get married. After five or six months, you start to realize that you made a mistake in selecting this person. What do you do now?

Its not fun being alone but being with someone that you can barely tolerate is not the answer. Once you get married and have kids, it can be very difficult to get out of the relationship if things turn south. Make the smart decisions now and do not let loneliness become an issue in your relationships.

Spending some time with animals can get rid of loneliness. Get a pet or volunteer at your local animal shelter. Walking or petting the animals can be very effective in managing loneliness. Animals are a great source for companionship.

Get a hobby. Find something you like to do and get involved. If you like to play volleyball, then find a local team. If you like to lift weights, then go to a gym. Doing something you like will keep you active and help you to make friends.

Develop a network of friends. A person who has friends will not be as alone as for someone who is constantly by themselves. Again, join a group where you can develop long lasting friendships.

Challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your lonely or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, some people may think that if they are alone at the present time then they will always be alone. This is not true. Even if your alone today does not mean that you will be alone all the time. No one can predict the future with one hundred percent accuracy.

Finally, if being alone bothers you that much then its best to see a professional. He or she can give you insights on how to better manage your fear of being alone. There is nothing wrong with being alone. In fact the average person spends some time alone during their lifetime.



Stan Popovich is the author of, A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear, an easy to read book that presents a overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com

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The Presence of Incivility in Society

The Presence of Incivility in Society by Hugh Rosen

I don't know if incivility in American society is increasing or simply morphing into new forms with the advances of modern technology and restrictive laws. Nevertheless it is clearly manifest on the scene, carrying with it detrimental effects on both young and old. I'm not suggesting that we are saturated with it, but like a few drops of lethal liquid placed in the well it poisons the whole.

Cell phones, for example, serve many good purposes. Yet there are too many people who care little for maintaining etiquette when using them. So many think they must shout into them to be heard and they do so irrespective of how that may impact on others around them. Drivers use them incessantly, even when making turns.. Taxi drivers, with rules posted for passengers to see that prohibit drivers from using cell phones while on duty, use them on the way to their destination. People in elevators are subject to cell phone users carrying on personal conversations and sometimes even arguments. Although not prevalent, I have even had to ask a man to discontinue using his phone in one of Philadelphia's finer movie theaters while the film was playing.

Pedestrians are frequently not given the right of way when walking across a street with a green light. The other day one driver was politely waiting for my brother and I to cross the street, while the car behind him was honking away for the first car to move on, when the only way he could do that would have been to run us over. Often when drivers pause to maneuver their cars into a long sought parking space, the cars behind them impatiently blow their horns, yet every one of the honkers would do the same thing if the situation were reversed. We have even coined the term "road rage" to categorize many of the more egregious travesties of civility that occur while driving. Sometimes these travesties end with the untimely death of innocent people. Despite educational efforts, people who are drunk will enter their cars and drive at risk of their own lives and others.

The world of sports not only offers opportunities for great pleasure to spectators, but also provides fertile soil for unseemly displays of a lack of sportsmanship. Members of one team will often argue vociferously with members of another, at times even pushing or striking their opponents. The umpire is not off limits from these shoving and shouting matches. The illegal use of steroids repeatedly gives unfair advantage to the user, who invariably denies having used them. Athletes have the chance to provide role models to children both in victory and defeat, yet all too often fail to deliver with their inflated egos and displays of poor sportsmanship. Fathers will rush onto the ball field while watching their sons playing baseball when there is a dispute about whose son had been in the right. The fathers will verbally or physically slug it out and on at least on one occasion this has led to the death of a man.

Only the other day one more deadly video game was introduced to the market. This is a game that simulates the Columbine massacre. The player gets a chance to engage in the role of the slayers. What wonderful training for the adults of tomorrow! I am amazed by the degree that some people will stoop for profit. Both common sense and the research strongly suggest that roaming in the fantasy fields of killing other human beings can lead to a disregard or devaluing of life.

People who assume positions of authority, trust, and responsibility often betray that trust. Every week we are witness to new revelations of corporate and political corruption. It is not uncommon for those who have sworn to uphold the law to transgress it. Yet amongst police officers, the code of silence throws a protective shield over the transgressors. Some teachers have been exposed as sexually exploiting teenage children in their charge. In recent times the unthinkable has come to light, as we learn of the legions of priests who have repeatedly abused children in their care. And, sadly we learn that this is not only of recent vintage, but dates back decades. The way the Church has handled this when it has come to their attention in the past, passes from incivility into shamefulness.

Despite the dismal portrait I have depicted above, I want to make clear that I do not believe these behaviors are characteristic of most people. I think most cell phone users are respectful of others in their midst, most drivers are courteous toward pedestrians and other drivers, I have no doubt that overwhelmingly teachers are committed to stimulating and enhancing the growth of their students. Many athletes serve as excellent role models devoted and appreciative of their fans. The majority of politicians wish to make a valued contribution during their tenure. Almost all priests strive to be faithful to their vows and the trust they are endowed with, Police officers join the force because they are idealists even though some of that may decline in the face of the realities they encounter. It is a truism to state that we are all human and subject to error and transgressions at times. We enter settings with the best of intentions, but too many of us do not win the struggle against our potential weaknesses and yield to the lure of temptation, and a few of us do not even engage in the struggle.

I believe that we need to evolve a society that imparts caring for others amongst our children and strives to strengthen the conscience of its adults, without foregoing the pursuit of our rational self-interest as individuals. Incivility can lead to a descent into the fires of barbarism. We need only to look at the Holocaust and genocide in Rawanda, Bosnia, and Dafur to bear this out.



Hugh Rosen is the author of Silent Battlefields. Visit his Web site http://www.hughrosen.com to learn more about his novel of second generation Holocaust survivors.

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Home Versus Travel-based Language Learning

Home Versus Travel-based Language Learning by Michael Gabrikow

When you have set your mind on learning a new language, you are in the position to choose how to start learning it. You basically have three options: starting a practical home-based language learning course (possibly an online one), starting a so-called "travel-based" learning experience that would have you travel to a country speaking the language you intend to learn for at least a couple of weeks, or a combination of the two. We will try to dissect these two language learning methods and compare them to see which one is best (or which one is more appropriate for you).

First of all, home-based language courses have two great advantages: they are cheaper and they are more comfortable. Regardless of the language you are learning, you will most likely find dozens of "Learn it yourself" course books as they are in high demand. If they are structured correctly, these courses can actually build a solid foundation for the foreign language you are learning if you can spend enough time and energy to truly focus on each lesson and tackle any problems you might be hindered by.

If you prefer, you also have the option of taking a free online language course provided by one of the many sites focusing on language learning (such as Internet Polyglot for example). These free online courses are even more comfortable (and cheaper of course) than if you would learn from a course book but they can sometimes be less structured, which makes it extremely important to focus on finding an excellent course to take on, rather than simply start with the first one that turns up in your search engine for the phrase "free online language course". If possible, find an online language course that offers both written lessons and spoken ones (through E-media). They are extremely useful in correlating spelling with pronunciation and generally getting you used to the language you are about to learn (not to mention that stimulating two senses, hearing and seeing, doubles the effect of the learning process).

Travel based language learning methods on the other hand are definitely more expensive and they might disrupt your daily routine. They are usually taken in vacation periods, but if you work online for example, you might even set up a small "office" in the country you're aiming to learn the language of. This way you can keep to your daily duties and start learning at the same time.

The advantage of a travel based language is obvious. By getting plunged straight into an oasis of foreign words, your brain will focus on adapting and understanding the new language a lot better. Correlations between images and words are made a lot easier in this case and even a short trip to the supermarket for example, will get you to learn a few words and get you used with the new language. In a couple of weeks, you will already be able to say some of the basic words and some phrases and if the travel period is longer you have every chance of being able to conduct a short conversation with basic words successfully.

To conclude, it must be said that neither of these methods can guarantee you will be a fluent speaker of the new language after they are "complete". Their purpose is solely to create a basic foundation for the new language, a foundation that will be useful later on if you want to further focus on the language and actually learn it in detail. Each method has some strong points (grammar and spelling for home-based, pronunciation for travel-based) and some weak points (pronunciation for home-based and spelling for travel-based for example), which may lead to the idea that a combination of the two is the best way to go, since they complement each other quite well.



Michael Gabrikow has spent all his life learning languages, he knows all about language learning. http://www.InternetPolyglot.com - find out how you and your children can expand your
horizons in language learning.

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How To Protect Yourself From Fraud On Ebay

How To Protect Yourself From Fraud On Ebay by David Maillie

Fraud in online auctions like Ebay and Yahoo are a growing concern. This fraud has grown quickly due to the quick turnaround, fast cash, and hard to trace aspects of online transactions. Most fraud is still coming from overseas out of countries like Nigeria and Spain, but they use accounts of people in the U.S. or set up fake accounts so it can be harder to detect. This fraud can range from an Ipod that was never delivered, to cars in much worse shape then described, or even buyers sending fake checks, money orders for more than the full amount, etc. There are still a lot of great positive deals made every day through Ebay, but you need to be wary of fraud.

Here is what to watch for:

1. If it sounds to good to be true it probably is. When you see an item way below where it should be, do not get caught up in thinking you are getting the deal of the century. Instead use the tools Ebay has to offer to do a little research. You can look at completed listings for the same item and see what the going price range should be. If the price is extraordinarily low there must be a reason why.

2. Feedback ratings. Feedback is what sets Ebay apart from all other sales avenues. But it is not foolproof. Lately a lot of fraud has been attributed to account takeovers or feedback manipulation. Do not just go by their feedback score. Look into it. If it has been over a year since their last feedback entry then there may be something fishy going on there. Feedback is a good indicator, but should not be solely relied upon.

3. Grammar. This is key. According to Ebay fraud statistics, over 90 percent of fraudulent listings contain poor grammar. Read the listing. If it is very poorly written it is usually a dead giveaway that it is a fraudulent listing by someone in a foreign country. If they can not spell and have horrible grammar do not buy. Its just like spam email. Most of the Nigerian and similar scams have poor grammar and spelling.

4. Look for authentic licenses and such when purchasing medical or cosmetic supplies. Call and verify their licensing. Upon perusing through the Ebay site, I looked up TCA peel and found this person claiming to be a doctor. Upon review it was found that they had posted a fake doctors diploma (not a license) as their credentials. Upon contacting their state medical board they never had a license and are not a doctor or medically licensed in any way. Upon contacting the seller it turns out their contact number is at a coffee shop at a mall. Very sketchy and outright dangerous. Make sure you qualify your Ebay sellers, look into them and make sure they are who they claim to be, and when they are not, report them to the appropriate authorities so they will not hurt anyone else.

5. Some purchases like laptops may be better off at your local discount store like Costco or BJs. The price will be about the same and you have zero chance of fraud. Also there is no risk of the item being lost in the mail.

There you have it, how to avoid getting ripped off or hurt by fraud on Ebay and other online auction sites like Yahoo. Bottom line, do not buy or bid with money you can not afford to lose.



David Maillie is Cornell Alumni and award winning writer and researcher. For more great free info, tips and ideas like this please visit the award winning and nationally top rated blog: http://www.bestbraindrain.com

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Fishing The Dog Days Of Summer

Fishing The Dog Days Of Summer by Mike Eggert

Once the temperature reaches 90 plus in the daytime and stays that way for several days or weeks, we have a change in fish habits known as the dog days of summer. Once this happens, fish become much harder to catch and sometimes almost impossible, of course you will still catch a few if you are out early in the morning or late in the evening. Many of us though are not at the lake at these times and would still like a few good fish for our trouble. I for one have always felt a bad day of fishing was still worth the effort, you never know when that next fish will strike.

To improve our chances we need to change the way we fish. First we will need to fish much deeper than maybe we are used to, as fish tend to go to cooler water at this time of the season. Even with fish finding equipment they still can be stubborn to catch. The one thing that will up your chances will be to cover more water. Once you find a place you like, you will need to put on a little more weight to get your fishing lure or bait down to where the fish are, say 20 feet or more. Now you will want to try several lures and keep changing until something works. Crawfish lures work good in this type of fishing. Try moving the lure slowly over the bottom and be sure you give each lure you choose at least 20 minutes or more and change your retrieve speed a little every few minutes. Be sure to fish the deep drop offs and any channels you might know of. You might picture yourself down in the deep cool water and feeling a little lazy, you probably would not want to put out a lot of effort , so keep the lure moving and work along the deep drop offs until you wake them up. The hard part is waiting for the fish to strike. Bass and walleye are the hardest to catch at this time of year, but they will respond if you keep changing lures and locations. It only takes one good fish to keep us out there. Another thing you can try is deep trolling; you will want a deep running lure for this, maybe a deep running minnow, these work great most of the time. Be sure to change colors from time to time as well, darker colors for sunny days and brighter colors for gray days, with maybe a spinner on the lure. This will help the fish find your lure once you wake them up.

Always take plenty of sun screen, and plenty of refreshments with you, these two things will make a hard day of fishing much more enjoyable. After the water cools down in a few weeks we can all return to our top water fishing lures, where it seems sometimes the fish almost jump into the boat. Enjoy!



Troll by LuredtoFishing.com for more great information about fishing lures.

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How To Boost The Performance Of Your PC To Play Video Games

How To Boost The Performance Of Your PC To Play Video Games by Gregg Hall

Many people these days use their computers for a variety of things, not just work or research but for fun as well. You know that you like to play computer games, but if you are going to play them you should consider getting the accessories to make your gaming experience better and increase the performance of your game playing.

Most of the games that you play will be much easier to play with a joystick. If you are serious at all about optimizing your game playing you need to go for a good one here. There joysticks available that will include up to eight programmable buttons and will also include gaming software that will even allow you to program it to particular games. Get one that is easily plugged in, via USB preferably and one that allows for multiple adjustments.

If you are playing games on your computer a good mouse is not optional, choose a wireless optical mouse to get the best performance. Having an optical mouse will help give you an edge over those who don't have one. Again one that hooks up via USB is preferable, but be aware that since these types use batteries they will need to be replaced frequently.

Some of the console games will require a gamepad and many of those you get for your computer will be set up identical to the ones for the console game players. Make sure it fits well in your hands, look for a USB connection and take the time to play with them in the store if you can to get a feel for which one you like the best.

A high quality speaker system with at least two speakers and a subwoofer are a must have for gaming. I am not saying you have to buy the most expensive set of speakers you can find, but you need quality to be able to get the most out of the gaming experience. The difference in the sound between average speakers that come with a computer and a set of more high performance gaming oriented speakers is night and day.

You may also want to include a headset, especially if you are playing late at night and are sharing your home with someone, or you still live at home. With a headset you can play all night and no one will know, until they try to wake you in the morning!

You must have lots of RAM. That's short for random access memory of course, and if you have any intention of playing games with intense graphics, and I know you do, then don't cut yourself short here. This is a simple fact, more RAM is better period.



Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Video Games and Video game accessories at http://www.videoandcomputergamesplus.com

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A Successful Affiliate Marketer

A Successful Affiliate Marketer by Hani Masgidi

The humdrum existence of going to the office day after day doing the usual 9-5 shift is a trying task for those who have lived all their lives doing so. This is why the convenience of doing work at home under amazingly flexible working hours is a dazzling prospect to them. Doing work at home that is as fulfilling as having a career working for a computer on the 19th floor of a skyscraper is already a possibility in these modern times. This is because the jungle-like network that is the internet has given birth to a business that has given some people practically new lives doing nothing but so.

This particular business allows people to work at home under flexible working hours. There is no boss to scream around putting pressure on everyone about the deadline at hand. There is no clutter of messy paperwork that needs to be completed the soonest possible time. Conveniences such as these are experienced by those who are into affiliate marketing, the newest way to earn money without having to go through all sorts of routine found in regular employment.

Those who have been in the business long enough can attest to the fact that it is a lucrative business indeed, one that can actually give people things that they could not possibly possess or experience under ordinary circumstances.

The business called affiliate marketing involves an affiliate’s promotion of a merchant’s website. Here the website owned by the affiliate is made to advertise and market the website of the merchant through the affiliate program that they run. Whenever someone clicks on the merchant’s website promoted by the one owned by the affiliate, the affiliate is given a commission. This is in recognition of his effort in helping the merchant make a sale.

The system involved in affiliate marketing seems easy, but it also takes a lot of diligence and perseverance for one to be able to penetrate it thoroughly. Those who want to get into this type of business should possess the necessary skills to be able tread through the industry with confidence and self-assurance. Still, other factors are needed by one to be able to really break in. Knowledge about the business at hand is very important as it dictates the actions that are to be done by people who are into it.

The leading figure in affiliate marketing is the Successful Affiliate Marketer. He is basically an e-mail marketer who collects large databases of e-mail addresses through newsletters. Successful Affiliate Marketers are also those who know the business even better than affiliate managers as a result of their knowledge about the affiliate marketing industry inside out. Those who want to be Successful Affiliate Marketers should know that becoming a Successful Affiliate Marketer is not easy, because it takes a lot to be able to master the marketing craft.

Becoming a Successful Affiliate Marketer means having one’s own website and autoresponder. These tools will help a lot in one’s facilitation of the business. Building one’s own list is another. Creating a loyal Clientbase and taking care of it is one secret that Successfulful Successful Affiliate Marketers have. Making good customer relations is also important if one wants to be a Successful Affiliate Marketer to reckon with.

Continuing to market to the people on one’s list is another must if one wants to succeed as a Successful Affiliate Marketer. Sending out quality content in lieu of ads is an advantage as products are marketed better whenever enough information is given about them.

Building traffic to one’s own site is also one of the most essential points in the affiliate marketing business. Making one’s affiliate links his own business will allow him to build a strong relationship with his customers, enabling him to market to them over and over again.

The most important thing one should remember if he wants to become a Successful Affiliate Marketer is to treat affiliate marketing as a business first and foremost. If he is capable of doing this, then he will never have to go back to the humdrum existence of working the 9-5 shift. A career as a Successful Affiliate Marketer in the business which will change his life forever could possibly take that unexciting job’s place.

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