The Four Basics of Successful Outsourcing

The Four Basics of Successful Outsourcing by Mike Batta

There are four basic steps in designing and implementing an outsourcing strategy. These help the management of small and medium enterprises to derive the benefits of outsourcing while avoiding the pitfalls and legal wrangles that can undo the advantages of outsourcing.

The key to any success is ability to seek and get help from the experts. As a beginner you might not be experienced in the intricacies of outsourcing. All you need to do is to hire an experienced consultant to lead you through the process. There are many accounting firms and outsourcing service providers who can give dependable support. However, if you do choose to manage the outsourcing decision process on your own, there are four stages of project management that you can rely on.

a.) Needs Analysis
b.) Evaluation of alternatives
c.) Implementation
d.) Review of results - change of tactics

Once you have identified the areas where you can outsource your activities, follow these steps to decide if outsourcing is the real solution to the challenges faced by your organization.

Needs Analysis: The purpose of this exercise is to crystallize your company's core business and to short list high cost - low performance secondary, support functions that can be outsourced.

Identify the absolutely critical products and services that are the main stay of your company and must be managed by your own people. Then list out the supporting functions to analyze which of these are not core business, are mainly high cost centers and currently not delivering results. These functions are the first off functions to be outsourced. You must quantify the cost of "time" in fire fighting or damage control of a particular function if the same is to be carried out in-house. It is good to remember that even the smallest of problems takes the time of your staff and that time equals money.

Evaluate the options: At this stage you will match the needs of the short listed functions with the services provided by the outsourcing agencies.

Initially, you must logically sort out the key functions of a department into major component structural parts and major functions. A chart showing the department name function, the work product and resources required can be made. This chart can be made for "as is" status and also "how it should be" requirement. This is the written summary of the objectives of the department or function.

At this stage, you must identify outsourcing agencies either local or offshore and get a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) signed by them. You can send them your base document outlining the needs. The outsourcing provider is bound to ask many questions and you need to respond with simple answers and guidelines. You will also send out a RFQ - request for quote or a Request for Proposal that contains your needs analysis requesting the provider to quote for a solution. You can also ask for a draft copy of the contract from the outsourcing provider so that you can review the same.

Next, you will do a comparative analysis of the providers who have responded to your RFQ. Also carry out an NPV (net present value) analysis to see if the project makes any economic sense. It is important not to get carried away by numbers. You must make a balanced decision after weighing both the quantifiable as well as the qualitative aspects of the outsourcing service providers.

Implementing the plan: This is crucial because it involves transfer of data and knowledge to the outsourcing provider, gathering inputs from them on best practices. Then you commence operations using the new practices.

The key to successful implementation is defining the step-by-step project plan with clearly identified actions, deliverables, time lines. Ensure that a weekly review process is in place that identifies and resolves problems as they occur. At this stage, there is no scope for dilly dallying on decisions or waiting for a post mortem analysis when things go wrong. Ensure that the outsourcing partner provides with a clearly traceable project plan with key milestones, mentions penalties if the milestones are not met. If your plan involves relocating of staff, you need to prepare them for this as well as any staff reductions. Depending on the structure of your company the new outsourcing program can be just accessing the outsourcing company's system and entering data or it could stretch to committing an entire division of your company to the complex task.

Review of progress and results: A good leader always reviews the progress at regular interviews. You must set up an ongoing system that tracks the progress and performance of both your own staff as well as your outsourcing partner. Only then you will be able to assess the impact of the outsourcing decision.

There is a saying - "What gets measured, gets done". You must make this as the mantra for your team if you want good results from the outsourcing effort. Set up specific service level agreements (SLAs) that define the time bound targets. If you adopt the policy of pay for results you can expect big improvements in the quality of the services provided by your outsourcing partners.



MJ Batta writes job outsourcing related topics and hosts a job outsourcing research site at Outsourcing Research and a special outsourcing report at How to Outsource

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How to Estimate Current Market Value

How to Estimate Current Market Value by Michael Zari

Copyright 2006 GetPreConstructionDeals.com

Real estate investing is a lot like buying stocks; ideally you want to buy low and sell high. While you do not make any money until both sides of the transaction are complete (i.e. buy and sell), there are things that you can do to make sure that you are getting in at a great price before you purchase. In other words, the experienced investor would first determine if he/she is getting a property at a great price before purchasing it. This is where most beginners in real estate investing fail. Beginners are usually paying too much in their initial investment project due to the lack of knowledge in estimating the current market value of a property. Then, most of these beginning investors do not have much capital to finance their overpriced investments. Overpaying discourages them and makes them fail to be profitable in real estate investing. You get the picture.

You can see the importance for all real estate investors to know how to estimate the correct current market value (CMV) of a property. This way, agents or developers will not take advantage and sell you the property at a price way over its current value. As an investor, you would want to get a property with built-in equity without overpaying. You will be able to know if a property offers the best deal when you know how to estimate its current market value.

Unfortunately, there is no single site on the web or any other source to know the current market value, especially for investment properties. You will not find a standard value for a real estate property, unlike cars or other personal property items that can you can buy online. Each real estate property or project is unique in itself. There are several factors that determine a property’s or a project’s current market value which include location, view, size, and income potential. This lack of a single, fixed-value for an investment property would require at least a standardized or unified method in accurately estimating its current market value. The good news is that there are different techniques that can be used by a real estate investor to estimate the current value. Let us first define the different terms you may encounter when estimating the current value of a property.

Market Value Defined

Market Value is defined by the National Residential Appraisers Institute as: “the most probable price which a property should bring a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller, each acting prudently, knowledgeably and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus.” In layman’s terms, the market value of a property is the price most people would pay for in its current condition.

Assessed Value Vs. Appraised Value

Home buyers and sellers often use the terms appraised value and assessed value interchangeably. But what do these terms really mean?

Appraised value is the amount used by lenders to base upon the amount they will lend to the buyer. It is determined by, for example, the sales of comparable homes in the area, the property’s location, its construction type, number of rooms and total size. This value is decided upon by a licensed appraiser with the use of the right method of appraisal for the property.

Assessed value, on the other hand, is used primarily for the purpose of taxes. Homes are evaluated by tax assessors based upon the recent sale prices of similar properties as well as the improvements done on the property. Since assessment practices vary with each community, the assessed value of a property is not a good indicator of its market value.

Different Appraisal Methods

Appraisers use three techniques in estimating the value of a property. These are the Income Method, the Replacement Cost Method, and the Comparison of Sales Method.

Income Method

The income method, a.k.a the Income Capitalization Approach, is used for properties producing income such as rental housing and commercial properties. It is the present worth of future rights to income. Value is computes as: Value = (Net Operating Income) / Capitalization Rate

where the net operating income (NOI) is on an annual basis, and the “Cap” rate is determined for similar income producing properties that have sold (also on an annual basis). For example, a comparable income producing property is producing an annual net income of $30000 and is sold for $200000. In this case, the Cap Rate is $30000/$200000, or 0.15, or 15%. Some interesting things to note is that for a given NOI, as Cap Rate increases, the value goes down and as the Cap rate goes down, the value goes up

For single family homes and duplexes, a Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM) is typically used:

GRM = (Sales Price)/(Monthly Rent)

Here, the GRM is calculated for 4-5 comps and then is applies to determine the value of the subject property.

Replacement Cost Method

The Replacement Cost Method, a.k.a. Cost Method, or the appraisal by summation, is based on the principle of substitution and is most reliable for “Special Purpose Properties,” single use properties, properties that have no sales comps, or income to value. The Cost approach consists of 5 steps: 1. Estimate the value of the land as if it was vacant and put to best use 2. Estimate the current cost of new replacement construction and any site improvements 3. Estimate the amount of structure depreciation from physical deterioration, functional obsolescence and/or location obsolescence 4. Deduct the depreciation from the estimated new construction cost 5. Add in the estimated land value to the depreciated cost of the structure and site improvements to determine the Total Estimated Value

In mathematical form, this approach can be described by:

Estimated Value = Land Value + Replacement/Reproduction Cost New – Depreciation

Sales Comparison Method

The comparison of sales approach determines the market value of the property by analyzing the recent sales of similar properties. The approach is based on the standard that no investor will pay more than he would on a similar investment. “Comps” are determined for similar properties and projects and then adjustments are made to the comps to compare it to the subject property. Typically, you would start off with 3 to 5 recent comp sales and then move on from there with your adjustments. Adjustments are made for price adjustments since each comp was sold, differences in amenities, physical features, etc. Once you determine an adjusted market price for your comps, you may then correlate your results (i.e. give more weight to the comps that are more similar to your subject property). For this and other reasons, it is always best to start off with comps that are as similar as possible to the subject property (i.e. compare apples to apples in terms of size, construction type, condition, location, end use, etc.).

Judging Appraisals

As a real estate investor, you should do your own homework before getting into a deal, including estimating the current value of the property you are about to invest in. For this function, you can take your own initial stab at estimating the current market value, or you may want to enlist the help of a professional in this area; a professional who in the long run may be a valuable member of your investing “team” and who would be able to help explain the best method for determining value for the particular investment you are considering.

You may also do your own comparison and estimation of the property’s current worth as a starting point. Since you know your own financial capability for the investment, you can use your own estimation to determine which properties are within your budget. Just make sure that when you use comparison of sales to estimate the current value, you are doing an apples-to-apples comparison to get the closest estimate.

For real estate investors, current market value of a property is a concept that MUST be understood. In order to ensure that you are always getting the best deal and the right-priced investment, you should know how to estimate the current market value of the property. You can start off with your own work and then ask for professional help in getting the appraised value from licensed appraisers. These experts can give you a more accurate current value of your short listed properties since they are more knowledgeable as to the most appropriate appraisal method as well as the current real estate market condition. Either way, by understanding and estimating the market value, you will not end up burdened with an overpriced investment in the long run.



Michael C. Zari is a founder of http://www.GetPreconstructionDeals.com , a real estate investor and entrepreneur. His works have been referenced in many venues including the New York Times and USA Today. To continue to get weekly thought-provoking articles, go to http://www.GetPreconstructionDeals.com and sign up today!


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Experience is a Great Motivator

Experience is a Great Motivator by Ainsley Laing

Copyright 2006 Ainsley Laing

Do you know the saying, “we are all a product of our experiences”?

If you have gone through a major life change or trauma which created the physical symptoms of anxiety or grief, you understand how physically uncomfortable this can be with stomach aches, elevated heart rates and such. Not only do these symptoms happen at the time; but often months or years later, a memory of the event can trigger these symptoms again. These are strong emotions associated with big events.

Most of us like to avoid uncomfortable feelings whenever possible, right? I know I do. With big, life altering events, it’s easy to recognize memories and events that “trigger” bad feelings. The emotions are strong and hence the physical response is strong as well. But what about lesser events?

AND…What does this have to do with fitness? Ok, Ok...I’m getting there!

Let’s say you are a 35 year old man who was an athlete in High School. You developed a nice athletic body that has served you well. But lately, you are feeling like you look a bit “soft” and feel sluggish. So you decide that you should work on your body some.

So, off to the gym. After all, you used to be very fit, so it should be easy to get it back. You enter the gym. It’s big, busy and intimidating. But, the people working out don’t look like professional body builders, just normal people. You begin to feel comfortable.

Since it’s your first time at the gym, you are assigned a Fitness Trainer to help you get started. You don’t really need help, you tell yourself…after all you are in pretty good shape for 35. The trainer helps you to a treadmill and asks you to walk for 5 minutes to warm up. Instead of walking, you jog. It hasn’t been that long since high school, has it?

After that, the trainer takes you through a series of machines and free weights and explains how to use them and what weight levels to start with. The trainer then hands you your card record, wishes you luck and encourages you to ask for help anytime. Off you go…

Now the moment of truth: you are worn out from the treadmill, and barely strong enough to do the weight levels and exercises on your card! After a few minutes, you feel so tired, discouraged and even embarrassed because all the people around you suddenly seem to be SO much stronger and more accomplished than you.

The next day, you are too sore to move! An emotionally negative experience for sure.

There are 2 ways to go here: you can tell yourself that it’s just not for you. This way, you don’t have to go back and face those negative feelings again. OR you can use those emotions to galvanize you to action!

Fitness is what I like to call a “great equalizer”. In other words, if you do it, you get stronger and better. If you don’t do it, you will not get stronger and better.

Like painting a house, each trip to the gym is another coat of paint. It gets easier both physically and emotionally with each workout. Very quickly, it feels good to be there. Then it feels good to see changes and get stronger. Then, you start seeking the next challenge with excitement.

Not to mention that after a while, you start to make friends at the gym and feel a part of something.

I have used a gym workout as an example, but the same holds true for the sports you choose to be involved in. You do it, you get the physical benefits. Getting the physical benefits leads to positive emotions. The positive emotions motivate you to repeat the experience rather than avoid it. Repeating the experience causes you to get fitter which brings more positive emotions…and so on.

So, if you are having trouble starting or staying with a fitness activity, take a visit inside yourself to see if past experiences and emotions are holding you back. You might be surprised what you learn.



About the Author:
Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and Personal Fitness Training. To see more articles by Ainsley visit http://www.bodyformind.com


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Recipes - Healthy Snacks

Recipes - Healthy Snacks by Vicki Churchill

In today's hectic life style it probably feels like there is no time for healthy eating, or you simply can't find recipes that are both healthy and quick to make. As a result it is tempting to reach for the quick and easy snacks such as potato chips or candy.

Do you ever run out of healthy recipes for snacks, or find them to time consuming?
Snacking is a major part of our lives, especially when it comes to kids. This article looks at why healthy snacks are important for all the family and will provide you with some straightforward and interesting recipes.

Foods with natural colours are on the whole good for you, like red apples, yellow bananas or orange carrots. Possibly the most important thing to remember is variety, a balanced diet will keep you healthy and fit as well as feeling good.

First of all I am going to give you some snacking tips.

Always make your snacks interesting
A rice cake is better than a packet of potato chips but is probably considered boring, so why not spread peanut butter and raisins on the top, or find some quick recipes for a salsa.

Prepare snacks in advance
When you have some time chop up carrots, celery sticks, cucumber portions and other vegetables, place them in a sealed container in the fridge so as soon as you feel like snacking you can reach for the healthier option

Keep snacks with you
To save yourself getting caught out needing a snack when you're out keep snacks with you in your bag. Again the easiest and quickest are fruit and vegetables.

Swap food
When shopping always think of a healthier alternative to what you pick up. Instead of potato chips go for low fat crackers or rice cakes. If you want biscuits chose one that contains fruit alternatively make your own (see recipes to follow)

Buying pre packed or readymade food and snacks usually means it will be less healthy than making your own. I will now provide a few easy recipes to make that are both tasty and good for you

OAT BISCUITS

Melt in Microwave -
1 dessert spoon golden syrup
1 dessert spoon cold water
4oz margarine
Stir in 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
(It will become frothy)
Now add -
1 cup oats
1cup SR flour
3/4 cup sugar
Mix together dried and melted ingredients.
Roll into balls the size of a teaspoon.
Put onto a greased tray and squash balls.

Cook 125 degrees 10 - 15 minutes, until light golden brown.

QUICK SMOOTHY RECIPY

You will need
2 x bananas
1 tablespoon of honey
2 cups of milk
1 x tablespoon of yoghurt
Method
Peel the bananas, break them up into pieces and place them in a large bowl
Take a fork and mash the banana so that it changes from lumpy to soft squidgy and creamy.
Add the honey and yoghurt, mix well with a fork until it's all creamy
Place the milk into the bowl and whisk the mixture with your fork until everything is mixed and pour into glasses.

MUSTARD AND LEMON CHICKEN

4 skinless chicken breasts halved
1.5 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons of margarine
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
½ teaspoon of tarragon
Method
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place chicken in a shallow oven proof dish
In a saucepan, melt the margarine, add the mustard, lemon juice, and tarragon. Stir well and pour over chicken.
Bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes or until cooked

There are simply heaps of quick, easy, fun and surprisingly nutritious recipes for all the family to enjoy.



Vicki Churchill is the owner of simple cookery, a site that specializes in and cooking tips to save you time in the kitchen

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Is The Chihuahua The Perfect Dog For You?

Is The Chihuahua The Perfect Dog For You? by Lee Dobbins

If you want a dog that is loyal, lively, intelligent and you can carry around in your pocket than the Chihuahua might be for you!

This tiny dog that originates from Mexico was actually introduced to the rest of the world by the Chinese. It Can weigh under 2 1/2 pounds and is one of the smallest breed of dogs. Thought to be a sacred dog of pre-Colombian Indians this breed is fiercely loyal and bonds with his owner.

These little dogs can come in almost any color combination and are often seen in a tan and black combination, fawn and brown. One of the more desirable colors is chocolate which is a dark milk chocolate color and they can also be a chestnut color, silver color or a blue as well as multicolored. This dog has a short stout body with a round apple shaped head the dark eyes and the large years that stand erect. One of the interesting aspects of Chihuahua puppies is that their skull plates do meet leaving a hole called a molera. This will eventually closes by the time they become adults but you will need to be careful with your Chihuahua puppy.

The Chihuahua is energetic and loving. Chihuahuas are often seen licking their owners face and while they love to give affection they also love to receive it. Most Chihuahuas will bond with their owner and be wary of strangers and other animals. If you want your Chihuahua to get along good with people and animals you should socialize him from an early age and be sure he's handled by lots of people. Chihuahuas do seem to like other Chihuahuas however, so if you want more than one pet you might consider getting two Chihuahuas! As you might imagine Chihuahuas need to be weary of other moving objects as they are so tiny and can easily be hurt. For this reason Chihuahuas and small children are not a good mix. The Chihuahua, although he may seem feisty, is very delicate and can easily hurt by a small child that doesn't know any better.

Although Chihuahuas are very smart they may be a little difficult to train especially when it comes to housebreaking. Many owners simply paper train them or you could use a dog litter box as they are tiny enough to make this worthwhile. But being as they are intelligent they can learn many tricks and obedience if you take the time to train them with positive reinforcement. Chihuahuas, or any dog for that matter, do not respond well to yelling and hitting and this should never be used as a method of training.

The Chihuahua can be a bit noisy and is also aggressive even for its tiny size. As you can imagine a larger dog may seem very threatening to your tiny Chihuahua but he will stand up to it with great courage. Therefore you should protect your Chihuahua from such threats even if the other dog is friendly.

Although Chihuahuas are tiny and they do make good apartment pets they do need some exercise. Playing with your Chihuahua and taking him for a walk will help him remain fit and in good health. When walking your Chihuahua it's best to use a harness as opposed to a collar said their tiny wind pipes can become crushed with a collar. Just remember, if it is cold out, please dress your Chihuahua in a sweater as these dogs do not take well to the cold.

Chihuahuas are long-lived for small dogs and can live up to 15 years with the proper care. Since their eyes are large care needs to be taken that they don't become damaged and Chihuahuas can also be prone to glaucoma and dryness of the eyes. Due to a short snout the Chihuahua can also be wheezy. You also need to be careful with these tiny dogs that you do not overfeed them and you do not feed them anything that is toxic as a little teeny bit of chocolate or fertilizer or anything toxic can have drastic results. Not to mention that a little bit of overfeeding can result in an overweight and unhealthy dog.

The short coated dogs are easy to groom and care for and shed very little. You should brush your Chihuahua every week or so and give him a bath to keep them smelling great. Make sure to give your dog the appropriate vet care including yearly checkups and immunizations and you will have a loyal and affectionate friend for many years to come.



Lee Dobbins is an animal lover and pet owner. She hosts http://www.dogbreeds123.com where you can learn about dog care and supplies as well as dog breeds such as the Chihuahua.

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Pearls Gone Wild

Pearls Gone Wild by Sam Serio

Pearls have always held an almost mystical place in the history of jewelry. As early as the 4th century B.C., pearls were already being used by royalty not only to enhance personal beauty, but also to denote their high status. Today, pearls are among the most popular items in the worlds of fashion and jewelry because they are timeless in their elegance and simplicity. But that isn't to say they're boring! Oh no. The beauty of pearls is that they are suitable for just about anybody, whether they be naughty or nice.

Pearls have been the favorite of many well-known personalities, both to give and to receive. For instance, it's a well-known fact that Monaco's Prince Rainier gifted his bride Grace Kelly with a Van Arpel set of pearl and diamond earrings, necklace and bracelet at their wedding, while Jackie Kennedy received a pearl necklace, a pearl and diamond bracelet, and other jewelry that were given to her as gifts for her wedding to John F. Kennedy. And cinematic siren Marilyn Monroe is said to have treasured a pearl necklace given to her by her husband, Joe DiMaggio, while they were honeymooning in Japan.

Examples of pearls gone wild exist in the celebrity world too. Actress Mischa Barton of "The O.C." has been photographed wearing strands upon strands of differently-sized pearls, making her look eccentric but more eye-catching than ever. Halle Berry wore a lariat necklace with Autore South Sea pearls nestling tantalizingly on her nearly bare chest during the 2003 premiere of her movie "Gothika." And viewers of the HBO comedy "Sex and the City" will remember the expression on sex-loving Samantha's face as she walked up several flights of stairs when she was wearing a pearl thong -- an unusual example of the combination of jewelry and lingerie.

That episode of "Sex and the City" caused a sharp increase in the sales of pearl thongs. And buyers have nothing but rave reviews about it. They say that walking or moving with a string of Manacor pearls between the legs is something that has to be experienced to be believed. There are numerous other examples of the use of pearls to enhance sex appeal or sexual experience -- or both. A belly chain of freshwater pearls is sure to turn heads at the beach, as would mother-of-pearl toe rings. For those who love body jewelry, there's a wide selection of belly rings, pierced and non-pierced nipple rings with pearl dangles. And for perhaps the ultimate example of pearls gone wild, think genital jewelry and sex toys. Whether they use faux pearls or real ones, these products have a loyal following among lovers of erotica.

Pearl jewelry is suitable for day and nighttime use, to send a statement of class and elegance. But remember that underneath the serene surface lies a naughty element and that you can use pearl jewelry to show your wild side.



Sam Serio is a musician, a writer, and Dad. For more on jewelry and gemstones, visit MORNINGLIGHTJEWELRY to get your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.

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Knife Making DIY - Crafting Your Own Knife Handle

Knife Making DIY - Crafting Your Own Knife Handle by Aaron Trubic

Making a knife for own use or for collection is a delight for a knife maker. The knife making process connects them to the steel and gives them the joy of creating a useful and beautiful piece of equipment from the flat metal piece. Irrespective of the type of knife making involved it is a very intimate process and a bond invariably builds between the knife and the maker. Further it gives an option to make a knife according to the needs and desires and even personalize it as required.

Knife handles are an important part of the knife making and knife using experience. The handle makes or mars the use of the knife. Further the handle also provides a place for the knife maker to experiment, add decorative pieces or even etch or engrave a name or initial. Knife handles are made from many material including hard wood, fine wood, antlers, stags, stones like jade or turquoise and even many exotic material like tusks of elephant or wooly mammoth.

One of the delights of knife making is crafting the beautiful handles. Starting from selecting the correct material, cutting, shaping, grinding it to crafting beautiful handles from it, working on the knife handle is a delight. Selecting the handle material is a matter of the function for which the knife is going to be used for. Soft or fine woods like blank walnut are not good choices for hunting knife or for uses that involve a lot of moisture or water. Hardwood like Rosewood, oak and maple make good choices for hunting knives. Stabilized wood like spalted maple are available where the wood is impregnated with plastic making it entirely waterproof and providing it with a durable finish that does not require any maintenance except an occasional buffing. These are highly recommended for tough duty knives and those that would be exposed to a lot of moisture. Select and exotic woods like stag, moose horn, oosic, walrus or sea cow bone etc, are used to make knives that are mostly collected rather than used regularly. These are somewhat fragile and also need to be maintained in a very careful manner. Domestic antler and many artificial materials resembling stag are available for those who require inexpensive and easily maintainable alternatives.

In order to craft wood, it is first required to select the correct piece of wood of the correct size. The wood is first cut and then rounded and shaped to fit the user's hands. The size and shape of the rounded wood would depend on the function and purpose for which the knife is going to be used. This will be followed by grinding the top portion of the handle where the ring cap would be mounted. Then the handle is mounted tightly and the hole for the knife to mount is drilled at the bottom of the handle. This hole is sometimes slightly burnt to give corrosion resistance to the blade.

The handle is then smoothened out and finished with fine sandpaper. This should later be polished using a piece of clean, smooth and dry cloth. Oak, Red sandalwood and ebony make fine choices for knives that are used very regularly. The ring cap is mostly made of metal but sometimes plastics or horn is also used.

One of the tips used by experienced knife makers is to drill the hole for the tang and form the slot for it before shaping the handle. The drilling and slotting should be done using a good vice so as to keep the hands free. The reason for doing this before shaping the handle is that, even if the hole becomes slightly off-center, the handle can be shaped accordingly to bring it back to the center.

Once the handle has been shaped, it is time to decorate it with your own personal designs. You can use your own carpentry tools to carve designs. These can be filled and fitted with thin metal sheets using epoxy. Carving can include intricate designs or simple ones like an initial. Many options are available to decorate a completed knife handle.

One of the biggest dangers with wooden handles is shrinkage factor. If you attach a handle to a piece of wood with residual moisture, the wood is apt to crack as the moisture evaporates. This is because of the fact that the wood shrinks as the moisture is removed. The best way to avoid this kind of a situation is to completely dry the wooden handle before attaching the knife blade. It is better to leave the handle in a dry place or even put it in the oven set at the lowest possible temperature for a few hours. This will ensure that the wood is completely dry and does not crack later. Antlers are pretty stable when it comes to handling moisture and they don't need such a treatment.



Aaron Trubic offers knife making advice, tips and information for knifemakers of all skill levels at his websites, Knife Makers and Knife Making Supplies.

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Wine Racks for Storing Wines

Wine Racks for Storing Wines by George Wood

To prevent wine bottles from being broken and to store wine in a cool, dark place you need wine storage racks. Storage racks allow you to organize your wine collection and keep it safe and sound. Wine racks also make it possible to display a great collection of wine bottles to others.

There are many kinds of wine storage racks available on market. You have to see how many bottles you need to store at a time and then choose a rack accordingly. You can even have a wine rack made especially for you, with your own customizations regarding color, size and dimensions. If you want to build a wine cellar in your house, then you can hire professional people to build custom-made wine racks for the cellar. These kinds of racks usually take up an entire wall and allow a large amount of wine to be stored in them.

Many wine storage racks have enough space to hold cases of wine as well as individual bottles. Some wine racks offer individual shelves and bin shelves designed to hold only one bottle at a time. This way you dont need to sift through bottle after bottle to look for the one you need.

There are online wine rack stores that allow you to browse through numerous wonderful-looking storage racks and decide for the one that best suits your needs. Most designer racks are made of either metal or wood. While purchasing online you will also come across special discount offers and other bonuses. You will be able to classify wine racks according to their material, height, width and shape. Decide your budget and buy beautiful wine racks for your great wine collection!

Anyone with a true taste for wine would like to add new brands to his or her collection every now and then, and for that matter there should be a wine rack in the house for storing wine. Storing wine in a safe place like a rack also helps to keep it out of the reach of children and the wine bottles are less likely to be mishandled or broken. There are many kinds of wine racks available out there; you just have to select the one that suits your needs.

There are hanging racks, wall racks and floor racks to choose from. Many wine racks will require you to put the different parts together and make it ready to hang. Wine racks are categorized into wooden and metallic racks.

The wooden ones are usually made of maple with the visual appeal and beauty it holds, in addition to the strength it provides. Wooden racks are more likely to withstand the temperature and humidity levels.

Make sure that the rack you have chosen will allow plenty of space between bottles to ensure air circulation. That will also help to protect the corks from drying out. Wine racks will allow you to arrange the bottles in some definite order. That way you will be able to search for some particular bottles whenever you need them.

There are many online stores that offer beautiful and long-lasting wine racks of many types and colors to let you select the one that appeals to you. Many of these websites offer free shipping and handling. You can even have some expert come to your house and build a customized wine rack for you.



George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including christmas and rugs site. If you want to read more about wine, click over to George wine site.

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Excess Salt Intake and Your Body's Electrolyte Balance

Excess Salt Intake and Your Body's Electrolyte Balance by Jane Peters

Excess salt intake is responsible for causing many disorders including high blood pressure. What effects does excess salt have on the body?

Salt intake beyond normal requirements upsets the body's sodium-potassium balance.

These minerals are involved in many body functions including signal transmission along the nervous system, maintaining the integrity of cells and the body's energy production. They are essential electrolytes.

Sodium and potassium have a common property -- both conduct electricity. Pure water is not a conductor. When sodium chloride dissolves in water, it releases sodium and chloride ions which carry an electric charge. This water can now conduct electricity.

The entire body, including all cells, organs and tissues, resides in a fluid medium. This fluid contains a large variety of minerals, some of which are magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphates.

Within each cell, there is more potassium than sodium in the fluid. Outside the cell, the fluid has more sodium than potassium. Therefore, potassium is the primary electrolyte within the cells and sodium predominates outside the cells in the intercellular spaces. Chloride acts to assist and complement both electrolytes.

This difference in sodium-potassium distribution is an important part of a complex electrolyte balance that is maintained between the intracellular and extracellular fluid mediums. It affects what are called the osmotic gradients within and outside the cells. That, in turn, impacts the hydration levels in the body, pH levels in the blood as well as the nervous and muscular systems.

The correct ratio is approximately three units of potassium to one unit of sodium. This will allow body processes to go on normally. Incidentally, this ratio if not unique to humans; most animals have the same ratio too.

A normal diet has sufficient quantities of both sodium and potassium, so getting too little of either is usually not an issue. The problem is something else. Many people consume sodium far in excess of what they need.

That can upset the electrolyte balance and cause serious problems.

Here are some examples of the damage this can cause. The cells of the stomach lining secrete digestive enzymes and acids to help digest food. Producing them requires a certain amount of energy. Without the right electrolyte balance, the energy production won't be normal and neither will the enzyme and acid production.

Transmission of nerve impulses also requires the right sodium-potassium balance. These nerve functions tell the heart to beat and are also involved in reflex actions and other processes. Nerve conduction is impaired with an excess of sodium.

As you can see, having the wrong balance of these minerals can create life threatening problems. Following unscientific diets in an attempt to lose weight quickly can result in such serious imbalances.

Unlike higher life forms, most plants have a different sodium-potassium ratio. Plants usually have ten to twenty units of potassium to one unit of sodium.

This is partly because plants lack a highly developed nervous system and hence don't have a need for more sodium.

This fact is to our advantage, because when we consume more vegetables, we gain the required potassium without filling up our bodies with extra sodium. This is one reason why eating plenty of vegetables is usually an important part of the diet prescribed for hypertensive patients.

As you can see, high salt intake can have many effects beyond hypertension. A sensible diet and lifestyle can help maintain the right electrolyte balance and good health.



Jane Peters writes on health issues. For information on why high blood pressure is a major health concern and other hypertension facts, see the above links.

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XM Radio Is A No-Brainer

XM Radio Is A No-Brainer by Ralph Ruckman

If you have never heard of XM radio then you soon will. XM radio is becoming one of the world's leading types of Satellite Radio. The installation of XM radio is considered one of the easiest out of all Satellite Radio units. Although there is a subscription service you must pay, it is considerably cheap and fair. There are literally thousands of people that rave about all the features of XM. Most people listen to it because of the abundance of stations that provide music, talk shows, comedians, and even cooking shows. There are even features available now for you to get XM radio through your Internet at home. With all the features listed and described, this would make for the perfect home radio console.

If you go to purchase XM online most consumers pay around $96 a year. If you subscribe somewhere else (like your vehicle) then it runs about $48 a year. Some people find it better for their budgets by subscribing month by month. The premiums are a little lower making it possible for you to not pay one large sum. Some consumers are able to get a cheaper Internet service when they purchase an XM package for their vehicle. With all these options available, the best one has not even been mentioned. When you listen to XM radio, you get to listen to any type of music or show without commercials. How can you go wrong by not having to sit through all those boring commercials that interrupt your music flow? The truth is that most people actually enjoy commercial free radio.

It does not matter if you have a PC or a MAC. XM radio online is compatible with both. Almost all major browsers are able to support XM. This would be ideal for you to be able to pick different shows or genres without any problems. It is not even uncommon for people to buy a computer that comes with some type of free or cheaper subscription to XM online. Laptops are even being made to be compatible with XM. This would allow you to enjoy all the features when you are traveling about.

The features of XM radio almost makes purchasing it a no-brainer. Imagine getting to listen to your favorite type of music without having any interruptions from advertisers or commercials. This alone makes XM radio the ideal listening console for most work environments. Imagine the comfort you would get at work from being able to listen to your favorite music or program and not get interrupted. It would probably make your work environment a little more enjoyable and a lot less stressful.

XM radio usually comes with an installation manual and in most cases a channel guide. You will not have to sit there scanning the channels, finding one you like, and then have to remember it. Instead you could just flip through the channel guide to your genre, go directly to the channel and decide if you like it or not. Now, you can save the channel within your XM console and just switch over to all your favorites with a push of a button.



For more information on Satellite Radio you can visit the Enable World Blog. A blog based on Communications Technology.

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Building Muscle Mass Tips and Secrets

Building Muscle Mass Tips and Secrets by Dave Poon

Building muscles mass is an easy task to achieve as long as you are armed with the correct information and knowledge.

Building mass faster, which you thought is impossible, is never far from reality. There are too many trainers and bodybuilders that make the fatal mistake of working out too much. They think, the longer they workout the bigger muscle mass they get.

Even if you want to build up that muscle mass quickly, strength training and weight training for long hours is not that necessary. However, for those hard gainers who are in strength training programs, to gain muscle mass quickly cannot be that detrimental.

In fact, you should never train longer than an hour or half a day according to many bodybuilding experts. There are even instances that you may even lose too much weight doing long workouts and too much time performing weightlifting.

The correct way of gaining muscle mass should be a proper strength training program with three days a week sessions with at least an hour of weightlifting and bodybuilding exercises.

It is important to work on your muscles intensely and focus yourself on getting stronger. You should not be caught up on various bodybuilding programs that allow you to do long hours of working out and lifting. The risk of acquiring injuries is also at high risk.

There are many ways on how to gain muscle mass the proper way. We are not talking here with intensity strength training but a proper way of training to failure that is very efficient to building muscle mass.

Here are some suggested tips:

1. Using a bench press, continue your exercise against the immovable heavy weight for 20 to 30 seconds.

For most hard trainers, they do the wrong way of starting again with the rep and being stuck at the bottom. The weight is dropped against the safety pins.

2. Using the barbell curls, perform a grinding halt about two or three inches into the rep.

When the arms a slightly bent, you have realized that you cannot perform the rep but perform a pull on the bar as long as your strength can.

3. In a bodybuilding exercise, squatting is very effective. It is considered as the perfect exercise in building muscle mass.

While others do intense trainings and bodybuilding diet program for muscle building, an effective squat program can be an effective exercise for muscle building.

4. After your warm ups and performing your squat routines, you may lift weight that you normally perform.

Do 10 reps and rest for a while, you add another 20 reps to have a more efficient and intense weightlifting exercise.

5. Since squatting is the most challenging muscle building routine exercise, you need to maximize all the weight that you can handle.

The squat is also the toughest mental exercise after the physical training exercises that you perform. These muscle building tips are very effective ways to gain muscle mass quickly. They can be important factors to for your weight training program and eventually seeing your muscle mass develop and improve quickly.

Weight lifting is also even more effective for individuals who go through a weight loss program than those who are dieting and doing aerobic exercises.



Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in
the latest in Fitness and Health. For more information
regarding Build Muscle Mass please drop by at http://www.malemusclebodybuilding.com/

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Does Natural Medicine Work?

Does Natural Medicine Work? by Jim Pretin

During my recent visit to a local pharmacy to buy some allergy medicine, I noticed a profound trend while looking at some of the over-the-counter (OTC) products. About half of all the products, on their packaging, were touting that they either contained natural ingredients or used some sort of alternative healing modality.

The use of herbs, vitamin supplements, and homeopathic medicine is growing because of the multitude of side effects associated with conventional care. For the purposes of this discussion, let us take a closer look at each of these different types of natural products and some examples of products in each category.

Herbal medicine has been around longer than any other form of treatment. Ancient man used plants for almost everything, including food, shelter, and even clothing. So, they turned to their botanical resources for treating disease as well. Man developed herbal medicines by observing animals, and then through trial and error, they would assemble random concoctions of various plants until they found the remedy that worked best.

The most popular herbal remedies include echinacea, ginger, and ginkgo biloba. Echinacea is very adept at stimulating the immune system when the patient is suffering from an acute viral or bacterial infection. It is often found in cold remedies. Ginger has been demonstrated to reduce nausea and vomiting (and is used in most hangover cures). Ginkgo biloba helps combat various diseases of the circulatory system, and has also been shown to help treat people suffering from depression and even Alzheimers. Basically, there are a lot of herbs that do help treat certain conditions, but on the whole, herbal remedies do not seem to be as effective as conventional medicines and should only be used as a supplement to conventional treatment if the patient is severely ill.

The next category of natural remedies is the vitamin supplements. Between herbs, vitamins, and homeopathic products, vitamins are probably the least effective form of treatment when dealing with acute illnesses or serious medical conditions. The most popular vitamin supplement on the market today is Airborne, which is currently the number one selling OTC natural cold remedy in the United States.

Airborne is an effervescent tablet that contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and amino acids. Following a powerful endorsement on the Oprah Winfrey show, sales of Airborne skyrocketed. Airborne was designed to prevent the common cold. So, it is not a treatment medicine. However, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that ingesting a bunch of vitamins and minerals can prevent the onset of cold symptoms. In fact, one of the ingredients in Airborne, echinacea, which we touched upon earlier in this article, has been shown to be effective for treating an acute infection, not necessarily for preventing it. Also, Airborne contains 1000 mg of vitamin C, which most experts agree is not safe to take. Daily ingestion of this much vitamin C can lead to a wide variety of medical problems, such as kidney stones and other noxious ailments. Airborne has not undergone an independent study to confirm its effectiveness.

The last, and perhaps most important, category of natural medicine products that we will discuss is homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy is probably the best system of natural medicine, hands down. Simply put, it is a system of medicine that treats disease with tiny amounts of natural substances that mimic the symptoms of the condition being treated. For example, a homeopathic remedy for treating the common cold may contain a diluted concentration of substances that if present in high quantities, would cause you to become congested and develop a sore throat. But, because the medicine contains a highly diluted amount of the substance, it does not actually make you sick; instead, it causes your immune system to activate so that your natural defense mechanisms will kick into high gear and fight off any cold viruses you might have in your body.

Homeopathic products, when formulated properly, do not produce side effects because the ingredients are so diluted within the mixture that no effects are produced from the substances themselves. The ingredients in these brands often have an X or a C after them to indicate how many dilutions were done for each ingredient. Also, treatment with these sorts of products has been demonstrated to actually prevent recurrences of certain diseases over the long-term. Some of the best manufacturers in this category include Boiron, a French manufacturer with annual revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and Liddell, a small American company whose products are sold primarily in health food stores.

So, next time you stop by the pharmacy, take a closer look at the ingredients for the various natural medicines on the shelf. You should try to stay away from vitamin supplements. You might want to try some herbal remedies depending upon your condition, but the homeopathic products are probably the best way to go. Also, you should consult your physician or a pharmacist before buying any medicine that you have never tried before, even if it is sold over-the-counter.



Jim Pretin is the owner of http://www.forms4free.com, a service that helps programmers make email forms.

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Indiana Jones Returns - Too Little, Too Late?

Indiana Jones Returns - Too Little, Too Late? by James Shenton

For those who came of age in the 1980s during a time of sleek consumerism and homogenous globalization, Indiana Jones was something of an idol. Harking back to a time when the jungles of South America and the Pyramids of Egypt were truly a world away, the Indiana Jones trilogy excited in us a feeling of adventure that has been rarely seen before or since.

The popularity of the Indiana Jones movies stems not just from the fact that they were directed and acted by some of the greatest Hollywood talent of the day, but also from the fact that the movies were classic adventures. They were swashbuckling epics that found an ideal mix of adventure, intrigue and mystery, steeped in myth and mysticism.

This formula was clearly successful. The first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, was the highest grossing movie of 1981 and was nominated for eight Academy Awards (of which it won four). The following two instalments, Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade, fared almost as well, each winning an Academy Award and grossing hundreds of millions of dollars.

Since 1989, though, all has been quiet on the Indy front. Despite regular calls for a fourth movie there were no developments for years. Rumor and hearsay surrounded plans for the fourth Indiana Jones movie since 1995, when Last Crusade writer Jeffrey Boam was asked to write a script.

Since then, several screenwriters and directors have attempted to take on the project -- including Chris Columbus (Home Alone), M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) and Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) -- without success.

Finally, though, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford have accepted a script written by David Koepp (Spiderman, War of the Worlds). As of July 2006 Spielberg and Koepp were fine-tuning the screenplay in advance of pre-production, expected to begin in early 2007.

The question that will be repeatedly posed by fans of the series over the next couple of years is this: will it be possible to recreate the magic of the original trilogy? Hollywood has moved on since the 1980s, and audiences have come to demand big budget CGI and dazzling visual effects. Despite winning the Academy Award for Visual Effects with Temple of Doom, the appeal of the Indiana Jones movies was never in their special effects. In fact, Temple of Doom -- admitted by Lucas and Spielberg as the most visual effects-heavy of the trilogy -- saw the most disappointing box office performance of the three.

The main concern, though, is Harrison Ford's age. Already in his 40s in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ford will be at least 65 when filming begins on the fourth movie. Even with the use of makeup, camera trickery and stuntmen, how can it be possible to remain faithful to the original trilogy when the star is old enough to draw a pension?

Despite these worries, however, one thing is certain. Come the release date a couple of years from now we'll see a sudden surge in the sales of fedoras and bullwhips. He may be old enough to qualify for a buss pass, but there's something about Indiana Jones that brings out the child in us all.



James Shenton often writes about movie trilogies such as Indiana Jones and Star Wars. For more articles and film downloads, go to http://www.EliteMovieDownloads.com .

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Use Aromatherapy to Add Some Flavor To Your Meals

Use Aromatherapy to Add Some Flavor To Your Meals by Randy Zakowski

When it comes to cooking, if you think of yourself as a veteran, you likely implement some of the aromatherapy principles within the items you cook. Some ingredients such as flavored butters or infused oils tempt your smell receptors along with adding a great deal of delightful flavors to your foods.

Many people do not really consider eating to be more than using the taste buds, generally because we are often pressed for time. We never really take the time to enjoy and appreciate the meals we eat. Unfortunate as it is, it is a true fact that many families today are so busy, that when we do cook, we simply gulp it down, never truly allowing the brain the ability to savor and enjoy the experience of eating. If many people slowed down and did not simply eat to eat, they would find that along with the taste buds, our smell is enticed as well.

You may not even realize it, but our sense of smell dictates more of what we eat and taste than our taste buds. If this were not true, we would simply rely on what the tongue tells us, such as sourness, sweetness, bitterness, or saltiness. When we walk into a home, restaurant, or kitchen, when any meal is being cooked, the first thing that happens is that we smell the food. We do not even have to see it, when we smell it, often times we are able to differentiate the aromas and define them, making us hungry and yearning for that food.

If you are looking to implement aromatherapy with your cooking, take not of the following tips.

Be crafty and incorporate experimentation into your cooking. You should add different edible flowers, spices, and herbs into your meals. These things can call make boring foods exciting, such as vegetables that no one really wants to eat.

If you are trying to lose weight, you can use aromatherapy as a diet plan. Fat foods such as butter, gravy, cream, and cheese, while tasting good, really packs on the calories. Therefore, opting to incorporate proteins, vegetables, and fruits into the foods you cook, then giving them some flavor with oils and herbs can provide you with all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. You will be surprised at how good you feel physically and mentally.

Of course, before adding these flavors and aromas to your food, they must be extracted from their plant. A good way of doing so would be to use heat. However, be careful, because too much heat can cause damage, which will spoil the meals you cool. Low and slow heating will provide you with the best results.

Which products can you use for aromatherapy cooking?

Infusions work wonderfully with aromatherapy cooking. They are easy to make and add a great variety of flavors to your foods. Steeped water or oil infusion are perfect with flowers and herbs.

Herbed butter, when used with caution can provide your foods with savory aroma and delightful flavors. These are also extremely easy to make within your kitchen.

Fresh herbs are recommended when cooking, because in general, more flavors are extracted when fresh.

If you love pasta, you may generally eat them with meats and cheeses. However, opt for infused oil sauteed veggies instead, for healthier eating.

For seafood, vegetables, and poultry, brush them with herbed butter. Then take aluminum foil, wrap them tightly, and throw them on the grill. The steam from the grill, allows the flavor of the butter to soak into the foods.



You can learn more about Aromatherapy and Essential Oils at: Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

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Basic Photography Tips from Photo Field Imaging

Basic Photography Tips from Photo Field Imaging by Stephen Cornfield

As a photographer in Newmarket Ontario, I have found that no matter where you are, there is a seemingly endless amount of subjects to shoot. All you have to do at times is to open your eyes and go find them. Sometimes when I go out I do not know what I will find. Often, though, I will have an idea of what I would like to shoot, but finding the exact subject and location for my idea do not always come together.
In the Newmarket area there are many outdoor places that can provide you with photographic opportunities. Fairy Lake (my favourite) and the trail systems are just a couple. You can also shoot indoors at "The Tannery" once a permit has been attained.

As you go around and talk to photographers you will find that some love landscapes, for others it is wildlife but for me it is people. Does that mean that I do not occasionally go and intentionally shoot landscapes or wildlife? Of course I do, when the opportunity arises. I love shooting people in both formal and informal settings. By formal settings I mean for occasions when people are dressed up and are expecting to be posed or posing in certain ways (i.e. weddings). Informal settings could be birthday partings, social get togethers, etc..

To me, when I am looking for a shooting location I am always thinking background, background, background. What is in the background? Will the background be a distraction in the photograph? Will the background serve as simply background or a backdrop? Is there garbage or other unwanted artifacts lying around? Will the background add to or take away from the subject? Trust me. A background can either make or break a photograph.

The second thing that I look for is lighting. What time of day is it? Is the sun high in the sky? Is it overcast (i.e. cloudy)? Etc. I personally love to shoot on overcast days, where the light is more diffused (i.e. no harsh shadows or "speckly" backgrounds). If the light is harsh then I prefer to shoot in shady areas where the light can be more controlled. If I am shooting a subject that is out in the open I try to make sure that the scene is not backlit. If a scene is backlit it can make it very difficult to get proper exposure for the intended subject.

Last, but not least, is the subject. Even a photo of my beautiful wife can turn out bad if the first two steps have not been completed properly. When working with your subject some things to be considered are: How is the subject posed? How is their posture? Are they sitting/standing straight or do they have rounded shoulders? How are there hands positioned? Are their hands simply hanging like clumps of meat or are they doing something? I personally like to have the guys with their hands behind their backs or one hand in their pocket with the other leaning or resting on someone or thing.

I believe that if you are mindful of these things, your photographic results will greatly improve.



Stephen Cornfield is a photographer who has several years experience photographing weddings, sporting and informal events. His company, Photo Field Imaging, www.photofieldimaging.com, also provides photo editing, restoration and scanning services for all types of photographs, film and slides.

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Symptoms, Causes and Solutions You Should Know About Teen Stress

Symptoms, Causes and Solutions You Should Know About Teen Stress by Kam Meng Mok

Depression and stress are getting common and are moving to the young. More teenagers are suffering from these emotional events which have in turn heightened the rate of social problem and teenagers suicidal.

There are about as many teenagers who are depressed as compared to the adults. However, teenagers exhibit warning signs far differently than the adults.

A depressed person is commonly visualized as a sad, tired, lonesome, tearful or de-motivated person. However, teenagers caught in the same event may be more negative, bad tempered and anti-advice from the elders.

Symptoms of a teenager suffering from stress and depression include:

o Frequent sadness, tearful and crying for no apparent reason.
o Feel hopeless about anything they do
o Decreased interest upon previous activities.
o De-motivated and persistent boredom.
o Reluctant to communicate and often isolate themselves.

o Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure. Depressed teens often hope for acceptance and a success to regain attention from adults.
o Increased irritability, anger and hostility. Some depressed teens are bad tempered and may attack others when being scolded and criticized.
o Difficulty with relationship. They may have sudden disconnection with friends.
o Frequent physical illness such as headache, stomachache and back pain which are general symptoms of emotional event.
o Poor performance at school caused by poor concentration.

o Major changes in sleeping and eating patterns (eg. sleep talking, teeth grinding, loss of appetite)
o Run away from home.
o Having thoughts or expression of self-destructive behavior. If teenagers say "I want to kill myself" or similar self-destructive meaning, adults should take action seriously by showing concerns and leading them to the right way.
o Alcohol and drug abuse.
o Self injury such as pinching, biting and cutting.

Symptoms above will not come by suddenly but in fact they are caused by out-coming sources, mainly from their family, school and friends:

o High expectation from parents and teachers
o Physical changes in their bodies, including chronic illness
o Problems with friends
o Unsafe living environment/neighborhood
o Separation or divorcement of parents

o Death of a loved one
o Moving to a new community
o Taking on too many activities or having too high expectations about own self
o Family financial problems
o Personal appearance and etc

Teens that are caught in emotional events tend to be more unreceptive. This is a normal reflection because they crave for attention from their parents.

But parents often feel confused and frustrated about their child and finally turn to be a strict disciplinarian that would only serve to increase feelings of stress and depression. On the other hand, some parents feel hopeless and helpless.

They do nothing but standing-by waiting for their children's adulthood to arrive. Unfortunately, neither is the right way.

Depressed teenagers are often lost in their way. They know that they are upset but they don't know what to do. So, parents play extremely important roles in helping them.

What can parents do?

o Instill right and positive thinking. Adults should convey optimistic thoughts to their child because the way we respond to problem will most probably be duplicated by our children.
o Encourage healthy lifestyle and proper daily routine such as stable wake up and bed time, nutritious food as energy booster.

o Listen and care about them. Parent should be open-minded and accessible so that the children are willing to share their problems.
o Build up a safe and supportive environment.

o Encourage them to mix with people so as to build up their social network.
o Inculcate interests in wide areas. Encourage them to participate in or try on new activities.

o Relaxation exercise should be helpful such as abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation.
o Consult a psycho-therapist or psychiatrist for professional treatment. However, parents should take extra care in choosing the right therapist and be careful with the prescribed anti-depressant.

Knowing the symptoms and causes for teenage depression, parents should be more vigilant to even the most subtle change in their children. The solutions provided above are not conclusive but only as a guide to the parents.

In fact, unique and appropriate steps should be taken accordingly, suiting to the needs of your children. Act fast before it is too late!



Keng Yong, Ong & Kam Meng, Mok are the co-authors of the free ebook "Stress No More" which is available for download at his blog.
Visit his blog about mind power & personal development at http://www.brainszone.com

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BIG S, little m - The Relative Roles of Sales & Marketing

BIG S, little m - The Relative Roles of Sales & Marketing by Phil Morettini

Don't worry; this isn't going to be an article about Sado-Masochism! Well, come to think of it, that term may apply to what some founders and senior managers in startups are doing to themselves and their companies. What I'm referring to is the VP who gets hired to manage both the Sales and Marketing functions. Oftentimes this turns out to be a job we call "VP-SALES & marketing". Thus the phrase "Big S, little m". The position is usually offered to a crack sales guy or gal, who also happens to have a marketing title somewhere in their job background.

JUST GO GET THE ORDERS

To high tech insiders the meaning is clear. The anointed candidate will be expected to go out and beat the bushes for customers, and bring in new orders quickly. Oh, and by the way, Mr. VP, you'll also be in charge of producing data sheets and attending a few trade shows. You know, all that marketing stuff!

In most of these cases, I would recommend that anyone being approached for a job like this run in the other direction as fast as possible. These positions are usually classic "traps". The attitude is "We've got a great new technology; all we need is someone to go knock on a few customer's doors and bring the purchase orders back to headquarters".

Hopefully, most of those reading will recognize that this is a recipe for a very unhappy outcome. The founders and senior management will be unhappy with revenue and profits, the VP will be unhappy because he's likely to get fired in 9-12 months. The other employees will be depressed and talking about how "Sales & Marketing" is the weak link in the company. And the investors, of course, will be very, very cranky.

Why does this occur? It often occurs when the key senior decision makers (CEO, CFO, Founders, etc.) don't have a background or appreciation for the difficulty of the sales function. And it's even more likely to happen when there is no key decision maker with a background in Marketing. The decision maker's attitude often includes an over-confidence in the role that superior technology plays in the overall success of a company.

IS TECHNOLOGY ENOUGH?

Certainly having a defensible technological advantage is a major factor in the success of a high tech company, especially when that company is in startup mode. The problem arises when management believes this is enough to "win". How hard is cold calling and knocking on doors for a sales force with an unknown company name? Not to mention an unproven product, which may solve a problem the customer may not yet know exists? I'll give you a hint--it's really, really hard!

Likely there is a lack of understanding of the crucial role marketing plays in establishing a new product in the marketplace. There may be a view that marketing is some theoretical, squishy function that is a waste of money, or maybe something that has value but the company just can't afford. Management thinks, we'll introduce the product, sell a bunch and build the marketing function later. Unfortunately, that thinking is as backwards as can be, and will usually lead to the unhappy results discussed earlier in this article.

Why IS marketing so important, and why is it such a critical mistake if it isn't a major part of the new product process? It's because marketing is crucial in every phase of introducing and growing the revenue of new products, from conception until end-of-life. In the beginning, an engineer may come up with a great new technology that appears to allow someone to do an existing task better. Or maybe it allows someone to do something that wasn't even possible before. But that's really just the beginning of the product development process. Product engineers aren't trained to closely match customer needs with the features of this whiz-bang new technology. Often they think it's easy - you just go ask the customer what he wants! But customers often don't tell you the truth; sometimes they lie, and sometimes they don't even know what they really want (this is the topic of a future column). And even if they tell you the truth, it's important to make sure that what these customers are telling you is representative of your entire target market segment. This is a task that looks intellectually easy on the surface, but for a lot of reasons, it's very difficult to get right.

Sometimes companies do get it right even without an experienced, professional marketing function in place. Let's assume for a moment that they do. There's still a very long way to go before those purchase orders start pouring in. The product must be positioned properly, relative to the direct and indirect competition in the market. It needs to be priced so that the market is willing to take a close look, but not so high or low that it retards the product's long-term profit potential. Will it be distributed only through the company's direct sales force, or should we court VARs, distributors, retailers or OEMs? What kind of pricing can we offer those partners without creating gray markets or channel conflicts? And please, let's not forget about creating a bit of demand for those poor guys and gals in the sales force. Cold calling really does suck! It's not good for anyone, the sales reps or the company's profitability. It will "burn out" your sales force in no time.

Marketing programs that generate hot leads, or even complete sales, are much more cost-effective than relying on highly paid (but beleaguered) sales reps to do their own inefficient "door to door" marketing. And how should we generate those leads? Via PR, Advertising, Direct Marketing, Partnering, Search Engine Optimization, Paid Search Engine Ads, Trade Shows? The Marketing folks are the strategic quarterbacks of the organization who should be driving the answers to these questions-as well as executing the strategy within the required parameters.

IT MIGHT WORK-BUT DON'T BET ON IT

So does "BIG S, little m" NEVER work? Well, in some cases it not only works, it is even appropriate. Take the example of a semiconductor company selling a very niche chip to a vertical segment. They might have only 50 potential customers. In this case you REALLY CAN go ask the customer what he wants, and easily ask enough of them that you will end up building products that will apply to your entire target segment. With respect to lead generation, the target market is so small that traditional outbound marketing programs don't make sense anyway, and that "door to door" marketing by your sales force might work just fine.

But I propose to you that this example scenario is the classic "exception that proves the rule". In many, if not most cases, "BIG S, little m" will lead to failure - or at the very least, suboptimal performance. That's my view-as always I'm very interested in hearing yours.



Phil Morettini is President of PJM Consulting, Management Consultants to Tech Companies PJM provides assistance in Management, Product Marketing and Biz Dev. More Articles at Tech Management Blog . Contact Phil @ http://www.pjmconsult.com

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Gambling Addictions. The Risks Inherent In Gambling

Gambling Addictions. The Risks Inherent In Gambling by David Hill

The almighty dollar will always be shown to be the most superior force, which drives many people to addictions. These gambling addictions are present from way in the past, whatever the country or civilization, gambling is prevalent all through.

Started as a means of recreation whether on horses, races or at casinos, it has evolved out into a suicidal habit. Gambling is a risk-takers habit. It forces a person to take chances again and again with a belief that the next chance taken could be the one which will put everything right.

It involves escaping from reality. It is not just the actual risk, but also the whole occurrence of events leading up to a concluding choice and outcome that has a delusory sense of certainty. It forms a delirious environment which is surrounded by the fantasy.

Gambling is associated with selective excitement, dissociation, and increased heart rate i.e. more or less close to a drug induced high. Gamblers, usually, are very ego orientated, risk taking, in search of approval and affirmation people, who wants to justify themselves.

Now, Gambling Casinos are available online. Gambling has crossed borders just like a disease all over the world. In Asia alone up to 21% of the poll respondents stated that they are pathological (alter or disease effect) gamblers. While in America, around 5% among respondents have gambling problems.

The backers in gambling addictions can be envy, greed, and the all-powerful dollar in whole. Lots of gamblers strive to surpass others by gaining power and control through money. Sometimes, the gamblers get so impulsive that they literally commit a crime, in the form of robbery or even murder, for their irresistible needs.

Other backers of gambling addictions could stem from poverty. When a person struggles, throughout his existence, without the required success, it becomes tiresome and frequently the addict gives in to the bad habit of Gambling. For him it is the final move to escape the problems.

Sheer enjoyment and exhilaration is another backer in the gambling world. Many times the gambling arena brings in immoral practices that lures in the gamblers. Immoral practices such as soliciting sex, alcohol, etc also act as backers in gambling addictions.

The consequences of obsessive gambling can be devastating. Not only can enormous debts accrue but also an addict can end up behind bars as a consequence of some crime though unintended.

Gambling behaviour is a problem when disruptions in any dominant area of life i.e. psychological, physical, social, or personal start emerging. As a person has to compromise his family or career pursuits, it means the situation is alarming.

Some people considered gambling just as their habit or entertainment rather than addiction but if they are missing work hours or school , resultant from gambling habits, probably then they have a problem.

What has gambling done to their reputation, or status in life, if people see them as greedy people? Do they experience embarrasment because of their gambling problem? Is constantly borrowing cash for gambling purpose becoming a growing tendency? Are gambling habits putting harmful thoughts in their conciousness, such as robbery, , etc? If any of these have an affirmative response it stands to reason that assuredly a person is on the way of addiction.

Help is close by if person feels; he is a pathological addict of gambling or if gambling problem is becoming a serious issue. Gambling Anonymous is one of the sources nearby that offers help to affected persons. Although, if one has a close-nit household and/or friends then explaining problems to relatives or friends can be of good help.

Self-talk is other excellent way to help. Inside, a person is a skilled psychiatrist that can offer support for a variety of problems. Role-playing and self-talk combined can do much more for the mind than any second party stepping inside one's persona, yet a person will still require help.

So, before it ruins person's precious life gambling should be nailed down.



David Hill is a Research Chemist and is a regular Article Writer.

He is known for his deep knowledge of all subjects he
writes about.

His Articles can be found here;

http://www.articlepro.co.uk/international/

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You Can Diminish the Damage Caused by Years of Smoking

You Can Diminish the Damage Caused by Years of Smoking by Gerri Stone

Many people hesitate to quit smoking because they think the damage is already done to their body. Tobacco smoke does damage every body system, but it is never too late to reap the benefits of quitting.

Tobacco smoke contains a deadly combination of chemicals. We will look at just three of them. Most of the publicity is aimed at the addictive powers of nicotine. Nicotine is what causes the strong withdrawal symptoms for the first few days of stopping smoking. It also raises your blood pressure and your heart rate, putting you at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

Tar is a combination of chemicals that forms a sticky coating on the lining of your lungs. It also builds up in the lining of the throat and mouth. Tar is the main cancer-causing chemical in cigarette smoke. This explains why smokers are frequently diagnosed with lung, throat, and oral cancers.

Carbon monoxide is absorbed from your lungs, directly into the bloodstream. It blocks the oxygen carrying capacity of your red blood cells. That means less oxygen gets to your brain, your heart, and all your muscles. As the carbon monoxide diminishes the available oxygen to your heart, the nicotine is making it work harder by increasing the rate. This is the reason that smoking is responsible for 25% of all fatal heart attacks.

Once the addiction to smoking is overcome, the health benefits of quitting smoking begin almost immediately. Only 20 minutes after your last cigarette, your blood pressure and heart rate return to normal, and the circulation to your fingers and toes improves. Eight hours later, the carbon monoxide is gone from your body, and your oxygen level returns to normal. One day after your last cigarette, your chance of having a heart attack begins to decrease. Two days after quitting your sense of smell and taste begin to improve.

Over the next few weeks you'll find that walking becomes easier, coughing and shortness of breathe decreases, and your ability to fight off infection increases. You will also start to see the benefits in your skin, as wrinkles will be less visible due to the increased circulation and oxygen in your body. Your risk for developing gum disease is also decreasing.

One year after smoking, your risk of developing heart disease is one-half of when you were a smoker.

Five years after quitting your chances of developing mouth, throat and esophageal cancer are one-half of when you were a smoker.

All of these changes are the body's natural healing response. Here are a few simple things you can do to help your body's natural regeneration. You can begin a daily walking program. It doesn't have to be anything strenuous, just adding several extra steps to your day will help. This will increase your circulation and help your body dispose of toxins that built up while you were a smoker. You can increase the amount of pure water and fresh vegetable juice you consume. This will assist your own natural detoxification processes. Increase the amount of fresh vegetables like broccoli, spinach and sweet potatoes that you consume. These will supply your body with needed vitamins and fiber to rebuild and restore your cells. If you are in good physical shape, you might want to consider some of the accelerated toxin elimination methods. Contact your health professional to see what methods are suitable and safe for you.

Your body has an amazing ability to restore and rejuvenate itself, even after years of neglect and abuse. It is never too late to reap the benefits of quitting smoking.



Gerri Stone is an R.N. and ex-smoker who publishes resources and tips on stopping smoking at http://www.greatquitsmokinginfo.com

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The Meaning of Color

The Meaning of Color by Adrian Barrett

Where does color exist you may ask? Some might say that color exists in the surface of objects or the texture of things. Well whatever you may think, let me tell you what the real answer is. Color exists in the eye of the beholder. Color is generated behind your eye and in the brain of each individual. Perhaps it is one millionth of a bit different in each person, but generally the color that we see, is dependant upon our eyes.

Color has a couple important aspects or features to it. There is the physical aspect of color as well as the psychological effect. We could also include the emotional or historical affect of color on us but for now we will just focus on the first two.

The physical aspect of color regards the perception and physics, while the psychological aspect regards the way in which we think about color and the role it plays on our minds. Color is defined as a component of light. This is an interesting fact when we think about it. Color is defined according to light. In a way this makes a lot of sense.

If there is no light, there is no color, but only blackness. For those that are saying, well black is a color is it not? No, black is not a color. Black is the absence of color and is a shade. Depending on how much light is taken into our eyes and the amount of tone, shading, or tint, we will see a variety of color. This variety of color has millions of different shades.

There are three primary colors of light. These colors are red, green, and blue. These three colors are the basis upon which every single other color is formed. This is accomplished by mixing the red, green, and blue together. Other colors that we know well such as yellow, violet, and orange can be accomplished by mixing these primaries.

To demonstrate how we see color it is important to understand that some surfaces refract or absorb certain colors better than other surfaces do. If you are wearing a red shirt, the reason we see your shirt as a red color is because that is the only color the shirt does not absorb. The red shirt is absorbing all the green and blue wavelengths. This is why the shirt is a red one. Does this make sense to you? Black reflects no light and this is why we see black. The same goes for nighttime. If there is no sunlight, there is no color.



© 2006 -- Adrian Barrett -- To learn German or to learn to speak German online, please visit this website.

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How to Identify and Easily Interact With the Direct Personality

How to Identify and Easily Interact With the Direct Personality by Art Kleimer

Regardless of your personality type, values and behaviors, the journey to achieving a balanced, happy life will be much easier, and much more successful and harmonious if you learn to understand and communicate effectively with the people you meet on your journey. We're talking about finding common ground among the four major personality types: Supportive, Direct, I (ego centered) and Controlling, focusing this time on the Direct, or D, personality type.

How Direct People See Themselves: The Direct personality makes up a relatively small part of the population, about 10%. These are people who see themselves as the movers and shakers, as giants standing across the earth, and they are. They know who they are, where they are going, what they are doing and why they are doing it. They love a challenge and as soon as they climb one mountain, they are looking for a higher peak to climb. Often, they are planning to climb the second mountain before they have finished climbing the first.

How Others See Direct People: D's may be seen as quick decision makers, or on the other hand, as people prone to making snap decisions who don't always take time to think things through. The I personality is on the same side of the directness axis and loves the quick decision-making of D's, while the analytical C cannot believe that the D can properly and fully analyze a situation without hours, if not days, of study. I's love the D's directness but think it is misplaced because I's feel that Direct people put too much time into ideas and projects and not enough into themselves. The S often has no real understanding of a direct person as they have opposite relationship values and therefore no common ground. S's do not understand what they perceive to be the D's harsh directness and focus on ideas rather than being sensitive to people and their needs.

Direct people are also seen as decisive, directing, dictatorial, decision-makers, rude, abusive, insensitive, unconcerned and uncaring, snap-decision makers, self-centered, focused and brilliant.

Careers of Direct Personalities

Direct people do not have jobs, they have careers and professions. They are driven to be the top. D's are super achievers. They have a strong sense of vision and mission. They know they can do the impossible. They often create companies that develop new products and systems; they are literally the captains of industry, government or whatever they choose to do. They are often successful in many different fields because it is essential for them to prove to themselves and others that they truly are the best of the best.

Speech of Direct Personalities

Listening to a Direct person talk is often like listening to a machine gun. Their speech is rapid and decisive, overwhelming with authority and drive. There is rarely room for other opinions. The D always acts as a spokesperson for everyone else. There are no truths but their truths. Their focus is always on achieving. Ideas are paramount and relationships are less important, because it is all about winning the race.

Clothes, Cars and Houses

Everything they have is the best, the biggest, the nicest. D's don't have a home, they have houses; they don't have a car, they have cars for every occasion. The same tailor fills their closet with dark blue, navy blue and dark suits, always the best. If the D is a woman, her closet is exactly the same: conservative, high quality, high fashion and never flashy clothes.

Values: Family, Money, Relationships

The Direct person places high value on family but in the sense of having a perfect-looking family rather than in the strength of the personal relationships within the family. D's expect all family members to be clones of themselves, i.e. high achievers and bold thinkers who are equally aggressively and anxious to master the world and everything and everyone in it.

The Direct person values wealth, but only as a success marker in the race of life. He or she wants more money than anyone else, but is always ready to bet the entire farm on a new idea that will reward him or her with even more. Their attachment is not to the money but to where it places them in the food chain of life.

D's see many of their relationships in terms of how those relationships can help or hinder them as they move up the success ladder. They don't count the bodies of the people they may have trampled on in the process because they do not even realize there are bodies. They are masters of time because they have to be in order to accomplish everything that is part of their personal manifest destiny.

At-Home Exercise: Direct Personalities I Know

Make a list of all the Direct personalities you know. Write down their behaviors, careers, professions, speech patterns, clothes, cars, houses and their values concerning family, money and relationships. Place each person you meet for the next month into the appropriate personality category. Make it a game to see how quickly you can correctly determine their primary personality. If you do this rigorously for a month you will have made it a habit, an invaluable habit.

In what areas will you be regularly dealing with D personalities in your life? What actions will you take to better understand and to be better understood by the D personalities in your life? What attributes will you borrow from the D personality in order to attain your goals more easily? If you are a D personality, what behaviors will you change to make reaching your goals easier?

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Congratulations - You have just taken another step on the road to "Power Living!"



Art and Anna Kleimer are certified professional coaches with an international practice, and authors of Power Living, Living Your Life, Liberty and Happiness. Visit their website at http://www.coachingtoyes.com

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