Simple steps how to make an eye-popping Resource Box for your Articles
The internet is the information highway, this phrase has been used so may time it should be nominated for the Internet Cliché Award. People that go to the internet are subdivided into groups, but generally, they are out to search information. Whether for gaming, business, fun or anything else the internet has provided us with information that has proved to be very beneficial.
Through the recent years many people have learned the secrets of Search Engine Optimization. More and more sites have seen the effects articles have done for the traffic of their sites. Some have even created sites devoted entirely to providing articles that could be read by their website visitors and have links that could lead to many sites that are related to the topics and subjects of the articles.
For example, the sites may feature many articles about a whole lot of topics. As a website visitor reads the articles they have searched for, they can find at the end of the article a resource box that can be clicked on to link them to the site that has submitted the article. Of course the article would be in relation to the site. Lets say if the article is about rotating the tires, the resource box may lead to a link to a site that sells tires or car parts.
A resource box is what you usually find at the end of an article. They will contain the name of the author, a brief description of the author, a brief description of the sponsoring site and a link. If a reader likes what they read, they would have the tendency to find out where the article came from to read more. The resource bow will be their link to the source of the article and this will entice them to go to the site and do some more reading or research for the subject or topic they are interested in.
But like the article itself, the resource box must also be eye-catching to demand the attention and interest of the reader. While the resource bow encompasses only a small space, providing the right keywords and content for your resource box will provide more prodding for the reader to go to your site.
Now we know what resource boxes are, what are the benefits of having a good resource box? Mainly its driving traffic to your site. Many sites would allow articles to be placed in their sites because they can make use of the articles to fill their pages. They also get affiliation with other sites that can be beneficial for them as well. For the sponsoring site, when you get people to click on your resource box, you generate traffic that can be counted upon as potential customers.
So what would be a good content for your resource box? Basically it is keywords, learning about the proper keywords that people are mainly searching for. There are many tools you can find in the internet that can help you in determining what keywords to use.
Resource boxes can also make use of all the creativity it can get. You only get a small space for your resource box so you better make the most of it. Try to catch the attention of your reader with resource box content that can make them give a second look. Unlike TV ads, you don’t have visual aids to drive your point in. But you do have the power of imagination of a reader. With the right content, you can make them think and intrigued.
Another tip is to use keywords that should be related to your site. Do not mislead your potential website visitors. Build your credibility so that more people would get enticed to visit your site and browse what you have to offer. Make the people click your resource box by providing resource box content that makes a lasting impression. You only get one chance to wow them and hundreds of chances to repulse them.
Never underestimate the power of the resource box. It may be small in size but they will provide a significant aid in driving traffic to your site. A boring resource box will never get a job done. Be fun and creative but at the same time show that you have a great deal to offer, too much to ask for something that couldn’t fit a paragraph? Yes and no, there are many tips and guides that can help you in doing this, the first step is realizing how important a resource box could be in making people click your link and be directed to your site.
2007年12月29日星期六
2007年12月28日星期五
Weight Loss And The Proper Nutrition.
Approaching the matter of nutrition and weight loss, we have to emphasize the two basic issues that nutrition itself is a culture of eating proper food in a proper manner. Lets start with the first, proper food.
All cells and tissues in our body are formed by the food we eat. And also food is the energy source for our body functions. So, this can explain why proper food is so important.
Food is one of our strongest motivators. And unfortunately, most of us consider food to be a source of pleasure only!
Our bodies are not fixed statues they are always in process, which we call metabolism.
Perception, memory and all the intricate complexities of bodily functions are possible because of having or producing enzymes, hormones and a thousand other wonders that are produced in the body from what we eat.
As a source of energy our body uses carbohydrates (sweets), fat and protein. To be more specific, carbohydrates are the source of immediate energy, proteins are the body building blocks, and fats are the high-energy storage. But these roles sometimes overlap.
And faulty nutrition is the usual cause of illness!
At the same time, with correct choices we can prevent many food-related diseases such as heart attack (!), stroke, essential hypertension, diabetes and even cancer!
More than a century ago, Ellen G. White, in "Counsels on Diet and Foods", shared her observation: "At mealtime cast off care and anxious thought. Do not feel hurried, but eat slowly and with cheerfulness, with your heart filled with gratitude to God for all His blessings". Isnt it wonderful?
Just let me share with you part of our experience with nutrition and weight loss. If you haven't had any previous experience of following the simple principles I suggested when discussing how to reduce the amount of daily food, you might find them difficult to follow, but this is just on the face of it.
In reality it is much easier than it seems! And I promise, Ill teach you how to master it. Because this issue of how to practice eating habits is essentially an important one!
The same food or eating process itself can bring you joy and fullness of life, or, on the other hand, if taken wrongly, can cause considerable damage to your health and even shorten your life!
How does overeating or eating the wrong food cause harm? The answer is: whatever food that our organism is not able to digest normally, becomes poisonous to us. Thus any poison will shorten our life!
This is the reason, why I suggest that my clients practice this: before starting to eat, gently close your eyes for a few moments, forget all your problems for a while and give yourself a smile! And then you can start eating.
Another recommendation is this: when eating, try to keep your eyes gently closed (or just turn your eyes away from the served food), while slowly chewing a small portion of food in your mouth.
Believe me, this process will bring you much more flavor, and benefits at the same time. Because just by doing this small thing you will lessen the portion of consumed meal by three to five times!!! (As I have already mentioned)
I would emphasize the importance of taking time to eat. When eating, if possible, make it a social occasion to communicate with your family or with your friends. But! (Always, there are some "buts"). If you decide to improve your eating habits, see if the company would be appropriate at this time, especially at the beginning. For this reason, it is better at first to have all the changes stabilized, so that you can resist any temptations...
But even when in difficult situations, we should never compromise basic principles of good nutrition. Always watch what you eat or drink!!! A well mannered person will know how to do this without compromising friendly relationships.
As we do this, we will have the added benefits of alertness, clear thinking, and a perception that is fully aware of lifes joyful events. But real joy comes from facing reality and patiently dealing with whatever life has to offer. If we take time to learn what is good for us and make a serious effort to put it into practice, we can expect to be rewarded with extra energy and a longer and happier life!
Lets take a look at sweets. Which are conglomerates of simple sugars, most important of which is glucose. This simple sugar is the supplier of the most bodily energy. Penetrating into the blood stream it meets the constant need of all the cells. Due to insulin, glucose is able to pass through the cell membrane and become available for use.
At the same time, our bodies are capable of properly handling only a limited amount of simple sugars in a given period of time. When exceeded (if we eat too many sweets), the pancreas is forced to work overtime producing insulin for converting excess sugar into fat.
Small amounts of sugar will not do this, but we must remember that there is hidden sugar in most processed food and drinks. And this is the problem we usually eat far more sweets than our pancreas can cope with!
Lets see how we can avoid this problem. When we plan our diet we should give preference to the natural source of sweets, like fruits, then wheat, rice, potatoes, beans, and other starch-containing foods. Because these vegetable foods require quite a long period of time for to be digested, and simple sugar is released gradually. This allows our body to process this energy in an orderly fashion.
Latest scientific researches have revealed that: consuming excessive sugar (too many sweets) can lead to such problems as:
* Constipation.
* Causing dental caries by providing an ideal culture medium in the mouth, and by slowing down the internal fluid circulation in the teeth.
* Depression of the immune system, by interfering with the germ-killing capacity of white blood cells.
* Promotion of adult-onset diabetes.
Now we come to the practical application of the above for the weight loss. With the exception of some fruits the ideal diet will include only a minimal amount of sugar, and provide an abundance of complex carbohydrates such as those found in vegetables and whole-grain pasta.
All cells and tissues in our body are formed by the food we eat. And also food is the energy source for our body functions. So, this can explain why proper food is so important.
Food is one of our strongest motivators. And unfortunately, most of us consider food to be a source of pleasure only!
Our bodies are not fixed statues they are always in process, which we call metabolism.
Perception, memory and all the intricate complexities of bodily functions are possible because of having or producing enzymes, hormones and a thousand other wonders that are produced in the body from what we eat.
As a source of energy our body uses carbohydrates (sweets), fat and protein. To be more specific, carbohydrates are the source of immediate energy, proteins are the body building blocks, and fats are the high-energy storage. But these roles sometimes overlap.
And faulty nutrition is the usual cause of illness!
At the same time, with correct choices we can prevent many food-related diseases such as heart attack (!), stroke, essential hypertension, diabetes and even cancer!
More than a century ago, Ellen G. White, in "Counsels on Diet and Foods", shared her observation: "At mealtime cast off care and anxious thought. Do not feel hurried, but eat slowly and with cheerfulness, with your heart filled with gratitude to God for all His blessings". Isnt it wonderful?
Just let me share with you part of our experience with nutrition and weight loss. If you haven't had any previous experience of following the simple principles I suggested when discussing how to reduce the amount of daily food, you might find them difficult to follow, but this is just on the face of it.
In reality it is much easier than it seems! And I promise, Ill teach you how to master it. Because this issue of how to practice eating habits is essentially an important one!
The same food or eating process itself can bring you joy and fullness of life, or, on the other hand, if taken wrongly, can cause considerable damage to your health and even shorten your life!
How does overeating or eating the wrong food cause harm? The answer is: whatever food that our organism is not able to digest normally, becomes poisonous to us. Thus any poison will shorten our life!
This is the reason, why I suggest that my clients practice this: before starting to eat, gently close your eyes for a few moments, forget all your problems for a while and give yourself a smile! And then you can start eating.
Another recommendation is this: when eating, try to keep your eyes gently closed (or just turn your eyes away from the served food), while slowly chewing a small portion of food in your mouth.
Believe me, this process will bring you much more flavor, and benefits at the same time. Because just by doing this small thing you will lessen the portion of consumed meal by three to five times!!! (As I have already mentioned)
I would emphasize the importance of taking time to eat. When eating, if possible, make it a social occasion to communicate with your family or with your friends. But! (Always, there are some "buts"). If you decide to improve your eating habits, see if the company would be appropriate at this time, especially at the beginning. For this reason, it is better at first to have all the changes stabilized, so that you can resist any temptations...
But even when in difficult situations, we should never compromise basic principles of good nutrition. Always watch what you eat or drink!!! A well mannered person will know how to do this without compromising friendly relationships.
As we do this, we will have the added benefits of alertness, clear thinking, and a perception that is fully aware of lifes joyful events. But real joy comes from facing reality and patiently dealing with whatever life has to offer. If we take time to learn what is good for us and make a serious effort to put it into practice, we can expect to be rewarded with extra energy and a longer and happier life!
Lets take a look at sweets. Which are conglomerates of simple sugars, most important of which is glucose. This simple sugar is the supplier of the most bodily energy. Penetrating into the blood stream it meets the constant need of all the cells. Due to insulin, glucose is able to pass through the cell membrane and become available for use.
At the same time, our bodies are capable of properly handling only a limited amount of simple sugars in a given period of time. When exceeded (if we eat too many sweets), the pancreas is forced to work overtime producing insulin for converting excess sugar into fat.
Small amounts of sugar will not do this, but we must remember that there is hidden sugar in most processed food and drinks. And this is the problem we usually eat far more sweets than our pancreas can cope with!
Lets see how we can avoid this problem. When we plan our diet we should give preference to the natural source of sweets, like fruits, then wheat, rice, potatoes, beans, and other starch-containing foods. Because these vegetable foods require quite a long period of time for to be digested, and simple sugar is released gradually. This allows our body to process this energy in an orderly fashion.
Latest scientific researches have revealed that: consuming excessive sugar (too many sweets) can lead to such problems as:
* Constipation.
* Causing dental caries by providing an ideal culture medium in the mouth, and by slowing down the internal fluid circulation in the teeth.
* Depression of the immune system, by interfering with the germ-killing capacity of white blood cells.
* Promotion of adult-onset diabetes.
Now we come to the practical application of the above for the weight loss. With the exception of some fruits the ideal diet will include only a minimal amount of sugar, and provide an abundance of complex carbohydrates such as those found in vegetables and whole-grain pasta.
2007年12月27日星期四
When a Game Becomes a Job - World of Warcraft Raiding Guilds
"Why did you decide to apply for an open position here? Do you have any references? What time commitment can we expected from you? What might sound like a job interview to most, is indeed a typical application procedure - for top raiding guilds in World of Warcraft. They pride themselves in being the most skilled players and they are just as picky if it comes to select new members. Is this just tough corporate guy acting, or have player-made organizations evolved into something much more complex than ever anticipated?
For most of the six million World of Warcraft players, slaying the biggest dragons on the servers, getting the mightiest swords or becoming one of the most powerful mages is their biggest dream inside the game. There is just one little drawback: You don't get there alone. This is one of the reasons why players band together in guilds - groups of players with a common interest. For the really big goals, you need lots of friends. 40 is the maximum and often required number of players it takes to kill the mightiest dragons in ""WoW"" - the affectionate abbreviation World of Warcraft players use for their game. Guilds that specialize on those big hits, are being referred to as raiding guilds.
It's a little bit as if the table has been turned around on Super Mario. Instead of one hero fighting never ending waves of foes, it's groups and armys of players now fighting one big evil monster. These epic battles in the virtual realm require strategy, coordination and practice. Players discuss possible strategies in chats and forums, play together every evening to make their teamwork perfect, use headsets and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) software to coordinate their efforts vocally, watch videos on YouTube of other groups fighting them and read up on strategy guides how to beat the next big dragon in their path. They are full-time players, members of raid guilds.
Members of raiding guilds often recount their ""raiding schedules"" - sometimes with pride, sometimes with a tired sigh. Weekly attendance requirements usually have them play 5 hours on 4 evenings a week. And those time frames are meant only for actual raid encounters and do not include preparations inside and outside of the game. This of course leaves little free time for other activities, though most of them seem content with that. They work together to achieve a common goal and upon success, they see their long preparations and teamwork rewarded, while looking forward already to the next raid.
The level of organization becomes apparent when looking at the tools a leader of a raiding guild uses to manage his members:
- Guild portals to manage guild websites, news, member listings, openings and updates
- Forum software to facilitate discussions of strategies and publish announcements
- Server licences and servers for multi-conference VoIP applications
- Mailing software to notify members of emergencies and short notice raids
- Incentive databases to track raid attendance by members allowing to reward them accordingly with virtual items
There are dozens of different providers for guild portals, databases and game-specific VoIP programs that cater to the need of raiding guilds and other professional players. Software sellers adapt more and more to this emerging market and recognize the earning potential. The guild's requirements rise and the growing number of vendors suggest that they are taking their organizations serious enough to spend significant money on them.
Already there is a Leadership e-book on the market, written specifically for guild managers in World of Warcraft. The World of Warcraft Guild Management Guide (http://www.killerguides.com/guides/wow/guide/world-of-warcraft/guild) adds a game-specific twist to the self-help, how-to and leadership literature. It seems to be only a matter of time before the first guild consultants pop up.
Raiding guilds still seem to be in their infancy when looking at their recent and silent rise. Maybe the competitive members of those online game sports clubs manage to take things a little further. It happened before - take a look at the nationwide success, TV broadcasts and tournaments for the game Starcraft in Korea. If serious sponsors become interested, who knows - maybe dead dragons will soon be presented by Pepsi and you'll see Lenuvien, the Elf popping a can for the next commercial."
For most of the six million World of Warcraft players, slaying the biggest dragons on the servers, getting the mightiest swords or becoming one of the most powerful mages is their biggest dream inside the game. There is just one little drawback: You don't get there alone. This is one of the reasons why players band together in guilds - groups of players with a common interest. For the really big goals, you need lots of friends. 40 is the maximum and often required number of players it takes to kill the mightiest dragons in ""WoW"" - the affectionate abbreviation World of Warcraft players use for their game. Guilds that specialize on those big hits, are being referred to as raiding guilds.
It's a little bit as if the table has been turned around on Super Mario. Instead of one hero fighting never ending waves of foes, it's groups and armys of players now fighting one big evil monster. These epic battles in the virtual realm require strategy, coordination and practice. Players discuss possible strategies in chats and forums, play together every evening to make their teamwork perfect, use headsets and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) software to coordinate their efforts vocally, watch videos on YouTube of other groups fighting them and read up on strategy guides how to beat the next big dragon in their path. They are full-time players, members of raid guilds.
Members of raiding guilds often recount their ""raiding schedules"" - sometimes with pride, sometimes with a tired sigh. Weekly attendance requirements usually have them play 5 hours on 4 evenings a week. And those time frames are meant only for actual raid encounters and do not include preparations inside and outside of the game. This of course leaves little free time for other activities, though most of them seem content with that. They work together to achieve a common goal and upon success, they see their long preparations and teamwork rewarded, while looking forward already to the next raid.
The level of organization becomes apparent when looking at the tools a leader of a raiding guild uses to manage his members:
- Guild portals to manage guild websites, news, member listings, openings and updates
- Forum software to facilitate discussions of strategies and publish announcements
- Server licences and servers for multi-conference VoIP applications
- Mailing software to notify members of emergencies and short notice raids
- Incentive databases to track raid attendance by members allowing to reward them accordingly with virtual items
There are dozens of different providers for guild portals, databases and game-specific VoIP programs that cater to the need of raiding guilds and other professional players. Software sellers adapt more and more to this emerging market and recognize the earning potential. The guild's requirements rise and the growing number of vendors suggest that they are taking their organizations serious enough to spend significant money on them.
Already there is a Leadership e-book on the market, written specifically for guild managers in World of Warcraft. The World of Warcraft Guild Management Guide (http://www.killerguides.com/guides/wow/guide/world-of-warcraft/guild) adds a game-specific twist to the self-help, how-to and leadership literature. It seems to be only a matter of time before the first guild consultants pop up.
Raiding guilds still seem to be in their infancy when looking at their recent and silent rise. Maybe the competitive members of those online game sports clubs manage to take things a little further. It happened before - take a look at the nationwide success, TV broadcasts and tournaments for the game Starcraft in Korea. If serious sponsors become interested, who knows - maybe dead dragons will soon be presented by Pepsi and you'll see Lenuvien, the Elf popping a can for the next commercial."
2007年12月22日星期六
Bank deposit and lending rates again stressed Yantai people queuing up to the early morning of
Re-adjustment of the central bank's benchmark interest rates for deposits and loans in RMB, demand deposits down for the first time in five years, Hor Namhong Street in the city, and other cities in the north of the city roads, a number of banks had to be from a long row team. Public Junu:shi said: "that came after media reports to depositors, after all, 10,000 a year money to a lot of bad money?" This is the sixth meeting of central bank interest rate increase this year, the public is happy to trouble, members of the public asked: "Always to the bank depositors to queue up to get the increase after interest rates. why not for the banks depositors Zidongzhuaicun?"
Taiwan branch of the China Everbright Bank financial Phoenix when, in answer to this question, said: Based on the March 1, 1993 from the implementation of the "savings Management Ordinance," the outstanding regular savings deposits, all paid in advance, paid by listed on the Notice of demand savings deposit rate of interest paid. In other words, the deposit interest rate increase after all there is a "transfer of critical point", over this critical point, commercial banks if all deposits with interest rate adjustments Zidongzhuaicun, some depositors may be prejudicial to the interests. In addition, the current banking system does not have the policy to depositors, the banks will not easily give depositors to keep their own.
ICBC financial management division, said those remarks, depositors in interest rates should increase the impact of the financial market, it is necessary to understand more financial knowledge to a detailed count. For example: depositors must understand "to keep critical point", to the early withdrawal of time deposits, may lose interest, but lose more than they gain. Mr Lau suggested that depositors can be obtained through a number of techniques to increase interest rates on earnings, the reduction in interest rates in the demand deposits, depositors should be sufficient to stay in the lives of liquidity, appropriate increase the proportion of regular savings.
For example: in the interest rate increase is expected next year still exist, depositors a "ladder savings" more reasonable. Plan to depositors of 30,000 yuan regularly as an example, depositors can be one-year, 2-year, 3-year-deposit 10,000 yuan. After one year, will expire 10,000 yuan to keep the three-year, and so, after three years, all holders of certificates of deposit for the three-year period, the age of maturity is different, followed by a difference of one year. Mr Lau said that this approach can help people cope with the continuous change in the rate of the central bank policy, and a higher income. wholesale pearlwholesale necklace
Taiwan branch of the China Everbright Bank financial Phoenix when, in answer to this question, said: Based on the March 1, 1993 from the implementation of the "savings Management Ordinance," the outstanding regular savings deposits, all paid in advance, paid by listed on the Notice of demand savings deposit rate of interest paid. In other words, the deposit interest rate increase after all there is a "transfer of critical point", over this critical point, commercial banks if all deposits with interest rate adjustments Zidongzhuaicun, some depositors may be prejudicial to the interests. In addition, the current banking system does not have the policy to depositors, the banks will not easily give depositors to keep their own.
ICBC financial management division, said those remarks, depositors in interest rates should increase the impact of the financial market, it is necessary to understand more financial knowledge to a detailed count. For example: depositors must understand "to keep critical point", to the early withdrawal of time deposits, may lose interest, but lose more than they gain. Mr Lau suggested that depositors can be obtained through a number of techniques to increase interest rates on earnings, the reduction in interest rates in the demand deposits, depositors should be sufficient to stay in the lives of liquidity, appropriate increase the proportion of regular savings.
For example: in the interest rate increase is expected next year still exist, depositors a "ladder savings" more reasonable. Plan to depositors of 30,000 yuan regularly as an example, depositors can be one-year, 2-year, 3-year-deposit 10,000 yuan. After one year, will expire 10,000 yuan to keep the three-year, and so, after three years, all holders of certificates of deposit for the three-year period, the age of maturity is different, followed by a difference of one year. Mr Lau said that this approach can help people cope with the continuous change in the rate of the central bank policy, and a higher income. wholesale pearlwholesale necklace
2007年12月20日星期四
The Generation Gap: Passing Sound Financial Practices Down The Family Tree
In our world of keeping up with the joneses, its an everyday struggle to resist buying the latest, greatest toy to wow our neighbors with. But how did we come to be this way?
If youre a Baby Boomer, your parents probably werent like this. They were too busy trying to feed, clothe, and provide shelter for their families; everything else was gravy. But in todays world of borrowing, credit and instant gratification, seemingly anything we want, we can have. We pay for it for years, and thanks to interest rates, we end up paying a lot more than actual sticker price. But hey, we have it now, right? Thing is, if we step back and think about it, we can learn a lot about finances from our parents. We can also pass that info onand then someto our kids, creating a lineage equipped with sound, smart financial knowledge.
Teach them about todays money
Spending isnt like it used to be. Through the prevalence of checks, credit cards and debit cards, cash is a rarity in todays world. But its important that our kids understand where money comes from and how its used. When you plop down the plastic for a purchase, let your kids know that the money is either coming directly from your bank account, or a bill will arrive in the mail which you will soon have to pay. When at the ATM, tell them that cash isnt magically coming out of the box. It was put there from your work, and its money you earned. As they grow older, instill more sophisticated lessons into their lives. Tell them about late fees, interest and the importance of saving. The early you start teaching your kids about finances, the better off theyll be.
College quality counts
Studies show that four-year undergraduate degrees are now the norm in the working world, and in order to stand out, a graduate degree is necessary. On average, the income of someone with a masters degree was nearly $10,000 greater than that of a person with a bachelors degree. Also, the higher rated the college your child attends, the more they will make. Start saving now for your childs education, and be prepared to shell out extra over the long run if need be. Its proven that the amount they will make after college will easily outpace the extra cost incurred by attending a big-name school.
Save, Save, Save
Dont spend, spend, spend. Advertising today would have you believe that everything on the market is an absolute must have for you and your family. Credit card companies are approving younger and younger kids every day. Resist the urge to splurge. Make saving a priority in your family, and introduce kids to the concept as early as you can. If your child requests a big ticket item, put them on an allowance and encourage them to save for it. Tell them that if they save an agreed-upon amount within a certain time frame, youll match it (a nice little introduction to the world of the 401(k)).
Help them as adults
Studies show that most grown, independent children ages 25 to 34 receive over $14,000 from their parents. No, these arent slacker kids still living at home. These are independent, educated adults who earn a decent income, but who might need a little help getting started in the world. Giving now can help your kids save on estate tax when youre gone, and will also have more of an immediate impact for them and more satisfaction for you. The IRS will allow a gift of up to $11,000 per year for each child without incurring a gift tax, and couples are allowed $22,000. When you do give a sizeable gift to an adult child, make sure you set the ground rules on it before the money exchanges hands. Let them know that the money is to be specifically used for something like a down payment on a home, not for a new sports car. You want your cash gift to help your child become independent, not condition them to expect parental gifts for frivolous purchases.
Most importantly, be a role model to your children when it comes to finances. Just like everything else, you can preach until youre blue in the face, but if they notice you making unsound financial decisions, the more likely they are to do the same.
If youre a Baby Boomer, your parents probably werent like this. They were too busy trying to feed, clothe, and provide shelter for their families; everything else was gravy. But in todays world of borrowing, credit and instant gratification, seemingly anything we want, we can have. We pay for it for years, and thanks to interest rates, we end up paying a lot more than actual sticker price. But hey, we have it now, right? Thing is, if we step back and think about it, we can learn a lot about finances from our parents. We can also pass that info onand then someto our kids, creating a lineage equipped with sound, smart financial knowledge.
Teach them about todays money
Spending isnt like it used to be. Through the prevalence of checks, credit cards and debit cards, cash is a rarity in todays world. But its important that our kids understand where money comes from and how its used. When you plop down the plastic for a purchase, let your kids know that the money is either coming directly from your bank account, or a bill will arrive in the mail which you will soon have to pay. When at the ATM, tell them that cash isnt magically coming out of the box. It was put there from your work, and its money you earned. As they grow older, instill more sophisticated lessons into their lives. Tell them about late fees, interest and the importance of saving. The early you start teaching your kids about finances, the better off theyll be.
College quality counts
Studies show that four-year undergraduate degrees are now the norm in the working world, and in order to stand out, a graduate degree is necessary. On average, the income of someone with a masters degree was nearly $10,000 greater than that of a person with a bachelors degree. Also, the higher rated the college your child attends, the more they will make. Start saving now for your childs education, and be prepared to shell out extra over the long run if need be. Its proven that the amount they will make after college will easily outpace the extra cost incurred by attending a big-name school.
Save, Save, Save
Dont spend, spend, spend. Advertising today would have you believe that everything on the market is an absolute must have for you and your family. Credit card companies are approving younger and younger kids every day. Resist the urge to splurge. Make saving a priority in your family, and introduce kids to the concept as early as you can. If your child requests a big ticket item, put them on an allowance and encourage them to save for it. Tell them that if they save an agreed-upon amount within a certain time frame, youll match it (a nice little introduction to the world of the 401(k)).
Help them as adults
Studies show that most grown, independent children ages 25 to 34 receive over $14,000 from their parents. No, these arent slacker kids still living at home. These are independent, educated adults who earn a decent income, but who might need a little help getting started in the world. Giving now can help your kids save on estate tax when youre gone, and will also have more of an immediate impact for them and more satisfaction for you. The IRS will allow a gift of up to $11,000 per year for each child without incurring a gift tax, and couples are allowed $22,000. When you do give a sizeable gift to an adult child, make sure you set the ground rules on it before the money exchanges hands. Let them know that the money is to be specifically used for something like a down payment on a home, not for a new sports car. You want your cash gift to help your child become independent, not condition them to expect parental gifts for frivolous purchases.
Most importantly, be a role model to your children when it comes to finances. Just like everything else, you can preach until youre blue in the face, but if they notice you making unsound financial decisions, the more likely they are to do the same.
2007年12月19日星期三
Kitchen Trends For A Trendy You
You like to be in style and to stay attuned with all the latest fashion and decorator trends. Why shouldnt your kitchen be as up to date as you are? Following are some of the hottest kitchen trends you may want to implement into your kitchen design to make it as current as you are.
1. Color is in. Gone are the days of the all white kitchen. Brown is particularly a la mode right now, but grays, blues and greens are also fashionable. Refacing your cabinets in a colored laminate is one way to incorporate this trend. Vivid mosaic backsplashes and cork flooring are also drawing rave attention from kitchen designers.
2. Dramatic impact makes its mark. Unique and strategically placed windows, multi-leveled center islands, open kitchen designs with cozy adjacent sitting nooks, built-in seating areas, and kitchens that are kid friendly are all the rage right now in kitchen trends.
3. Pantries are made to be seen. Thats right, what was formerly a kitchen storage eyesore is now becoming a feature attraction of the room. If you need lots of storage space, try a walk-in pantry. If space is at a premium in your kitchen, a built-in pantry may be a better option. Whichever you choose, make this latest trend a focal point of your kitchen design.
4. Sophisticated touches are making a comeback. Beamed ceilings, antique decorative items, impact-adding molding, dramatic lighting, and porcelain and ceramic backsplashes can all add some major trendy wow to your kitchen.
5. Redecorate around a theme. Keep things believable by designing your kitchen around a feature thats authentic to your homes age. Or, bring back the hottest centuries-old trend with a feng shui friendly kitchen that revolves around the energy-enhancing arrangement of its furniture pieces.
These kitchen trends will not only help you update your kitchen, but a kitchen remodel is also one of the best ways to add value to your home.
1. Color is in. Gone are the days of the all white kitchen. Brown is particularly a la mode right now, but grays, blues and greens are also fashionable. Refacing your cabinets in a colored laminate is one way to incorporate this trend. Vivid mosaic backsplashes and cork flooring are also drawing rave attention from kitchen designers.
2. Dramatic impact makes its mark. Unique and strategically placed windows, multi-leveled center islands, open kitchen designs with cozy adjacent sitting nooks, built-in seating areas, and kitchens that are kid friendly are all the rage right now in kitchen trends.
3. Pantries are made to be seen. Thats right, what was formerly a kitchen storage eyesore is now becoming a feature attraction of the room. If you need lots of storage space, try a walk-in pantry. If space is at a premium in your kitchen, a built-in pantry may be a better option. Whichever you choose, make this latest trend a focal point of your kitchen design.
4. Sophisticated touches are making a comeback. Beamed ceilings, antique decorative items, impact-adding molding, dramatic lighting, and porcelain and ceramic backsplashes can all add some major trendy wow to your kitchen.
5. Redecorate around a theme. Keep things believable by designing your kitchen around a feature thats authentic to your homes age. Or, bring back the hottest centuries-old trend with a feng shui friendly kitchen that revolves around the energy-enhancing arrangement of its furniture pieces.
These kitchen trends will not only help you update your kitchen, but a kitchen remodel is also one of the best ways to add value to your home.
Affiliate Marketing...Why? Money...thats why!
Affiliate marketingwow!
Why should you be an affiliate marketer, or an affiliate of Clickbank or some other service? TO MAKE MONEY!
I have been involved in affiliate marketing for years now. Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money on the internetbut you may run into some real problems.
Affiliate marketing is not for everyone. You have to either outsmart your competition, or, you have to know exactly what the heck you are doing from the get go. Now let's look at some issues effecting affiliate marketers right now.
First, who the heck do you sign with? Clickbank. This should be the very first place you sign up. After you sign up with themyou have no limits. But
Next, how to get started. Ok. One big question for affiliates is that you have to decide which products you want to promote. This is absolutely key when it comes to promotion. Y'seethe popular products already have like a-ka-zillion different people promoting the hell out of it, so the chances of you making money as an affiliate of theirs is quite slim.
As an affiliate marketer you want to pick products that are up-and-coming. Pick products that have a good conversion ratio so you can maximize your profits. So you'll need to check out their site in order to assure that you can succeed and use their product to help YOU make some cash.
After you have gotten good at picking products as an affiliateyou can really start raking in the dough. Effective affiliate marketing involves getting started by picking great productsthen, building yourself an opt-in email list.
ButI will save opt-in email lists for another day. So remember. Use clickbank. Look at the producthow's the sales page, etc. And Start promoting.
It's easy, fun, and it's help me make a full-time income. Give it a try today. See my author bio to learn about me.
Why should you be an affiliate marketer, or an affiliate of Clickbank or some other service? TO MAKE MONEY!
I have been involved in affiliate marketing for years now. Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money on the internetbut you may run into some real problems.
Affiliate marketing is not for everyone. You have to either outsmart your competition, or, you have to know exactly what the heck you are doing from the get go. Now let's look at some issues effecting affiliate marketers right now.
First, who the heck do you sign with? Clickbank. This should be the very first place you sign up. After you sign up with themyou have no limits. But
Next, how to get started. Ok. One big question for affiliates is that you have to decide which products you want to promote. This is absolutely key when it comes to promotion. Y'seethe popular products already have like a-ka-zillion different people promoting the hell out of it, so the chances of you making money as an affiliate of theirs is quite slim.
As an affiliate marketer you want to pick products that are up-and-coming. Pick products that have a good conversion ratio so you can maximize your profits. So you'll need to check out their site in order to assure that you can succeed and use their product to help YOU make some cash.
After you have gotten good at picking products as an affiliateyou can really start raking in the dough. Effective affiliate marketing involves getting started by picking great productsthen, building yourself an opt-in email list.
ButI will save opt-in email lists for another day. So remember. Use clickbank. Look at the producthow's the sales page, etc. And Start promoting.
It's easy, fun, and it's help me make a full-time income. Give it a try today. See my author bio to learn about me.
Google's use of IBM and Microsoft Apps dug corner - wholesale pearl-wholesale necklace
Network of the World - December 19 - According to foreign media reports, Google's vice president and general manager of the enterprise sector DaveGirouard recently said that GoogleApps next year's goal is to attract more big customers. Girouard said Google Apps has been as fast as possible to attract the attention of small businesses. The current goal is to win more support from large enterprises. Girouard said: "In fact, we already have a number of large enterprise customers, but our aim is that the GoogleApps Microsoft and IBM to become the application of alternative applications." Past, and large enterprises that "we in the use of SAP products.." But Girouard said that in the next few months, there will be more and more large enterprises said: "We use GoogleApps." In June, Microsoft and IBM executives have acknowledged that Google Apps has been in the enterprise market posed a threat to them. Microsoft Office platform department heads RobCurry said GoogleApps has by virtue of simple, easy-to-use features such as attracting corporate users. Curry said: "In this field, we have Google as a rival." Although IBM is Google's partners. Ali network but IBM also believes that Google will own Lotus Notes, wholesale pearl wholesale necklace applications such as a threat. KenBisconti IBM vice president, said: "Google is the core of our partners, will continue to cooperate on. Google will eventually become our competitors."wholesale pearl wholesale necklacewholesale pearl wholesale necklace wholesale pearl wholesale necklacewholesale pearl wholesale necklacewholesale pearl wholesale necklacewholesale pearl wholesale necklace
2007年12月17日星期一
How To Throw The Best Baby Shower In 3 Easy Steps
Heres a really simple way to throw the best baby shower possible and really wow your friends and family members. Throwing a winning baby shower shouldnt be more work than it needs to be. However, there are 3 steps to follow to the letter to ensure that the baby shower is special for everyone involved. Sticking to these 3 steps will make sure that your baby shower goes off without a hitch and that you can sleep in peace knowing that you did everything right.
1. Use balloons to greet your guests. Get some nice balloons and attach them to the outside of your door. Humans are fantastically simple creatures that can be easily entertained by a festive atmosphere. For a lot of people, balloons symbolize a party or some other great celebration. Balloons can be picked up relatively cheaply and always add a great touch to a baby shower. After all, whats a party without balloons? Pick some nice ones up and use em. People like balloons.
2. Use written invitations. We live in an age of internet connectivity and cell phones. This technology is incredible and can be really be handy. However, a paper invite is permanent. Your guests will save them for years to come in their scrap books. The souvenir value of written invitations is immense. A cell phone call or email cant really be saved, so spend the extra money and send out a decent paper invite. Youll be remembered an admired for sticking to your guns in an age of high tech gadgets.
3. The first two points are helpful, however, the most critical point to ensuring your baby shower is a success is knowing what not to do. Etiquette absolutely needs to come first. Poor etiquette will ensure that all your research efforts have been in vain and you could potentially ruin the party you worked so hard to prepare for. There is an entire list of dos and donts that you need to follow to the letter or your shower just wont work.
1. Use balloons to greet your guests. Get some nice balloons and attach them to the outside of your door. Humans are fantastically simple creatures that can be easily entertained by a festive atmosphere. For a lot of people, balloons symbolize a party or some other great celebration. Balloons can be picked up relatively cheaply and always add a great touch to a baby shower. After all, whats a party without balloons? Pick some nice ones up and use em. People like balloons.
2. Use written invitations. We live in an age of internet connectivity and cell phones. This technology is incredible and can be really be handy. However, a paper invite is permanent. Your guests will save them for years to come in their scrap books. The souvenir value of written invitations is immense. A cell phone call or email cant really be saved, so spend the extra money and send out a decent paper invite. Youll be remembered an admired for sticking to your guns in an age of high tech gadgets.
3. The first two points are helpful, however, the most critical point to ensuring your baby shower is a success is knowing what not to do. Etiquette absolutely needs to come first. Poor etiquette will ensure that all your research efforts have been in vain and you could potentially ruin the party you worked so hard to prepare for. There is an entire list of dos and donts that you need to follow to the letter or your shower just wont work.
2007年12月16日星期日
Portugals Silver Coast Property Investing
Portugals Silver Coast region is often overlooked when property investors look at property in Portugal. However, in reality, it is the heart of this fantastic country and has so much to offer to both investors and holiday makers.
The Silver Coast extends from Castelo de Paiva at the north end to Arruda dos Vinhos in the south. It also has the largest motorway in the country, running the length of the coast. Even those who do not directly visit the Silver Coast are likely to be wowed as they pass through on their way from Lisbon to Oporto.
Primarily, the Silver Coast is made up of small, traditional fishing villages, although as time goes by, more holiday resorts with new build apartments and hotels are appearing along the previously untouched coast line. A classic example of this is the village of Nazare, which has a wonderful sandy beach surrounded by hotels and apartments, whereas further away from the beach, heading up towards the hills, there are nothing but traditional fishing villages and local residents.
Although the name Silver Coast suggests that the entire region is made up of beach resorts, there is, however, also a large amount of inland space which is equally beautiful. Many rivers run through the Silver Coast area, which keep the inland regions fertile and perfect for growing crops such as grapes, fruit and rice.
The great thing about the Silver Coast is the variety of different styles of property that are available to purchase. At one end of the scale it is possible to purchase a 700 square metre plot of land in order to develop your own property, for less than 70,000 Euros. One of the best ways to invest in the Silver Coast region is to look at the new build apartments that are being developed across the country. By purchasing a new build apartment with sea views, in a popular holiday resort, investors can make the most of the long summer season and the positive tourist market. New build apartments are available from as little as 100,000 Euros and very few sell for more than 250,000 Euros.
Modern tourists were not the first to discover the beauty of Portugals Silver Coast; the Portuguese royal family regularly visits the ancient city of Leiria which is very close to Lisbon. This beautiful city makes a perfect retreat for the family, as it acts as a good base in order to visit the impressive abbeys of Batalha and Alcobaca.
For those in search of a bit more action, there is the famous resort of Figueira de Foz, which is still one of the most important towns. It was the ancient capital of Portugal, although these days it is better known for its enormous casino!
These well developed areas are an excellent investment for those looking for instant rental and good long-term prospects. It is also a reasonably safe prospect as these regions have had considerable government investment, in order to ensure their success. However, those investors who are looking for a bargain may be better off considering under-developed areas and small villages where the really cheap properties can still be found. Of course, this approach is higher risk, but there is the possibility of huge capital gains.
Whatever you are looking for as a property investment, Portugals Silver Coast is bound to be able to come up with something to suit you. So get in there, before you get priced out of this booming region!
The Silver Coast extends from Castelo de Paiva at the north end to Arruda dos Vinhos in the south. It also has the largest motorway in the country, running the length of the coast. Even those who do not directly visit the Silver Coast are likely to be wowed as they pass through on their way from Lisbon to Oporto.
Primarily, the Silver Coast is made up of small, traditional fishing villages, although as time goes by, more holiday resorts with new build apartments and hotels are appearing along the previously untouched coast line. A classic example of this is the village of Nazare, which has a wonderful sandy beach surrounded by hotels and apartments, whereas further away from the beach, heading up towards the hills, there are nothing but traditional fishing villages and local residents.
Although the name Silver Coast suggests that the entire region is made up of beach resorts, there is, however, also a large amount of inland space which is equally beautiful. Many rivers run through the Silver Coast area, which keep the inland regions fertile and perfect for growing crops such as grapes, fruit and rice.
The great thing about the Silver Coast is the variety of different styles of property that are available to purchase. At one end of the scale it is possible to purchase a 700 square metre plot of land in order to develop your own property, for less than 70,000 Euros. One of the best ways to invest in the Silver Coast region is to look at the new build apartments that are being developed across the country. By purchasing a new build apartment with sea views, in a popular holiday resort, investors can make the most of the long summer season and the positive tourist market. New build apartments are available from as little as 100,000 Euros and very few sell for more than 250,000 Euros.
Modern tourists were not the first to discover the beauty of Portugals Silver Coast; the Portuguese royal family regularly visits the ancient city of Leiria which is very close to Lisbon. This beautiful city makes a perfect retreat for the family, as it acts as a good base in order to visit the impressive abbeys of Batalha and Alcobaca.
For those in search of a bit more action, there is the famous resort of Figueira de Foz, which is still one of the most important towns. It was the ancient capital of Portugal, although these days it is better known for its enormous casino!
These well developed areas are an excellent investment for those looking for instant rental and good long-term prospects. It is also a reasonably safe prospect as these regions have had considerable government investment, in order to ensure their success. However, those investors who are looking for a bargain may be better off considering under-developed areas and small villages where the really cheap properties can still be found. Of course, this approach is higher risk, but there is the possibility of huge capital gains.
Whatever you are looking for as a property investment, Portugals Silver Coast is bound to be able to come up with something to suit you. So get in there, before you get priced out of this booming region!
Get Creative With Your Christmas Decorated Fireplace Mantel
When you begin to decorate your home for the holiday season, remember that the purpose and parameters of holiday dcor are the same as decorating your home any other time of year creating a comfortable space for your loved ones to gather, enjoy each other, share old memories and create new ones.
There are no limits when it comes to decorating ideas for the holidays, given the myriad of traditions that vary from one home to the next. However you and your loved ones will be celebrating the holidays, your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel can be a main display in your overall dcor. Whether you are trying to create that cozy feeling of home, or you are going for an over-the-top theme to wow your guests, your fireplace can be the focal point of any room that it occupies.
Because your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel is such a strong element, the dcor you choose for the fireplace should be echoed all around the room for consistency. And if your holiday tree and fireplace share the same room, you definitely want both to duplicate a similar theme, because you dont want them to compete with each other rather, you want them to complement one another.
Keep in mind that your theme will be influenced by the room where your fireplace is located. For example, a fireplace in the den is going to have a different decoration style and create a different kind of mood than a fireplace in the bedroom. In other words, you do not necessarily have to duplicate the same theme and/or design on every fireplace mantel.
As you begin to review possible ideas for your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations, from celebrating a different culture to showcasing your own family traditions over the years, below are a few themes to brighten any room in your home.
Holidays Around the World
Do you have a favorite country that you have visited or would like to visit? Are you from another country and want to incorporate your heritage into your mantel decorations? You can use your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel project as an opportunity to learn more about celebrating the holidays in a different country, whether your family has visited there or not. If you have visited the country that is central to your theme, you can incorporate your souvenirs into the fireplace mantels decor. If you have emigrated from another country, use this space to display any keepsakes or novelties of sentimental value, or items that are unique to your culture.
Travel Back in Time
Take this idea one step further by not only focusing on a different country, but also a different time in our history. For example, you can focus your dcor around the theme of Colonial America, French Provincial or the Victorian era. If you have more than one fireplace mantel in your home, you can choose to focus on different time periods for each one.
Just One Thing
If you want a very clean, scaled-down look for your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel, you can choose one type of item, such as candles or flowers, and add some Christmas mantel scarves and some garland, to create an elegantly simple display. You can personalize this idea by specifically choosing your favorite type of plant or flower, or choosing an aromatic candle with a scent that speaks to you. And dont limit yourself to traditional holiday greenery and aromas, such as poinsettias and pine. You can use any plant or flower from bamboo to orchids to roses, and any candle aroma from gardenia to sage.
Gifts Aplenty
Your fireplace mantel can serve as another place to display gifts think of is as an extension of the space under your Christmas tree. Use your mantel to display gifts you have received, or some gifts you intend to give. Putting gifts around the room, not just under the tree, creates unexpected surprises.
Artifacts of Christmas Past
Dedicate your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations to a collection of handmade crafts, sentimental gifts or special items from holidays your family has shared in the past.
Perhaps a relative sent you a special gift one year that relates to your familys cultural history if so, place it on the mantel with some relevant accessories.
Maybe one year you and your family decided to visit a major city during the holiday season, such as New York or Washington D.C., and you have an exquisite souvenir that would make a beautiful centerpiece for your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel.
You can share a traditional family recipe for sweet treats such as cookies or candies, making them the centerpiece or part of your display, accompanied by a picture frame that contains a brief written history of how the recipe has been enjoyed for generations.
A simple photo gallery, with several picture frames, can include photos of how your family has grown and changed over the years, from one holiday season to the next.
Your Favorite Christmas Scene
Your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel can be an opportunity for you to display your favorite holiday scene. Many of us are familiar with the Christmas Nativity scene celebrating Jesus birth, but there are other scenes that remind us of the holidays as well. You can expand your scope to the many scenes that are known from age-old Christmas stories, such as Santa on his sleigh or on the rooftop with a sack of toys. You can display a scene from a more specific story, such as the battle between the Prince and the Mouse King from the Nutcracker ballet, or when the Grinch meets Sally Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas or when the children follow Frosty as he sings the theme song from Frosty the Snowman.
The holidays are a magical time, and your holiday decorating activities are an opportunity to capture some of that magic in a space where your family, friends and guests feel comfortable. Get creative and have fun, combining your imagination with your own signature style, and your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations will be an important part of creating a memorable holiday experience.
There are no limits when it comes to decorating ideas for the holidays, given the myriad of traditions that vary from one home to the next. However you and your loved ones will be celebrating the holidays, your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel can be a main display in your overall dcor. Whether you are trying to create that cozy feeling of home, or you are going for an over-the-top theme to wow your guests, your fireplace can be the focal point of any room that it occupies.
Because your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel is such a strong element, the dcor you choose for the fireplace should be echoed all around the room for consistency. And if your holiday tree and fireplace share the same room, you definitely want both to duplicate a similar theme, because you dont want them to compete with each other rather, you want them to complement one another.
Keep in mind that your theme will be influenced by the room where your fireplace is located. For example, a fireplace in the den is going to have a different decoration style and create a different kind of mood than a fireplace in the bedroom. In other words, you do not necessarily have to duplicate the same theme and/or design on every fireplace mantel.
As you begin to review possible ideas for your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations, from celebrating a different culture to showcasing your own family traditions over the years, below are a few themes to brighten any room in your home.
Holidays Around the World
Do you have a favorite country that you have visited or would like to visit? Are you from another country and want to incorporate your heritage into your mantel decorations? You can use your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel project as an opportunity to learn more about celebrating the holidays in a different country, whether your family has visited there or not. If you have visited the country that is central to your theme, you can incorporate your souvenirs into the fireplace mantels decor. If you have emigrated from another country, use this space to display any keepsakes or novelties of sentimental value, or items that are unique to your culture.
Travel Back in Time
Take this idea one step further by not only focusing on a different country, but also a different time in our history. For example, you can focus your dcor around the theme of Colonial America, French Provincial or the Victorian era. If you have more than one fireplace mantel in your home, you can choose to focus on different time periods for each one.
Just One Thing
If you want a very clean, scaled-down look for your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel, you can choose one type of item, such as candles or flowers, and add some Christmas mantel scarves and some garland, to create an elegantly simple display. You can personalize this idea by specifically choosing your favorite type of plant or flower, or choosing an aromatic candle with a scent that speaks to you. And dont limit yourself to traditional holiday greenery and aromas, such as poinsettias and pine. You can use any plant or flower from bamboo to orchids to roses, and any candle aroma from gardenia to sage.
Gifts Aplenty
Your fireplace mantel can serve as another place to display gifts think of is as an extension of the space under your Christmas tree. Use your mantel to display gifts you have received, or some gifts you intend to give. Putting gifts around the room, not just under the tree, creates unexpected surprises.
Artifacts of Christmas Past
Dedicate your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations to a collection of handmade crafts, sentimental gifts or special items from holidays your family has shared in the past.
Perhaps a relative sent you a special gift one year that relates to your familys cultural history if so, place it on the mantel with some relevant accessories.
Maybe one year you and your family decided to visit a major city during the holiday season, such as New York or Washington D.C., and you have an exquisite souvenir that would make a beautiful centerpiece for your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel.
You can share a traditional family recipe for sweet treats such as cookies or candies, making them the centerpiece or part of your display, accompanied by a picture frame that contains a brief written history of how the recipe has been enjoyed for generations.
A simple photo gallery, with several picture frames, can include photos of how your family has grown and changed over the years, from one holiday season to the next.
Your Favorite Christmas Scene
Your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel can be an opportunity for you to display your favorite holiday scene. Many of us are familiar with the Christmas Nativity scene celebrating Jesus birth, but there are other scenes that remind us of the holidays as well. You can expand your scope to the many scenes that are known from age-old Christmas stories, such as Santa on his sleigh or on the rooftop with a sack of toys. You can display a scene from a more specific story, such as the battle between the Prince and the Mouse King from the Nutcracker ballet, or when the Grinch meets Sally Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas or when the children follow Frosty as he sings the theme song from Frosty the Snowman.
The holidays are a magical time, and your holiday decorating activities are an opportunity to capture some of that magic in a space where your family, friends and guests feel comfortable. Get creative and have fun, combining your imagination with your own signature style, and your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations will be an important part of creating a memorable holiday experience.
Im Fabulous, Right?
I want to talk with you gals about that much-touted, not-so-easy to obtain, pop-psychology all-star concept; self-esteem. We all want to know:
What is it?
How do I get me some of that?
How do I make it stay?
In this article, Im going to attempt to begin addressing these questions to get you thinking, questioning, and hopefully, moving forward to answering them for yourself.
In terms of what self-esteem is, I have found a few definitions by doing a web-search for the term. Here they are:
Feelings of self-worth stemming from the individual's positive or negative beliefs about being valuable and capable a feeling of pride in yourself dignity: the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
Id say those are pretty good definitions and quite straightforward. If only it were as easy to HAVE self-esteem as it is to define it! I wish I could tell you that I was one of those women who treats low-self-esteem like a ridiculous practical joke and just laughs it away while I constantly feel fabulous, brilliant, beautiful, and at the top of my game, but Id be lying and I am really bad at lying and the guilt obtained from lying would decrease my self-esteem further, which is something I dont need at the moment.
Yes, I have moments of feeling like I can take on the world and dance around the kitchen singing W-O-M-A-N at the top of my lungs along with the CD, only to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror to observe that, wow- dont I look fabulous today? Then I have a great day at work and really get it that Im helping people to live better lives and I give myself the old pat on the back for a job well done
Those are the good days
On the bad days, I have what I call low self-esteem attacks wherein I temporarily forget who I am, what I do for the world, and what is good about me. And I know Im not the only one because every day I hear stories from my clients about the exact same phenomenon. When I have positive self-esteem myself I look at these amazing women in front of my eyes who think theyre nothing, stupid, and ugly and I want to jump up out of my chair and scream, Who told you these horrible lies about yourself?! None of it is true! Youre brilliant, magnificent, and fabulous and have so much to contribute to the world!
But, being the good therapist, I wipe the horror off my face and do my best to appear emotionally neutral and help them come to their own conclusions; in their own time. And I know that as a woman, its useless to tell another woman over and over again just how great she is and why I admire her. While its great to be reminded in our low times, we also need to work on remembering how fabulous we really are all on our own and not become dependent on hearing it from other people so much of the time.
Why is this so hard for so many of us? I have seen lots of women out there who really are convincing when they say that they dont care what other people think about them, but Im not so sure theyre being totally honest. I mean, is there one woman out there who has NEVER given a damn about what someone thought of her? If there is, I want to meet her and get her recipe for high self-esteem!
To end this brief thinking-out-loud session about women and self-esteem, Id like to leave you with some tips on how to boost your self-esteem when youre having a low self-esteem attack:
Write down all the negative things youre thinking about yourself on one side of a piece of paper, and on the other side, counter them with evidence to the contrary. For example, if you write, I cant present myself professionally in public, you may counter it with, Yes I can. I did a great job when I did the _______ presentation at work last week and people commented on how professional and organized I was.
Call a woman who is less prone to low self-esteem attacks (I always call my mother!) and ask her to remind you who you are because youve temporarily forgottenthen have a good laugh and ask her how shes doing.
When in the midst of a L.S.E.A., seek upliftment (is that a word?) from strong, you-go-girl women who make you feel like you can do anything and take on the world. For example, you may have a favourite female singer who tells it like it is and makes you feel powerful. I dont know about you, but every time I listen to Aretha Franklin belting out, RESPECT or THINK, my self-esteem rises considerably.
And lastly, if all else fails, PRAY! Pray to who/whatever you believe in that has higher power energy to help you let go of playing small and to send you some reminders of your real self. Pray in earnest and then wait to be pleasantly surprised!
What is it?
How do I get me some of that?
How do I make it stay?
In this article, Im going to attempt to begin addressing these questions to get you thinking, questioning, and hopefully, moving forward to answering them for yourself.
In terms of what self-esteem is, I have found a few definitions by doing a web-search for the term. Here they are:
Feelings of self-worth stemming from the individual's positive or negative beliefs about being valuable and capable a feeling of pride in yourself dignity: the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
Id say those are pretty good definitions and quite straightforward. If only it were as easy to HAVE self-esteem as it is to define it! I wish I could tell you that I was one of those women who treats low-self-esteem like a ridiculous practical joke and just laughs it away while I constantly feel fabulous, brilliant, beautiful, and at the top of my game, but Id be lying and I am really bad at lying and the guilt obtained from lying would decrease my self-esteem further, which is something I dont need at the moment.
Yes, I have moments of feeling like I can take on the world and dance around the kitchen singing W-O-M-A-N at the top of my lungs along with the CD, only to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror to observe that, wow- dont I look fabulous today? Then I have a great day at work and really get it that Im helping people to live better lives and I give myself the old pat on the back for a job well done
Those are the good days
On the bad days, I have what I call low self-esteem attacks wherein I temporarily forget who I am, what I do for the world, and what is good about me. And I know Im not the only one because every day I hear stories from my clients about the exact same phenomenon. When I have positive self-esteem myself I look at these amazing women in front of my eyes who think theyre nothing, stupid, and ugly and I want to jump up out of my chair and scream, Who told you these horrible lies about yourself?! None of it is true! Youre brilliant, magnificent, and fabulous and have so much to contribute to the world!
But, being the good therapist, I wipe the horror off my face and do my best to appear emotionally neutral and help them come to their own conclusions; in their own time. And I know that as a woman, its useless to tell another woman over and over again just how great she is and why I admire her. While its great to be reminded in our low times, we also need to work on remembering how fabulous we really are all on our own and not become dependent on hearing it from other people so much of the time.
Why is this so hard for so many of us? I have seen lots of women out there who really are convincing when they say that they dont care what other people think about them, but Im not so sure theyre being totally honest. I mean, is there one woman out there who has NEVER given a damn about what someone thought of her? If there is, I want to meet her and get her recipe for high self-esteem!
To end this brief thinking-out-loud session about women and self-esteem, Id like to leave you with some tips on how to boost your self-esteem when youre having a low self-esteem attack:
Write down all the negative things youre thinking about yourself on one side of a piece of paper, and on the other side, counter them with evidence to the contrary. For example, if you write, I cant present myself professionally in public, you may counter it with, Yes I can. I did a great job when I did the _______ presentation at work last week and people commented on how professional and organized I was.
Call a woman who is less prone to low self-esteem attacks (I always call my mother!) and ask her to remind you who you are because youve temporarily forgottenthen have a good laugh and ask her how shes doing.
When in the midst of a L.S.E.A., seek upliftment (is that a word?) from strong, you-go-girl women who make you feel like you can do anything and take on the world. For example, you may have a favourite female singer who tells it like it is and makes you feel powerful. I dont know about you, but every time I listen to Aretha Franklin belting out, RESPECT or THINK, my self-esteem rises considerably.
And lastly, if all else fails, PRAY! Pray to who/whatever you believe in that has higher power energy to help you let go of playing small and to send you some reminders of your real self. Pray in earnest and then wait to be pleasantly surprised!
2007年12月12日星期三
The Resource Box - Makes People click
Through the recent years many people have learned
the secrets of Search Engine Optimization. More and
more sites have seen the effects articles have done
for the traffic of their sites. Some have even created
sites devoted entirely to providing articles that
could be read by their website visitors and have
links that could lead to many sites that are related
to the topics and subjects of the articles.
For example, the sites may feature many articles
about a whole lot of topics. As a website visitor
reads the articles they have searched for, they can
find at the end of the article a resource box that
can be clicked on to link them to the site that has
submitted the article. Of course the article would
be in relation to the site. Lets say if the article
is about rotating the tires, the resource box may
lead to a link to a site that sells tires or car parts.
A resource box is what you usually find at the end
of an article. They will contain the name of the author,
a brief description of the author, a brief description
of the sponsoring site and a link. If a reader likes
what they read, they would have the tendency to find
out where the article came from to read more. The
resource bow will be their link to the source of the
article and this will entice them to go to the site
and do some more reading or research for the subject
or topic they are interested in.
But like the article itself, the resource box must also
be eye-catching to demand the attention and interest
of the reader. While the resource bow encompasses only
a small space, providing the right keywords and content
for your resource box will provide more prodding for
the reader to go to your site.
Now we know what resource boxes are, what are the benefits
of having a good resource box? Mainly its driving traffic
to your site. Many sites would allow articles to be
placed in their sites because they can make use of the
articles to fill their pages. They also get affiliation
with other sites that can be beneficial for them as well.
For the sponsoring site, when you get people to click on
your resource box, you generate traffic that can be
counted upon as potential customers.
So what would be a good content for your resource box?
Basically it is keywords, learning about the proper
keywords that people are mainly searching for. There are
many tools you can find in the internet that can help you
in determining what keywords to use.
Resource boxes can also make use of all the creativity
it can get. You only get a small space for your resource
box so you better make the most of it. Try to catch the
attention of your reader with resource box content that
can make them give a second look. Unlike TV ads, you dont
have visual aids to drive your point in. But you do have
the power of imagination of a reader. With the right
content, you can make them think and intrigued.
Another tip is to use keywords that should be related
to your site. Do not mislead your potential website
visitors. Build your credibility so that more people
would get enticed to visit your site and browse what
you have to offer. Make the people click your resource
box by providing resource box content that makes a
lasting impression. You only get one chance to wow them
and hundreds of chances to repulse them.
Never underestimate the power of the resource box.
It may be small in size but they will provide a
significant aid in driving traffic to your site.
A boring resource box will never get a job done.
Be fun and creative but at the same time show that
you have a great deal to offer, too much to ask for
something that couldnt fit a paragraph? Yes and no,
there are many tips and guides that can help you in
doing this, the first step is realizing how important
a resource box could be in making people click your
link and be directed to your site.
the secrets of Search Engine Optimization. More and
more sites have seen the effects articles have done
for the traffic of their sites. Some have even created
sites devoted entirely to providing articles that
could be read by their website visitors and have
links that could lead to many sites that are related
to the topics and subjects of the articles.
For example, the sites may feature many articles
about a whole lot of topics. As a website visitor
reads the articles they have searched for, they can
find at the end of the article a resource box that
can be clicked on to link them to the site that has
submitted the article. Of course the article would
be in relation to the site. Lets say if the article
is about rotating the tires, the resource box may
lead to a link to a site that sells tires or car parts.
A resource box is what you usually find at the end
of an article. They will contain the name of the author,
a brief description of the author, a brief description
of the sponsoring site and a link. If a reader likes
what they read, they would have the tendency to find
out where the article came from to read more. The
resource bow will be their link to the source of the
article and this will entice them to go to the site
and do some more reading or research for the subject
or topic they are interested in.
But like the article itself, the resource box must also
be eye-catching to demand the attention and interest
of the reader. While the resource bow encompasses only
a small space, providing the right keywords and content
for your resource box will provide more prodding for
the reader to go to your site.
Now we know what resource boxes are, what are the benefits
of having a good resource box? Mainly its driving traffic
to your site. Many sites would allow articles to be
placed in their sites because they can make use of the
articles to fill their pages. They also get affiliation
with other sites that can be beneficial for them as well.
For the sponsoring site, when you get people to click on
your resource box, you generate traffic that can be
counted upon as potential customers.
So what would be a good content for your resource box?
Basically it is keywords, learning about the proper
keywords that people are mainly searching for. There are
many tools you can find in the internet that can help you
in determining what keywords to use.
Resource boxes can also make use of all the creativity
it can get. You only get a small space for your resource
box so you better make the most of it. Try to catch the
attention of your reader with resource box content that
can make them give a second look. Unlike TV ads, you dont
have visual aids to drive your point in. But you do have
the power of imagination of a reader. With the right
content, you can make them think and intrigued.
Another tip is to use keywords that should be related
to your site. Do not mislead your potential website
visitors. Build your credibility so that more people
would get enticed to visit your site and browse what
you have to offer. Make the people click your resource
box by providing resource box content that makes a
lasting impression. You only get one chance to wow them
and hundreds of chances to repulse them.
Never underestimate the power of the resource box.
It may be small in size but they will provide a
significant aid in driving traffic to your site.
A boring resource box will never get a job done.
Be fun and creative but at the same time show that
you have a great deal to offer, too much to ask for
something that couldnt fit a paragraph? Yes and no,
there are many tips and guides that can help you in
doing this, the first step is realizing how important
a resource box could be in making people click your
link and be directed to your site.
The Online Documenting History And Benefits
Mother nature is a very threatened commodity in our world and each step we can take in the way of helping keep alive it, is very welcome. The Online documenting offer a variety of degrees of appropriateness to all of the stakeholders. They are a result of the paperless adaptation that had its beginings with the coming of the net and still continue to prevail our lives also to this very moment. And the future too keeps a great deal gathering for the net files. One of the things, they have certified to themselves to be handy. You dont need anymore to lug around reams of perishable offline documenting in order to maintain a archives of your great life.
Just a simple thumb drive could easily keep every certificates, resumes, records and also transcripts in the form of online files. Also, they really have greatly decreased our reliance on paper. The less paper we work on, the greater the chances of survival for our sorely diminishing rain forests. After the approach of the online diagnosis, most of the of your medical records are also online documents. In fact, your very identity is resident on different servers in the way of the online documents of one sort or the other.
Also online pages are nothing but online documents of a kind. Have you think about it?. They are in effect documents that are resident on the worldwideweb. And like all offline files, they have facts that you can use in the way you choose. Assume what the world would be like if we didnt have admission to resources like Wikipedia, google and all the info that was contained on the website had to be accumulated as offline, paper documentation. We would surely wipe out any trace of plant life on earth in a bid to make that much paper to retail store vast amounts of information on!
The Revolution of the World Wide Web has made the our life much easier. Thousands of transactions are done online every day, the gobalization is possible in great escale because of the internet and people can comunicate all over the world instantly thanks to the web, think about it.
Just a simple thumb drive could easily keep every certificates, resumes, records and also transcripts in the form of online files. Also, they really have greatly decreased our reliance on paper. The less paper we work on, the greater the chances of survival for our sorely diminishing rain forests. After the approach of the online diagnosis, most of the of your medical records are also online documents. In fact, your very identity is resident on different servers in the way of the online documents of one sort or the other.
Also online pages are nothing but online documents of a kind. Have you think about it?. They are in effect documents that are resident on the worldwideweb. And like all offline files, they have facts that you can use in the way you choose. Assume what the world would be like if we didnt have admission to resources like Wikipedia, google and all the info that was contained on the website had to be accumulated as offline, paper documentation. We would surely wipe out any trace of plant life on earth in a bid to make that much paper to retail store vast amounts of information on!
The Revolution of the World Wide Web has made the our life much easier. Thousands of transactions are done online every day, the gobalization is possible in great escale because of the internet and people can comunicate all over the world instantly thanks to the web, think about it.
Credit Cards: Sign Or Sigh?
How do you manage your growing stack of credit cards?
A number of us own a credit card or two, while many of us own one from each major bank. Each card provides a different set of benefits, we say. Do we really need that many cards?
What makes you and I go through all the hassle of credit card application for so many cards? The convenience of having the extra cash when you need it? The little gifts you get to exchange for with the points you clocked with your purchases? The pack of discounts that accompanies each card? Or the display of social status when you flash a Platinum card?
Whichever your reason for having those plastic cards in your wallet, if they are causing you financial problems, it is time to face reality and bid (some of) your plastic foes farewell.
The Power of Convenience
For the masses who keep credit cards for convenience sake, you are playing with fire. Convenience means you conveniently sign away your savings and conveniently purchase big ticket items that you do not need. Yes, it is very convenient to have a credit card, especially when you are overseas and have run out of cash. But doing that makes you feel wealthier than you really are, and gives you a false sense of financial security. It's easy to plant your signature above the dotted lines, but paying for that signature is far from easy.
Points for Gifts
Credit card companies do have a way to make us sign, sign and sign. They bribe us with point incentives for making hefty purchases so we don't feel too guilty about it. But think about it, how many of us actually managed to exchange the points for something decent after a year of card flashing spree? We have so many cards that the points are spread so thin, they either expire after some time (since it's too little to exchange for anything from the catalogue), or you reluctantly use up all your points to exchange for some dining vouchers that you might not use or eventually forget. If you managed to exchange for some decent products, you are probably spending too much?
Seductive Discounts
Since points can only be materialised into products (regardless of quality) after purchases, credit companies came up with discounts that you get to enjoy while using the card - 10% off your dining bill, 5% off your petrol, 1% rebate and the list goes on. Personally, I do find discounts more attractive than point incentives, especially if the restaurants that I frequent are in the list. I'm sold. But many times, we find that we tend to visit more of these restaurants every month now that wow, we have a discount card! And we end up spending more than we should!
Platinum Status
So, does flashing a platinum card make you look more prosperous or poor? Yes, it would have shown that you are earning a significant sum to be able to own that card. And yes, well, you are also telling the world that you now need more credit from the banks. Credit cards are literally instantly approved loans from the bank, yet you are feeling proud of yourself for having borrowed a greater amount than your companion. An irony?
Unlock the Secret
Then, are we supposed to cut up all our credit cards and fall back to cold hard cash? The answer is a simple No. Though misuse of credit cards may land you in financial troubles or even bankruptcy, they do come with benefits too. For example, you could actually save a few dollars with the discount schemes provided or pay for your meals when you are cash strapped in a foreign land. The secret is for you to amplify the advantages of the card and mute the disadvantages.
So how do you do that?
The 3 Golden Rules
1. Never swipe out of convenience. Always ask yourself if you really need the item. Or are you simply buying on impulse? Personally, I wouldn't buy the item on my first visit, especially big ticket items. I would wait for a week or so and see if I still want that item. Most of the time, I simply forgot about it or simply too lazy to travel back to that same shop to make the purchase. It works for me all the time. Try it out.
2. Make full use of the discounts, but never buy something just because you have a discount. Only use the discount when you need to buy something, not the other way round.
3. Try to keep to one or two credit cards at most. It is simpler to track your spending, plus you consolidate all your points into just two cards (so you get to exchange for that decent looking vacuum cleaner) and you would not forget to pay your credit card bills and end up with hefty fines and interests.
Credit cards are only plastic cards with a magnetic strip at the back. They do not have the power to drive you to debts. You are the one who approved of all your debts by frivolously leaving your signature on clusters of paper. Think about your financial status before you sign anything from now on!
When your next credit card bill arrives, make sure it doesn't make you sigh.. If it does, make sure you are heaving a sigh of relief, not remorse.
A number of us own a credit card or two, while many of us own one from each major bank. Each card provides a different set of benefits, we say. Do we really need that many cards?
What makes you and I go through all the hassle of credit card application for so many cards? The convenience of having the extra cash when you need it? The little gifts you get to exchange for with the points you clocked with your purchases? The pack of discounts that accompanies each card? Or the display of social status when you flash a Platinum card?
Whichever your reason for having those plastic cards in your wallet, if they are causing you financial problems, it is time to face reality and bid (some of) your plastic foes farewell.
The Power of Convenience
For the masses who keep credit cards for convenience sake, you are playing with fire. Convenience means you conveniently sign away your savings and conveniently purchase big ticket items that you do not need. Yes, it is very convenient to have a credit card, especially when you are overseas and have run out of cash. But doing that makes you feel wealthier than you really are, and gives you a false sense of financial security. It's easy to plant your signature above the dotted lines, but paying for that signature is far from easy.
Points for Gifts
Credit card companies do have a way to make us sign, sign and sign. They bribe us with point incentives for making hefty purchases so we don't feel too guilty about it. But think about it, how many of us actually managed to exchange the points for something decent after a year of card flashing spree? We have so many cards that the points are spread so thin, they either expire after some time (since it's too little to exchange for anything from the catalogue), or you reluctantly use up all your points to exchange for some dining vouchers that you might not use or eventually forget. If you managed to exchange for some decent products, you are probably spending too much?
Seductive Discounts
Since points can only be materialised into products (regardless of quality) after purchases, credit companies came up with discounts that you get to enjoy while using the card - 10% off your dining bill, 5% off your petrol, 1% rebate and the list goes on. Personally, I do find discounts more attractive than point incentives, especially if the restaurants that I frequent are in the list. I'm sold. But many times, we find that we tend to visit more of these restaurants every month now that wow, we have a discount card! And we end up spending more than we should!
Platinum Status
So, does flashing a platinum card make you look more prosperous or poor? Yes, it would have shown that you are earning a significant sum to be able to own that card. And yes, well, you are also telling the world that you now need more credit from the banks. Credit cards are literally instantly approved loans from the bank, yet you are feeling proud of yourself for having borrowed a greater amount than your companion. An irony?
Unlock the Secret
Then, are we supposed to cut up all our credit cards and fall back to cold hard cash? The answer is a simple No. Though misuse of credit cards may land you in financial troubles or even bankruptcy, they do come with benefits too. For example, you could actually save a few dollars with the discount schemes provided or pay for your meals when you are cash strapped in a foreign land. The secret is for you to amplify the advantages of the card and mute the disadvantages.
So how do you do that?
The 3 Golden Rules
1. Never swipe out of convenience. Always ask yourself if you really need the item. Or are you simply buying on impulse? Personally, I wouldn't buy the item on my first visit, especially big ticket items. I would wait for a week or so and see if I still want that item. Most of the time, I simply forgot about it or simply too lazy to travel back to that same shop to make the purchase. It works for me all the time. Try it out.
2. Make full use of the discounts, but never buy something just because you have a discount. Only use the discount when you need to buy something, not the other way round.
3. Try to keep to one or two credit cards at most. It is simpler to track your spending, plus you consolidate all your points into just two cards (so you get to exchange for that decent looking vacuum cleaner) and you would not forget to pay your credit card bills and end up with hefty fines and interests.
Credit cards are only plastic cards with a magnetic strip at the back. They do not have the power to drive you to debts. You are the one who approved of all your debts by frivolously leaving your signature on clusters of paper. Think about your financial status before you sign anything from now on!
When your next credit card bill arrives, make sure it doesn't make you sigh.. If it does, make sure you are heaving a sigh of relief, not remorse.
北京严打涂料业“傍名牌”-“九龙华润涂料”涉嫌侵权遭查处
“傍名牌”已成为扰乱我国市场经济秩序的重要问题，也是正在进行的整顿和规范市场经济秩序的热点和难点。在国家工商总局针对全国范围内的“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为进行严厉打击的要求下，日前，北京市工商行政管理局对涂料行业出现的“傍名牌”商品进行一次突击检查，“九龙华润 ”等多种涂料品牌因涉嫌“傍名牌”被查处。 在此次专项行动中，北京房山区工商分局良乡工商所根据举报，在永林建材城和裕恒通家具建材购物中心发现一种“九龙华润”涂料。这种涂料在名称、包装和商标上都与“华润漆”相似，涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所拥有的“华润漆”注册商标专用权和“华润漆”外观设计专利权。工商局执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的“九龙华润”涂料予以暂扣，并立案查处。 将行业中的知名商标注册成自己的公司商号，以便混淆公司名称与品牌名，试图使消费者误以为自己的产品与著名品牌有一定关联，从而扩大销路，获取利润，这种现象被业内称为“傍名牌”。在我国涂料行业，“傍名牌”现象由来已久。作为涂料行业中的领军品牌，“华润涂料”也成了众多“傍名牌”企业的主要目标。“华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标，2006年，被相关部门认定为“中国驰名商标”。长期以来，诸如“九龙华润”这样打着“华润”字号的“伪华润”涂料品牌多达数十个。这些“伪华润”在市场上大量出现，让不知情的消费者误以为他们是广东华润涂料有限公司的分公司或者在广东顺德以外的生产基地，甚至还有的品牌以次充好，在市场上销售质量低劣的产品，从而使华润涂料的经济利益和企业形象受到巨大损失。 据悉，在此次专项行动中，北京海淀区工商分局、房山区分局、大兴区分局在各辖区内的建材市场共查获“九龙华润”、“英国华润”、“华润新世纪”、“润美”、“华润漆王”、“华润第二代”、“华润大赢家”等涉嫌侵权的木器漆共200余组，涂料300多公斤，执法人员对所有被查获的商品依法予以暂扣，目前案件正在进一步处理之中。 据了解，除“华润漆”以外，诸如“立邦漆”、“华隆涂料”、“嘉宝莉漆”等多个涂料市场的名牌产品都有过被“傍”的经历。这些知名企业纷纷表示，“傍名牌”行为使他们深受其害，希望工商部门的专项整治行动能够取得有效的成果。 据悉，北京市工商局针对涂料行业的专项整治行动由各区工商所对其辖区内的违法经营者进行查处。行动结束后，有关部门将对侵权行为进行立案审查。如果这些品牌的“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为成立，则会受到严厉惩罚。
2007年12月11日星期二
“润美漆”“英国华润涂料”“九龙华润涂料“华润新世纪”涉嫌傍名牌“华润涂料”被查处
本报讯 近日，根据国家工商总局对打击“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为专项活动的部署，北京市工商行政管理局，重拳打击涂料市场上的“傍名牌”产品，包括“英国华润”在内的涉嫌侵犯华润涂料“华润漆”商标权的“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为得到查处。 日前，北京大兴区工商分局根据举报，在大兴旧宫建材市场查获涉嫌侵权的“英国华润”涂料53箱。这些涂料涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所拥有的“华润漆”注册商标专用权和“华润漆”外观设计专利权，工商局执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的“英国华润”涂料进行暂扣，并立案查处。 “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标，2006年，该商标被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”，同时，“华润漆”产品先后被国家质检总局评为“产品质量国家免检产品”、“中国名牌产品”。记者发现，在大兴区被查获的“英国华润”涂料在外观、包装、名称上都和华润涂料非常相似。致使众多不知情的消费者都误以为这是华润公司旗下的子品牌，这一“傍名牌”的行为严重侵害了广东华润涂料有限公司的合法权益。 据业内人士介绍，目前我国涂料行业“傍名牌”现象非常普遍，这些“傍名牌”产品的经营者大多采用地下作坊式生产，产品质量无法有效保证，很多是根本不符合国家标准的“不合格品”，甚至是“有毒有害产品”，严重危害了消费者的人身安全。 在此次专项行动中，海淀区工商分局、房山区分局、大兴区分局在各辖区内的建材市场共查获“英国华润”、“华润新世纪”、“九龙华润”、“润美”、“华润漆王”、“华润第二代”、“华润大赢家”等涉嫌侵权的木器漆共200余组，涂料300多公斤，执法人员对所有被查获的商品依法予以暂扣，目前案件正在进一步处理之中。
2、近日，北京市工商行政管理局根据国家工商总局打击“傍名牌”的要求，对本市涂料行业的“傍名牌”产品进行突击检查，查获各种“傍名牌”的涂料产品200余组，“华润新世纪”等多种涂料品牌因涉嫌“傍名牌”被查处。 在此次专项行动中，房山区工商分局根据举报，在辖区内马各庄建材市场发现了一种广东江门市某涂料厂生产的“华润新世纪”涂料，这种涂料在名称、包装和商标上都与获得“中国驰名商标”的“华润漆”非常相似，工商执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的涂料进行暂扣，并立案查处。房山区工商分局经检科的刘科长表示，该涂料产品包装上突出使用了“华润”字样，容易在产品来源上造成与知名商品“华润漆”的混淆，涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所持有的“华润”注册商标专用权。工商执法人员在现场还发现了类似的涉嫌侵权品牌“英国华润”、“华润漆王”等涂料产品近200组，也一并予以查扣。 “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标，“华润漆”系列产品先后被国家质检总局评为“国家免检产品”和“中国名牌产品”，去年还被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”。 将行业中的知名商标注册成自己的公司商号，以便混淆公司名称与品牌名，试图使消费者误以为自己的产品与著名品牌有一定关联，从而扩大销路，获取利润，这种现象被业内称为“傍名牌”。近年来，涂料行业的“傍名牌”现象愈演愈烈，有的使用著名企业的名称或其中的部分关键字眼作为自己产品的名称，有的是外包装与名牌产品基本一样，有的是将知名企业的商标作为自己商号在境外登记或抢先注册，令不少消费者无法分辨。作为中国华润涂料市场的领军品牌，“华润漆”成为众多“傍名牌”不法企业的主要目标，仅在北京市场上，诸如“华润新世纪”这样打着“华润”字号的品牌多达十几种，这些质量完全没有保障的产品不仅损害了消费者的利益，而且大大损害了广东华润涂料有限公司的经济利益和企业形象。 记者从北京市工商局处获悉，本次针对涂料行业的专项整治行动将由各区陆续在辖区内开展，并且对侵权行为进行立案审查，如果这些品牌“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为成立，则会受到《反不正当竞争法》、《商标法》、《企业名称登记管理规定》等有关法律条款的严厉惩罚，以保持市场的健康发展。华润涂料 华润涂料 华润涂料 华润涂料
3、近日，北京市工商行政管理局根据国家工商总局打击“傍名牌”的要求，对本市涂料行业的“傍名牌”产品进行突击检查，查获各种“傍名牌”的涂料产品200余组，“华润新世纪”等多种涂料品牌因涉嫌“傍名牌”被查处。 在此次专项行动中，房山区工商分局根据举报，在辖区内马各庄建材市场发现了一种广东江门市某涂料厂生产的“华润新世纪”涂料，这种涂料在名称、包装和商标上都与获得“中国驰名商标”的“华润漆”非常相似，工商执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的涂料进行暂扣，并立案查处。房山区工商分局经检科的刘科长表示，该涂料产品包装上突出使用了“华润”字样，容易在产品来源上造成与知名商品“华润漆”的混淆，涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所持有的“华润”注册商标专用权。工商执法人员在现场还发现了类似的涉嫌侵权品牌“英国华润”、“华润漆王”等涂料产品近200组，也一并予以查扣。 “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标，“华润漆”系列产品先后被国家质检总局评为“国家免检产品”和“中国名牌产品”，去年还被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”。 将行业中的知名商标注册成自己的公司商号，以便混淆公司名称与品牌名，试图使消费者误以为自己的产品与著名品牌有一定关联，从而扩大销路，获取利润，这种现象被业内称为“傍名牌”。近年来，涂料行业的“傍名牌”现象愈演愈烈，有的使用著名企业的名称或其中的部分关键字眼作为自己产品的名称，有的是外包装与名牌产品基本一样，有的是将知名企业的商标作为自己商号在境外登记或抢先注册，令不少消费者无法分辨。作为中国涂料市场的领军品牌，“华润漆”成为众多“傍名牌”不法企业的主要目标，仅在北京市场上，诸如“华润新世纪”这样打着“华润”字号的品牌多达十几种，这些质量完全没有保障的产品不仅损害了消费者的利益，而且大大损害了广东华润涂料有限公司的经济利益和企业形象。 记者从北京市工商局处获悉，本次针对涂料行业的专项整治行动将由各区陆续在辖区内开展，并且对侵权行为进行立案审查，如果这些品牌“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为成立，则会受到《反不正当竞争法》、《商标法》、《企业名称登记管理规定》等有关法律条款的严厉惩罚，以保持市场的健康发展。
4、本报讯 近日，根据国家工商总局对打击“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为专项活动的部署，北京市工商行政管理局，重拳打击涂料市场上的“傍名牌”产品，包括“英国华润”在内的涉嫌侵犯华润涂料“华润漆”商标权的“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为得到查处。 日前，北京大兴区工商分局根据举报，在大兴旧宫建材市场查获涉嫌侵权的“英国华润”涂料53箱。这些涂料涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所拥有的“华润漆”注册商标专用权和“华润漆”外观设计专利权，工商局执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的“英国华润”涂料进行暂扣，并立案查处。 “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标，2006年，该商标被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”，同时，“华润漆”产品先后被国家质检总局评为“产品质量国家免检产品”、“中国名牌产品”。记者发现，在大兴区被查获的“英国华润”涂料在外观、包装、名称上都和华润涂料非常相似。致使众多不知情的消费者都误以为这是华润公司旗下的子品牌，这一“傍名牌”的行为严重侵害了广东华润涂料有限公司的合法权益。 据业内人士介绍，目前我国涂料行业“傍名牌”现象非常普遍，这些“傍名牌”产品的经营者大多采用地下作坊式生产，产品质量无法有效保证，很多是根本不符合国家标准的“不合格品”，甚至是“有毒有害产品”，严重危害了消费者的人身安全。 在此次专项行动中，海淀区工商分局、房山区分局、大兴区分局在各辖区内的建材市场共查获“英国华润”、“华润新世纪”、“九龙华润”、“润美”、“华润漆王”、“华润第二代”、“华润大赢家”等涉嫌侵权的木器漆共200余组，涂料300多公斤，执法人员对所有被查获的商品依法予以暂扣，目前案件正在进一步处理之中。
2、近日，北京市工商行政管理局根据国家工商总局打击“傍名牌”的要求，对本市涂料行业的“傍名牌”产品进行突击检查，查获各种“傍名牌”的涂料产品200余组，“华润新世纪”等多种涂料品牌因涉嫌“傍名牌”被查处。 在此次专项行动中，房山区工商分局根据举报，在辖区内马各庄建材市场发现了一种广东江门市某涂料厂生产的“华润新世纪”涂料，这种涂料在名称、包装和商标上都与获得“中国驰名商标”的“华润漆”非常相似，工商执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的涂料进行暂扣，并立案查处。房山区工商分局经检科的刘科长表示，该涂料产品包装上突出使用了“华润”字样，容易在产品来源上造成与知名商品“华润漆”的混淆，涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所持有的“华润”注册商标专用权。工商执法人员在现场还发现了类似的涉嫌侵权品牌“英国华润”、“华润漆王”等涂料产品近200组，也一并予以查扣。 “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标，“华润漆”系列产品先后被国家质检总局评为“国家免检产品”和“中国名牌产品”，去年还被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”。 将行业中的知名商标注册成自己的公司商号，以便混淆公司名称与品牌名，试图使消费者误以为自己的产品与著名品牌有一定关联，从而扩大销路，获取利润，这种现象被业内称为“傍名牌”。近年来，涂料行业的“傍名牌”现象愈演愈烈，有的使用著名企业的名称或其中的部分关键字眼作为自己产品的名称，有的是外包装与名牌产品基本一样，有的是将知名企业的商标作为自己商号在境外登记或抢先注册，令不少消费者无法分辨。作为中国华润涂料市场的领军品牌，“华润漆”成为众多“傍名牌”不法企业的主要目标，仅在北京市场上，诸如“华润新世纪”这样打着“华润”字号的品牌多达十几种，这些质量完全没有保障的产品不仅损害了消费者的利益，而且大大损害了广东华润涂料有限公司的经济利益和企业形象。 记者从北京市工商局处获悉，本次针对涂料行业的专项整治行动将由各区陆续在辖区内开展，并且对侵权行为进行立案审查，如果这些品牌“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为成立，则会受到《反不正当竞争法》、《商标法》、《企业名称登记管理规定》等有关法律条款的严厉惩罚，以保持市场的健康发展。华润涂料 华润涂料 华润涂料 华润涂料
3、近日，北京市工商行政管理局根据国家工商总局打击“傍名牌”的要求，对本市涂料行业的“傍名牌”产品进行突击检查，查获各种“傍名牌”的涂料产品200余组，“华润新世纪”等多种涂料品牌因涉嫌“傍名牌”被查处。 在此次专项行动中，房山区工商分局根据举报，在辖区内马各庄建材市场发现了一种广东江门市某涂料厂生产的“华润新世纪”涂料，这种涂料在名称、包装和商标上都与获得“中国驰名商标”的“华润漆”非常相似，工商执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的涂料进行暂扣，并立案查处。房山区工商分局经检科的刘科长表示，该涂料产品包装上突出使用了“华润”字样，容易在产品来源上造成与知名商品“华润漆”的混淆，涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所持有的“华润”注册商标专用权。工商执法人员在现场还发现了类似的涉嫌侵权品牌“英国华润”、“华润漆王”等涂料产品近200组，也一并予以查扣。 “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标，“华润漆”系列产品先后被国家质检总局评为“国家免检产品”和“中国名牌产品”，去年还被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”。 将行业中的知名商标注册成自己的公司商号，以便混淆公司名称与品牌名，试图使消费者误以为自己的产品与著名品牌有一定关联，从而扩大销路，获取利润，这种现象被业内称为“傍名牌”。近年来，涂料行业的“傍名牌”现象愈演愈烈，有的使用著名企业的名称或其中的部分关键字眼作为自己产品的名称，有的是外包装与名牌产品基本一样，有的是将知名企业的商标作为自己商号在境外登记或抢先注册，令不少消费者无法分辨。作为中国涂料市场的领军品牌，“华润漆”成为众多“傍名牌”不法企业的主要目标，仅在北京市场上，诸如“华润新世纪”这样打着“华润”字号的品牌多达十几种，这些质量完全没有保障的产品不仅损害了消费者的利益，而且大大损害了广东华润涂料有限公司的经济利益和企业形象。 记者从北京市工商局处获悉，本次针对涂料行业的专项整治行动将由各区陆续在辖区内开展，并且对侵权行为进行立案审查，如果这些品牌“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为成立，则会受到《反不正当竞争法》、《商标法》、《企业名称登记管理规定》等有关法律条款的严厉惩罚，以保持市场的健康发展。
4、本报讯 近日，根据国家工商总局对打击“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为专项活动的部署，北京市工商行政管理局，重拳打击涂料市场上的“傍名牌”产品，包括“英国华润”在内的涉嫌侵犯华润涂料“华润漆”商标权的“傍名牌”不正当竞争行为得到查处。 日前，北京大兴区工商分局根据举报，在大兴旧宫建材市场查获涉嫌侵权的“英国华润”涂料53箱。这些涂料涉嫌侵犯广东华润涂料有限公司所拥有的“华润漆”注册商标专用权和“华润漆”外观设计专利权，工商局执法人员依法对这些涉嫌商标侵权的“英国华润”涂料进行暂扣，并立案查处。 “华润漆”是广东华润涂料有限公司的注册商标，2006年，该商标被司法认定为“中国驰名商标”，同时，“华润漆”产品先后被国家质检总局评为“产品质量国家免检产品”、“中国名牌产品”。记者发现，在大兴区被查获的“英国华润”涂料在外观、包装、名称上都和华润涂料非常相似。致使众多不知情的消费者都误以为这是华润公司旗下的子品牌，这一“傍名牌”的行为严重侵害了广东华润涂料有限公司的合法权益。 据业内人士介绍，目前我国涂料行业“傍名牌”现象非常普遍，这些“傍名牌”产品的经营者大多采用地下作坊式生产，产品质量无法有效保证，很多是根本不符合国家标准的“不合格品”，甚至是“有毒有害产品”，严重危害了消费者的人身安全。 在此次专项行动中，海淀区工商分局、房山区分局、大兴区分局在各辖区内的建材市场共查获“英国华润”、“华润新世纪”、“九龙华润”、“润美”、“华润漆王”、“华润第二代”、“华润大赢家”等涉嫌侵权的木器漆共200余组，涂料300多公斤，执法人员对所有被查获的商品依法予以暂扣，目前案件正在进一步处理之中。
2007年12月9日星期日
The Benefits Of A Christian Weight Loss Program
One of the best ways to lose weight is to have a change of heart as well as a change of mind. When you participate in a Christian weight loss program youll soon discover that the emphasis will include more than simply losing weight.
You can take as many diet pills as you want and it will still not provide a method for proven weight loss in the long term. With pills you will generally see results as long as you are taking the pills. Once you abandon the pills because of total cost or dissatisfaction in how your body is reacting to the stimuli found in most diet pills you will see the weight return - and the weight always seems to bring friends.
With a Christian weight loss program you are encouraged to come to an understanding of who God intended you to be. This becomes important because inactivity has a keen effect on depression and self-esteem. When you combine a three prong approach to this process you find there is a lifestyle change, weight loss and exercise.
A quality Christian weight loss program is concerned about the whole person and not simply quantifying results. Its not uncommon for those who are looking to lose weight to find general discouragement when they observe that those who do exercise seem more enthused with life and are generally happier. The reason for this is that when a person exercises regularly endorphins are released that give a positive boost to their outlook on life providing a positive outlook on life. Those who exercise regularly experience this sensation and it provides a unique bonus to their health maintenance goals.
This is why so many find exercise almost addictive when it is practiced regularly. A Christian weight loss program helps you find a balance between appropriate exercise, healthy food choices, and the spiritual dimension to your life that most weight loss programs never seem to address.
Gods Word tells us in Romans that "There is... no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." A Christian weight loss program is not about guilt; rather it is designed to enable you to find a better way to manage your weight loss objectives in a way that does not deny your faith.
When choosing a Christian weight loss program you should look for results, but also attention to biblical precepts that enable you to feel comfortable with a plan that has allowed others to see long term results.
Such a program assists in providing you with an understanding that change is something that is achievable once the problem is recognized. Just as faith is an element to help an individual heal from various diseased, that very same faith can be used successfully in a Christian weight loss program that places high value on trust.
When you feel better about yourself and natural endorphins are released you will find you have more energy and a better countenance. A quality Christian weight loss program helps you understand these dynamics and make use of them in the positive changes you will discover in a new lifestyle choice.
A good program will not insist on expensive weigh loss pills or fitness club membership. They will, however, provide a means to enhancing your metabolisms ability to burn fat and increase your energy level - and they never leave the faith element in your life behind.
You can take as many diet pills as you want and it will still not provide a method for proven weight loss in the long term. With pills you will generally see results as long as you are taking the pills. Once you abandon the pills because of total cost or dissatisfaction in how your body is reacting to the stimuli found in most diet pills you will see the weight return - and the weight always seems to bring friends.
With a Christian weight loss program you are encouraged to come to an understanding of who God intended you to be. This becomes important because inactivity has a keen effect on depression and self-esteem. When you combine a three prong approach to this process you find there is a lifestyle change, weight loss and exercise.
A quality Christian weight loss program is concerned about the whole person and not simply quantifying results. Its not uncommon for those who are looking to lose weight to find general discouragement when they observe that those who do exercise seem more enthused with life and are generally happier. The reason for this is that when a person exercises regularly endorphins are released that give a positive boost to their outlook on life providing a positive outlook on life. Those who exercise regularly experience this sensation and it provides a unique bonus to their health maintenance goals.
This is why so many find exercise almost addictive when it is practiced regularly. A Christian weight loss program helps you find a balance between appropriate exercise, healthy food choices, and the spiritual dimension to your life that most weight loss programs never seem to address.
Gods Word tells us in Romans that "There is... no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." A Christian weight loss program is not about guilt; rather it is designed to enable you to find a better way to manage your weight loss objectives in a way that does not deny your faith.
When choosing a Christian weight loss program you should look for results, but also attention to biblical precepts that enable you to feel comfortable with a plan that has allowed others to see long term results.
Such a program assists in providing you with an understanding that change is something that is achievable once the problem is recognized. Just as faith is an element to help an individual heal from various diseased, that very same faith can be used successfully in a Christian weight loss program that places high value on trust.
When you feel better about yourself and natural endorphins are released you will find you have more energy and a better countenance. A quality Christian weight loss program helps you understand these dynamics and make use of them in the positive changes you will discover in a new lifestyle choice.
A good program will not insist on expensive weigh loss pills or fitness club membership. They will, however, provide a means to enhancing your metabolisms ability to burn fat and increase your energy level - and they never leave the faith element in your life behind.
Since When Is Green A Neutral Color? - Home Decor And The Environment
Surely some of you are wondering how on earth green goes with any color scheme and the finicky among you are just cringing at the thought of bright green dcor in your well appointed living rooms. Read on
For those not familiar with the term green it refers to a natural, organic, eco-friendly item or product. Hence, the subject of, at least, the first part of this article is how earth friendly dcor has a moral and aesthetic place in any room of our home! Green dcor may be an item of art or a functional piece that is made from recycled materials or from natural, sustainable resources.
Those already attuned to conservation and the environment are well aware that there are many websites and stores to learn about and purchase green products. These folks also know that one does not have to downgrade the quality and beauty of their dcor for it to be eco friendly. We can combine ecology and elegance to both beautify our home and protect the planet at the same time! While we can surely display our childrens crafts made from recycled and natural items we can be assured that there are many other beautiful, green curio, mantle and center pieces available to decorate any room in any style.
No matter the style there are numerous dcor options including items made from natural fabrics, stone, renewable sources of wood and other natural growth, so called junk and recycled metals, glass and more.
Now that we have touched upon earth friendly dcor that brings pleasure to mankind and shows compassion for the environment there is another type of dcor which brings gratification to both the purchaser and the crafter.
Rather than buying the commonly available mass produced dcor found in many stores one should consider purchasing handcrafted dcor. While handcrafted dcor may often be more expensive, its purchase provides needed income to hard working mom and dads. Some handmade dcor will be earth friendly as well!
Where to find handcrafted dcor:
Craft fairs and markets
Local craft shops and galleries
Shops and websites selling Fair Trade products
Websites selling country crafts, handmade or handcrafted gifts, dcor and collectibles
Visiting markets, fairs and shops are also an enjoyable way of spending a day off. While vacationing, particularly in the countryside or small town USA, you will come across charming shops often in or connected to the homes of the crafters themselves. Pack a lunch and plan a day of visiting local shops, attractions and picnicking. Fall is a particularly beautiful time for craft excursions. The countryside is bursting with color and the Halloween and Christmas crafts are on show! Do not forget your camera!
Another source of crafts are those made by disadvantaged crafters primarily in third world countries. There are many talented crafters whose works are being sold in shops and online. Some are sold via non profit organizations while others are imported and retailed by for profit businesses. Fair Trade organizations provide certification to some organizations and businesses who maintain their rules of fair trade practices. You can visit some of these fair trade organizations online to learn more about them. Many other businesses are not certified but do provide their crafters with fair wages and help to make a true difference in the quality of their crafters lives! While overseas be sure to visit the many outdoor craft markets where you can meet the crafters and find some great buys!
When planning to purchase dcor, gifts or collectibles be thoughtful of the needs of those around us whether it be a local crafter, a disadvantaged crafter in Africa or the environment. In the end you will more greatly appreciate your purchase and will bring pleasure to others as well.
For those not familiar with the term green it refers to a natural, organic, eco-friendly item or product. Hence, the subject of, at least, the first part of this article is how earth friendly dcor has a moral and aesthetic place in any room of our home! Green dcor may be an item of art or a functional piece that is made from recycled materials or from natural, sustainable resources.
Those already attuned to conservation and the environment are well aware that there are many websites and stores to learn about and purchase green products. These folks also know that one does not have to downgrade the quality and beauty of their dcor for it to be eco friendly. We can combine ecology and elegance to both beautify our home and protect the planet at the same time! While we can surely display our childrens crafts made from recycled and natural items we can be assured that there are many other beautiful, green curio, mantle and center pieces available to decorate any room in any style.
No matter the style there are numerous dcor options including items made from natural fabrics, stone, renewable sources of wood and other natural growth, so called junk and recycled metals, glass and more.
Now that we have touched upon earth friendly dcor that brings pleasure to mankind and shows compassion for the environment there is another type of dcor which brings gratification to both the purchaser and the crafter.
Rather than buying the commonly available mass produced dcor found in many stores one should consider purchasing handcrafted dcor. While handcrafted dcor may often be more expensive, its purchase provides needed income to hard working mom and dads. Some handmade dcor will be earth friendly as well!
Where to find handcrafted dcor:
Craft fairs and markets
Local craft shops and galleries
Shops and websites selling Fair Trade products
Websites selling country crafts, handmade or handcrafted gifts, dcor and collectibles
Visiting markets, fairs and shops are also an enjoyable way of spending a day off. While vacationing, particularly in the countryside or small town USA, you will come across charming shops often in or connected to the homes of the crafters themselves. Pack a lunch and plan a day of visiting local shops, attractions and picnicking. Fall is a particularly beautiful time for craft excursions. The countryside is bursting with color and the Halloween and Christmas crafts are on show! Do not forget your camera!
Another source of crafts are those made by disadvantaged crafters primarily in third world countries. There are many talented crafters whose works are being sold in shops and online. Some are sold via non profit organizations while others are imported and retailed by for profit businesses. Fair Trade organizations provide certification to some organizations and businesses who maintain their rules of fair trade practices. You can visit some of these fair trade organizations online to learn more about them. Many other businesses are not certified but do provide their crafters with fair wages and help to make a true difference in the quality of their crafters lives! While overseas be sure to visit the many outdoor craft markets where you can meet the crafters and find some great buys!
When planning to purchase dcor, gifts or collectibles be thoughtful of the needs of those around us whether it be a local crafter, a disadvantaged crafter in Africa or the environment. In the end you will more greatly appreciate your purchase and will bring pleasure to others as well.
Freebies: Kicking the Cheapskate Habit
Whats the magic word in marketing? Yeah, thats right FREE! Its the basic foundation of Marketing 101. That four-letter word captures attention, and spells success.
Now for the big question, Are you implementing it? Nope, those old clearance items that you havent been able to get rid of for the past decade dont count. Im talking about the real deal something thats worth something just being given away, no strings attached and no hidden costs.
Chances are that youre probably just like the rest of us, and are afraid to really give something away. Heck, it costs a LOT of money to just throw products out the window to everyone who looks your way. We know how many people are out there like leaches, just looking for a handout, right?
Maybe then again, maybe we cut ourselves out of a big bunch of profit by being cheapskates. Thats right, cheapskates!
Think about this. How can you effectively describe the taste of a crisp salad with all the trimmings, and a hot steaming turkey sandwich? Arent there a dozen restaurants that serve the same menu?
Would a restaurant owner be a fool to give away 1000 FREE lunches instead of trying to say in words when the tantalizing aroma, succulent tastes, and tasteful appearance can do convince in a way no words could ever? Sure, it might cost $5000, but how much higher would conversion rates be?
It sure doesnt take long to rack up a $5000 dollar advertising bill with local TV and radio stations, or the newspaper. Will they net as many converted consumers?
Maybe youre not into the food industry, but there is something you can give away that will have the same affect. Maybe its a free informational seminar, a free oil change, a free subscription, or a free haircut.
The key is to get them in the door, and wow them with the best youve got to offer. Believe me, consumers know when theyve been handed cast-offs and when theyve been wined and dined like royalty. You judge which is more effective?
Most of us have come to expect the hidden agendas of giveaways. When we accept a gift, were looking for the catch. Its a pleasant surprise to come across the real deal. Were taken aback. We scratch our heads and wonder, but deep inside theres a warm fuzzy that sticks around. We remember genuine generosity!
The next time youre looking for a way to increase revenue, and are tempted to take the cheap way out, curb the urge. Go all out and treat your customers to an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness FREE gift. See what happens!
Hey, I didnt say it would be easy or that it wouldnt take guts! Just remember that sometimes the biggest risks pay off big, and that risk takers often come out on top. Go the extra mile, and stand out above the competition even if it scares you a little bit.
Now for the big question, Are you implementing it? Nope, those old clearance items that you havent been able to get rid of for the past decade dont count. Im talking about the real deal something thats worth something just being given away, no strings attached and no hidden costs.
Chances are that youre probably just like the rest of us, and are afraid to really give something away. Heck, it costs a LOT of money to just throw products out the window to everyone who looks your way. We know how many people are out there like leaches, just looking for a handout, right?
Maybe then again, maybe we cut ourselves out of a big bunch of profit by being cheapskates. Thats right, cheapskates!
Think about this. How can you effectively describe the taste of a crisp salad with all the trimmings, and a hot steaming turkey sandwich? Arent there a dozen restaurants that serve the same menu?
Would a restaurant owner be a fool to give away 1000 FREE lunches instead of trying to say in words when the tantalizing aroma, succulent tastes, and tasteful appearance can do convince in a way no words could ever? Sure, it might cost $5000, but how much higher would conversion rates be?
It sure doesnt take long to rack up a $5000 dollar advertising bill with local TV and radio stations, or the newspaper. Will they net as many converted consumers?
Maybe youre not into the food industry, but there is something you can give away that will have the same affect. Maybe its a free informational seminar, a free oil change, a free subscription, or a free haircut.
The key is to get them in the door, and wow them with the best youve got to offer. Believe me, consumers know when theyve been handed cast-offs and when theyve been wined and dined like royalty. You judge which is more effective?
Most of us have come to expect the hidden agendas of giveaways. When we accept a gift, were looking for the catch. Its a pleasant surprise to come across the real deal. Were taken aback. We scratch our heads and wonder, but deep inside theres a warm fuzzy that sticks around. We remember genuine generosity!
The next time youre looking for a way to increase revenue, and are tempted to take the cheap way out, curb the urge. Go all out and treat your customers to an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness FREE gift. See what happens!
Hey, I didnt say it would be easy or that it wouldnt take guts! Just remember that sometimes the biggest risks pay off big, and that risk takers often come out on top. Go the extra mile, and stand out above the competition even if it scares you a little bit.
Understanding The Electric Body
Getting to know your body is an aha! experience a big wow. The nature of the energy in the body itself as a constant force, in continual state of movement and flux. You are like a human battery. Everything is electric. Everything has a charge. Your body is a field of energy that radiates out twelve feet according to science.
This electricity is organized in highly complex and specific pathways. In orthodox or allopathic medicine these are called tracts, in Chinese medicine, meridans, and in Ayurveda, chakras or marma points. When these electricity bundles or pathways become jangled, clogged, under stimulated or blocked in anyway, the body lose its dynamic and ever changing balance . This balance effects and includes everything especially the nervous system, digestion, and circulatory system muscles and joints.
Integrative medicine employs electricity rebalancing as one of its most effective treatments to eliminate allergies. this treatment has many benefits, including being able to desensitize common and rare allergies. Other benefits include relaxation of the nervous system, increased circulation and gentle detoxification, and increased efficiency of the electric and subtle energy systems. Again, when the allergic code is broken in the electric body, you become allergy free.
Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine believe that these meridians or microscopic pathways transport energy throughout the body and are its source of vitality. This energy is called chi or Qi (pronounced chee), and is literally translated as air or life force. There are two main types of Qi: the life force you are born with and the Qi you get from sleep, food and fresh air. Allergens can disturb and trigger reactions from the meridian system millions of times a day. When the reaction is big enough to jam the electricity in the meridian channels and cause chemical disturbances in the body, we call it an allergy. The meridian energy system is used to treat the problem, to bring the body back to normal as quickly as possible with least amount of invasion. Meridian treatments are given using acupressure -no needles! this is a big reason why these treatments are so effective on children.
Chinese medicine is based on Qi, yin/yang, and a belief in the five basic elements: fire, water, ether, earth and air. These are the five basic elements all humans, animate and inanimate beings. In the British Medical Journal in 1937, Sir Thomas Lewis reported that he had found physical evidence of "unknown nervous system". This system, he said, was composed of minute lines. this energy lines branched from the surface of the skin connecting bowels and organs. What Lewis found for the West was the meridian system, known by eastern health practitioners for thousands of years.
Ayurveda (ah your-Vay-dah) also known as the science of life is a comprehensive medical system that is believed to be over six thousand years old. It focuses on the subtle energies in all things, but also in thoughts, emotions, and actions. Each persons' state of health is based in the relationship of the three vital energy systems called Doshas (DOH-shahs)which are the nervous system, digestive systems and the tissue of the body. Ayurveda does not present the idea that disease is caused by microorganism, germs and / or pollen. diseases state is caused when there is weakness or disturbance to one or more of the dosha energy systems, which locks the body into dis-ease.
Copyright Dr.Helen Thomas 2007. All rights reserved.
This electricity is organized in highly complex and specific pathways. In orthodox or allopathic medicine these are called tracts, in Chinese medicine, meridans, and in Ayurveda, chakras or marma points. When these electricity bundles or pathways become jangled, clogged, under stimulated or blocked in anyway, the body lose its dynamic and ever changing balance . This balance effects and includes everything especially the nervous system, digestion, and circulatory system muscles and joints.
Integrative medicine employs electricity rebalancing as one of its most effective treatments to eliminate allergies. this treatment has many benefits, including being able to desensitize common and rare allergies. Other benefits include relaxation of the nervous system, increased circulation and gentle detoxification, and increased efficiency of the electric and subtle energy systems. Again, when the allergic code is broken in the electric body, you become allergy free.
Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine believe that these meridians or microscopic pathways transport energy throughout the body and are its source of vitality. This energy is called chi or Qi (pronounced chee), and is literally translated as air or life force. There are two main types of Qi: the life force you are born with and the Qi you get from sleep, food and fresh air. Allergens can disturb and trigger reactions from the meridian system millions of times a day. When the reaction is big enough to jam the electricity in the meridian channels and cause chemical disturbances in the body, we call it an allergy. The meridian energy system is used to treat the problem, to bring the body back to normal as quickly as possible with least amount of invasion. Meridian treatments are given using acupressure -no needles! this is a big reason why these treatments are so effective on children.
Chinese medicine is based on Qi, yin/yang, and a belief in the five basic elements: fire, water, ether, earth and air. These are the five basic elements all humans, animate and inanimate beings. In the British Medical Journal in 1937, Sir Thomas Lewis reported that he had found physical evidence of "unknown nervous system". This system, he said, was composed of minute lines. this energy lines branched from the surface of the skin connecting bowels and organs. What Lewis found for the West was the meridian system, known by eastern health practitioners for thousands of years.
Ayurveda (ah your-Vay-dah) also known as the science of life is a comprehensive medical system that is believed to be over six thousand years old. It focuses on the subtle energies in all things, but also in thoughts, emotions, and actions. Each persons' state of health is based in the relationship of the three vital energy systems called Doshas (DOH-shahs)which are the nervous system, digestive systems and the tissue of the body. Ayurveda does not present the idea that disease is caused by microorganism, germs and / or pollen. diseases state is caused when there is weakness or disturbance to one or more of the dosha energy systems, which locks the body into dis-ease.
Copyright Dr.Helen Thomas 2007. All rights reserved.
Leather Handbags
Theres no such thing as too many leather bags. Because of their durable fabric, and how wear-and-tear actually add texture and actually make them look better, leather bags are the ideal for everyday useperfect for everything from work to the church cake bake.
In fact, if youre going to spend thousands of pounds on a designer bag, then get classic brown or black leather bags. Its the best, and most practical, fashion investment you can make.
Leather bags come in many shapes, colors and styles. Aside from the basic black and brown leather bags, you can also find dyed leather bags in every shade from baby pink to a bright lime green. These trendier leather bags are great for adding a little spice and style to the standard suit.
Designers are also injecting a lot of playfulness into their lines of leather bags, by incorporating other fabrics and unusual accents.
Youll see leather bags with Swarovski crystals and metal studs, leather bags with faux fur trim, leather bags with fine Indian embroidery, leather bags with jewel-encrusted buckles.
Designers are also developing new shapes, including 2005s hobo bag and messenger bag. This indicates that leather bags, while classic, can still be very, very now.
How can you distinguish authentic leather bags from fakes? The smell. Genuine leather has a distinct aroma that faux leather just cant fake.
Quality leather bags should also be free of any scratches, scuffmarks or fine lines.
Leather bags will last you a lifetime if you take care of it properly. Dont store leather bags in damp, dark places as the material will crack and flake (and periodically take the leather bags out to aerate them).
Leather bags should be wrapped in soft tissue before storage to avoid scratches.
If stained, leather bags should be brought to the drycleanersdont submerge in the wash, as leather bags take a while to dry and can get moldy!
If youre a working woman, ideally you should own at least 4 types of leather bags: structured leather bags (like a purse or shoulder bag) for the office, larger leather bags for travel, and rectangular leather bags for documents and files.
In fact, if youre going to spend thousands of pounds on a designer bag, then get classic brown or black leather bags. Its the best, and most practical, fashion investment you can make.
Leather bags come in many shapes, colors and styles. Aside from the basic black and brown leather bags, you can also find dyed leather bags in every shade from baby pink to a bright lime green. These trendier leather bags are great for adding a little spice and style to the standard suit.
Designers are also injecting a lot of playfulness into their lines of leather bags, by incorporating other fabrics and unusual accents.
Youll see leather bags with Swarovski crystals and metal studs, leather bags with faux fur trim, leather bags with fine Indian embroidery, leather bags with jewel-encrusted buckles.
Designers are also developing new shapes, including 2005s hobo bag and messenger bag. This indicates that leather bags, while classic, can still be very, very now.
How can you distinguish authentic leather bags from fakes? The smell. Genuine leather has a distinct aroma that faux leather just cant fake.
Quality leather bags should also be free of any scratches, scuffmarks or fine lines.
Leather bags will last you a lifetime if you take care of it properly. Dont store leather bags in damp, dark places as the material will crack and flake (and periodically take the leather bags out to aerate them).
Leather bags should be wrapped in soft tissue before storage to avoid scratches.
If stained, leather bags should be brought to the drycleanersdont submerge in the wash, as leather bags take a while to dry and can get moldy!
If youre a working woman, ideally you should own at least 4 types of leather bags: structured leather bags (like a purse or shoulder bag) for the office, larger leather bags for travel, and rectangular leather bags for documents and files.
2007年12月7日星期五
Wow Gold Buying Safety Measures
Ok, youre sick and tired of grinding and working 8 hours of day in World of Warcraft to make that 100 gold. Its time to buy some WoW Gold and buy it now. But wait, who do you buy from? Who can you trust? You want the best price but you dont want to get ripped off by some fly by night gold seller believe me there are plenty of them. Ill out line a good starting point for you so you know what to look for when buying.
Before you buy there are a few ground rules and precautions you should know. First, it may seem like common sense, but never give out your password or login information to any gold seller. They dont need it! They only need to know what server youre on and where to meet you.
You also should check into the sellers reputation. One simple tactic is googling their name and quickly looking over what others have said about them. Also if they use paypal as a payment method be sure they are a paypal certified merchant that accepts credit card payments. Sellers must go through a long process with paypal verifying their credit card, identity, address, and bank account. If anything goes wrong paypal can track them easily. Also paypal has a list of reputation points for all their merchant sellers. You can easily see how many sales the wow gold seller has made via paypal. I would recommend not buying from a seller with less than 10 sales.
Another thing I always do before buying wow gold is talk to someone! I know you might hate the thought of picking up the phone and calling to some company when all you want to do is click a button to order. So, dont call. Talk to live support. Every good wow gold seller will have 24/7 live chat support. If they dont, they cant deliver your gold when you want it now! So make sure you talk to someone before ordering even if all you do is ask them if theyre awake. This way theyll know youre ordering and be waiting to fulfill your order as soon as it comes through.
So use some common sense when buying World of Warcraft gold online. Its easy to think youre still in a safe game when you really need to consider the person or company you buy from fairly carefully before buying.
Before you buy there are a few ground rules and precautions you should know. First, it may seem like common sense, but never give out your password or login information to any gold seller. They dont need it! They only need to know what server youre on and where to meet you.
You also should check into the sellers reputation. One simple tactic is googling their name and quickly looking over what others have said about them. Also if they use paypal as a payment method be sure they are a paypal certified merchant that accepts credit card payments. Sellers must go through a long process with paypal verifying their credit card, identity, address, and bank account. If anything goes wrong paypal can track them easily. Also paypal has a list of reputation points for all their merchant sellers. You can easily see how many sales the wow gold seller has made via paypal. I would recommend not buying from a seller with less than 10 sales.
Another thing I always do before buying wow gold is talk to someone! I know you might hate the thought of picking up the phone and calling to some company when all you want to do is click a button to order. So, dont call. Talk to live support. Every good wow gold seller will have 24/7 live chat support. If they dont, they cant deliver your gold when you want it now! So make sure you talk to someone before ordering even if all you do is ask them if theyre awake. This way theyll know youre ordering and be waiting to fulfill your order as soon as it comes through.
So use some common sense when buying World of Warcraft gold online. Its easy to think youre still in a safe game when you really need to consider the person or company you buy from fairly carefully before buying.
Tony Bennett - The Ageless Wonder Touring Once Again
Tony Bennett has wowed audiences around the world for generations, and this ageless artist continues to perform live. Bennett has had one of the more interesting lives in all of music, and as he approaches his 80th birthday, he shows no signs of slowing down. His style has changed at times, but the classic Tony Bennett sound will live on long after hes sung his last note.
Early Life
Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in Astoria, Queens in New York City on August 3, 1926. His family was part of the working class, as his father was a grocer and his mother a seamstress. Bennett almost immediately fell in love with the art of singing, and by the age of 10 he was already gaining recognition.
This was definitely an interesting age for Bennett. He was chosen to sing in a ceremony headed by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at the opening of the Triborough Bridge. Bennett also met with tragedy, as his father died suddenly after a lingering illness. This forced Bennetts mother to add to her workload to support the family, and motivated Bennett to help out in any way possible.
Bennett worked odd jobs and attended high school for a time, but he found it difficult to create the opportunity to advance his singing. Therefore, at age 16, he dropped out of school to dedicate himself to helping support his family with more work and to continue to sing. His first singing gig was as a singing waiter in an Italian restaurant in Queens.
When Bennett was 18 in 1944, he was drafted into the US Army, and saw combat action in Europe in World War II. Bennett fought on the front lines and helped push the Germans back across the Rhine River. He also was part of the battalion that liberated a concentration camp near Landsberg, Germany.
Career Beginnings
After his discharge from the Army in 1946, Bennett used the GI Bill to study music at the American Theater Wing, learning the bel canto singing discipline, which would keep his voice in good shape for his entire career. Bennett continued to work as a waiter and to sing when he could, and in 1949 he was discovered by Pearl Bailey. She invited him to open for her show in Greenwich Village.
Bennett did so, but was unaware that Bailey had invited Bob Hope to attend the performance. Hope was impressed with what he saw, and invited Bennett to tour with him. Hope also suggested that Bennett adopt his now-famous name, and his career was on the way up.
The following year, Bennett signed a record deal with Columbia Records and began releasing albums. One of the busiest singers in the business, he released 49 albums that sold millions of copies worldwide over the next 25 years. His style was instantly-recognizable, and his tours were the stuff of legend. As a result, Bennett was looking at a lifetime of commercial success and sold-out shows. However, that was not to be the case.
Struggles
The mid-1970s were a strange era in American music, as rock and roll, disco and funk were the styles that the public was buying. As a result, Bennett was without a label for a few years, and even started his own record company, which ultimately failed. He was reduced to a recurring stage show in Las Vegas, and became increasingly miserable.
In 1979, Bennett had tax problems and nearly died of a cocaine overdose. He had hit rock bottom, and with the help of his son Danny, he began to pull himself back up into prominence.
Resurgence
Bennett returned to Columbia Records in 1986, and he kept his style instead of trying to adapt to the music themes of the time. As it turns out, the public was ready for a return to music from the past, and Bennett released 17 albums over the next 18 years. These works were classic Bennett - a mix of crooning, blues and jazz that catapulted him back to the top of the sales charts in many locations.
Bennett has come full circle in his life, and anyone who sees him live is not only going to see a legend firsthand, but will also be told the story of an interesting life.
Early Life
Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in Astoria, Queens in New York City on August 3, 1926. His family was part of the working class, as his father was a grocer and his mother a seamstress. Bennett almost immediately fell in love with the art of singing, and by the age of 10 he was already gaining recognition.
This was definitely an interesting age for Bennett. He was chosen to sing in a ceremony headed by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at the opening of the Triborough Bridge. Bennett also met with tragedy, as his father died suddenly after a lingering illness. This forced Bennetts mother to add to her workload to support the family, and motivated Bennett to help out in any way possible.
Bennett worked odd jobs and attended high school for a time, but he found it difficult to create the opportunity to advance his singing. Therefore, at age 16, he dropped out of school to dedicate himself to helping support his family with more work and to continue to sing. His first singing gig was as a singing waiter in an Italian restaurant in Queens.
When Bennett was 18 in 1944, he was drafted into the US Army, and saw combat action in Europe in World War II. Bennett fought on the front lines and helped push the Germans back across the Rhine River. He also was part of the battalion that liberated a concentration camp near Landsberg, Germany.
Career Beginnings
After his discharge from the Army in 1946, Bennett used the GI Bill to study music at the American Theater Wing, learning the bel canto singing discipline, which would keep his voice in good shape for his entire career. Bennett continued to work as a waiter and to sing when he could, and in 1949 he was discovered by Pearl Bailey. She invited him to open for her show in Greenwich Village.
Bennett did so, but was unaware that Bailey had invited Bob Hope to attend the performance. Hope was impressed with what he saw, and invited Bennett to tour with him. Hope also suggested that Bennett adopt his now-famous name, and his career was on the way up.
The following year, Bennett signed a record deal with Columbia Records and began releasing albums. One of the busiest singers in the business, he released 49 albums that sold millions of copies worldwide over the next 25 years. His style was instantly-recognizable, and his tours were the stuff of legend. As a result, Bennett was looking at a lifetime of commercial success and sold-out shows. However, that was not to be the case.
Struggles
The mid-1970s were a strange era in American music, as rock and roll, disco and funk were the styles that the public was buying. As a result, Bennett was without a label for a few years, and even started his own record company, which ultimately failed. He was reduced to a recurring stage show in Las Vegas, and became increasingly miserable.
In 1979, Bennett had tax problems and nearly died of a cocaine overdose. He had hit rock bottom, and with the help of his son Danny, he began to pull himself back up into prominence.
Resurgence
Bennett returned to Columbia Records in 1986, and he kept his style instead of trying to adapt to the music themes of the time. As it turns out, the public was ready for a return to music from the past, and Bennett released 17 albums over the next 18 years. These works were classic Bennett - a mix of crooning, blues and jazz that catapulted him back to the top of the sales charts in many locations.
Bennett has come full circle in his life, and anyone who sees him live is not only going to see a legend firsthand, but will also be told the story of an interesting life.
Top Five Self-Coaching Tips For Internet Businesses
Do new Internet businesses really need the services of a business Coach, even if they can afford it? Being that one of my roles is as an Internet business coach I am somewhat biased and would generally answer "yes" to my own question!
Nonetheless, it is possible to effectively self coach regardless of whether you have a flesh and blood business coach or not.
While a student with the International Coach Academy, I also had a demanding full-time IT career with a major investment bank. And during my own transition from salaried employee status to that of startup Internet business owner, I used the following 5 self-coaching tips regularly.
1-Be Open To Alternative Ideas:
One potential downside of the social and peer conditioning in schools and corporate life, is that many people automatically resist even considering new ideas. Why is this? My experience suggests that these people have learned by experience not to rock the boat. If you think this looks and smells like fear of failure, you'd be absolutely right. As a solo business owner your challenge is to notice alternative ways of achieving objectives. Practically speaking, even if only a small percentage of these ideas might be useful in your business, they could still be the difference between success and failure.
2-Experience Life To The Max:
Here's a saying I recall that brings this into focus:
"there are people worrying about what they will be doing in an eternal afterlife who have no idea how to spend a wet Sunday afternoon."
The more richness and vitality you can find in the ordinary aspects of your everyday life, the better equipped you will be to handle the ups and downs, and yes the occasional boredom, of running and operating your own solo business. So, what are you going to enjoy doing on the next available rainy Sunday afternoon?
3-Who Needs More Accountability?:
Probably all us...based on what I have observed about effective coaching. It comes down to this. There are two primary ways I know of making real and usually lasting changes in a Business person's life. Number 1 is raising awareness and number 2 is taking responsibility.
(Notice that I did not say taking 100% responsibility. - the degree of responsibility taken is a matter of practicalities as much as personal ownership.) As far as self coaching goes, taking more responsibility (number 2 from above) invariably ends up in applied accountability. Applied personal accountability. Choosing to compassionately but precisely observe your behavior several times a day can add up over time to a liberating feeling of accepting more accountability and all that goes with the territory. Are you up to this challenge? Just start with a basic intention of being more accountable and notice what happens over a period of weeks and months.
4-Get To the Point:
Getting to the point is in danger of becoming a lost art in a corporate world where taking responsibility is sometimes like being exposed to a highly contagious and career limiting disease! And that's probably why it surprises many new Internet business owners when they comprehend just how many hours in their already busy business days are being expended in not getting to the point. In this arena I have again found that self coaching works well with simple acts of observation. All you have to do at the start of each activity is to ask yourself : "what's the point of this?" Keep asking and you'll get answers. OK, so had you a purpose in mind before reading this article? If not, get one.
5-The Art of Polite Conversation:
Internet business owners spend a lot of time glued to computer screens. However, there are people out there with whom it is probably a good idea to be able to have a polite conversation with. In person, via email, on the phone, via Skype-chat etc. Whatever, the ability to talk in a polite and respectful manner, and still get the job done, is a skill that will never age! In fact, a set of basic rules based on the art of polite conversation is probably the single best thing you can do for your own peace of mind and happiness in your Internet business. Although you can probably come up with your own way of doing this, an increasingly famous and incredibly effective method is given in Dr. Paddi Lund's book, "Building The Happiness-Centred Business". Go get the book out and say G'day to the Solutions Press folks who publish it!
Nonetheless, it is possible to effectively self coach regardless of whether you have a flesh and blood business coach or not.
While a student with the International Coach Academy, I also had a demanding full-time IT career with a major investment bank. And during my own transition from salaried employee status to that of startup Internet business owner, I used the following 5 self-coaching tips regularly.
1-Be Open To Alternative Ideas:
One potential downside of the social and peer conditioning in schools and corporate life, is that many people automatically resist even considering new ideas. Why is this? My experience suggests that these people have learned by experience not to rock the boat. If you think this looks and smells like fear of failure, you'd be absolutely right. As a solo business owner your challenge is to notice alternative ways of achieving objectives. Practically speaking, even if only a small percentage of these ideas might be useful in your business, they could still be the difference between success and failure.
2-Experience Life To The Max:
Here's a saying I recall that brings this into focus:
"there are people worrying about what they will be doing in an eternal afterlife who have no idea how to spend a wet Sunday afternoon."
The more richness and vitality you can find in the ordinary aspects of your everyday life, the better equipped you will be to handle the ups and downs, and yes the occasional boredom, of running and operating your own solo business. So, what are you going to enjoy doing on the next available rainy Sunday afternoon?
3-Who Needs More Accountability?:
Probably all us...based on what I have observed about effective coaching. It comes down to this. There are two primary ways I know of making real and usually lasting changes in a Business person's life. Number 1 is raising awareness and number 2 is taking responsibility.
(Notice that I did not say taking 100% responsibility. - the degree of responsibility taken is a matter of practicalities as much as personal ownership.) As far as self coaching goes, taking more responsibility (number 2 from above) invariably ends up in applied accountability. Applied personal accountability. Choosing to compassionately but precisely observe your behavior several times a day can add up over time to a liberating feeling of accepting more accountability and all that goes with the territory. Are you up to this challenge? Just start with a basic intention of being more accountable and notice what happens over a period of weeks and months.
4-Get To the Point:
Getting to the point is in danger of becoming a lost art in a corporate world where taking responsibility is sometimes like being exposed to a highly contagious and career limiting disease! And that's probably why it surprises many new Internet business owners when they comprehend just how many hours in their already busy business days are being expended in not getting to the point. In this arena I have again found that self coaching works well with simple acts of observation. All you have to do at the start of each activity is to ask yourself : "what's the point of this?" Keep asking and you'll get answers. OK, so had you a purpose in mind before reading this article? If not, get one.
5-The Art of Polite Conversation:
Internet business owners spend a lot of time glued to computer screens. However, there are people out there with whom it is probably a good idea to be able to have a polite conversation with. In person, via email, on the phone, via Skype-chat etc. Whatever, the ability to talk in a polite and respectful manner, and still get the job done, is a skill that will never age! In fact, a set of basic rules based on the art of polite conversation is probably the single best thing you can do for your own peace of mind and happiness in your Internet business. Although you can probably come up with your own way of doing this, an increasingly famous and incredibly effective method is given in Dr. Paddi Lund's book, "Building The Happiness-Centred Business". Go get the book out and say G'day to the Solutions Press folks who publish it!
How To Create Your Own Photo Mosaics, Part 2
Who Invented the Art of Photo Mosaics?
There is no real known inventor, but one man that is believed to be the inventor of photo mosaics. His name is Joseph Francis, and he created a photo mosaic in 1993 while working for R/Greenberg Associates in Manhattan. He made a poster known as the Live From Bell Labs created a lot of talk. He created the photo mosaic from a photo of a face. However, his photo mosaic was inspired by an artist by the name of Chuck Close.
How Can You Make Your Own Photo Mosaic?
You can create your own photo mosaics to decorate your home, give as gifts and more. You will need some certain supplies to make a photo mosaic.
Supplies
A digital camera
Appropriate software
Good color printer
Your one photograph
The other photos you will be using as the smaller images.
There are quite a few different kinds of software that have been created to help you create your own digital photo mosaic.
Here are some software to choose from
For Windows:
AndreaMosaic
Imosaic
PhotoMosaic
PicToBrick
For Mac:
MacOsaix
PicToBrick
For Online:
Mosaicr
Mosaickr
There is a lot of software to choose from when looking for something to help you create a photo mosaic. However, if you know that you are going to be creating a lot of photo mosaics, you might want to have a company take care of all of it for you. They should be able to print and mail it for you, as well.
Decorate your home and wow your guests! Give one as a gift and be remembered. Your own digital photo mosaics will probably be very personal twholesale pearlwholesale necklaceo you, and you will be able to enjoy them for a long time. If you are going to give one as a gift, it will also likely be personal and dear to the person you are giving it to. Photo mosaics can be a way to easily decorate your home that will add a personal touch to your walls. It will definitely be quite the conversation piece when you have guests, friends or family over to visit.
There is no real known inventor, but one man that is believed to be the inventor of photo mosaics. His name is Joseph Francis, and he created a photo mosaic in 1993 while working for R/Greenberg Associates in Manhattan. He made a poster known as the Live From Bell Labs created a lot of talk. He created the photo mosaic from a photo of a face. However, his photo mosaic was inspired by an artist by the name of Chuck Close.
How Can You Make Your Own Photo Mosaic?
You can create your own photo mosaics to decorate your home, give as gifts and more. You will need some certain supplies to make a photo mosaic.
Supplies
A digital camera
Appropriate software
Good color printer
Your one photograph
The other photos you will be using as the smaller images.
There are quite a few different kinds of software that have been created to help you create your own digital photo mosaic.
Here are some software to choose from
For Windows:
AndreaMosaic
Imosaic
PhotoMosaic
PicToBrick
For Mac:
MacOsaix
PicToBrick
For Online:
Mosaicr
Mosaickr
There is a lot of software to choose from when looking for something to help you create a photo mosaic. However, if you know that you are going to be creating a lot of photo mosaics, you might want to have a company take care of all of it for you. They should be able to print and mail it for you, as well.
Decorate your home and wow your guests! Give one as a gift and be remembered. Your own digital photo mosaics will probably be very personal twholesale pearlwholesale necklaceo you, and you will be able to enjoy them for a long time. If you are going to give one as a gift, it will also likely be personal and dear to the person you are giving it to. Photo mosaics can be a way to easily decorate your home that will add a personal touch to your walls. It will definitely be quite the conversation piece when you have guests, friends or family over to visit.
A Doggy Affair
For a dog loving girls a Doggy Affair party is hard to avoid. Arranging Doggy Affair party is a great fun and exciting for all the dog lovers young girls.
Most youngsters love dogs and Joan and her crowd were no exception. For that reason he decided to make her birthday party a "Doggy Affair." When she invited her friends she asked each of them to bring a snapshot of her dog and be prepared to give a two-minute talk on the virtues of that particular breed of dog. Immediately the gang was interested.
As each guest arrived Joan handed her an envelope which contained paper letters. These letters when placed in the right order spelled out a dog's name such as Rover, Brownie, Scotch, Lassie, etc. This is an excellent starter as it gives each newcomer something to do while the others are arriving. As soon as each one had figured out her dog's name it was written on a slip of paper and pinned on her and became her name for the evening. One plump gal turned out to be "Lassie," and the sober scholar of the bunch became "Soot," much to the crowd's delight.
The first activity of the evening was a "Handful Re-lay." The girls were divided into two teams. Fifteen dog biscuits were given to the first player in each team. At a signal she put all of them on the floor in front of the person next to her in line. Each player had to have all the dog biscuits in her hands when she passed them. If a player spilled some of them in the passing, the line started over again. The team that finished first won the relay.
Next Joan passed a hat containing slips of paper. Each guest drew one. On each slip was written a situation to be acted out by the person drawing it in bow-wow language only.
Here are some good situations:
- Bing Crosby singing a sentimental ballad.
- A bashful boy explaining to teacher why he was late to school.
- A boy teasing to play out after dark with the crowd.
- A mother scolding her small son for breaking a window.
- A father refusing to increase his son's allowance.
The trick was to guess what situation was being portrayed by the person barking through her assignment. The one doing the best job of explaining her situation in dog language was given a bag of dog biscuits.
The following game took a great deal of wind. The players stood in two lines. At the head of each line was placed a stack of No. 2 paper sacks; one for each player. At a given signal the first person in each line picked up a bag, ran to the end of her line, blowing it up as she ran and popped it on the back of the end girl as she stepped into line behind her. If the bag failed to burst, she blew it up and tried again. As soon as the explowholesale pearlwholesale necklacesion was heard the second person in line took her turn with a sack. The side finishing first won a picture of a dog clipped from a magazine cover.
The party becomes more funny and enjoyable when the children start acting the situation in bow-wow language. It is important to remember that no kid is left out to use bow-wow language. Everyone should be given equal time to play their own role.
Most youngsters love dogs and Joan and her crowd were no exception. For that reason he decided to make her birthday party a "Doggy Affair." When she invited her friends she asked each of them to bring a snapshot of her dog and be prepared to give a two-minute talk on the virtues of that particular breed of dog. Immediately the gang was interested.
As each guest arrived Joan handed her an envelope which contained paper letters. These letters when placed in the right order spelled out a dog's name such as Rover, Brownie, Scotch, Lassie, etc. This is an excellent starter as it gives each newcomer something to do while the others are arriving. As soon as each one had figured out her dog's name it was written on a slip of paper and pinned on her and became her name for the evening. One plump gal turned out to be "Lassie," and the sober scholar of the bunch became "Soot," much to the crowd's delight.
The first activity of the evening was a "Handful Re-lay." The girls were divided into two teams. Fifteen dog biscuits were given to the first player in each team. At a signal she put all of them on the floor in front of the person next to her in line. Each player had to have all the dog biscuits in her hands when she passed them. If a player spilled some of them in the passing, the line started over again. The team that finished first won the relay.
Next Joan passed a hat containing slips of paper. Each guest drew one. On each slip was written a situation to be acted out by the person drawing it in bow-wow language only.
Here are some good situations:
- Bing Crosby singing a sentimental ballad.
- A bashful boy explaining to teacher why he was late to school.
- A boy teasing to play out after dark with the crowd.
- A mother scolding her small son for breaking a window.
- A father refusing to increase his son's allowance.
The trick was to guess what situation was being portrayed by the person barking through her assignment. The one doing the best job of explaining her situation in dog language was given a bag of dog biscuits.
The following game took a great deal of wind. The players stood in two lines. At the head of each line was placed a stack of No. 2 paper sacks; one for each player. At a given signal the first person in each line picked up a bag, ran to the end of her line, blowing it up as she ran and popped it on the back of the end girl as she stepped into line behind her. If the bag failed to burst, she blew it up and tried again. As soon as the explowholesale pearlwholesale necklacesion was heard the second person in line took her turn with a sack. The side finishing first won a picture of a dog clipped from a magazine cover.
The party becomes more funny and enjoyable when the children start acting the situation in bow-wow language. It is important to remember that no kid is left out to use bow-wow language. Everyone should be given equal time to play their own role.
A Woodworking Show Can Hurt Home Improvement
Home improvement shows are pushing some Canadians to opt for the "reno" of their dreams instead of a project more in tune with their financial reality.
Recent surveys have found that 60 per cent of respondents who have renovated their home recently developed a budget before starting their project. However, 27 per cent of renovators spent more than they planned.
Maintaining a renovation budget can be challenging, especially when home improvement TV shows and magazines stir-up consumer appetites for the latest in home appliances and dcor. Home renovators often have the best of intentions when it comes to sticking to their budget, but often the influence of renovation shows can force them into a 'stretch' situation, which can cause major financial headaches when the final bill is tallied.
The ability to anticipate extra costs through appropriate financial planning can reduce the stress of home renovations. Experts suggest securing financing prior to the renovation, such as a personal or homeowners? line of credit, which provides the financial cushion most home renovators require. Having a line of credit available doesn't mean that you have to use it, but it does provide added security if you hit unexpected expenses such as re-wiring your home.
While the survey showed that 68 per cent of respondents use cash from savings or investments to pay for renovations, a lack of planning could mean financial challenges down the road. The survey also showed that 34 per cent of homeowners are borrowing to renovate.
Home Improvement Shows Could Spoil Your Whole Marriage
Attempts to emulate TV ?fantasy homes? could be turning DIY into D.I.V.O.R.C.E, according to a new study from British Gas? Web site http://house.co.uk. Over half of our DIY is now inspired by TV shows, but 80% of families admit to having had arguments over failed makeovers.
Two in three families cite disagreement over color schemes being the likeliest source of a break-up.
The research was conducted to assess consumer attitudes to DIY. http://House.co.uk features a national directory of 'trusted tradesman', provided by HomePro Ltd, the leading online supplier of screened trade professionals.
Calling in a tradesman could help families avoid not just a dispute, but also a massive bill. Householders spend millions fixing their DIY disasters.
Uncertainty over house prices means that 84% are taking tips from TV shows and redecorating instead of moving to another home.
Top Ten Reasons for DIY disputes:
1.Disagreeing over color schemes
2.The person doing the DIY didn?wholesale pearlwholesale necklacet want to do it in the first place
3.Thinking it will be as easy as it looked on a TV show
4.Jobs not being completed
5.Finding the time to do DIY
6.Mess /disruption
7.Stress
8.Costs
9.Lack of basic DIY knowledge
10.Male/female differences of opinion
Recent surveys have found that 60 per cent of respondents who have renovated their home recently developed a budget before starting their project. However, 27 per cent of renovators spent more than they planned.
Maintaining a renovation budget can be challenging, especially when home improvement TV shows and magazines stir-up consumer appetites for the latest in home appliances and dcor. Home renovators often have the best of intentions when it comes to sticking to their budget, but often the influence of renovation shows can force them into a 'stretch' situation, which can cause major financial headaches when the final bill is tallied.
The ability to anticipate extra costs through appropriate financial planning can reduce the stress of home renovations. Experts suggest securing financing prior to the renovation, such as a personal or homeowners? line of credit, which provides the financial cushion most home renovators require. Having a line of credit available doesn't mean that you have to use it, but it does provide added security if you hit unexpected expenses such as re-wiring your home.
While the survey showed that 68 per cent of respondents use cash from savings or investments to pay for renovations, a lack of planning could mean financial challenges down the road. The survey also showed that 34 per cent of homeowners are borrowing to renovate.
Home Improvement Shows Could Spoil Your Whole Marriage
Attempts to emulate TV ?fantasy homes? could be turning DIY into D.I.V.O.R.C.E, according to a new study from British Gas? Web site http://house.co.uk. Over half of our DIY is now inspired by TV shows, but 80% of families admit to having had arguments over failed makeovers.
Two in three families cite disagreement over color schemes being the likeliest source of a break-up.
The research was conducted to assess consumer attitudes to DIY. http://House.co.uk features a national directory of 'trusted tradesman', provided by HomePro Ltd, the leading online supplier of screened trade professionals.
Calling in a tradesman could help families avoid not just a dispute, but also a massive bill. Householders spend millions fixing their DIY disasters.
Uncertainty over house prices means that 84% are taking tips from TV shows and redecorating instead of moving to another home.
Top Ten Reasons for DIY disputes:
1.Disagreeing over color schemes
2.The person doing the DIY didn?wholesale pearlwholesale necklacet want to do it in the first place
3.Thinking it will be as easy as it looked on a TV show
4.Jobs not being completed
5.Finding the time to do DIY
6.Mess /disruption
7.Stress
8.Costs
9.Lack of basic DIY knowledge
10.Male/female differences of opinion
Wealth Beyond The Dreams Of Avarice: Gold In World Of Warcraft
Is your character in World of Warcraft poor? Do you not have enough WoW gold to make your goals met in a timely fashion? Are you being hindered by character poverty? If so, we have the answer, the WoW Gold Guide.
First, a disclaimer. Lots of sites will claim to teach you how to make thousands of WoW gold in an hour or a day. Nearly all of them are scams, either relying on bugs that were patched by Blizzard up to a year or more ago or relying on client hacks or hacked .dll files.
The first ones are asking for money for an e-book that gives advice that wont work (and wont refund your money, either!), while the second one runs the risk of getting your account banned and your characters deleted by Blizzard, which runs a warden client to check for malicious hacks and cheats in the code.
What were describing is a legitimate strategy guide that will legally let you accumulate WoW gold in the shortest period possible. These include the comprehensive Level 40 Gold Guide, to let you learn the fastest way possible to get your first mount, solo.
Its also got the Ultimate Gold Guide, with the best strategies to maximize your gold per hour earning, including advice on professions and how to level them up fast.
If that werent enough, the WoW Gold Guide has a Reputation Guide that will show you how to get to exalted status in the fastest and best way possible, including how to get 500-700 reputation points per hour with Cenarion Cycle.
Plus the most extensive class and build guides for World of Warcraft, optimizing talent builds for Player versus Player and Player versus Everyone, or a balanced build for both. It also includes the World of Warcraft itemization Guide, which describes (from reverse engineering) the system that Blizzard uses for balancing itemsand where they made mistakes on some items!
All the strategies in this guide are legal - none of them require hacking your client and running the risk of an account ban!
First, a disclaimer. Lots of sites will claim to teach you how to make thousands of WoW gold in an hour or a day. Nearly all of them are scams, either relying on bugs that were patched by Blizzard up to a year or more ago or relying on client hacks or hacked .dll files.
The first ones are asking for money for an e-book that gives advice that wont work (and wont refund your money, either!), while the second one runs the risk of getting your account banned and your characters deleted by Blizzard, which runs a warden client to check for malicious hacks and cheats in the code.
What were describing is a legitimate strategy guide that will legally let you accumulate WoW gold in the shortest period possible. These include the comprehensive Level 40 Gold Guide, to let you learn the fastest way possible to get your first mount, solo.
Its also got the Ultimate Gold Guide, with the best strategies to maximize your gold per hour earning, including advice on professions and how to level them up fast.
If that werent enough, the WoW Gold Guide has a Reputation Guide that will show you how to get to exalted status in the fastest and best way possible, including how to get 500-700 reputation points per hour with Cenarion Cycle.
Plus the most extensive class and build guides for World of Warcraft, optimizing talent builds for Player versus Player and Player versus Everyone, or a balanced build for both. It also includes the World of Warcraft itemization Guide, which describes (from reverse engineering) the system that Blizzard uses for balancing itemsand where they made mistakes on some items!
All the strategies in this guide are legal - none of them require hacking your client and running the risk of an account ban!
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