How to win the double battle against acne and acne scars

Just as a war has a post-war effect (on the completion of the war), acne healing is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a new series of efforts to control the scars, and if possible, to obliterate it totally. It is the reformation and rehabilitation process for that particular patch of the skin.

Many people recoup the original health of the skin, without any permanent effects. But many have to suffer disfiguring scars. Topical skin care products and medications can work to some extent, but more efforts and ways and means will be required to find a lasting solution. A combination of surgical procedure and skin resurfacing have to play their part here. There are no other shortcuts or options to it howsoever.

The hyper pigmented mark on the skin, when the acne lesion is healed, should not be mistaken as a scar. At this stage, natural healing process has taken over, a post-inflammatory change. The result may not be immediate, nature is always slow, it goes placidly. The time frame for the scar-vanishing trick, may be anything between 6 to 12 months. If, even then the skin reverts to its original color, take it that you are going to be gifted with a permanent scar, and think of redrawing the plans for its permanent removal, in consultation with a dermatologist.

There are certain practices and medicines that can come in to play to expedite the healing process of the scar:

1. Wearing a good sunscreen is of utmost importance. Exposure to the sun causes damage to the skin and lengthens the process of healing.

2. Skin's remodeling process is amenable to certain tried and tested medicines. They heal up the post-inflammatory changes. One tested medicine is Tretinoin (Retin A-Renova, Avita).

3. Do not pick scabs under any circumstances. By doing so, you are rendering disservice to your own skin. You are interfering with the healing process of nature. By doing so, you are prolonging your own recovery.

Be realistic about the results. Do not try to achieve the impossible. Such efforts may cause more damage to the skin. No single treatment is right for everyone and your dermatologist knows what is best for you. Remember, treatment is addressed on a case-to-case basis.

No doubt, it is double punishment. Firstly to undergo the pains of recovery from acne and then to be the owner of a scar. Scars are there to remind you constantly and provide questioning room for others. In the ultimate analysis, let the advice and wish of the dermatologist prevail.

Strategic weight loss

One of the first things that you'll do when you decide to lose weight is to set a goal weight. For most, that goal will be their 'ideal weight', but for many, that 'ideal weight' may be exactly the wrong weight for them to be aiming for.

Years of dieting or being overweight have the physiological effect of moving the body's concept of the 'ideal weight' from what is truly considered ideal. The 'set point' is the weight at which your body naturally feels most comfortable. If you've been overweight for a very long time, or if you've consistently 'yo-yoed', your body may respond to your initial weight loss by lowering its metabolism because it believes that you are starving to death. This slowing leads to discouraging plateaus that often knock people off their diets entirely, and lead to regaining all or part of the lost weight.

Instead of aiming for an 'ideal weight' that calls for you to lose weight steadily for months or even years, many experts recommend aiming for shorter-term attainable goals. Since the bulk of diet research shows that most dieters lose weight steadily for about 12 weeks, then hit a plateau, that's the number that they suggest you aim for. The strategy that many have found works best for them is one of alternating periods of weight loss and maintenance, each lasting 8-12 weeks.

Choose a realistic amount of weight that you can lose in 8-12 weeks. Figuring that the most reasonable and healthiest weight loss rate is 1-2 pounds per week, 30 pounds in three months is not unreasonable. Diet until you reach that goal, or for 12 weeks, whichever comes first, and then switch to a maintenance diet.

Why switch to a maintenance diet at that point? In part, you're giving yourself a 'breather', a break from more restrictive eating. The other part, though, is that you're re-educating your body and letting it establish a new 'set point'. Once you've maintained your new weight for 8-12 weeks, set another weight loss goal, and move back into weight loss mode. By giving your body a break from 'starvation', you'll have overcome its resistance to losing more weight, and be back to dieting for 'the first two weeks' - the weeks that most people lose weight more rapidly.

You'll also be giving yourself a chance to 'practice' maintaining your new, healthier weight. Researchers have found that more than half of the dieters who take off significant amounts of weight do not maintain that weight loss once they go 'off' their diet. By practicing weight maintenance in stages, you'll be proving to yourself that you CAN do it, and removing a powerful negative psychological block.

This will work with any long-term weight loss diet, no matter the focus. You'll find it much easier to do if you choose a diet that has concrete 'phases', like the South Beach or the Atkins, since the weight loss and maintenance phases are clearly laid out for you to follow. Regardless of the diet you choose, though, by alternating between weight loss phases and maintenance phases, you'll teach yourself and your body how to maintain a healthy weight.

Rowing machines give you a good workout and cardiovascular exercise

You will find that rowing machines give you a good workout and cardiovascular exercise. Its an exercise machine you can use without causing too much impact to your joints and muscles. Many older and younger people can use rowing machines with beneficial impact. Although the rowing machine does take some getting used too. You will have to learn how to properly coordinate your movements.

The rowing machines simulate the experience of rowing on the open water. You pull on the metal bars and move forwards and backwards on a gliding seat. Rowing machines offer you the chance to increase the tension setting and speed to challenge you.

While you are using rowing machines you burn an extensive number of calories, up to eight hundred calories and hour. That’s building up quite a sweat. The rowing machine will be excellent for your arms, back muscles, back, shoulder, and abdomen. On the upside to your workout will be low impact on your joints and bones, but you may notice some strain on your back.

Rowing machines are amazing for their gliding on water feel. They are specially designed to provide this ‘gliding’ effect, via the use of flexible graphite composite and water-filled flywheels. You can even find rowing machines with rowing on water sounds to enhance your workout experience. To make this even better you can play music of the seashore or a small brook. Or you can even watch some nature footage on the television while rowing.

Most rowing machines come with electronic gadgets such as pre-set programs, elapsed time displays, stroke count, strokes per minute and estimated calories burned. A good tip to remember when using rowing machines is to keep your elbows tight to your body. Check out rowing machines reviews online to find more information and get an idea of what to look for and what personal preferences you might have.

Stable barn cleaning

At some stage in your life, as a horse owner you may find it necessary to stable your horse. It may only be for a couple of nights, a week or a more permanent situation. No matter your reason or the length of your horses stay it is important that you clean the stable or barn at least once a day.

So you arrive at you horses stable with a cheery “Good Morning!” you organize their breakfast, change there pajamas (rugs), maybe go for an early morning ride (nice and chilly on those crisp winter mornings), but no matter what else you do there is one thing every owner of a stabled horse does and that is to clean the mess up from the night before.

What a mess!! It really amazes me the mess one horse can make within 8-10 hours! I have been greeted with a wide variety of “Good Morning” situations from my horses over the years from finding poo in the feed dish (which is still hanging on the door!), to finding poo right in front of the door in the walk way! No matter the mess, it still needs to be cleaned up. Not only can a dirty or poorly cleaned stable cause diseases to fester, but they smell bad too.

Here are some simple steps to help you in cleaning out your stable! You will need a good stable fork/rake and a wheelbarrow or bucket.

It is always helpful if you can remove your horse from the stable, so that you aren’t worried about him/her escaping. Otherwise make sure they are tied up securely.

Remove any other objects which may get in your way, such as water buckets and horse toys.

Using your stable fork/rake remove all large piles of poo that are visible.

Remove any obvious wet patches.

Starting on either your left or right in a circular pattern around the stable, toss a fork full of stable bedding towards the side of the stable, remove any poo or wet that this process uncovers.

Remember to dig down to the floor so that all the bedding gets exposed, and continue till you are back to where you started.

Your stable bedding should now be all piled up around the sides of the stable and the floor exposed. If the floor seems wet (will be in most cases) it is great if you can leave it exposed for a few hours to dry out, otherwise continue on.

Starting at either the right or left, pull the bedding down with your stable rake so that the bedding comes back to its original level and covers the previously exposed floor. Continue around till you are back at the start.

You may find that you need to smooth out the bedding so that it is level and covers the floor evenly.

I have always found it a good idea to leave an area in front of the door free from bedding, this will help reduce the bedding that gets ‘walked’ or ‘kicked’ out by your horse.

You may find that when cleaning, some bedding drifts into the water. It is always a good idea to clean out your horses’ water after finishing the stable.

It may be necessary to add more new bedding to you stable, this is usually down once a week, but depends on your horse.

It will also be necessary to remove all bedding from your stable on a regular base. This will depend on numerous factors and is up to your discretion. If it is getting smell then its time for a full clean out!

Now that you’re done you can enjoy some quality time with your beloved horse!

Happy Horsing

Tina Williamson

Jekyll and hyde women s new alter ego in the world of online gambling

“Women enjoy gambling!” A statement that has continued to surprise many people, but it’s a fact that gambling has become a pursuit many women these days enjoy free of guilt. As women become more financially and personally independent, they are rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Women see gambling more than just betting money on a game or dropping coins in a slot machine; it’s a holistic experience that embodies all the senses. Ask a man about a trip to the casino and he’ll tell you about the gambling and the money he won or loss. Ask a woman about a trip to the casino and she will tell you about the shows, the shopping, the atmosphere, the food and drink in the casino itself, and oh by the way, she lost or won some money.

Current observations reveal a growth in women taking up poker online, with studies showing that like their bricks and mortar sisters, women enjoy the “social” interaction of internet poker and the need for to escape the grind of daily life without spending a fortune for that experience!

Online gambling has allowed more women to become adventurous in the risks they take. The online arena facilitates their inner growl, letting women live each gambling moment as a lion rather than a lamb; the demure, prim and proper appearance of a lady no longer applies when gambling online. Women can therefore pretty much hold their own. Even when playing against men, they are not afraid of men excluding or patronising the so called “weaker sex”. Not only that but the convenience of having entertainment provided in the safe confines of their own home means that women with children no longer have to worry about hiring a nanny for the evening. They can play when it suits them night or day without ‘risking’ the need to stop their winning streak.

Today, the number of online casinos catering for women is staggering. With each site offering a wide variety of games and gambling opportunities, internet poker offers women the opportunity to play the games in a non-threatening environment without having to deal with overbearing male egos. The lack of females frequenting offline bookmakers and to an extent some men who are too nervous to visit those dens of vice are prime examples of how the internet has broken down this barrier. It’s refreshing to see that women who gamble online can now firmly take off the mask played in the real world, let their inhibitions go and be the deadly wild card once thought of as the underdog.

Addiction when gambling becomes a problem

While most people enjoy casino gambling, sports betting, lottery and bingo playing for the fun and excitement it provides, others may experience gambling as an addictive and distractive habit. Statistics show that while 85 percent of the adult population in the US enjoys some type of gambling every year, between 2 and 3 percent of will develop a gambling problem and 1 percent of them are diagnosed as pathological gamblers.

Where can you draw the line between harmless gambling to problem gambling? How can you tell if you or your friend are compulsive gamblers? Here you can find answers to these questions and other questions regarding problem gambling and gambling addiction.

What is the Meaning of Problem Gambling?

Problem gambling or compulsive gambling is defined as an uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the destructive effect of gambling on the gamblers life and despite feelings of guilt and remorse. Problem gambling tends to have a negative effect on the gamblers financial state, relationships and daily life. Severe cases of problem gambling can be defined as pathological gambling.

Am I a Compulsive Gambler?

1) Do you gamble until your last penny runs out?

2) Do you gamble to win back your former losses or debts?

3) Did you ever had to borrow money to continue gamble?

4) Did your gambling habit ever made you lie to your friends or family?

5) Did you ever skip work or other obligation to gamble?

6) Do you tend to gamble to forget about your personal problems or to celebrate happy occasions?

7) Does gambling have a negative affect on your daily life or relationships?

If you have answered yes on at least one of the questions listed above, then you have a problem.

Can Anyone Become a Compulsive Gambler?

Theoretically, yes. Any gambler can develop gambling problem regardless to the type of gambling he is occupied with, the amount of money and time he is spending on gambling. Researches show that slot machines that can be found in bars and convenient stores are the most addictive type of gambling activity, while lottery draws and bingo games are located on the other end of the scale. Gambling addiction is an emotional problem; its symptoms, causes and treatments are similar to any other form of addiction.

How Can I treat Gambling Addiction?

1) Group Therapy:

Gamblers Anonymous offers a 12 step self help program similar to the one offered to alcohol addicts in Alcoholics Anonymous. Group therapy also offers gambling addicts advice and support from professional counselors and other gambling addicts in different phases of their recovery process. Gambler Anonymous centers are available in more than 1,200 locations statewide.

2) Individual Therapy:

Cognitive or behavior therapy can help gambling addicts to identify their unaware thinking and acting patterns, which led them to gamble compulsively, and to replace them with controllable and healthier ways of thinking.

3) Psychiatric Medication:

It has recently been proven that antidepressant medications from the family of SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be affective in treatment of gambling addicts.

The effective executive

There is no argument that today's executive is effective to the degree that he or she is able to communicate with other people.

The executive has to be able to speak to other people--one-on-one or one-on-many--in terms other people appreciate, in ways that move and motivate them, and in words and tones that are credible and non-menacing. The "exec" must present himself or herself as a role model, as well as convey the message of the corporation, company, or department.

Some people may be "born speakers," others may have "learned on the job." But everyone feels the need to do it better--examine the basics of public speaking and match performance to changes in the audience's moods, expectations, and markets. Everybody can learn to make a better impression and communicate better. Our results prove it.

For the last dozen years I have been conducting a popular--and powerful--course for the Canadian Management Centre. It is called "Effective Executive Speaking" but I do not present all by myself. Originally I worked with Peter Urs Bender, Canada's leading public speaker and the author of Secrets of Power Presentations.

Peter devised the course and then invited me and George Torok, a dynamic speaker and business consultant, to continue to deliver it. For the last six years, George and I have been holding forth. The three-day course is offered at various times throughout the year. (Customized versions are also delivered on site.) It regularly attracts company founders, presidents, executives, department and division heads, and mid-level managers.

There is an air of excitement when we first meet as a group. George and I review basic principles. Then we divide the group into two and meet in different rooms. Members speak on self-selected topics, assigned subjects, and issues chosen at random. There is immediate, hands-on feedback. Everyone speaks; everyone responds. We offer tips for immediately improvement and insights to ponder. Individual presentations are recorded on video tape for private viewing.

We believe there are two reasons why people enroll in our courses. First, prior to making a presentation, the men and women feel nervous, uncomfortable, child-like, or shy. They want to deal with this residual fear. Second, they realize that, however well they speak, they will have to speak more easily and more persuasively in the future than they have in the past for career advancement. So there is genuine incentive to improve.

"Effective Executive Speaking" has proven to be helpful on both fronts. Do you feel nervous when called upon to speak extemporaneously? Are you spending too much time preparing your presentations? Can you think on your feet? How well do you handle hostile questions? Do you overuse PowerPoint? Is your audience aware of your nervousness? How are you dealing with "the sweats," thick tongue, beating heart, mental confusion? Do you feel there are more effective ways to present your ideas? How do professional speakers and communicators do it and how can I learn from them?

By the third day, members of the group speak with greater ease and increased confidence and effectiveness. They have learned techniques to use every time they speak. They know what to look for (in themselves and in others) and they know how to improve.

George Torok and I, as co-course leaders, offer general principles and specific practices to teach people the skills necessary to be effective communicators. George has extensive experience as a business consultant. With Peter Urs Bender he wrote Secrets of Power Marketing. My own approach is to recognize and capitalize on individual strengths of body, voice, and mind, and to suggest new and better ways to present information and to motivate listeners.

How asthma sufferers can live drug-free and breathe freely

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Who else wants to know that asthma is an allergic inflammation of the lungs and it’s on the rise among Americans, particularly among African American children.

It’s estimated that between 20 and 40 million people suffer from the disease and its attacks can be debilitating and frightening, especially if the medication used to treat it produces unwanted side effects like anxiety and chest pain.

Fortunately, there are non-drug remedies to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks in Blacks and decrease severity when they do occur. Alternative remedies include acupuncture, breathing exercises, diet, environmental changes and nutritional supplements. Let’s briefly look at each.

1) Pins & Needles

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that relieves pain and other conditions by the placement of small needles that stimulate certain responsive parts of the body’s nervous system.

It has been proven effective in maintaining proper lung function, a key necessity for asthma sufferers. Contrary to its painful image of pin and needle-pricked skin, most acupuncture patients find the experience totally painless and experience immediate relief from symptoms.

But effective acupuncture is both a science and an art and should be administered by licensed professionals only .

2) Take A Deep Breath

Most of us are guilty of shallow breathing – an especially serious problem for asthmatics who can’t exhale with force.

Air gets trapped in the lungs causing the gasping seizures so typical of the disease. Breathing exercises that fully engage the diaphragm to draw air in and out are an effective way to strengthen the lungs and control attacks.

Yoga adepts who emphasize the importance of good breathing as fundamental to good health recommend the following techniques. First, relax. Put yourself in a meditative pose and focus on peaceful imagery.

Second, breathe in deeply while visualizing your stomach (diaphragm) expanding and contracting, rather than your chest. Last, count your breaths. Inhale on three counts and exhale on six. Exhale through slightly parted lips.

3) Watch What You Eat - Your diet

Sugar, salt and processed foods are bad, bad, bad! They can trigger inflammation and allergic reactions that produce asthmatic episodes, so evaluate your diet and eliminate these no-no’s. Then use the strategy employed when introducing first foods to babies.

Eat only one food at a time – milk for example – to see if it triggers an allergic or asthmatic reaction. If it can be tolerated with good results, add other foods one by one to determine whether or not they’re a safe addition to your diet.

4) Supplement It

Vitamin therapy can be an effective deterrent to asthma seizures. Taken regularly, the benefits of Vitamins A, C and E and the B-complex vitamins are good sources of antioxidant protection that have proven beneficial for asthmatics.

Drug-therapy may be required for your asthmatic condition. But consider these alternative therapies as well.

The natural approach may help alleviate or eliminate your symptoms entirely while allowing you to take control in a gentle, proactive way.

You must create a plan for a future to have a drug-free asthma-free lifestyle. This includes a qualified medical practitioner who addresses your total health. Proper rest, proper breathing, proper exercise, proper nourishment, and a proper toxin-free environment. And remember to exhale completely!

Eddy Elton is the owner of website, Unique Asthma Treatment Secrets. You can subscribe to a free report by visiting his web site at Asthma Treatment and receive updates when the latest to be released on asthma treatment is available.

Achieving ebook goals

You have researched a topic and believe there is enough material to provide readers with a compelling reason to desire the information. The topic is universal in scope or is a niche idea with plenty of potential customers. In either case you discover you only have one problem; you don’t know how to write.

I’ve touched on this idea in other articles, but I wanted to dedicate an article to the use of freelance writers to aid in the completion of your visionary idea.

The end result should meet or exceed your expectations for quality. While there can be a sizeable ‘write for hire’ fee attached to the completion of the ebook it should be noted that once you pay for the work (with the knowledge that you will require all rights to the work) you can begin to recoup your expenses through online ebook sales as a new home business or as an extension of an existing enterprise.

When working with potential freelancers you should feel free to ask for credentials, references or both. They should be able to supply you with a sample of their work and then work with you on every phase of product development.

We’re all familiar with the old adage, “It takes money to make money.” While this may be true, the overall cost of developing an ebook may be less than you may think. The long-term benefits come with a residual income that can be administered through an online ebook reseller.

Many home-based businesses will direct link to their ebook reseller as a means of pointing to the work without the need to manage downloads and fee collection.

As the Internet has grown so, too, has the expectation for knowledge-based sites that can assist visitors on various aspects of a product or service. The sites that provide this information are finding a double benefit of improved site rankings and a significantly more satisfied customer base.

The addition of an ebook becomes a marriage between marketing and good will. The customer sees this offering as a means of learning from an expert in the field and you have the satisfaction of knowing your knowledge has provided a win/win scenario for you and customer.

A freelance work-for-hire writer can help you make sense of the book you’d like to see made and then build on the framework you provide. In the end, the work becomes yours and the freelance writer moves along to assist others in reaching similar goals.

Bone breaking disease osteoporosis

It is normal for the bones to erode as we age. But for some people, the bones become so fragile that they break down under the body’s own weight. This causes hip, spine and forearm fractures. This disease is known as osteoporosis. This disease is more common amongst women then men. This is due to the fact that the women have lighter bones and after menopause, they experience rapid bone loss due to decrease in estrogen. Also women opt for heavy dieting in order to lose weight, where they skip highly nutritious food items. This results in weaker bones in the body. Men too can suffer from this disease if they smoke, drink or take steroids.

But there is no need to worry. It is possible for you to slow, stop or reverse this bone loss. Though women have used ERT or Estrogen Replacement Therapy to overcome this problem, you can follow the tips below to overcome or prevent this problem.

• Build up your bones: It is highly recommended that you do aerobic exercises for about 20 minutes a day at least three days a week. Exercise has been shown to stimulate bones to lay down new tissues. It is advisable to do the exercise that you can continue doing over long periods of time. Walking is the best form of exercise but you can also choose biking, swimming or aerobics.

• Walk in water: If you have suffered from fracture, walking in water is the best form of exercise. You can do this exercise three times a week for up to 30 minutes a day. The water will support body weight and ease the stress off the bones and joints.

• Use a chair and the floor for exercise: Complement water walking by doing some muscle strengthening exercises like abdominal curls, shoulder blade squeezes and back extensions. You can do these exercises on a chair or on the floor.

• Eat calcium: Doctors recommend that you get about 1000 milligrams of calcium a day, even though you have not yet reached menopause. If you are not getting an ERT treatment, increase your calcium intake by another 200 to 500 milligrams a day. This means that you can drink a quart of skim milk a day or have two cups of low-fat yogurt or four cups of low-fat cottage cheese to get 1000 milligrams. You can take the remaining requirements from supplements.

• Go for maximum absorption: Spread out your calcium supplements throughout the day rather than take all at one go. Food supplements should be taken with a meal. Doctors recommend you to take calcium carbonate which is relatively inexpensive and is easily absorbed when taken in divided dosages at mealtimes.

• Increase your Vitamin D: Get the maximum protection by consuming 400 international units of Vitamin D each day, especially if you do not get enough sunlight. Milk contains about 100 international units of Vitamin D, hence it is recommended that you take four cups a day. But other dairy products like cheese, yogurt etc cannot be taken into account since they are not fortified with Vitamin D. But do not exceed the recommended dosage of 400 international units since this vitamin is highly toxic in excess.

• Eat different types of food products: Bones do not contain calcium alone but contain an amalgam of boron, zinc and copper along with other minerals. You can get these trace elements by eating variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and other unprocessed foods.

• Stop smoking: Smoking has been shown to accelerate bone loss. It accelerates the rate at which the body metabolizes estrogen and thus canceling the benefits of ERT. It has been shown to cause bone loss in men and postmenopausal women too.

• Control your medicines: Some drugs have been shown to hasten bone loss. The most common types of drugs are corticosteroids taken for variety of conditions like rheumatic, allergic and respiratory disorders, L-thyroxine a thyroid medicine and furosemide which is a diuretic used against fluid retention associated with high blood pressure and kidney problems.

• Avoid fizzy drinks: Cola and other carbonated soft drinks contain phosphoric acid, which contains phosphorus which is a mineral, when taken in excess, causes your body to excrete calcium.

• Ease salt intake: Excess intake of salt throws the calcium out of the body. Hence do not include salt more than necessary. Avoid processed and junk foods.

Using wordpress as a content management system or cms

There has been talk about using Wordpress beyond the typical blog set-up, into the realms of a full-fledged content management system or CMS. Yet, most people have no idea how this is even possible.

I have to stress that the default Wordpress software is intended to be a blogging tool, so if you're trying to make it work like a different type of content management tool you'll have to use the correct plugins (enhancements) and have the a clear idea of what you want to achieve.

While the exact step-by-step method is out of the scope of this article, lets explore some of the ways you can use Wordpress, as I have personally done before.

1) Wordpress as An Article Directory

To make Wordpress work as an article directory, you'll need a special plugin, and a source for the articles. MyArticleMarketer. com is the perfect tool for this, as the articles there are usually human-approved. They also encourage free distribution of their articles to other article sites.

After you have set-up the Wordpress plugin, you need to sign-up for Article Marketer's distribution list. By filling in their form and specifying the categories (or choose all categories), you automatically qualify to receive all old and new articles that are submitted to MyArticleMarketer. com

However, with Wordpress as an article directory, you'll only be able to receive syndicated articles. Authors won't be able to sign-up or create an account directly with you. It's also against MyArticleMarketer. com's terms or service to encourage authors to sign-up directly with you.

2) Wordpress as a Membership Site

You can set-up a free or paid membership site using Wordpress. All it takes is a few simple plugins to get the job done. Once you've installed the plugins, members will need to login to your site in order to view the content. You can also place a login form in your Wordpress theme files to make it easy for users to lo in and out of your membership site.

However, the plugins only create a simple membership system, so if you're looking to create different membership levels and more advanced features, you'd probably want to sign-up with a professional membership system like AmemberPro. net and use their available plugins to ingrate with Wordpress.

At the time of writing, AmemberPro. net has available plugins for a reasonable cost and these will be installed by their support team, so you don't have to worry about the technical setbacks.

3) Wordpress as a Classified Ads System

Wordpress can work like any other classifieds website too. Users can sign-up on your site and place classifieds in the form of new blog posts. They can even set expiry dates for their ads and specify listings or "wanted" ads.

However, you will need to create all the necessary categories and even create a sign-up information page to teach your users how to place ads. The upside of using Wordpress as a classifieds site is that you can also use tagging tactics to get traffic from social bookmarking sites and sites like Technorati. com

4) Wordpress as an Audio / Video Training Site

Using the membership plugins mentioned above or AmemberPro. net's Wordpress compatibility plugins, you can create a membership site with Wordpress. Then, all you need to do is to add the "Podpress" plugin which takes care of all audio and video elements on your website.

You will be able to display and stream MP3 audio or FLV video using their built-in players. The Podpress plugin is really robust and also allows you to specify setting on iTunes, so you can make this commercially and available to the entire iPod / iTunes community.

As you can see by now, there's a whole lot of possibilities when it comes to using Wordpress to the extreme.

I've created an entire video training system to help newbies and advanced marketers alike master Wordpress. Yet, every day brings new possibilities to using Wordpress as a complex CMS instead of the modest blogging tool it was designed to be!

Free microsoft certification training for mcdst

Microsoft has many computer certifications that appeal to a wide range of expert computer repair technicians to operating system geniuses. They also have certifications in administration and engineering. Microsoft Certified Professionals are a standard above in the field of information technology. Microsoft certification is widely accepted and recognized by the service and support industry. Microsoft curriculum has the practical knowledge that only an advanced developed company can provide.

MCDST is one of the most sought after Microsoft certifications on the market today. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician is a title that has much recognition for employers who want a highly qualified technician to work as a help desk specialist and give desktop support by phone and by servicing the individual station. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) on Microsoft Windows XP is a certification that validates the fundamental and higher skills needed to enter the IT industry as a support desk professional.

Because of the recognition that Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) receives many online and classroom IT schools are offering some free tutoring. You will find free information technology Microsoft computer training on the web almost as much as you will find pay certification training. There is a long list of online schools that offer free study guides, some free online tutoring and free practice exam questions in order to prepare you for your certification.

MCDST certification demonstrates valuable troubleshooting expertise with the Windows Desktop Operating System to employers and consumers. It provides a structure for learning the skills that support technicians need. As a desktop support technician, you will use excellent customer service skills, educate users, and solve hardware or software operation and application problems on the desktop. You will learn valuable skills and best practices consistent with networking and file sharing to maintaining DHCP communications devices and Domain name system for Internet system to translate names into IP addresses.

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician certification validates the fundamental skills needed to enter the IT industry as a support professional. It communicates the technical skills of the individual to clients and employers and distinguishes career candidates from their peers. MCDST certification enhances job satisfaction through increased technical proficiency as you increase your knowledge and skills. MCDST certification helps advance support technician careers by providing a structured framework for learning skills, and provides a knowledge basis for additional Microsoft certifications, such as the MCSA and the MCSE.

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician Certification Requirements on Microsoft Windows XP are to pass two core exams that provide a valid and dependable measure of technical proficiency. These exams are developed with the input of professionals in the industry and reflect how Microsoft products are used in organizations throughout the world. The two core exams are: Exam 70-271: Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System consisting of about 60 questions and Exam 70-272: Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System consisting of about 50 questions.

A candidate for Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician will need training for your Microsoft certification. There is free Microsoft training available online with free Microsoft practice exam questions, free study guides and free MCDST training to make your preparation less complicated. Free will only take you so far, you will need to purchase some Microsoft certification training in order to be fully prepared for your actual exam. Your training is not the objective but receiving your Microsoft certification. Learn how to pass your information technology certification exam. There are good resources accessible all you will need is a little searching.

Swimming in bills a debt consolidation loan may be the answer

Every day, individuals are faced with mounting debt that is gradually getting out of control. Once credit cards reach their limits, payments are late or interest skyrockets, it literally becomes a battle of sink or swim in the debt pool. Consumers often turn toward a debt consolidation loan if their current debt can be combined into a smaller monthly payment.

The most popular reason for a debt consolidation loan is to get rid of high interest credit cards. It is a well known fact that credit cards carry a much higher interest rate than secured loans, including home and auto. By paying only the minimum payment, it will typically take 15 to 30 years to pay off most credit card debts. The reason is because the majority of each month's minimum payment is swallowed up by interest with very little, if any, money going toward the actual balance. By requesting a debt consolidation loan, many consumers qualify for a much lower interest rate and smaller monthly payments. As the years progress, this reduction can result in a substantial savings while helping the customer to save money every month.

The process by which an individual applies for a debt consolidation loan is very similar to any other type of loan. A typical application will ask for the applicant's name, address, telephone, social security number and employment information. In most cases, the potential lender will request a copy of tax returns for the previous two years, current pay stubs and/or employment verification. In certain instances where the applicant has poor credit, the lender may require a co-signer or collateral before approving the loan.

With the continued growth of the internet, there is no shortage on potential lenders. A debt consolidation loan may be requested at a local bank or credit union, but may also be sought online. With such a broad range of options, consumers are better equipped to shop around for the most competitive interest rates and loan options. In many cases, an account holder will have success with his/her own bank as they have an established history with the organization. In other instances, a competing bank may be more willing to approve a debt consolidation loan in hopes of earning the applicant's future business. For those who opt to seek a debt consolidation loan online, consumers are urged to proceed cautiously before providing their social security number on any application unless they are certain the lender is legitimate. One way to do that is to check out the company's history with the local Better Business Bureau.

A debt consolidation loan is, in many cases, a way for individuals to regain control over their financial life and save some extra cash in the process.

How to save money and get discount car insurance in wisconsin

If you’re looking to save money and get discount car insurance in Wisconsin, the best first step you can take is shop around. You’ve heard it time and time again. It’s one of the most often repeated pieces of advice for a reason – it works.

Now, can you guess the best method for shopping for affordable auto coverage in WI? Utilize your family computer. These days, more and more of your neighbors are shopping online to not only find free online automobile insurance quotes, but to learn how to save money on car insurance in Wisconsin.

Why is shopping online the ideal way to find affordable auto coverage in WI? There are three reasons: it’s quick, convenient, and free!

1. Not much time? No problem. When you use the Internet to save money and get discount car insurance in Wisconsin, all you have to do is log on, search for reputable insurance sales websites, enter your information, and voila! You don’t have to worry about calling multiple auto coverage agents and making appointments, nor do you have to worry about scheduling time for those appointments. Plus, getting an instant car insurance quote online takes much less time than sitting in a broker’s office.

2. Enjoy the comforts of home. As a Wisconsin driver, don’t have to leave your house to find inexpensive and even discount auto coverage. You don’t even have to leave your family room. Everything you need to purchase an adequate car insurance policy that fits your budget is a few keystrokes away.

3. Keep your gas tank full! Except for you monthly Internet bill, shopping online for automobile coverage is free. Sure, obtaining instant quotes is free, but also think about the gas money you’re saving by not driving from insurance agent to insurance agent!

New york limos less expensive than you think

If you live in New York City or have been there, you've seen the elegant limos, the luxury car service that is used by the fortunate few. While mere mortals use the subway or hail a cab, important people are chauffeured around in gleaming limos. They never have to wait, they never have to find a parking spot, and they never have to put up with the inconvenience of getting there. But are limos really only for the fortunate few? Do they cost a fortune? Do you need to be a member of some exclusive club?

The answer is no. New York limos are just another service available to New Yorkers and anyone who visits this great city. Limo companies specialize in providing elegant, reliable and safe transportation in a metropolitan area where it is often difficult to get around. So instead of a ratty taxicab, limo customers get to ride in the famous stretch limos, in late model luxury cars, in stretched SUVs, in specially equipped buses, or even in armored vehicles. And the price for this is less than most people think, especially in this day and age of ever-rising gas prices.

In this article I'll give you some ideas of what New York limo service costs. A lot of people use limos to get to and from airports. In general, riding to or from LaGuardia, JFK or Newark with a limo service will cost about $100 in a luxury vehicle like a Lincoln Town Card, a Mercedes Benz S-Class or a big BMW. Airport transportation in stretch limos or SUVs is between $175 and $225, but consider that such vehicles can accommodate between six and ten passengers, so a larger group can actually ride in style for no more than splitting up into several taxicabs. Add to that the convenience of being together and arriving together, and the advantage of limo service is obvious.

For those who simply want to sightsee in New York City or the Burroughs, hourly rates of NYC car service are usually between $70 and $130, with a minimum of two or three hours depending on the type of trip. Keep in mind that limos, unlike taxicabs, cannot just pick up the next ride once they drop off passengers. This means that hourly limo rates are based on garage-to-garage travel time, which seems fair enough. Also, like anywhere else in life these days, there are some additional fees and taxes. These include tolls, parking, gratuity, New York City tax and now fuel surcharges. But even with these, limos remain a relative bargain in many situations.

When it comes to travel and transportation, it's often a cost-benefit analysis. Having a client picked up in a limo instead of having them fend for themselves may well close a deal. Going to see a Mets or Yankees game in a New York limousine can make the game a special experience, and for a larger group, it's cost-effective and fun. All for a fee of around $120 in a luxury car or maybe $225 for a stretch limo with bar. Using limos is not only a pleasant, relaxing experience; it can also make financial sense.

Maximise your commissions from affiliate programs

The majority of affiliates are not earning much money from the affiliate programs they belong to. It doesn’t have to be this way. Here are a few tips and techniques that will help you to maximise the commissions you receive from the affiliate programs you belong to.

Choose your affiliate programs with care.

The most critical thing you need to do is choose your associations with care. If you do this wrong, you limit your ability to earn good commissions before you even start.

The programs you choose must fit with the product or service range that you are offering. It is important that they are natural add ons to what you are selling. Alternatively, they must complement the theme of your site. For example, if you offer web design services, a natural add on could be an affiliate program for web hosting.

If you do not offer your own products or services, then your web site needs to convey useful information on a topic of your interest. Affiliate programs relating to this topic of interest would be good add ons for your site. For example, if you have a poetry site, useful affiliate programs could be poetry books, greeting cards, or flowers.

Limit your choice of affiliate programs initially so you can concentrate your efforts on learning how to market them effectively. Having too many programs will dilute your focus and make it harder to learn what works best. Once you are successfully selling and making reasonable commissions from your initial choices, you are then in a better position to choose new programs to add to your site.

Don’t choose based on what pays the highest commission. Instead, put yourself in the shoes of your customer and choose what would best serve their needs. When you do this, you will choose programs that will sell very well and make you more commission in the long run.

Personal recommendations.

Once you have decided on a small list of programs you think are suitable, buy the product or service yourself before making your final choice. This will enable you to test the service delivery and product quality to ensure that it is totally suitable for you to recommend to your customers and visitors.

Your credibility with your customers will be damaged if your refer them to another merchant who does not provide them with good service or product quality. Therefore, always test the product or service before you give a personal recommendation.

Most marketing experts say that the best way to sell products through an affiliate association is by personal recommendation. Once you have used the product, you are then able to write a review that tells your customers or visitors what you liked about it and how it helped you. A personal recommendation will sell more than any advertisement.

Opt In Lists v. Web Sites

Your advertising message will produce a stronger response from people that already know and trust you. Therefore, your own opt in list or ezine is going to be more effective than your web site at generating commissions. If you don’t have a means of staying in contact with your customers or visitors, you are severely limiting your income producing potential.

Banner links on web sites are less effective than text links. More people will click on a text link than a banner. With text links, you are able to pre-qualify people before they visit your affiliate partner’s site, and you will find that more convert to sales.

Advertising

To supplement your promotional activities, consider advertising that gets people to visit the details of the affiliate program on your site, or alternatively, sends them direct to the affiliate site using your affiliate link. Paid ads in ezines can be relatively cheap and can provide you with highly targeted prospects for your promoted product or service.

Many ezines accept paid advertising. Check out List Resources. com list-resources. com/ who has a directory of sites that list newsletters and ezines. Another option to consider for low cost ezine advertising is the "2 Bucks an Ad Program" ksinclair. com/2bucks. htm

Free classified ads are another option but are less effective than targeted ezine advertising. Ensure that you update or change your ads every couple of days to keep them near the top of the listings. Also, check out The Grandfather Of All Links FREE Advertising Directory which has over 10,000 + places to advertise for free. ecki. com/links

Some find Google Adwords or similar services very useful for generating affiliate sales. However, use caution and test carefully before spending large amounts of money on this service.

Track Your Results

Always test and track the results of the ads and promotions you run. Use the information gained to fine tune your efforts. If you don’t track your results, you will not know what is or is not working for you. The best decisions are made based on good information.

Search on Google to find a service to track your advertising and promotion activities. Use free trials where possible so that you can test their services with your next adverting or promotion campaign before spending your money on the service.

Conclusion

You can maximise your commissions from affiliate programs. You need to carefully choose the programs you will participate in based on what would best suit your customers or visitors. A personal recommendation is the most effective selling tool especially if it appears in your own ezine or opt-in list. Other advertising tools should also be used to enhance your earning potential. Always test and track your results so that you can maximise what works best for you.

The home team

Most of us are born to our allegiances. Especially for the home team. Our fathers taking us to our first baseball game, the perfectly manicured green grass and white on white of the baselines so precisely laid out before us as giants warmed up under the brilliant summer sun. From then to eternity that team was mine. It binds us to a town a city, an era, it becomes who we are, it defines us in ways beyond rational explanation. We wear our loyalty in game jerseys with our hero’s name emblazoned on the back, we paint our faces our team’s colors, we name our children after our favorite players. We’re crazy, crazy for our team.

Win or lose, celebrate or mourn we love our team. Monday ain’t blue if your team won on Sunday. But we soon get over it if they don’t, because there is always next week, next year or if you are a Cub fan, the next millennia. The best part of sport is that there always is next year, a do over of sorts. One that life doesn’t provide us with, but does for our team. That’s what keeps us coming back for more. One more chance at redemption . One more chance to be the best. To be champions. Everyone loves a winner, but the true fan, one born of the loyalty of personal connection, loves his team no matter what. There is no band wagon to jump on or off of. They are your team through thick and thin, win or lose.

I come from a time and place were loyalty was everything. At work and at play. The team was everything. Whether it was your sandlot buddies or the guys on the line at the assembly plant or steel mill, it was your world, it was who you were, it was your identity. I have lived, worked and played all over the world and there is one constant that bonds males and it is sport. I have played sandlot football in the shadow of hulking rusted steel mills belching smoke and ash that coated the snow black. Stood shoulder to shoulder with players from the other team as we walked the length of the field picking and chucking rocks that clanged off the empty aluminum bleachers. Then stood toe to toe and knocked the crap outta each other for hours or until it got too dark to play or we ran out of players. I have played baseball on fields glistening with broken glass and basketball on courts littered with hypodermic needles in the slums of Philadelphia and New York and San Juan. I’ve kicked around soccer balls in the hot sands of the Middle East with guys that played in the World Cup from Holland. I sat, in a freezing car, with four friends in Minneapolis listening to the U. S.A. beat Russia in the ‘80 Olympics, on the radio because we forgot to pay the electric bill. I’ve stood in race control at the 2000 Daytona 500 flashing hand signals to the broadcast crews who couldn’t understand why the race director had yellow flagged the race toward the end of the race as 200,000 fans screamed in anger or joy as their favorite got robbed or caught a break. I’ve watched Superbowls, World Series games and World Cup matches in bars from Bangkok to Bangor. I have partied with the great and not so great, the famous and the infamous. I have been fortunate to have traveled the world and it is the passion of sport that has broken down language and cultural barriers along the way.

If there is one thing men are more passionate about than religion or politics or women for that matter, it is sport, especially the home team. Life long friendships born of the love of sport are formed out of those passions. The internet and forums like The Sports Outlaw have given us a place to show our loyalty and passion to the whole world and to form more life long friendships.

Give me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, because I’m going to

root root root for the home team.

Divorce fuelling debt crisis

The high divorce rate of recent in Britain is a major factor leading to ever increasing levels of debt, a new report claimed recently.

Debt Free Direct has claimed that the break down of marriages is a significant factor behind people's financial problems, which suggests that many are forced to take out a debt consolidation loan following the completion of a divorce procedure.

The debt advisory agency has reported that those who are divorced are a third more likely to be declared bankrupt. Of those divorcees, women are running the highest risk.

Females are 14 per cent more likely to face financial ruin and are 26 per cent less likely to qualify for an individual voluntary arrangement, which can prevent bankruptcy.

Heavy debts that are incurred by an ex partner are a major cause of financial problems, even after a divorce, with Debt Free Direct finding that an ex's excessive debts are an underlying factor in almost three in ten bankruptcies in the UK.

Typically, people in a relationship will take on debts in joint names with their partner, never believing that the relationship will end. But when it does the effect of divorce or separation can seriously heighten the impact of the debt problem, spokesman Derek Oakley explained.

Mr Oakley advised married or divorcing couples to take steps to protect themselves from the poor finances of their partner.

For example, he said, even after divorce, many couples still hold credit cards and / or store cards in joint names.

After separation it is important to advise the credit card company to terminate the joint card. If you do not do this, you could well be pursued for payments on debts that your ex partner has run up.

The report contradicts previous assumptions that debt levels are exacerbated by a growing consumerist culture and relaxed attitude towards credit.

© Adfero Ltd

Travel writing all you need to know

Travel literature is a coherent narrative of people, events, sights, feelings, adventure and exploration by an author touring a foreign locale. Travel writings related to essay, guidebook, travelogue or itinerary have overlapping boundaries, so are grouped together as travel literature. This article focuses on travel literature that is more of interest to a tourist.

History of Travel Writing

Petrarch ascended Mount Ventoux in 1336 and wrote about this pleasant travel to see the top of the mountain. He made an allegorical comparison between climbing the mountain and his own moral progress in life. After him many travelers noted their travel impressions. In 1589 Richard Hakluyt published his travel voyages, which remain the foundational text of the travel literature. Robert Louis Stevenson is pioneer of tourism literature.

Types of Travelogues

Some great travel specialists, travel worldwide and make their living by writing about it. Paul Theroux, Jan Morris (travel historian), Eric Newby and William LH Moon are a few of them. Some author’s travel writing intersects essay writing e. g. V. S. Naipaul’s “India, A wounded civilization and Rebecca West’s ‘Black lamb and grey falcon.’ Travel and nature writing tends to merge in many works. Gerald Durrell and Ivan Sanderson are such naturalist authors. Charles Darwin’s famous account of journey on HMS Beagle intersects science, natural history and travel.

Literary travel writings based on authors’ experiences are also very popular. Some authors are Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens, Robert L Stevenson, D. H.Lawrence, John Steinbeck and Evelyn Waugh.

Homer’s Odyssey, allegorical journeys of Dante’s Divine Comedy, Voltaire’s Candide or Jonathan Swifts Gulliver’s Travels are the fictional travelogues of the mythical journeys.

Unpublished literary writings are available as online travel journals or travelogues written on the move while being constantly updated.

Travel Guides

These are a series of publishing’s dealing with a particular country, city or region. They provide useful information on hotels, restaurants, sight seeing and other travel tips. These are particularly handy for first time travelers and are mostly compiled by specialists.

Travel Writing

The two basic objectives of travel writing are to inform readers of facts and create an interest in them by way of impressions. The travel writer should do preliminary research of the place, make actual notes and be perceptive of people, customs and atmosphere along with landmarks and scenery. Photographs are an essential part to create visual impact of the article. A sophisticated writing style that includes imagery and has narrative dialogues or other fictive technique makes for interesting reading.

A travel article written in a pleasing style will attract the reader and arouse his curiosity about the places described in the piece.

Schedule your life and your business

A new and ever growing trend in America today is to work from home. It helps many parents to afford to be able to stay at home while still managing to pay their bills, and live the lifestyle that they enjoy. You may be able to save extra money by not having to pay for daycare services, car maintenance, gas, or food to eat out everyday. You can save a lot of money by avoiding them with a home based business. The one down fall that you may begin to experience that you were not prepared for is the number of increasing distractions that you will have to deal with, as you deal with both home and work. These distractions can make or break the success of your business.

Setting a schedule or routine for your day can be a life saver. Purchase a calendar or personal notebook where you keep important deadlines listed. This can help you decide when you need to focus on certain projects, and how long it should take you to complete each project. You will have less of a chance to forget about an important task or deadline that needs your attention by a certain date. Making a list of all of the tasks that need to be completed each day can help you to decide how much time to devote to each task on that particular day also.

If your children are younger, you may find it easy to spend more time playing with your children or taking trips to the park, instead of focusing on your money making venture. You will need to set down a routine where you limit yourself to so many hours each day for work and so many hours to taking care of household responsibilities. Remember to give yourself extra time to get children down for a nap or the unexpected things that can and will happen during the day. You do not want to feel overly stressed if a trip to the grocery store takes an extra thirty minutes or Your daughter has an emergency trip to the mall for that skirt that she can no longer live with out. Planning an extra hour or more everday will help you stay on a schedule while letting you have a little time for the daily complications of life.

Set your office or computer out of the way of normal household traffic. This can lead to more interruptions that will take away from your business tasks that you need to accomplish. If you have older children, it is a good idea to make sure that they are busy when you start to work, so they are less likely to interrupt you. Let them know that daily you will be working on business during specific hours and that you do not want them to interrupt you unless it is an emergency.

Setting time schedules and balancing your life may be more difficult when you choose to work at home but you will feel deeply rewarded by the money that you can save and by being at home where you feel that you are fulfilling your first priority to your family.

Dining out in glasgow

The city of Glasgow is a much loved and endearing place for local people and visitors alike. Glasgow city center is now very much considered to be a cosmopolitan city as it also offers all things to all people.

Glasgow is within easy reach of all the cities in Scotland. It is forty five minutes from Edinburgh, an hour from Perth and one and half hours from Dundee. It is well served with transport links and two airports nearby.

Glasgow also has the advantage of being close to some of the most beautiful country side and scenic spots in Scotland. Glasgow has the reputation of being Scotland's friendliest city and genuinely lives up to this reputation.

Glasgow has a very diverse cultural background which is reflected in the myriad of culinary pleasures offered by a vast array of themed restaurants and cafes available throughout the city from a simple sandwich, to a buffet, right the way along to an elegant meal in an equally elegant restaurant in opulent surroundings. Glasgow is more than capable of satisfying all tastes.

Glasgow is also widely known as the curry capital of Europe because of the enormous local following of this popular dish as there are many curry houses across the city; it probably has more of these than any other.

As night falls and the street lights come to life illuminating Glasgow’s bustling streets you’ll find all of Glasgow’s bars and restaurants very welcoming whether you are meeting a friend for no more than a sociable drink or a more involved celebration meal for friends or loved ones, I am sure you wont have trouble finding somewhere or something to suit your taste.

The west end of Glasgow also has many coffee shops and sandwich bars with street front seating to watch the world go by. There are also many different pubs to try if this better suits you with wonderful atmospheres and these are forever popular with city workers catching up with colleagues to have lunch or a drink after work.

Glasgow is more than capable of exceeding the expectations of its visitors and tourists.

Over the years Glasgow has increased its visitor numbers tenfold and its economy is very strong hence more people are setting up businesses here to cater for the demand so increasingly food outlets are multiplying every year. Glasgow has gone through a complete metamorphosis in the last few decades, with heavily invested local regeneration programmes and public amenities so Glasgow’s food and catering industry has really started to flourish and will continue to do so well into the distant future.

Visitors to Glasgow will experience first hand the level of choice there is in relation to dining out and the overall quality of the service and food available, the hospitality of Glasgow’s people is second to none and these factors all contribute in making a visit to Glasgow a must for any avid traveler. Tourists and travelers alike are sure to receive a great welcome from "the city of smiles".

Will it be adultfriendfinder or match. com top 10 tips for finding the best online dating site for you

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Question: What could Match. com, eHarmony, and AdultFriendFinder possibly have in common and why do you care?

Answer: They are all online dating sites designed with a very specific objective and person in mind. Fact is, an amazing number of people sign up to the wrong dating site and wonder why it doesn't work for them.

eHarmony is intended for people looking for a long-term, serious relationship, A. K.A. "looking for marriage". AdultFriendFinder is intended for people looking for a casual, and in most cases, a sexual relationship, A. K.A. "not looking for marriage". Match. com falls somewhere in between, focusing on casual dating that may potentially turn into a long term relationship.

So, if you are looking for a serious relationship, don't you think it would be a mistake to join AdultFriendFinder? Yes, it may be fun to look around and flirt, etc., but are you really being honest with yourself and with the other members of that site?

There are literally hundreds, even thousands, of dating sites to choose from.
How do you know which ones are right for you?

As you begin your search for the best online dating site, you will probably be surprised by the number of options. Online dating services are popping up daily on the internet, making the decision of choosing the "right" service a bit overwhelming.

It's well worth the extra time to find 2 or 3 dating sites that fit your personality and offer the services that you're looking for. Narrow down the list of potential online dating sites to your top 3 and then compare them to determine the pros and cons of each one. Pay particular attention to the monthly cost and features offered by each dating site.

While more and more 'free' dating sites are becoming available, most sites differentiate between free and paid memberships. In general, most dating sites will let you upload your profile and a few photos, and search through their database of profiles for free (but they may not let you see all of the details). You will most likely have to pay for any additional features.

Once you've chosen a few, sign up for each of them. It only takes a little extra time and you're sure to meet different people on each of the different sites.

Here are some excellent tips for finding a service that will best match your needs:

1. Establish a budget.
   Decide how much money you want to spend, and set a budget. Most online dating websites charge a recurring monthly fee, but there are a few that have a one-time membership fee, and even fewer totally free sites. Determine up front how much you want to spend so that you can narrow your choices and avoid sites that don't fit in your budget.
   


2. Ask for references.
   Talk to friends and family to see if they or anyone they know has had a good experience with a particular online dating website. If you don't know anyone, you can always check out an online dating guide. Just go to your favorite search engine and type in "online dating guide". You'll get plenty to choose from.
   


3. Try to choose an online dating service that has been around for a couple of years. The best way to find out how long a website has been around is to go to the website's "About Us" page where you will learn not only the date the site was started but also the company's philosophy. Another good source of information is the “FAQ”, or frequently asked questions page on the website.
   


4. Do your research.
   Take the time to check your favorite search engines for popular dating sites. Try searching terms like "online dating", "meet someone online", or "online personals" to generate lists of potential online sites for you.
   


5. Consider specialized or niche sites.
   Think about any special interests or unique situations that might require a more specialized online dating website. If you are interesting in something specific like Single Parents, Christian Dating, Jewish Dating, Senior Dating, Gay Dating, or Adult Dating, make sure you include those terms in your search (see #4 above).
   


6. Determine the pros and cons of your top picks.
   Narrow down the list of potential online sites to your top three and compare them to determine pros and cons of each one. Compare them buy cost and features that are interesting to you such as live chat, online video, and number of members on the site.
   


7. Sign up to multiple dating sites.
   Don't be afraid to sign-up for multiple websites or change services if you are not satisfied. The goal is to meet new people online and enjoy the process. If a particular site is not meeting your needs, move on before you invest more of your money on a service that isn't right for you.
   


8. For safety and convenience, look for online dating services that offer onsite messaging and email services.
   This will allow you to communicate with people using a special email provided by the dating service instead of using your personal email or IM (instant message). You should stay anonymous, at least at first. You wouldn't walk into a bar with a name and address tag around your neck, would you? It is important, however, to use a valid email address when signing up for your account. Most dating sites give you the option to receive email notification of replies to your personal ad, and some even forward the reply right to your email box. You won't want to miss these emails! I suggest that you use a free email account, such as Yahoo Mail or Hotmail , to reduce the possibility of spam. Just remember to check your new mailbox!
   


9. Make sure the dating service offers secure payment methods.
   Also, look at the type of payments accepted (credit card, check, money order, PayPal, etc.) to ensure the options work for you.
   
   


10. Look for websites that offer free trials.
    Look for an online dating service that will allow you to browse profiles and photos before you join, or a service that offers a free trial period so you can talk to people that you are interested in meeting before you have to pay. This allows you to fully understand the number and types of potential matches already signed up with the service.

To know is to not know

This is truer than people might realize. Dig deep, there is a significant powerful truth buried in this statement that can redefine life and create more positive and powerful experiences. As we navigate life, become educated in society, and learn from experiences we inevitably think we know.

We know what people are like, we know what this means and that means, we know what to expect, and we know what will be good and what will be bad. All of these perceptions are defining a reality before it even has a chance to show you something different.

To know is to not know is a statement that drops judgement and allows the experience to demonstrate something new. It also creates an openess for you to discover more; this could be more about you, more about life, more about people, or more about situations. You have still your past experiences there to offer insight and you allow the present experience to reveal more or create something new.

We often say we are not defined by our past. This is the way our life is meant to be and yet, we often are limiting our future based upon past experiences. If this is true in our lives, then we are being defined by our past. All that is needed is a shift in perspective. When the body, emotions, or mind reacts to a situation, person, or whatever, then you want to seize the moment and be curious enough to ask why you are reacting the way you are.

When you are reacting to a situation, it is fear based. This could be a belief, a family emotional trigger, a self-esteem issue, or many other root causes. Being curious and identifying this allows a couple of things to happen. Recognizing the reaction allows you to step back and inquire deeper. This will enable you to discover issues that you can then begin correcting or accepting. Second, stepping back from the reaction for reflection will allow you to respond rather than react. When you are responding to a situation, it is based in peace.

There is so much more that can be explored from this place. Personal power, personal responsibility, accepting responsibilitiy, victimization, emotions, emotional hijacking and sabotage; there are so many depths, twists, and turns along this road of spiritual awareness. Owning and understanding that aspect of your nature allows room for so much of life's experiences to occur and provide learning. Change is also easier to embrace and navigate.

To know is to not know. I'd just invite you to entertain this possibility and play with it in new situations. Whenever you find a judgement popping up, step back from it and say, "I see you, now let's just wait and see." Sometimes, the judgement may be right. Won't it be wonderful and surprising to experience new truths when the judgement is wrong?

Bankruptcy alternatives - 5 ways to avoid bankruptcy

What you are about to read may stop you making the biggest mistake of your financial life.

In today's debt ridden society many people are in severe financial difficulties, often for reasons outside their control. Bankruptcy for many, is the last step in a long road of financial pressures but many opt for this solution too early and without considering suitable bankruptcy alternatives. Whilst bankruptcy may get rid of the immediate pressures it isn't necessarily the end of the problems.

When you file for bankruptcy your life becomes an open book for the court appointed bankruptcy officials. They will pry into all aspects of your life and you will be required to provide all your financial information, including bank accounts, savings, investments and assets. Anything that can be sold or converted to cash, including your family home and any valuable contents, will be disposed of and you may still have part of your income deducted from your salary to pay some of your debts.

But there are bankruptcy alternatives that may be less painful for many. Here I've listed 5 bankruptcy alternatives

1. Negotiate with your creditors.

When you get into difficulties you should contact your creditors as soon as possible. Contacting them sends a signal that you want to repay them.

Lenders are anxious to get their money back and sometimes they will go to great lengths to help you. They may be prepared to re-finance your debt to have it paid over a longer period with lower installments.

They will often be prepared to reduce or freeze the interest rate and will even cut the balance owing up to 75%.

2. Refinance your mortgage.

If you have a property, which you own outright or on a mortgage, there is the real possibility of you being able to refinancing your debts using a secured mortgage or re mortgage.

Refinancing your debts involves taking out a new mortgage, or an additional mortgage. Some lenders will lend up to 125% of the property value allowing you to pay all your outstanding debt and may even have some spare cash to treat yourself.

As the new loan is repayable over a long period of time (often 25 - 35 years) the monthly repayments are significantly lower than with short term debt and should be far more manageable

3. Refinance your debts using a debt consolidation loan.

Debt consolidation is where you take a new unsecured loan and use the funds to pay off your outstanding debts. Debt consolidation loans are repayable over a longer term at a relatively low interest rate and as a result the monthly repayments are lower. If the loan is secured on your property then the interest rate and payments may be even lower.

4. Sell your home and downsize.

One of the easiest ways to get out of debt is to sell your house or apartment and downsize or move into rented accommodation. The surplus cash can then be used to pay your debts and you can continue with your life without the pressure.

Selling up and moving home is, however, a difficult and often painful option. If you do sell however. you can determine the price and remain in control. If the house falls into bankruptcy, you lose control and the house may be sold by

your mortgagor at auction for a price often considerably less than the price you can obtain in a normal sale.

5. A formal arrangement with your creditors.

A formal arrangement with your creditors can often be negotiated by specialist debt management companies and is filed with the courts. These arrangements are for 5 years. You pay an agreed amount each week or month to the debt management company and it is then divided between your creditors. While you continue to pay they are prevented from approaching you.

After the 5 year period is over any balance still owing is wiped out and you are free to live your life free of debt. If however you break the arrangement the normal result is bankruptcy.

As you can see, there are several sound bankruptcy alternatives for you to choose from. Everybody is under financial pressure from time to time, however you should not compound your problems by declaring bankruptcy too soon. Instead, choose the bankruptcy alternative that sounds the best for your particular situation and start working to repair your credit now.

Using a bankruptcy alternative means that in a few years you will have rebuilt your credit and will be back on track, whereas with bankruptcy it could be ten years before you can get back to normal.

Take advantage of mistake that auction seller made

Now one of the most fun and most profitable auctions you can find is misspelled items. You might be able to get a tidy profit of $50 or $70 dollars easily by searching for items that auction seller make mistake in placing their ad. One man lost is another man gain and that’s the name of the game. I have done a research on ebay for a while, and you can find it happen almost everyday. I have seen a branded camcorder being sold X amount , less 30% the average selling price of similar items. Imagine you re-list it immediately and sold it for a 30% profit margin without paying for shipping!!

Let’s try it now and type camcoder or camcodar or anything you can think of and search through Ebay. I am sure you can get some results. You can also try Ebay UK or other auction house you might get something out of it.

So how can we profit from that? First of all misspell item get less page views, less views means less bid, less bids means low selling price. If there is a bid on one misspell item, do not jump in and throw a bid, that is true even if the item is spelled correctly. Just watch the item patiently for few days and post a bid when it comes to an end. However if the starting bid is $1 and nobody has bid, you can put in the next bidding price to” lock “the auction. You are not allowed to edit or cancel your auction once there is a bid. Next click on the Watch this item on ebay which is on the top right corner, check back occasionally to see how many people have bid the item and some auctions have a page counter to see how many buyer have check the item so you have rough gauge on how many bidders to expect.

Do a research on the item you have watched, scan through the listings in ebay. One nice option you can find is the Add Note features it can be found in My Ebay and those items that you have just added is listed according to Time Ending or depend on how you categorize it. Remember that you get more accurate results if you key in the item in the searched box and check the Completed Listings Only, reasons being that on going auctions prices might increase as time goes by so data you have collected is not up to date.

Look hard at the completed listings, make a note on how much buyers is willing to spend on this item. For example a branded sunglass was sold for between $140 to $160 so on averages the closing price is $150. Make a note to the misspelled item like” Sold for $150 “or “Highest bidder was $160 “, this is so important as it let you check back before the item ends and see if the auction has reached the price limit you have set on it or there are still rooms for profits.

Honestly speaking, there will be some people beside you who have the same thinking as you, looking for bargains in Ebay. So preferably wait till the auction is coming to an end and bid at the last hour, remember activity breeds activities you do not want this to happen as the trick is to get less bid if possible.

There are tools on the net which can help to do the jobs for you. Email me if you are interested, I will share with you what I have found or you can get access to monaky. com for wide range of auctions tools and information. Free download of auctions resource in the form of e-books for easy reading.

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Building muscle how is it really done

Most people believe that in order to build noticeable muscle size, they have to devote many hours in the gym, 5 or 6 days a week for many years. This is untrue, yes, hard work is required, but to devote that much time is unnecessary.

Substantial muscle growth can be achieved with 40-minute sessions 3 days a week, sometimes much less if done correctly. Muscles will only grow in size when they have fully recovered from the gym workout, then, and only then will muscle growth happen. If your goal is to achieve maximum muscle growth in the shortest possible time then there needs to be more rest days than actual workout days.

It's difficult for some people to believe that substantial muscle growth can be induced with only

2 or 3 days a week at 40 minutes a session, or less. It can be done and it is being done by many, however, there is a catch:

These "few and far between" gym sessions will have to be short and extremely intensive. More intense than ever, you have to justify your days off. You have to give your body a very good reason to grow bigger muscles. The sessions will be about what you thought you could not do, but somehow managed to do.

Eg: if you're lifting a certain weight and you know you can only get 8 reps, you will push yourself further than ever before and squeeze out another 2 reps of that weight, with the help of your training partner or someone else of course. You will need help with the last 2 reps but the idea is to execute a greater effort than you are used to doing, this creates the environment for greater muscle growth (all other things being equal).

Below is an example of an 8 Week "every other day" muscle building routine. It's an example of how short the training sessions should be. It can also be done taking 2 days rest in between training sessions. I am assuming that you have weight training experience behind you, and also that you are familiar with the jargon. If not, then I would not recommend that you push yourself too far until you have built up your strength and fitness level. You should always get the go-ahead from your GP or health professional before starting or changing any physical exercise program.

Warm ups are not included in the below.

Day 1:

Chest - 2 sets 10 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Biceps - 2 sets 8 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Day 2: REST.

Day 3:

Thighs - 2 sets 10 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Hamstrings - 2 sets 8 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Calves - 2 sets 12 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Day 4: REST.

Day 5:

Shoulders - 2 sets 10 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Triceps - 2 sets 8 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Day 6: REST.

Day 7:

Back - 2 sets 10 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Abdominals - 2 sets 10 reps 1 exercise. Use the same weight for your 2nd set.

Day 8: REST.

Day 9: Start again.

Notes:

You will need someone to help you for the last 2 or 3 reps of every set.

So if you're doing a set of 10 reps, the weight should be heavy enough to allow only 8 reps

on your own, and you will need help to get the other 2 reps to make it 10.

If you're doing a set of 8 reps, it's really only 5 or 6 reps that you can get on your own; help will be needed to complete the 8 reps.

Increase the weight every week, even if it's only 5lbs in total. Safety takes priority over ego.

On the 4th week reduce the rep range by 2 for all sets and continue.

The idea is to put forth a much greater intensive effort than you imagine you can. The reward for these infrequent efforts is, shorter training sessions and more rest days away from it and of course much Greater Muscle Growth. Many people are now achieving greater results through smarter training methods, spending less time in the gym with more free time to enjoy other activities. Excessive hours and days in the gym is, at last! No longer the way to go.

For more information on how to achieve the greatest Muscle Growth in the shortest possible time visit explosivemusclegrowth. com/explosive-muscle. html

The basics of search engine optimization

Gain High Ranking With These Principal Practices

Is your site not showing up in the top rankings? Are you entering in keywords that should bring you to your site? If so, your website can gain higher rankings with the principal practices discussed below. This will optimize the pages within your website for search engines.

Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) is achieving top rankings in the search engine by building your website with the search engines in mind. Keywords are what searchers type in to the search engines search field to get the results they want. These terms are found according to a search engines logarithms or spiders.

Begin Optimizing

When you are first starting out, browse the web to see what keywords generate the best possible results for your businesses category. Use your research when developing your sites content. This means you should work the words or phrases into your content, placing keywords into each page. Be smart and nonchalant with the structure, you still want it to flow and be unique. Make sure that you are placing keywords in areas that make sense on the page. Do not “keyword SPAM” because this method will actually hurt your ranking.

Follow With Three Basics

1) All your links need to be linked to another page in your site. You want the spider to be able to crawl through your site and never find a “dangling link” or dead end. This allows the logarithm to flow and identify similarities in your pages. This also goes for external links; they as well need a place to link to. The key is to stay organized and to check and recheck your links.

2) Make good use of the title tag. This is the title of each page, found near the top. The titles should use some of the keywords or phrases found during research. This will automatically better optimize your website for better search results.

3) Use your text to your advantage. The combination of words and phrases used in search engines are endless. Besides the keywords that produce the top results the others generate rankings as well. Incorporate those into your text and if you can, place them more towards the beginning. Keep your search terms throughout the content of each page.

Follow these basic rules and watch your sites search engine ranking develop and improve.

Sharpen your public speaking skills

Public speaking is increasing becoming a requirement particularly in the work setting. To be successful, you must be able to communicate effectively to a big crowd. Many individuals fail in this aspect even if they possess the right skills. The key to effective public speaking is focusing on your goals and being prepared.

Do not be surprised. Public speaking can actually be satisfying and fun if you easily overcome the initial nervousness and discomfort. If you have trouble doing this, in spite of the confidence you might be feeling, you will never effectively communicate with the crowd.

They would only see a person, standing before them, looking afraid. Your credibility might even be questioned because of this. To help you accomplish your goals, here are some hot tips in public speaking.

Eye Contact

Looking at your audience and trying to make eye contact will help you bring the situation down to a more comfortable and personal level. Instead of addressing the crowd, speak as if you are talking to a single person. This way you will be able to relax visibly and your crowd may become more receptive to your speech.

Think of Your Audience

You will be surprised to know that there are people in the audience who feel nervous and uncomfortable too. You should try to focus on this knowledge and make your audience comfortable by speaking in moderate tones and making smart quips.

Visual Aids

If you do not want the audience’s focus on you, you can try to divert their attention by providing visual aids. You should keep in mind that your visual aid should never bee too technical and complicated. Just like in public speaking, make sure that your visual aids will speak to your audience effectively as well.

Make an Outline

To ensure that you will not lose sight of your goal, you should make an outline. Better yet, write important notes in small cards and arrange them according to your outline, the smooth and continuous flow of your speech or presentation will help maintain the interest of the audience.

It is very important for a person to sharpen his public speaking skills through constant practice. It would also boost your confidence if you come prepared to a speaking engagement or presentation. Some people arrive earlier in order to familiarize themselves to the room. You should be able to determine what would make you feel at ease and comfortable and do these things before your presentation.

Translation for the global travel industry attention to detail pays

Translation for the global travel industry: attention to detail pays

As the World Travel Market opens in London, with over 50,000 representatives from 190 different countries, what better time to consider how travel and tourism as a sector can best respond to the challenge of communicating internationally and growing overseas markets. Travel and tourism is an inherently international industry, and is already one of the largest online market sectors. But companies in this sector could grow their revenue significantly if they were to address the localisation of products more professionally and market themselves more effectively on the Internet.

Tailoring your message to speak the buyer’s language

The simple fact is that you need to address users of your service in their own language. Although English is the international business language, research has shown that even fluent English speakers are much more likely to buy from a company whose website has content in their native tongue. Producing and maintaining multi-lingual content has become even more important in the last couple of years, as Internet growth in emerging markets has reduced the market share of English online (based on page views) from over 50% in 2002 to under 30% now.

As with all marketing copy, web content selling travel products must be closely tailored to the potential buyer’s needs and desires. This is more important when selling an intangible experience, which must be exciting, luxurious and different enough to get the prospective buyer’s juices flowing and to encourage him to make a purchase. The task becomes even more challenging when you are seeking to attract buyers from different countries, all of whom have different cultural backgrounds and have different which you need to push. For example, as Roy Graff, a former director of octopustravel. com in China, explains, you wouldn’t market to Chinese visitors in the same way as you would to westerners:

”Chinese people coming to the UK are interested in the country’s history, but their real focus is on shopping. Many items considered by the Chinese to be luxurious are much cheaper here, and they enjoy trips to places like Bicester village where they can buy British products for less than they can at home. The Chinese are less interested in cultural events like theatre where the foreign words and cultural references wouldn’t resonate with them.”

So when trying to attract Chinese (or indeed, any other) visitors to come to these shores, it’s worth keeping at the forefront of one’s mind what exactly is going to sell them on the idea of making that trip. This is where the localisation of copy becomes a necessity in order to target your message appropriately. As more people the world over use the Internet to plan their trips rather than going through traditional travel agencies, it is vital that your message bridges any cultural and linguistic divides which might separate you from your target customers.

Managing multi-lingual content

Professional translation and localisation are now a necessity for travel companies and tourism organisations alike. But having all this material in foreign languages can pose its own challenges. How do you ensure that foreign character sets appear appropriately on your website? How can you avoid your staff having to copy and paste material in a language they don’t know into your content management system (a recipe for disaster, if our experience is anything to go by!)? How do you ensure you are using translation technologies effectively to keep costs down? We at Lingo24 have seen companies try to manage their translated content in-house, and we’ve witnessed some well-intentioned but horrendously inefficient attempts to take a perfectly good website and make it multi-lingual. It is not a simple matter, and it’s something translation service providers are best placed to handle in consultation with client companies. As with other web projects, it is best to plan how a multi-lingual website will work well before it is actually constructed.

Translate and they will come?

Of course, there is little point having a slick multi-lingual website if you aren’t able to attract enough of the right visitors to make a good return on your investment in foreign language content. The key is to establish where you need to appear online, be it through search engine listings or on partner websites, in order to drive targeted traffic. To achieve this, you really need to have an understanding of the ‘online scene’ in each of your target markets, and a partner who can help you achieve the positioning that will generate returns. It’s also important to measure both your successes and failures in online marketing, as this will enable you to optimise your campaigns over time. In an online marketplace as crowded and competitive as travel and tourism, those companies that seize the initiative to build well-targeted, highly visible and manageable, multi-lingual sites will reap the rewards now and for years to come.